Cake decorating - how do I make flames/fire from icing?

[CobOnTheCorn]

OK, I'm making a cake for DS1 and I have a picture in my mind, inspired by something on the web where there are flames licking up the sides of the cake, not on the top.

Can I pipe them do you think or do I need to cut templates out of sugarpaste, perhaps with a leaf template.

I think piping will look better but I'm not sure how to do it and what size nozzle to use.

It depends what look you're after, if you want a neat and clean look I think making waved leaf templates from stiff card, and using sugarpaste would be best. If you want them to be 'wild' I'd suggest piping them, perhaps with a basket weave tip?

Or I saw this recently, and thought it was an amazing idea:

cdn.cakecentral.com/6/60/900x900px-LL-60094f7a_gallery6778381337779020.jpeg

Wouldn't know where to begin with gelatin though

Thanks icing, this is the effect I'm looking for.

I was looking at basket weave nozzles today but I didn't buy one...maybe I can experiment with the nozzles I do have and hope the birthday boy doesn't notice if they aren't too good.

Sorry if this is too late, have you seen this?

HTH

I made this for my dds birthday;

pennysfoodblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/hunger-games-birthday-cake/

I used fondant icing in red, orange & yellow then glued the pieces onto the side of the cake. It was strangely therapeutic!

Hth