Help please. My boss' birthday is coming up and I have to do the cake. I have done a flip flop cake and a luau themed cake but want to do something different with shells - but I do not want it to look like a wedding cake. Any ideas?

why not cover the cake in "sand" and write happy birthday in the sand, scatter shells around randomly

I haven't tried making coral or seaweed yet, I might give it a try and maybe have a central point and then scatter them around. Thanks for the help!

Take a look in the galleries - there is an ocean/beach gallery.

I've made quite a few beach-themed cakes. The candy molds are great for shells.