What Kind Of Alcohol Do You Use With The Luster Dusts?
Decorating By Cassie2500 Updated 23 Sep 2007 , 12:13am by KimAZ
Vodka? Liquor? Any other kind? I just bought some luster dust from CC and am anxious to try it. Can it be painted on buttercream-I don't do fondant cakes. Any advice would be appreciated!!
I use vodka, but you could also use any other clear alch...or an extract such as lemon or vanilla as well.
Personally I have never painted onto BC before, only fondant or RI but I don't see why you couldn't, all though you'd probally want a good crusting BC recipe
i use lemon extract. never tried it on buttercream, maybe you can mix it with the buttercream??? to me, it seems like if you try to paint it on buttercream, the icing will pull. i use mine on fondant. it turns out really nice. you should try it. CC has some great MMF recipes!
I use vodka.. I have a nip of Absolute in my "decorating den".. my DH always laughs when he sees it. 
Been tempted to shoot it more than once.. 
Never tried to paint BC though.. I don't see why not though. 
Absolute Vodka here too. It dries VERY quickly! I have one of those stainless steel bar things on it so I can pour it out one drop at a time or one swig at a time!
Everytime I have it out my DH accuses me of drinking it instead of mixing it with dusts.
Geeeeez, did I swig that much today!?!? Editing to say you can paint this on well crusted buttercream, just be careful and it works nicely.
Thanks, everyone!! My husband will probably go crazy when I say I need some Vodka-mainly because I'm pregnant I will just have to reassure him that I will not drink it.
I tried the MMF one time, but it did not turn out right-too hard and I couldn't knead it. I will try to work on it some more, though. I am supposed to be taking the gumpaste class in October-if she hasn't changed it again. I look forward to using the luster dust with that, too!!
Thanks again, everyone!!
The best thing to use is something with a very high alcohol content so that the moisture evaporates quickly. Too much water in the alcohol melts the sugar in the fondant or icing. So if you are using vodka, use the good stuff. I attended a course that Colette Peters taught and she reccommended using lemon extract as it has a very high alcohol content.
Can anyone give some rough measurements on how much alcohol to dust? It took me forever to figure out the ratio for painting on food coloring, so I'm wondering about the ratio on this one too. Thanks!
MandyE, I have two very small artists brushes I use for this. One is apx 1/16" wide and the other is apx 1/8" wide. Using the brush end of the 1/8" wide brush I scoop up the luster dust and place it in a very small plastic craft jar. I then put 3 drops of vodka into the dust and stir well. If it needs to be thinner I just add one drop at a time until it is the consistency I need it to be for that particular project. If you get the mixture to thin just wait a few minutes and the vodka will evaporate to the point you need it to be. If you loose all of the vodka before your painting project is finished simply add another drop to reconstitute the dust. 
Oh-I didn't even think about how much dust to vodka! Thanks, MandyE, for asking that question!! I just bought a palette-made by Wilton-which has 6 little "boxes" to put different colors in. It says "Color Tray" at the top of the package. That is what I will use to mix the lust and vodka. I do need to buy some good paintbrushes this weekend!!
You will quickly get a feel for how much alcohol to dust you need. The less alcohol the thicker your paint will be and give you more coverage and a more solid look. If you use more alcohol the paint will be thinner and give you a more sheer look. Best thing is just to practice on a scrap to achieve the look you are after.
Everclear is what I used. When I got mine and couldn't find it so I asked for it and said I'll be using it for cake decorating and the lady said, Really?!?! That's what I use it for too (giving me a look).
Dries super quick and looks great!!
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