I'm stumped. Lots of ladybugs out there (which he loves, by the way, but that seems too girly). Must be easy (i.e., not drawn on with icing too much because I suck).

What about a 3-d spider? You can use the sports ball pan and the mini ball pan or a cupcake shaped down for the head. You can use black licorice for the legs. That would be cute and you could just ice it black with the grass (233) tip. If you need more cake, you can put it on a sheet cake and ice that green with the grass tip.

Hope that helps!

here an idea

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/cake/cake_bugmountain/

wiltons new lady bug pan has a great idea for a bee that's pretty cool.

How about a Caterpillar Cake? That's a little more boyish. . .
Here are 2 links I found when I googled it.

http://www.butterflies.co.za/caterpillar_eyes_enlarged.htm

This one has 2 views of a catepillar cake.
http://community.webshots.com/album/251472015YmuViY/1

also, here's a pic of one I found on the net.

Good luck!

Remember to post a pic of your cake

you know, there are boy ladybugs too...if you'd like to do the ladybug (and who wouldn't? they're very visually appealling), and you're worried about the gendered impact of the cake, then butch the bug up a little, perhaps with some cool sunglasses or a little hat (or top hat and bowtie if it's an elegant affair). or even just focus on making cartoonish eyes that aren't too feminine (nix the eyelashes).

i once had a customer (who didn't indicate any decorating requests on her order) who complained because her son's birthday cake had blue borders with peach roses (standard birthday cake)...she said: but it's a boy, to which i replied: the cake isn't a boy...it's a cake! and heck, boys should be able to appreciate flowers too!

I think I would make a round cake with green background, tufts of grass here and there and some jungle looking leaves, maybe a palm tree or two. Then get a set of plastic bugs from the dollar store or somewhere and place on top, crawling up and down the sides...

That sounds cute too. You know they make all sorts of gummy candies shaped like worms, spiders and things like that. You could use those or the toys like you said, either way I am sure the birthday boy will love it.

Here is a inchworm cake that I made last month for my son's birthday and he just loved it.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?recipeId=34327


~Denise

I'll post a pic of whatever I decide! Can't wait for the party!