Little pirates will be fascinated bythis candy-covered kitchen creation.

When the goal is to delight a child with a birthday party they'll never forget, nothing says "it's your day" like an unforgettable birthday bash. And, it's a piece of cake when it comes together under one creative theme, down to the delicious detail of a birthday cake to sweeten the theme.

A spring 2008 survey asked parents how they select a birthday party theme for their birthday boy or girl. Here are some typical responses:

"For a child's party, I usually ask the child if they want a theme or a certain character."

"I decide the food a week or so in advance and try and get things most will like."

"Just think of something fun for everybody involved."

"As a parent, one of the best gifts I can give my child in an incredible party," said Ann Stuart. "When planning the food and activities for themed parties, it is important to enjoy the party-giving experience so it's memorable for both parents and kids. After all, birthdays only come around once a year."

According to recent research, the top birthday cake styles or types searched online are Castle Cake, Princess Cake, Pirate Cake and Dinosaur Cake.

Whether it's baby's first or great-grandmother's ninetieth, these tips will make birthday photos special.Capture the emotion. Keep the camera on and ready to catch great candids.Show the candles aglow. To capture the light from burning candles at night, turn off your flash.Avoid red eye. Turning on all the room lights helps. If the camera has a "red-eye reduction" feature, use it.Get close. To capture powerful pictures, fill as much of the camera's shot with the subject. Check the camera manual for guidance on the closest focusing distance.

1 box cake mix (any flavor)Water, oil and eggs called for on cake mix boxTray or cardboard (15x12 inches), covered2/3 cup dark chocolate frosting (from 1-lb container)1 cup vanilla frosting (from 1-lb. container)1 chocolate-covered mint patty1 sliced marshmallow1 gum ball1 yellow ring-shaped hard candy1 roll red chewy fruit snack1 black licorice ropeSquare-shaped candy-coated gumChocolate decorsHeat oven to 350 degrees for shiny metal pans (or 325 degrees for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 1 (8-inch) and 1 (9-inch) round cake pan with baking spray with flour.Make cake as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Pour into pans. Bake as directed on box. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.Download the diagram by visiting bettycrocker.com and searching "pirate cake."Use a serrated knife to cut 9-inch cake in half and cut hat as shown in diagram. Remaining half of 9-inch cake will form body of pirate. Cut 8-inch cake as shown in diagram. On tray, arrange cake pieces. Cut ears and nose from small pieces of remaining cake; attach to cake with small amount of frosting. Cover; freeze 1 hour or until firm.Reserve 2 teaspoons dark chocolate frosting. Frost hat with remaining dark chocolate frosting. Mix X\c cup of the vanilla frosting with reserved chocolate frosting. With tinted vanilla frosting, frost head, ears and nose of pirate. Add mint patty for eye patch, marshmallow slice and gum ball for eye, and ring-shaped candy for earring.Frost body with remaining Z\c cup white frosting. Cut fruit snack into shapes for shirt stripes, mouth and strap for eye patch; place on cake. Cut licorice to fit hat. Add gum for teeth and chocolate decors for whiskers. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

2 boxes yellow cake mixWater, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix boxes2 containers (1 lb. each) vanilla frostingRed food color1 fashion doll (11½ inches tall)¼ cup star-shaped candy decorsHeat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 1 (1½-quart) ovenproof bowl (8 inches across top) and 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening; coat with flour (do not use cooking spray).*In large bowl, make both cake mixes as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs for each mix. (Two boxes of cake mix can be made at one time; do not make more than 2 boxes, and do not increase beating time.) Pour 3½ cups batter into 1½-quart bowl and 2¼ cups batter into each cake pan.Bake cake pans 35 to 40 minutes and bowl 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and bowl; place rounded sides up on cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. If necessary, cut off rounded tops of cakes baked in 8-inch pans. Cut 2-inch-diameter hole in center of all 3 cakes.Spoon frosting into large bowl. Stir in enough food color until desired pink color. Place one 8-inch cake on serving plate; spread 1/3 cup frosting over top. Top with second 8-inch cake; spread with 1/3 cup frosting. Top with bowl cake.Wrap hair and lower half of doll with plastic wrap. Insert doll into center of cake. Trim side of cake if necessary to make a tapered "skirt."To "crumb-coat" cake, spread thin layer of frosting over side and top of layered cake to seal in crumbs. Freeze cake 30 to 60 minutes.Fit number 24 star tip into decorating bag. Spoon Z\v cup pink frosting into decorating bag; set aside. Starting at waist of doll, frost cake with downward strokes to make ruffled skirt. Use star tip to cover bodice of doll and add decoration to skirt if desired. Gently press star decors into frosting to decorate neckline and skirt. Unwrap hair.*The cake can be baked in 3 (8-inch) round cake pans and 1 (1½-quart) bowl. Use 3½ cups batter in bowl and 1 2/3 cups batter in each cake pan. Bake cake pans 30 to 35 minutes and bowl 45 to 50 minutes. Makes 30 servings.

Not only will your little princess get a beautiful cake to share with friends, but she'll also get a doll to play with later.