Can anyone help me make DD a 3rd Birthday cake please?

[SeeJaneKick]

I can bake a bit but everytime I have tried to make a Birthday cake I always mess it up....go too far and end up running out to buy one!

I want a pretty but simple cake...something with a bit of a wow factor but not too much work or equipment! Please

She likes anything....nature stuff....animals like mice and cats particularly...

I made my daughter a chocolate hedgehog cake for her 2nd b'day. She loved it and it was really easy to do.

I just googled recipe.

I made dd a ladybird cake when she was 2. Round madeira cake covered in red sugarpaste then stick chocolate buttons on for the dots. Arrange some black and white sugarpaste for the face and antenae.

For DD's 3rd birthday I made a big square Vic Sandwich. I then covered it in bright pink sugarpaste icing ( that I bought, ready coloured ), and then covered that in jellybeans every hue of pink there is.

She and all the kids adored it. Very simple.

Do you want a theme or character?

If not, think the biggest chocolatiest cake covered in as much pink icing and sprinkles/buttons/sweets.

Or do a plain cake with ready rolled icing and stick a cake topper from here on. You could do a photo of your DD. You can also get loads on ebay if you search for "cake topper"

You could make a dinosaur cake

Or use a number 3 shape mould (or cut the shape out of a rectangular tin)

Make a cake in a rectangular tin. When it's cool cut it into a butterfly shape. This is not as difficult as you would think. Imagine an oblong for the body, cut little triangles out at the top and bottom and triangles out at the middle at either end for the wings. Don, t worry if it looks rough the detail is in the icing. Fill in the body oblong with one colour then the wings with the other. Outline the wings for definition with a contrast colour and fill them in with child friendly decorations.