I am making a 6 inch and 8 inch tiered first birthday cake. On the top will be a buttercream lady bug for the smash cake. I plan on using a 6 inch half ball pan and trimming it down for the body. What should I use for the head? I am thinking a cupcake cut down to size covered in black icing. Anyother ideas?

You could use a ball of fondant with eyes, etc added, a rice crispie treat covered in either fondant or BC, or a round carved cupcake. Good luck!

depending on how big you make the body you could just pipe a big blob of black buttercream, or add enough powdered sugar to it to make it stiff to roll a ball. I wouldn't use a fondant ball if this is intended to be given to the young child as it could be a choking hazard.

That's a really cute idea, but I wouldn't use anything but frosting on a smash cake.

I will not use fondant.. The rest of the cake will be but not the lady bug!

I will not use fondant.. The rest of the cake will be but not the lady bug!

I originally wanted the "topper" to be the smash cake- but my poor bug was to big!! (used 6inch rounds)

Check out my pics of my pink lady bug 2 tired and smash cake.

On the smash cake, the head was MMF and my neice much rather chewed on that for a few minutes!! I also used pink butter cream.