Edible Markers

• Purchase white icing sheets and edible markers in various colors from a craft or confectionery store. Draw an outline of the shape of the cake on the sheet and let kids paint pictures on the sheets. Kids can scribble, write words or create artistic masterpieces in this outline. Alternatively, let them cover the whole sheet and cut out a piece to fit the cake. Once complete, cut out the picture and place it on top of the frosted cake. Add some piped frosting to cover the edges, or let kids place gumdrops or seasonal candies around the edges of the drawing.
  
  

Sugar Numbers and Letters

• Grocery and confectionery stores carry an assortment of edible candy numbers and letters. Kids can create special messages or poems to decorate the cake. Plan the spacing of the letters before arranging on the frosting to keep it smooth. Kids can also use the numbers and letters to create designs. For a birthday cake, kids can spell out the name and age or a date of birth with letters. Complete the decorating with candles. Coordinate the color of the frosting to the colors of the letters and numbers so they show up well on the cake.
  
  

Candy

• Visit a candy shop to find many possibilities in candy decorations. Use seasonal candies to create designs, like candy corn to create a pumpkin face for Halloween or candy hearts to make a heart design for Valentine's Day. Another idea is to use various candy shapes to create a picture. Have the kids plan the picture before shopping so you know what to purchase. Jelly rings, gumdrops, hard candies or chocolate candies come in a variety of shapes.
  
  

Sprinkles

• Sprinkles come in all kinds of shapes and colors and in seasonal and year-round designs. Tiny leaf sprinkles could be scattered as if falling from the branches of a chocolate frosting tree for a fall cake. Add bat-shaped sprinkles for a Halloween cake. Use plain sprinkles in various solid colors to "paint" a picture. Kids can draw the picture on paper, and then recreate the design using sprinkles on the cake. Rainbows, clouds and grass are a few easy designs to create in this way.