I would like to surprise a 8yr old boy that I used to babysit years
ago with a cake for his first communion and I would like to make
this cake http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1049193.html any suggestion on how to make the tree ?

Have you pm'd the original artist?

If I were doing that, I'd first try painting a dowel and adding floral wire for the branches. You could also try covering the dowel with icing...I've seen people do that with both BC and RI.

Good luck.

Dear Carol:
I made the tree, with a wire that was the squeleton forming the trunk and the branches. After I covered all the wire with sugar paste (The same you use to make the flowers and animals), and if it was driing the better because it resemble the real holes of the wood. I let it dry for about two days, and finally y flued the small leaves, that I made with a mold painting them with a mixture of green and brown.
Hope it works well
Maria