Hello to all members!! This is my very first forum post and I'm sure I'll be getting a few giggles. I am attempting(and i use this term loosely) to make my daughter's first birthday cake. I'm doing a simple vanilla and chocolate swirl but heres the kicker, it's a Hello Kitty head shaped cake. I have the pan, compliments of Joann's. I will be using a vanilla buttercream, jelly beans for the eyes and nose and black licorice for the whiskers. I was wondering if there was anything I should know about using butter cream? Or maybe someone has a particular recipe they are fond of? I will be using a star tip for the face. Any tips, tricks of the trade, hints, suggestions or comments would be very much appreciated!!! Oh and has anyone used powder whitener? If so, thoughts?

Thanks again!! ♥

=KoopaLove=

Hi!

I would highly suggest buying the triple star tip from JoAnn: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=zprd_02784445a

I made a soccer cake and piped with a single star tip for the whole cake - took me forever!! This will save you a lot of time.

As for buttercream, it depends on your taste, what consistency your after blah blah. but this one is pretty good, especially for what your doing (is sort of a stiff buttercream, once it sets)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buttercream-icing/detail.aspx

Welcome KoopaLove, If you use clear extracts, your frosting should be pretty white. I use 1C. Shortening, 1C. Butter, 2Lbs. Powdered Sugar, 1Tbs Vanilla (clear in this case). HTH