To ask you how to decorate a Lion cake?

[DanaScully83]

It is my son's birthday this weekend and due to his current obsession with Lions I have promised him a Lion birthday cake. I thought it would be pretty simple - but whilst I'm pretty good at baking - I am a novice when it comes to icing and decorating!
I'm planning on a two tier victoria sponge with a yellow buttercream icing. But what then?!? I've even bought (but never used) a cake turntable - so please let me know your tips!
My Google search lead to examples of cakes gone wrong and I don't want to add to them this weekend!

Loads of ideas here that look achievable:

www.google.com/search?q=simple+lion+cake&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=cU2qMUe1fTjg8M%253A%252CPKRoWmGkDlU6DM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQ7JED1EdegabPYtsnzsPJmqoCB2Q&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJwqug0M_jAhXLbsAKHRFLC8UQ9QEwBHoECAYQDA#imgrc=_&vet=1

This one in particular would be the work of minutes, but there are slightly more ambitious ones.

www.pinterest.com/pin/301530137545433394/

Can you adapt the marshmallow ‘flowers’ to a lions mane around a simple fondant set of eyes/nose/muzzle?
(Google marshmallow flower cupcake to see what I mean - you get marshmallows, cut them in half diagonally, dip in coloured sugar and set in buttercream.)

The one here with the number 3 on it looks a simple way to do it OP.

Yellow fondant sheet to cover, buttercream mane and then fondant cut outs for the features.

Please come back and post once you have done it. I love seeing homemade children's cakes.

Or how about this one

I have made one very similar (but a teddy bear) you just need a Wilson grass icing nozzle using orange/brown icing! Easy. I am also a great baker but am hopeless at icing, and this was straightforward, but takes a bit of time.

custom.edithpatisserie.com/products/piped-lion-cake

This one looks very simple. You can buy black and white sugar paste from the supermarket or hobbycraft and the rest is just buttercream dyed yellow and orange.

As a tip, I would make a Madeira sponge not a Victoria. It’s just as easy to make but it’s a much sturdier cake (so supports decorating better) and keeps for longer.

Also - my best ever top tip for a totally flat surface for decorating: cut an old tea towel into strips, soak them in cold water and tie them round the outside of your cake tins while the cakes bake. It will mean the cake cooks at the same rate everywhere and you will get a totally flat, even top.

Like this!