Nothing turns an ordinary gathering into a celebration like cake (with the notable exception of booze, but that's not a good idea for kids) and there's no reason the frosted fun needs to be saved for just birthdays and weddings.

Baking and decorating a cake is a great activity kids of all ages can assist with and can transform an ordinary afternoon spent in the sprinklers with neighborhood kids into a memorable event. A little internet sleuthing turned up several fun possibilities for you to recreate at home.

The Kraft Foods website offers step by step instructions (as well as a video tutorial) on how to create an impressive pool cake using a cake (from scratch or a cake mix) and blue jello. The basic blueprint for creating a pool cake is to created a hollow in a cooled cake and fill the cavity with jello that is starting to firm up.

This round cake uses Chiclets for floor tiles around the pool and the gummy palm trees add a nice touch of authenticity. Note the blue frosted waves on the outside of the cake.

Not all pool water is sparkling clear, so if chocolate cake crumbs mix with your "water" like this cake, don't worry. It's obviously a community pool or time to clean the filter! Add frosting bathing suits to the Teddy Graham swimmers and no one will even notice.

For older kids who no longer appreciate the cuteness of Teddy Graham swimmers, there's a great diving cake from Slashfood that involves fondant legs and feet. Practicing with clay or Play-Dough first might be a good idea for that one.

Just like in real life, a pool shape is limited only by your imagination. This curvy pool was embellished with gummi sharks to keep the swimmers on their toes but your cake decorator might have even better ideas.

If Jello just isn't your thing, just use blue frosting to create some waves. The licorice ladder in this above-ground pool cake is a clever touch.

Other pool cake ideas:

• Crushed graham crackers make excellent sand to turn your pool cake into a beach scene
• Don't want to deal with a big cake? Make decorate blue-frosted cupcakes instead!
• Polly Pocket figures are the perfect size to use as swimmers
• Get creative: it couold be Shrek's green feet diving into a swampy pool or perhaps your Sci-Fi fan wants to make their pool cake a gathering place for aliens with red or purple water.

If a pool cake appears in your household, please send a picture so we can all admire your handiwork!