I was wondering if the billowing technique would work if I tried to attach the billowed pieces to buttercream instead of with piping gel on fondant? Since the outside won't be eaten anyway, I was thinking that this would cut down on the waste. My only concern is that the billows might get mushy. If it matters, I use smbc.

I was wondering the same thing. If no one else gives an answer, I guess the best thing to do is experiment!

Any ideas from the Friday night folks?

From my experience,it cannot work unless on fondant.I tried it on buttercream and it was toooooo messy,I had to remove the little I had done, re iced the cake with buttercream, covered the cake in fondant and then started the billowing.Then and only then did it work.For me anyway.