Camera Skills Improving

I'm really excited. As I said in my last post I tried to take a picture of the birthday cakes my sister sent and I couldn't get them in focus. That concerned me a great deal because for any of the contests I might enter they rely solely on pictures and if I can't get them in focus to show the detail I'm sunk. So I decided I needed a new camera. I surfed the Internet looking at different cameras and seeing what other miniature artists were using and found one I could get for right around $149.99. Although that isn't out of reach I really didn't want to pay for another camera. Then I went to Kodak and looked up the camera I have to see if it was the operator's fault and it turns out it was. I know I know this information just shocks and stuns people right? lol I tried out the suggestions of miniature photographers and though I can't seem to set the aperture to 8 I got it to 7.1 and below are the results.
Sorry for the shadow but hey at least you can see the cakes. Each time hopefully my skills will improve!!!!!