Has anyone painted on buttercream? I love the leopard print and have done several myself, but have tried to paint directly on the buttercream. It turns out OK...but not great. Has anyone done this before and have a secret method? I usually use vanilla mixed with color. It tends to separate on the cake, which I'm sure is the buttercream. Unfortunately, I'm not charging enough to do fondant, and people love them because I keep getting orders for them. Anyway, just wondering if there is a better method than what I am using.
Got your answer! When painting on fondant use clear alcohol or extract, but when painting on buttercream use 100% pure mineral oil. The knid you find in the drug store. IT MUST BE PURE!!!!MINERAL OIL. This works really well with gold luster dust which would be beautiful on a leopard cake! 
Whenever I have painted on buttercream, I have used vodka diluted airbrush or gel colors. It's always tricky since buttercream (even after crusting) is so darn delicate.
The Ed Hardy and Jack Skellington cakes were both painted BC with an overspray of airbrush..... I look forward to the day I can master fondant and then paint on that because it's so much easier.
Not sure what to say about the mineral oil thing - I didn't realize that was edible. My little palette gets a bit greasy as I am painting but it still seems to work okay. It's time consuming but fun.
I had asked and asked that question, and then someone and I dont know who sent me a reply and a how to...but yes it can be done...you just have to be very light handed with your brush, use vodka or lemon extract for it to dry....
I tried it and this was the best I could do...with my boxer dog. I wanted it to have those shaded tones....
The cake was a image I found on the net, the guy has 2 boxers, and I have the brother, and his father has 3 boxers. So it was perfect for him. I copied it, piped it in black gel...then I transfered it to the cake, filled it in with b/c...once it crusted I painted the shades. Not bad I guess for a first.
All I know is when I asked the busiest local bakery what they used, they said mineral oil. I tried it and it worked beautifully. I had no problems. I was not heavy handed with it though. I believe as long as you use an oil based product like mineral or lemon oil you will get better results on buttercream. Buttercream is so high in fat the the alcohol based products seperate off for me as well. Yes! in small amounts mineral oil is edible. Don't drink the bottle or anything, but for painting okay. It is in tons of products we use everyday.
WONDERFUL! Thanks everyone! You guys are awesome. I actually have another leopard cake this week I have to do, so I'm going to try the mineral oil or Lemon oil. THANKS! LOVE THIS SITE!
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