Icing novice with her knickers in a twist

[LaTrucha]

I've got myself all over-excited about making cupcakes for a birthday picnic. Or rather, I'm excited about icing them. I'm not an icer by nature, but I thought I'd have a go at doing something fun.

I stupidly picked up a pack of Dr Oetker's coloured icing while over-excited in the supermarket, but the colours are garish (red, green, yellow, black) and actually, they look quite poisonous. Should I forgo it.

I also have one of those icing tube things that I bought when my dd was a tiny baby and I was imagining parties of the future.

I'm tempted to go for the good old splash of icing and silver balls, but would also be a bit disappointed with myself after getting so excited about being adventurous.

What could I try?

[Xavielli]

Get yourself a nice BIG star tip and an icing bag and do butter cream swirls!

[misshardbroom]

why not put plain white glace icing (from a packet of icing sugar made up with hot water but quite thick) on the cupcakes and then cut some little shapes or the appropriate birthday number out of your scary coloured stuff?

[LaTrucha]

Xavielli - I think that would probably be more delicious, but get mushed on the way to the park.

Misshardbroom - hmm.... I could do stars.... good idea [shuffles off to ponder scary colours again...]

[Scootergrrrl]

Plain white icing and coloured dots (of poisonous icing pen!) look really effective.

[LaTrucha]

Another good idea. I'm going to do a dry run tonight!