Amateur baker- please help me make this cake look nice!

[Erythrosint]

Im not loving the cool tones of the teddy against the buttercream. My yellow buttercream mixed with pink food colouring has gone too peachy...should I add flowers to the cake...piping? Please help!

It definitely needs something. The buttercream looks a little thin- I can see cake through it (or at least crumbs). I would cover in white fondant then add the teddy with some pink flowers etc, plus maybe the name. I'm assuming christening or baby birthday? A bit like this

@inappropriateraspberry thank you for your message. Its for a friend, she doesnt like fondant. So Im a bit stuck...

I do have left over buttercream, maybe I could pipe over the crumby bits....

Can you do some more buttercream to a pink to match the teddy?

Then I'd cover the top with piping and lots of stuff. Mini meringues and/or macarons, flowers, chocolates (probably white), etc.
What about a drip topping? Would break up the sides.

I think you can get away with the sides being slightly bare but would need more decoration at the top. I would pipe flowers in white and some other colours- maybe pink and lilac to try brighten it a little.

@ThatSharpCrow because the buttercream was yellowy, I cant get it to match the cool tones.

I was thinking to add white and pink flowers to balance it up...what do you think?

@inappropriateraspberry ooh! I love the idea of mini meringues. Thank you!

@Hiddenvoice thank you, notes of purple and lilac sound good.

Tip - add a teeny tiny bit of purple colour to your buttercream and it will make it whiter, but be careful or it turns grey! You can then add the colour you want and it should be more vivid.

So randomly I've just watched a video on Instagram & to get white buttercream you need room temp soft butter & to mix for 20 minutes stopping every 5 minutes to mix in the bottom & sides by hand.

I'm no baker just sharing what I saw should it help in future.

The bear is very cute!

It looks like you forgot to crumb coat it and didn’t mix the food colouring in to the icing well enough.
I would mix another lot of buttercream and really mix the pink in so it’s not got any yellow in it. Then put another layer on the cake. Maybe pipe an edging around the top of the cake and you could add more decoration to the top

@inappropriateraspberry yes thats a great tip and it works...Unfortunately, I didnt have time to order or purchase the purple food colouring and my local shop didnt have it.

@spottydinosaur thank you! Thats really kind of you to say!

@Gymmum82 I did crumb coat it, then chilled it! Then went over it again! Clearly I need more practice.

Im going to do a piping, as I dont have white chocolate to make a drip...then decorate with flowers. Thank you to everyone for all your help!

Post a finished picture.

Your buttercream looks neat and fine (presumably this is gift/favour from you as you say ameteur) I'd concentrate on adding more to the top in pink and white , maybe a white fondant flower circle the size of the top of the cake that the friend can easily remove for cutting? Sort of like a mat to put the embellishments on? Needs more for the size of cake

You have a lovely sharp edge on the buttercream!

Oetker do very pretty rice paper flowers. You could add them. But I'd do more buttercream first. This looks like the crumb layer which you let dry and then ice over to create a smooth finish.

As PP said - you have a really good, smooth finish. I'm in awe.

@Avocadosandwic I dont have any white chocolate in the house but definitely will do it next time!

@Quitelikeacatslife thats a great idea...for the future...!

@inappropriateraspberry thank you, thats so sweet of you to say as a professional baker.

@AmaryllisChorus thank you, my husband just bought me a packet..
Gosh! So much buttercream goes on cake, I used 2 quantities of my recipe! I think next time I will make sure to crumb coat really well.

@Theedgeoftheabyss here you go! I didnt finish off all the writing as it was too personal.

I was going to add fresh flowers but decided against it.

It was a vanilla sponge, brushed with a vanilla syrup. Filled with raspberry jam, buttercream and fresh raspberries. At least it tasted nice! My friend cut a slice for us all and we cooed over her precious baby!

Have you got any glitter?

Oh, that's much better! Well done!

That looks much more coordinated and professional. Well done. I'm sure it tasted scrummy too!