My first cake

A year ago this month, I decided it was time to expand my creativity into something I could eat.  I love cake, and I LOVED watching Ace of Cakes (even more than Cake Boss... I find AofC way more interested in the finite and finishing details than CB).  I gathered up all of the supplies I could muster that my Grandma and Mom had collected over the years and went to work.

I researched fondant online until I found a great marshmallow recipe and destroyed our kitchen in the process of making my first batch, but it tasted delicious!  I asked my Mom for any advice and used all of it!

My first cake was a little out of place for an October birthday, but who's judging?!  I spent the better part of an entire day working on it, and could NOT have finished it had my husband and mother-in-law not watched my kids for me.

Making the cake.

My first piece of rolled fondant... obviously I had spacial recognition problems at the beginning.

I utilized colored buttercream frosting to add

texture for the sand for a bit of visual interest. 

Here I am with the cake as we are just about to jet out the door for the party.

 

A view from the top.

 

And a side angle to show the dimension.

It was an incredibly fun cake to work on and to test my general ability to create such a fun edible item!

Disclaimer: This was with no formal training or prior practice.