A friend of my sister's has a neice who found a Wilton book from a few years ago and fell in Love with it! She just thought it was magical that people could actually create such things with cake! So she's been begging to learn how to decorate. So Jen (sister's friend) has been calling around and the problem is, the neice is only 8, so no one will allow a child that young attend. (which I can understand, for the Wilton courses.. they move at a fairly fast pace and it might be hard for a child to keep up). Anyway.. so I offered to show her some basics. I'm thinking I'll start with a few cupcake ideas. Something a bit simple but still will Wow her. Anyone have any suggestions or pics? Thanks in advance

I think the rose cupcakes are so beautiful and super, super easy. The ones that people have been using in the rose cupcake bouquets. They will definitely wow her.

This idea might not wow her, but my son who is six likes to make the monster head cupcakes. I let him use the grass tip on them and tip 5 I think for the eyes and teeth. He is getting really good and has a great time.

I would agree with the flower cupcakes, but also I saw a turtle cupcake in the pics today that would probably be lots of fun with the tootsie roll head & legs!. Also the cupcake with the ghost covered in fondant! Sounds like fun too me!
Linda

i think any flower is beautiful and simple as well. if you have any patchwork cutters these are also quick and easy. you can also cut out simple petals from fondant and vein them for quick flowers. i've attached a pic with all of these ideas shown.

I made some bear cupcakes that were pretty easy! (they're in my pic's..haven't figured out out to post a link yet). My son is 10 and he really liked them!

OMG! How nice of you! That is such a cute idea...I definitely thing the rose cupcakes and the monster cupcakes are good to do! That's actually a lot to accomplish...you could also just teach her the correct way to pipe stars and borders right on the cupcake. That way she is learning those techniques on a smaller surface and not overwhelmed by a large cake.

Good luck and have fun!

sorry, my pic didn't attach - will try again....

here's the attachment. hope this works!!

i give up.... just look in my pics at the one with the cupcake cats, bats & flowers. sorry about that - i can't understand why it won't attach.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! Definately gives me a starting point for her. And sirius.. those pumpkin cupcakes are adorable!!

Go to the Wilton Web site. they have some really cute basic ideas for kids. I used them when I taught my girl scout troop the basics.

sirus - you have some great stuff in your photos!

I think the roses would be great for a little girl to learn - easy and pretty. I made a cake recently for my mom that had the faces of each of her grandkids and grandpuppies on it. I got the idea from the wilton Family tree cake. An 8 year old could probably get the hang of making the buttercream circle with tip 12 and then adding the little details with tip 3...and my nephews and nieces loved the idea that they were on the slices of cake they were eating...

Take a look at this. Some nice ideas on it:

http://www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com/projects.cfm?cat=4

http://www.wilton.com/recipes/icingfunkidsproject/

this is the section on Wiltons that I found for my Scouts to learn.

thanks to all of you for your lovely comments! the pumpkin cupcakes are rolled buttercream - easy to do. just cut out a disk the size of the top, smooth it on and score the sections with a small knife. take a little green rbc & shape it into the pumpkin top with your fingers. roll little ropes, twist and attach for the tendrills. tfl.

Those websites were perfect! Thanks so much!