My son turns 1 on Feb 15, and I have no idea what I want to do for his cake... Or more like too many ideas! In the last 3 months I have been set on a barn yard cake, then it was a train cake and then I was thinking race car (because his birthday and party are the day of the Daytona 500 this year).

I just don't know what to do! And this is the year that I get to pick because he's not really "into" anything yet. I haven't found any cute stationary that I want to use for inspration either, so that's a dead end.

So if you have pictures of your (or other people's) awesome cakes that would be good for a little boy's first birthday and you want to throw them out there for inspiration, that would be good. I'm just stuck.

If you are 'into' the Daytona stuff, a racetrack cake could be fun! Then he would get to keep the cars too!

I would go to the party store and look at all of the napkins and paper plates and invitations. You might see something you really like. You can then design your cake to coordinate with the party decorations. I also think the Race theme is a cute idea, especially if you have Nascar fans in the family!

You're right: you get to choose this one. I've thought some about first birthday cakes; the birthday boy or girl is oblivious to the theme, but would probably be interested in nice, lively colors, so nothing too sedate. This cake is actually for you and the people who will be at the party, so look for a one-year old kind of idea that YOU like and would be thrilled to make - because if it's not going to be any fun, why not just go and buy WalMart's standard. Maybe a jar of "junior" baby food? a replica of his favorite toy? some building blocks? The first birthday cake I did for my elder daughter was a pineapple (her dad's birthday - celebrated at the same time - was two days later and he got a slice of watermelon, so the table was a fruity delight). My other daughter's first cake - if I remember correctly - had a molded sugar choo-choo on it. The middle car had a large royal icing star that I stuck a candle into. My granddaughter's first cake (I was a lot more into decorating by then) was a Tigger cake - not a character pan, but an FBCT on a sheet cake. What fun; it was the first time I tried my hand at a freehand drawing for a cake. But the fact is, I was the one who had a great time making all those cakes, and the one-year-old would never have known the difference if I hadn't saved pictures.

It's so funny... when my first baby turned 1 I threw this huge party... hubby was like, "Honey, he is not going to care that you handmade all these banners and made him four cakes, etc." I just smiled... he's one of *those* guys who doesn't get it. I patted him on the arm and told him it would be ok, someday the 'baby' would look at the pictures and think "Wow, Mom really went all out for me!" and in the meantime, I was having the time of my life! My second turns 1 this June and you know I will be throwing an embarassingly big party. He and his bro are 3 years and 3 days apart, so I will have to make it even bigger to celebrate both of their b-days!

Another fun thing if you can't find something you like for napkins or such... this is how I did my eldest's b-day... I decorated like his room. I used the theme of his room as the theme of the party. I made 3 cars and 1 train cake. (His room is so cute... all traffic) Then I used solid primary colors for napkins, tablecovers, plates, plastic flatware, etc. I got primary colored birthday decor, and handmade some banners and signs, it was great fun! I did this because I was so in love with how his little room turned out... it's the cutest. So, if you went to a lot of trouble for his room and really like it, this can be a fun way to 'show it off'!

OK, I think I am going to go with trains. NOT THOMAS! Jsut primary color trains. This is the one that I've been in love with longest.

Anyone want to help me find the best pictures for inspiration? I'm not sure if I want to do an engine a few cars and a caboose - just all carved, or if I want to do a tiered cake with maybe an engine on top (that DS would get for his smash cake).

Any pictures would be great!

How about this one! She did an awsome job and I cant wait to try it myself!!

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1300193.html

OK, I'm thinking a combination of the cake posted above and this one:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1283142



The whole transportation thing, bright primary colors. I think I'll either do a car teir, a train teir and then maybe airplanes flying arond on wires... We'll see how this turns out!

This is what I would base the cake on: http://www.birthdaydirect.com/one-special-boy-1025-square-lunch-plates-p-6249.html

Oh yes, that is a fantastic one!! I am considering along the same line for my second little boy!