instructions
One day in advance: Make musical notes. On waxed paper, using royal icing and tip 5, pipe 5 notes each, 1 in. and 2 in. high. On 2 in. notes, add a puddle of icing to support Elmo icing decoration; position icing decoration before icing sets. Make extras to allow for breakage and let dry.
Bake and cool cupcakes, 1-layer 6 in. and 2-layer 8 in. rounds. Ice all smooth in buttercream. Prepare rounds for Stacked Construction, positioning 6 in. cake near back edge of 8 in. cake. Position cakes on 10 in. plate. Using pattern, mark musical staff with toothpick on sides of 8 in. cake. Pipe tip 5 lines, 1/2 in. apart for musical staff. Attach notes with dots of icing. Add tip 17 shell top and bottom borders. Pipe tip 2 squiggles on cupcakes; insert matching crayon candles. Position cake on pillars; position toppers and numeral candle on cake. Arrange cupcakes around cake.