Birthday cake making help

amachuta

Well, as you saw in the randoms...Noah's 1st birthday party is coming up in a couple of weeks!  I am not the greatest party planner, but am going to attempt to make his cake.  I want to make a monkey cake, as that is what I call him.  I have gone online for ideas and have not found any that I totally love.  I also cannot find a cute pan in the stores.  I am thinking just a simple monkey face is what I want.  Do you think just baking a round cake a frosting it to be a face would work?  What do I do for the ears?  I should just go have it made...but they are so expensive that way!!

GRKaters

Look at a picture of Curious George; he has a pretty simple shape. I think it could be very easily replicated with a round cake (or 13x9 that you trim) pan, with cupcakes for ears. Or, make a batch of cupcakes (or two) and arrange them on a platter until you come up with a head/ear shape you're pleased with, then frost with a pastry bag + tip. I'd do the details with frosting you pipe on.

Deeder522

http://www.wilton.com/idea/Monkey-Cake

http://www.wilton.com/idea/Go-Bananas

Have you seen these? 

GRsweetpea

Willa's first birthday was a monkey cake.  I worked from this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/tv/martha_stewart_show/show_photos/1151_2000/1153_recipe_monkeycake_l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.marthastewart.com/339242/monkey-cake&h=281&w=225&sz=18&tbnid=0Q7Bu8UCzL8YCM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=72&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmartha%2Bstewart%2Bmonkey%2Bcake%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=martha+stewart+monkey+cake&docid=2l_9GAgUKdwHjM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cmZ3TqPjM-ndiALY2dCzAg&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQ9QEwAg&dur=1607

Ooh, if that's not clickable, google "martha stewart monkey cake."

For the pan, I just used a metal mixing bowl.  The ears are just a cupcake, cut in 1/2.

And, for Willa's own little cake that she could put her own baby drool all over, I made a smaller loaf sized cake, and decorated it with a frosting banana.

Hoektastic

I have nothing to add to the awesome suggestions already. Good luck with the baking and can't wait to see pictures!!

amachuta

Thank you everyone!  Very helpful for different ideas!  Now I need to find a Michael's coupon and go get some supplies.  Thanks soooo much!!!