I'm trying to do some painting on a cake and I'm having so many issues I'm about to go crazy.

The idea is that I want it to look like stained glass when I'm finished. I have my design imprinted into the fondant, and after painting I'm going to pipe in the impressions.

Anyway, I can't get anything to go right with the painting. I've tried mixing the lemon extract into gel colors (both Wilton and Americolor), but I keep ending up with concentrated bits of color that won't mix into the extract. It looks AWFUL. I also tried extract with petal dust, but I wasn't happy with that either. It seemed like it was either runny or when the lemon started to evaporate it would get thick and clumpy.

Now, on top of all that, I'm also having feathering issues on the fondant. I'm painting red and green onto ivory so it's VERY noticeable.

What am I doing wrong? Should I give up and try the food color pens instead?

ive heard that mixing colors with vodka works? ive never done this tho, never painted anything.. sorry im not much more help! good luck!

Everything you ever wanted to know about the various dusts:
(Including how to use them.)

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-54059.html

HTH

haha the things you pick up in forums. =) happy to help.

Yep I always use vodka to mix with my gel colours for all cake paintings and never have had probs with it clumping etc

same here, i always use fondant, and allow each coat of paint to dry before going over it, i usually do several coats to build the colour up rather than trying to get it all in one shot

I am also definately a vodka and colour girl !

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1569597.html

I recently did the attached cake - I love painting but when I realised I had to repeat it on the other cake and make it a mirror image I was not feeling so confident ! I thought about just putting it my left hand LOL!!!!

The vodka definitely allows you to control the colour depth and then scull the rest when you have finished to calm the nerves !!!!

Good luck, would love to see a pic !

you can also try painting with airbrush colors. No mixing involved and you can layer colors just like gels.

I will still use vodka with the air brush colors too. The higher the alcohol content the better it works! (everclear is my fav.)

I, too, swear by vodka....

for my cakes too

just realised i said i always used fondant, i meant vodka! lol

LOL! I guess that would take the fun factor out of it wouldn't it . I haven't tried the airbrush w/vodka. Will give it a try next time.