Fondant

• Use fondant to add texture, life and color to the cake. But unless you have a serious background in baking, it's probably best to purchase fondant ready-made. Fondant icing has a clay-like consistency and may be sculpted into many different kinds of shapes. You can also add various colors to fondant. Top each layer with fondant and cover the surface of the cake to give it a smooth appearance. Roll out fondant and cut strips with scissors or a sharp knife to make ribbons. Place the ribbons of fondant on top of the fondant covered cake to create the look of a wrapped present. Fondant can also be used to craft lifelike figures and representations.
  
  Bake a standard sheet cake for Thanksgiving guests. Top with pale orange or yellow icing to indicate the fall season. Add a turkey sculpted from fondant to the top of the cake. Surround the turkey with pumpkins and corn made out of fondant.
  
  

Buttercream

• As the name implies, buttercream icing consists largely of butter and cream or milk. Buttercream icing has a less smooth texture than fondant but can be easier to work with and may appeal to a wider variety of tastes.
  
  Cover a cake with buttercream icing to celebrate a baby shower. Ice the cake with alternating ribbons of pink and blue. Top with white roses crafted from buttercream. Place sprigs of baby's breath flowers on the edge of the cake to complete the look.
  
  Celebrate a spring birthday with a cake made with strawberries. Bake a round cake. Cut in half and fill the middle with strawberry preserves. Cover the sides with buttercream icing. Place a dollop of strawberry preserves in the middle of the top of the cake. Cover the rest of the area with buttercream. Place candles on the buttercream.
  
  

Other Materials

• Bring out your imaginative side using different food items to create an unusual cake. Start with a basic cake topped with fondant or buttercream.
  
  Make a cake for a Christmas party by topping it with round peppermint candies on the sides and gumdrops in the middle.
  
  Celebrate a fall birthday with cake topped with Granny Smith apple puree and rows of small different chocolate miniatures. Make a fat ghost from marshmallows and tree branches from lines of black licorice.