Complete bakery novice needs to start practising how make dd 1st birthday cake.. HELP!

[mollysawally]

Have never made a cupcake, let alone a birthday cake.

Whats the easiest recipe?
Am I going to be able to ice it?
Am I am going to be able to decorate it?

I know my dp will want to buy one, we know a lady who make the most beautiful cakes, she made dd christening cake, but I really want to make her birthday cake, so is special.

DD is only 7 months, so I have plenty of time to practise, needs it to be good to convince dp not to buy one.

Any advice or tips would be gratefully received.
Also honest comments if you think I can make a good job it as a novice.

4 eggs
8oz sr flour/sugar/marg
teaspoon baking powder.
throw all in together and whisk.
Add some chocolate powder for a chocolate sponge (cocoa or even hot choc powder will do)
Splat into 2 round cake tins ( smear marg and then sprinkle flour on these to stop it sticking)
cook at about 150 for abou 20 mins.(fan oven)

Decoration depends on what you want.
Buttercream is easy (3oz of butter with 6oz icing sugar +what ever flavouring you like) Decorate with sweets.

Or white regal ice is fairly easy- roll out and stick on cake with a bit of butter icing or jam.

You can get little packs of coloured icing (supercook make I think)which are quite good for making little models.

dd2 loved ducks so for her first birthday I made her a cake with a duck pond on.
I scooped out a little dip in the cake before putting regal ice on. Filled up the dip with blue water ice and made a duck to sit on it. Also made a few bull rushes with green regal ice stuck on a cocktail stick. Cut out a 1 from regal ice too. Looked great!