I have decided that I am going to make Arwyn's first birthday cake. I know in my head what I want but looking at a local cake makers they are charginh £120 for it!!
I know someone cheaper but she's not really that good and if it was anything less than perfect I'd rather just give it a go myself.

so.....the cake it no problem, my mother dearest can help me with that, it's the decorating! I quite fancy something like this
http://www.scrumptiouscakes.co.uk/CakePages/631.html
but with a Mickey/Minnie Mouse theme. is the icing I'd need to make all that going to be really expensive? I'm quite arty/crafty (as is my mum) so I know I'd be able to do it, I just don't want to spend loads!
oh, and I've never done a cake like this so any tips/advice would be great!!

you can get stuff like this probably cheaper if you shop around http://www.craftcompany.co.uk/ingredients/ready-to-roll-icing.html and buy a few things to poke into the cake like the stars and things - then add edible glitter to make it more girly? you could easily make flat versions of mickey/minnie with the icing rolled then cut out...the figures might be a bit harder although i think you can use that icing as a sort of modelling clay too

my mum said it's a bit ambitious!

we've decided to buy the ready iced cakes and decorate them instead. still going to give the figures a bash though!

haha boo! m+s do some lovely plain cakes, but they are a bit pricey and i think they possibly only do fruit - but they are good sizes for stacking......you can also get these http://www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Cutting-Bars/dp/B004Z5FVC8?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_1&nodeId=72543031&sr=1-1&qid=1306182276&pf_rd_r=0J7NX503G4RNTBV248FD&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=72543031&pf_rd_p=215570647&pf_rd_s=related-items-3

which are nice and plain for you to decorate, but the shape isn't very cheerful. i was looking at cakes in tesco the other night and they all looked a bit rubbish and/or not plain enough so i still dunno what to get for elijah

wow check this out!!! i feel a project coming on http://www.craftcompany.co.uk/cake-decorations/sugar-sheets.html

I looked on markies, they do plain sponge cake too so going to get them. they're not too bad pricewise considering the one I linked up there is £120!!

actually, screw that! just looked at that site you linked and they do disney characters! think I'll just decoarte the cake and buy the figures!

you can buy coloured icing pretty cheap (eevn I can get it cheap and thats in Cyprus) then you get a picture of mickey and trace it then u can cut it out onto black icing. (or freehand draw it if your good)

I did winnie the pooh for Tyler and Im NOT arty... it wasn't great but you could tell who it was

yeah i saw the firgures too they are pretty cute - i wish i had looked earlier its too late to buy cute things for elijah - we were going to look in markies too so if they have sponge and not (yuck) fruit we are going for that

asda will also print photos onto cakes for free i think but i kinda only think photo cakes are good if they are meant to be retro

Quote :

it wasn't great but you could tell who it was

thats adorable

I'm going to get coloured icing anyway to decorate the cake, I've got a month to decide if I'll make figures or buy them! I don't mind if they don't look great, as long as it looks kinda like what it's meant to. Truth is I'm just lazy so the easier option looks tempting!

Mari, you can order the sponge cakes and collect within 5 days, so erm, order yesterday!

we were going to order one with the buffet but decided not to - they normally have loads in store - have only noticed the fruit ones but will have a look today (they definitely have the plain wedding cakes etc always in stock).

but if you buy the figures you won't be able to eat them all up!!!!!

I know..... but then I can keep them in her memory box!