All that Glitters is Gold!

I use lots of different gold products depending on the look I want.

 

For spraying (to get every recess in a cookie or to stencil), I use luster sprays like PME or Pavoni (an Italian brand I recently discovered, which I love because it's super shiny). Of course, airbrush coloring is also possible here, but I am often too lazy to get out my airbrush.

 

For sponging (just getting isolated gold highlights on raised elements) or painting small areas, I like to mix luster or highlighter dust with a little alcohol-based extract and then I either use a sponge brush or small craft paint brush to apply it, depending on the technique. Highlighter dust is MUCH brighter/shinier than luster dust, but it's labeled for "display only" so I don't use it other than on "show" pieces.

 

Then, there are gold Rainbow Dust metallic pens for drawing finer lines . . . Oh yes, and edible gold leaf. I lift small pieces of it from the sheet and stick it onto cookies with a touch of corn syrup. Used it on my decoupaged eggs in a recent video. I'm sure I've just scratched the surface, but these are the ways I most often apply gold.

So far I have tried the following options (as I simply love glitter in all kinds):

 

- ready bought edible paint from Rainbow Dust. It comes in small bottles to be painted on with a brush. Pretty neat results, but kind of expensive, at least in Germany. And... see next point.

 

- Lustre dust from Rainbow Dust, edible silk range. It can be applied dry for a light shimmer. Or mixed with clear alcohol and will then be exactly like the ready bought paint - only a lot cheaper and it is more easy to control the quantity and required thickness. More alcohol = semi-translucent. Less alcohol = high coverage. Love the stuff

 

- Lustre dust from Rainbow Dust, sparkle range. Those have tiny glitter particles included and I find it almost impossible to paint with them. But they work fine if sprinkled over fresh icing, or if an uneven look is required.

 

- Glitter sugar, which is no good to paint with, of course. But it can be sprinkled over fresh icing and also gives a gorgeous effect plus additional structure. You can also make it yourself by adding silever/gold color (either ready bought or self mixed) to fine sugar, just a few drops. There are instructions how to make glitter sugar flying around the net.

 

I haven't tried edible foil yet, nor airbrush, but I guess you can create nice effects with them too. And I would be highly interested in other options to get glitter on cookies as well! Nice topic

Thank for all the great information!  I am going to check out the Rainbow dust products!  As for your airbrush comment, I know what you mean about the effort for pulling it out. I solved that problem.  I use it on the counter by my sink because I like to run a little water through it when I am done.  Well with that said, I just emptied the shelf of the cupboard above the counter where I use it. My air brush is a little heavy so I just keep the compressor in the cupboard even when I am using it. the electrical cord reaches a nearby outlet and the air cord is plenty long enough too! When I use it I just open the cupboard and and plug it in! There it is. Extra bonus is that when I am decorating, because the compressor is on the shelf, it doesn't take up my counter/work space.

My problem is major disorganization - I'm lucky to have any counter space right now. And no time to do the major overhaul that my workspace needs.

Thank you so much for all of the information. I'm wanting to do both airbrush and paint. I'm going today to buy some products so I'll let you know how it goes.