I have a customer wanting a giant cupcake. I have never made one and was going to try to do the candy melt base instead of fondant. The only thing is she wants the base to have leopard print on it. Will I be able to paint on the candy melt base? If so so I just use the gel icing color and paint it on there or do I have to do something to the color. Any suggestions would help. Thanks in advance.

You are in luck. Someone just posted a pic of the Giant Cupcake with a cheetah print base.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2259072/purse-and-cheetah-shoe-giant-cupcake
You can PM the original creator but yes it looks like she painted it on.

If you use Wilton gel colors, you'll probably have to mix the colors with a little vodka to make them the correct consistency to paint. My americolor I think I could paint directly as is but I have not tried it.

If paint scares you, you could easily cut out the pattern in fondant and apply it directly to the chocolate with a little piping gel or chocolate.