"Cake decorating is a fabulous mixture of cookery and art, a blend of relaxation and excitement, with a sprinkling of inspiration, precise care and reckless use of the imagination all thrown in for good measure. The Home Guide to Cake Decorating will lead a newcomer through the simplest basics of this wonderful, colourful pastime, but also contains great ideas and fantastic creations to inspire experienced sugar-crafters. If you have never baked before, but want to make a teddy-bear's picnic for your toddler's birthday, or if you are planning a three-tiered traditional cake with sugar roses for a family wedding, or if you would just like to bake a luscious chocolate gateau for tea with friends, this is the book to show you how to do it. The Home Guide to Cake Decorating features both easy-to-follow instructions for beginners, from baking the cake to simple piping, and inspirational ideas for experienced sugar-crafters seeking new challenges. It also includes a brief history of cake decorating and a full glossary of the terms used. Basic icing and cake recipes enable the reader to use their favourite cake for any of the decorative ideas. In-depth instructions, with beautiful photography, will guide the beginner from the simplest of sugarpaste decorations through to covering cakes with royal icing and constructing tiered cakes with a professional finish. "