Hi, this is my first post here but I have been a lurker for a few weeks now. I have taken class 1 of course 1 only.

I am hoping someone can help me. I need to practice my frosting technique so I thought I would make a cake for mothers day. I can do a shell border and that is about all. I am thinking chocolate cake with PB BC frosting. I need some ideas for the top to decorate it a little bit. I do not know how to make flowers yet. I was thinking of just shaving some chocolate and putting it on the top kind of in the center.

Do any of you have any easy ideas? Pictures would be great.

Thanks in advance, you ladies and your cakes are simply amazing!

Well since you can do a shell border why not just put a shell border on top and bottom, then get some of the fun fetti pieces and sprinkle them on top for color. This would let you work on frosting the cake but not get overwhelmed with trying to do too much on your first one.

Welcome Mindy! You have been lurking... now you have entered the dark side

You could use heart shaped pans if you so desired... if not round is just fine. To add a little "umph" you could grid or quilt the sides (example below.) I had a mat to imprint my grid, but you can do the same thing by lightly pressing a ruler into the buttercream then going back over it with a pizza cutter.

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1347136

Since you know the shell border, use multiple sizes in that and layer them. I'd suggest real edible flowers since you have not started piping any yet. You can use egg white to paint the flower and then coat it in sugar for a beautiful presentation. Pansies are a wonderful flower to use this time of year.

Most of all -- have fun!

real or silk flowers are always a great way to spruce up a cake w/ ease. i have also used some type of keepsake, like you would a wedding cake topper. it dresses up the cake easily and gives the recipient something to remember the day by. i have used everything from keychains to ornaments! check out my pics...

good luck!

If all you know is shell, you can still do some flowers that are real easy! Instead if doing the shell border in a line, use it as petals. I did it for a demo last week and it turned out really cute!

http://www.wilton.com/idea/Shell-Flower-Cupcakes

These are examples of other flowers from the wilton site that are also easy and all you need is a star tip!

http://www.wilton.com/idea/Flower-Power
http://www.wilton.com/idea/Pink-Petal-Cupcakes

Good luck and happy mothers day to you!

Thank you all. I am already addicted to this hobby. I like the icing flowers they look easy enought maybe I will try that.

My mom saw this in a book when she was out shopping with me and said the next cake I make for her she wanted this. (huge hint huh)

http://www.wilton.com/idea/Worlds-of-Swirl-Cake

For my first cake, I did a shell on the bottom, same frosting used for cake and then I did cornelli lace on the top, using a #3 tube, just swirling the tube randomly. In the center, you could add fresh strawberries or any small berry. And then I sprinkled clear edible glitter lightly over the top. What I did was a mound of sweet peas using tip #103 or 104 or you can make stars, mounded up, same tip you used for the shell border! Good luck, I hope you share your masterpiece on CAKECENRAL!

I found this link to show you the cornelli lace:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1914.html

Welcome to Cake Central. You will deffinately get alot of help here. I have been decorating for a long time and I still learn something new everyday from everyone here. One of the things I did on my first cake was candy molds. Those are so easy to make and they come in just about ever style that represents things about every person. They dress up a cake very nice too. Another idea is to get pattern press sets from your local craft store and just press the design onto the cake and then use your icing tips to pipe over it. Hope this helps you. Happy Caking!

So far I made a bunch of 2D twisted flowers with white centers. Alot of them are not the prettiest but I think they are ok for my first time. Cakes are done but I guess my oven isnt level cause my cake is a little lopsided but I can level it. No biggie. It is fun just playing around, though I am a little messy LOL