decorate cakes?

I've always been interested in taking a cake decorating class so this fall I figured, why not?  It was a lot of fun.  I signed up through CCBC's Life Enrichment Courses (there were SO many that looked like fun).  It was a four week buttercream class.  I learned icing techniques that are similar to those you can buy at the grocery store. Here are pictures from some of my "dummy" cakes.

I also learned how to make flowers (yes, those typical roses and pansies you find on cakes).

 

So, I didn't realize that the class was only four weeks (it seemed to go so quickly).  I didn't bring in a real cake on the last class so I'll have to test out my techniques this weekend with a homemade cake.  Below is a picture of the instructor showing the class how to make a dog cake.  Here's a website(cake central) with a TON of cake ideas that just about anyone can do!

Next week I start fondant class. Although I've heard that it doesn't taste so great, fondant cakes look awesome. Let's hope I can mine to look like the website!