Hello, can anyone explain to me how I would go about applying chocolate sprinkles on the cake sides - half to bottom - keeping it in a straight ribbon like shape? It lloks so easy in the book I have but there is no explanation. Is using a tipping cake decorating plate the only way?

I normally wrap something around the cake (paper or something- usually parchment) where I do not want the sprinkles. Then I have someone help me turn cake sideways and pour on the sprinkles. I kind of pat them as I go around and round. Then remove paper after finished.

Here's a tutorial that explains how to cover the sides in crumbs. You could alternate it so that you only cover the bottom half. HTH
http://community.webshots.com/photo/276920554/1228920382051689275RLtmWM