Royal Icing Fuzzy Spider

Here's a cupcake topper that would be perfect for Halloween, and is a great way to use up whichever icing color you have the most of. The further you can get away from reality, the better! You'll need three colors of stiff consistency royal icing (one for the body, one for the legs, and one for the eyes), round tips #12, #3, and #4, oval tip #57, a flower nail, a Styrofoam block to rest the nail in, parchment paper squares, a glue stick, round toothpicks, AmeriColor Soft Gel Paste in Super Black, and a dusting pouch filled with a 50/50 mix of cornstarch and powdered sugar. Start by sticking a parchment square to the nail with a dab from the glue stick. 

 Hold the #57 oval tip almost flat against the surface, and pipe eight legs. Stop pressure, rotate the nail, and restart pressure to form the L-shaped crook of the legs.

 When you get to the end of the leg, stop pressure and pull the tip away, allowing the peak to remain.

 Pipe the body with the #12 tip. Hold it just above and at a right angle to the center. Squeeze out a ball, then stop pressure and pull the tip away. Touch a fingertip to the dusting pouch and tap the body into shape.

 Use the #4 tip to pipe two balls for eyes…

 …and the #3 tip to pipe the "fur." Hold the tip almost against the surface, squeeze to anchor the icing to it, move the tip away for a couple of millimeters, then stop pressure and pull the tip away.

 Lastly, smash the pointy tip of a round toothpick against the counter, dip it into the Super Black, and dab in the eyeballs. Pipe a web over a cake and give these critters a good home!