I'm looking for cakes that can give me ideas for a summer picnic. Have you seen ones with a checkered tablecloth? Ants? Thanks!

I'm hesitant to post it, because I'm not proud of this cake, which is one of my early ones (and my only attempt at a topsy-turvy). But maybe the concept will be helpful to you in some way.

It was made for an exterminator's company picnic. The ants are stealing the strawberries (which are actually cake balls) off the picnic table. (It's hard to see in the photo.) There's lots of bugs of various kinds.

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1158899

I realize this isn't a cake but it would sure look cute as one, even cuter! put some ants on the tablecloth like you mentioned. Here is the link:
www.creativeacademics.com/images/ler7223.jpg

I am thinking: make the basket brown like a picnic basket and put food in it like the picture, add a soda bottle (old fashioned). That would be cute, I couldn't do it, but I am sure you could!

I did a search in the galleries and found a gazillion picnic cakes with checkered tablecloths...lots with ants. Have a look
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&meta=search&type=full&search=picnic&album=-&search_user=

Don't forget to post pictures when you get it done!

There are directions for the picnic table red/white checked cloth ants and all the food in Fun with Fondant book (Wilton I believe), I t looks so cute. Not adventurous enough to attempt it myself yet.

Here is a pic of a picnic cake I did for a neighborhood party with checkered table cloth, ants and a picnic. HTH

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1271244

Thanks everyone, that gives me lots of inspiration!!! Sugar, what did you type in to find all the pictures you did?