AI'm working on ideas for my daughter's 16th birthday cake, and I could really use some inspiration from some of the very creative minds around here. She's having a combo birthday party with her boyfriend, so my wife's plan is "Sweet & Sour 16." I'm pretty stuck on good ideas to make the cake match that theme.

The only real mandate from my daughter is that she wants a tiered topsy turvy cake, but otherwise the field is wide open. I'd like to avoid just making a tiered cake with different kinds of sweet and sour candies all strewn about, but I'm drawing a blank on anything more specific.

Does anyone have any ideas for decorating individual tiers to suit the theme? Or even know of a similar cake I could view for inspiration?

I did think about somehow decorating the tiers in a half/half sort of way--really bright colors and candy theme on the left, and dark or something on the right. But I'm not sure how that would really work, either. Any tips, advice or ideas would be very welcome!

AWhat is your wife planning for decoration for the rest of the party? That would be a good place to start.

AGood question! Nothing spectacular for decorations--streamers and balloons, green (sour) and pink (sweet). I think the theme will primarily be represented by the food. There will be a candy station, with sweet and sour varieties. S&S chicken and other hot foods. And a flavor-tripping activity (miracle berries).