icing is easy... you can use apricot glaze on any flavour layer cake to seal the crumb... icing has to be the right consistency so you can spread it properly... sides first... always leaving a small lip at the top.. once the sides are covered, put icing on in 4 or 5 places on the top. Use your palette knife to spread from centre out to the lip you left. Then clean your palette knife. Some people start with the top and then the sides if they are doing a crumb coat. They use a scraper to scrape off the excess on the sides, but you then have to redo the top. My decorating instructor taught me. sides first, then the top. Once that's done and you have clean knife.. with the knife at a 45 degree angle scrape from the outer edge to the centre.. cleaning your knife after each so you end up with a clean edge. Once done, you can add other decorations.. like sprinkles or toasted coconut. .. and then eat it of course...