Even those who have never baked and decorated a cake before in their lives will be able to make beautiful cakes with the help of this book. The first section of the book looks at the equipment you will need and demonstrates the standard cake and icing recipes required to bake and cover all kinds of cakes. Subsequent sections explain techniques for decorating with sugarpaste, royal icing, marzipan and buttercream. There are instructions on making sugar flowers and leaves, and many other sugarcraft techniques such as fabric effects, piping royal icing, modelling figures and animals--all accompanied by beautiful cake designs that are simple to create by following the clear, step-by-step instructions.