My first ever attempt at icing a cake

Tomorrow is my boss's birthday. She's a cake decorator by trade, and I thought maybe she'd like someone to make her a cake for a change. However I had never iced a cake before in my life and really had no idea how. I tell you what - it's not as easy as it looks. The first layer of sugarpaste (fondant) went totally wrong and I tore huge holes in it trying to get it onto the cake. I covered it up with a second layer which is full of cracks and creases but at least it covers the whole thing... and at least it's not right at the front! Also the letters were very hard to cut out and use without pulling them out of shape or putting dents in them, so if anyone has any tips please let me know.



Anyway here's the cake, my first attempt. I'm pleased with it and disappointed with it at the same time, but hopefully my boss will appreciate the thought!

I made all the little white flowers with a plunger cutter, and rolled the yellow middles by hand. The icing is just white ready made sugarpaste from Sainsburys which I dyed myself with gel food colouring. The grass is made from buttercream and piped with my Wilton grass/hair tube.

What do you think? I need someone else to have a birthday soon so I have an excuse to have another go!