Hey-
I love to bake and I am interested in starting to make special occasion cakes for friends and neighbors. I am wondering if someone can tell me the "TOP" items needed to start this project? I am excited to hear your feedback!!
Thanks,
Jannabananna
Hi and Welcome to CC, jannabananna. 
Decoding CC acronyms:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-2926-.html
Everything you need to know to make, decorate and assemble your 1st tiered/stacked/layer cake:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-605188-.html
Above superthread has popular CC recipes for American buttercreams, several types of fondant and doctored cake mix (WASC and flavor variations) - and so much more.
If you have a Michael's or Hobby Lobby, use their every other week 40% off coupon to buy Wilton decorating supplies:
Grocery store cake pans are short and can "nest" inside each other, so they're too short don't have the straight sides necessary for decorating.
Since rounds are the most versatile, buy two Wilton 2" round cake pans sets (6, 8, 10, 12" pans):
(Having two sets will make baking layer cakes so much easier...)
http://www.shopbakersnook.com/m5_view_item.html?m5:item=549
(This should be available at Michaels/Hobby Lobby. Don't know why Wilton doesn't have the site on their site.)
Rectangle/sheet cake:
(13x9x2 is a good start. The Decorator Preferred's have true straight corners, but the Performance Pans might be easier to find.)
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=44ED1943-475A-BAC0-50B6E600F89A296C&fid=81EC0F12-475A-BAC0-5168C47BB471CD53
Master Tip set:
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30DB21-475A-BAC0-58A6E2A5ADF91CE6&fid=772AE9F5-475A-BAC0-5DC68657B2B0D6F1
Bake-Even Strip and Cake Levelers:
(Small & Large Strips, Small & Large Leveler)
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30D620-475A-BAC0-592117323818A1AA&killnav=1
http://search.wilton.com/?q=leveler#cat1=Cake+Decorating+Shop&i=1&q=leveler&type=Products&u1=q&u2=type&u3=cat1
Cooling Racks:
(Two 14x20.)
http://search.wilton.com/?q=cooling+grid
Flower Nails:
(2-3 to use in place of heating cores, because they don't leave huge holes.)
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30DA27-475A-BAC0-5B9517D6CAF8BB75&killnav=1
Rotating Turntable:
(I have the tilting cake turntable; it works well for my needs.)
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=3E304FF8-475A-BAC0-58FF52D27BE2C235&fid=3E305C9B-475A-BAC0-5F51AFCBE56E0136
Icing dye:
(This set should be more than adequate.)
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30C98D-475A-BAC0-5187E9B047CE5077&fid=77280EA2-475A-BAC0-58196290B17A7323
Spatulas:
(One small & one large. Offset or straight, whichever you prefer.)
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=3E305018-475A-BAC0-56557901E4F4FE90&fid=3E305CBA-475A-BAC0-5AAF24ED7B10B8E0
Disposable decorating bags:
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E3140A2-475A-BAC0-5B28E521A6E98B34&fid=3E3323AA-475A-BAC0-54E78063B9BC34D5
Tip #789 & large featherweight decorating bag - great for applying first coat of frosting evenly.
If you want to get the hang of how premade fondant feels (so you can make your own) - or to practice with, Wilton is fine. Just don't eat it!
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=3E304F7B-475A-BAC0-519BB04D28FDC88E&fid=3E305C1E-475A-BAC0-5DB10AEAB3C4D574
Cakeboards, etc.:
(Just buy as necessary.)
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=76A2CEC2-475A-BAC0-55955840745EE455&fid=71CF77D0-1E0B-C910-EA3F98C01AAC94F4
And of course, you'll need couplers and rings. And for the huge icing tip, a large coupler and ring.
Definitely don't get the Icing sculptor - doesn't work:
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E31A21B-475A-BAC0-51A3CBEF4593810B&killnav=1
The Wilton "dusts" are okay to play with but just about any other brand is better...
HTH
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