There are a lot of great decorators out there and I'd love to learn from you. I haven't taken any classes and have been decorating for about two months now and have learned everything from this site. Please look at this cake and tell me what I can do to improve it. If you have time take a look at my other pictures and let me know what I can do to improve. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
MJ 
PS ... I can't attach them so you will have to look in my photos ... sorry
I'm sorry ... it said the picture had too many pixels ... I couldn't attach it. I was asking about the blue, green, and orange Happy Birthday cake because its the first time I've really used tips.
Thanks ... but I need them to be picked apart ... my brother just asked if I'd do his wedding cake in May .... so I have to do a lot of practicing. 
Wow! If this is one of your first tries with tips, you are doing well! Everything is very neat and your handwriting is great. I suggest you get some books to study different types of borders. You can do this for free at the library!
The string work on the side is one of the more difficult things to do. You have done a great job keeping it even. If you would like them to be more rounded, you shouldn't press the icing directly against the cake the whole way. Attach the icing at the beginning, then pull slightly away from the cake and move slowly toward your ending spot while squeezing. The icing should fall gracefully to the correct level but not touch the cake until you get to the end. This is kind of hard to explain and takes practice.
I'd say the design is a little busy. I prefer simple but that is a personal choice.
Keep practicing! You are off to a great start.
Thank you Jenn123. I understand what you are saying about the string work. I was sort of doing that but then I started to attach it more to the cake because it felt like they were going to break. I also agree that it is busy but I was trying to do a lot of stuff to one cake to get to practice more things. My family isn't huge cake eaters so I have been taking advantage of making cakes for everyone who's birthday I know ... my uncle got this one. Thanks for taking the time to help me.
MJ
mjsparkles2001
Your cake is very nice I, too, am self taught and have been doing this for almost 2 months. The wonderful people here at CC are the best teachers anyone could want. I, also, feel like my cakes are too busy. Maybe it is because we are so new. Personally I don't think your cake is too busy (except for the little candies on top). But like Jenn123 said it's a personal choice. Just remember that practice makes perfect. I practice every chance I get which unfortunately isn't as often as I would like.
You are off to a great start and I know we will be seeing great cakes from you! Keep up the good work
Lazy_Susan 
Well Honey, I can't criticize your work. I think it is excellent for someone having no classes. I would advise you to buy some practice mats from Wiltons. They will help you with your borders and other things.( Its been 27 years since I used them) They were very inexpensive and a big help.
Lazy_Susan ... I love your cakes, did you teach yourself how to do the roses too? I love the heart cake ... my birthday is on Valentines Day so maybe I'll make myself one . And yes, CC does have the best teachers.
Subaru ... thank you! Where can I get those mats? I have a Michaels around here, would they carry them? I also have a cake supply store but I have spent so much time there that the owner knows me by name and I've looked at EVERY thing they have and don't remember seeing them. 27 years ... you've been decorating cakes longer then I've been alive so THANK YOU for taking time to look at my work ... I appreciate everything you have to say.
Lazy_Susan ... I love your cakes, did you teach yourself how to do the roses too?
Yes I taught myself everything including the roses. However, they will always be a work in progress. I'm still waiting to be happy with them.
I purchased the 3 Wilton Course Books and they have helped a lot. I found them on Ebay.
You're doing really well! Just keep practicing...and reading. I like Colette Peters' books, but I recommend reading lots of different stuff, including this site. You'll start to grasp all the terminology and gets lots of ideas as you do this.
Don't forget to ask a lot of questions!! The decorators on this site are so helpful. And the forum has a good search feature to look for old threads on specific topics.
I taught myself, also. I've learned a lot by reading and just doing!
Good luck!
Thanks for all of the advice so far ... anybody else want to help?
ok, I think they are great and i cant believe you have only been at this for two months. i have one suggestion. on the castle cake, IF it was me, and this is just my own opinion, i would have covered the ice cream cones with icing. but like i said i cant believe you have only been at this for two months.
I thnk that you are doing quite well, and have a lot of talent. My suggestion is to start with the basic Wilton way of cake decorating. Once you have gotten familiar with Wilton, you can branch off and study different styles. My personal favorites are Colette Peters, Toba Garrett, and Scott Clark Woolley.
Alracntna ... thank you and I never thought about covering them. Maybe I'll try that next time. The castel cake was my second cake that I decorated ever and it took a long time. Thats probably why they didn't get covered.
I love all the advise ... keep it coming!
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