My cake was a success!

I did it! I made the Diego cake!

I went to a local craft store last week, one day after work, and found a Diego candle, some jungle animals, palm trees and a few frosting colors that I didn't have. (Note to self: next time buy jungle animals from the dollar store. LOL!)

On Saturday morning, I baked a white 9 X 13 cake and left it to cool while I ran errands. That evening, after an impromptu dinner out and a trip to walmart, I got to work on the cake. I had gone to the Wilton website and got the recipe for Butter Cream frosting and used that. It was much easier to decorate with than canned frosting and withstood the heat, while driving to MIL's house, much better than canned has in the past. And it was so EASY to make! I think this will be my new decorator frosting. I thought about posting the recipe, but don't know if I should, so if you want it, just go to the Wilton site and look for the recipe. It was pretty easy to find.

First, I crumb coated the cake, then let it chill for a while. I have NEVER done this before, but it made such a difference, that I will definitely do it from now on. After the cake chilled for about 30 minutes, while I sat on my rear doing nothing, I frosted the sides in white, then I started coloring in separate bowls. I used medium green, dark green, blue and dark gray.

I was so please with the results. Here is it. There are 3 palm trees on the cake that are hard to see because of the wood table. It is a little messy in spots, so ignore those.
MIL asked if I bought it at Kroger. I laughed. I don't think Kroger sells cakes in 30 year old Tupperware cake takers. She loved it. Everyone else love it and Theo just loved it. He, of course, wanted to eat it immediately

After singing Happy Birthday and Theo blowing out the candles, Theo said, "This cake is yummy."

Ahhhh.....sweet success.

(I want to make another one now. The next birthday is not until September, though.)