DIY Cake Topper: Custom Creations for an Extra Special Touch
When it comes to cake decorating, a unique cake topper can make all the difference. Not only does it add a personal touch to your dessert, but it also enhances the overall presentation. Instead of buying a generic topper, why not craft your own for a personal touch? This DIY project is simple, affordable, and allows for endless creativity.
I love adding personalized touches to well, basically everything. Especially when it comes to birthdays and special occasions like these personalized Easter baskets or these easy DIY Christmas ornaments. I even love a good personalized piece of home decor.
For my daughter’s second birthday, I planned to make a homemade vanilla cake using sourdough discard, topped with buttercream frosting. I wanted to add a special touch to personalize the cake, and I decided that a custom DIY cake topper would be the perfect choice.
What You’ll Need
Materials:
- Fabric (cotton, felt, or any material that suits your theme)
- Ribbon (various colors and widths)
- Wooden skewers
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Paint or permanent marker
- Optional: embellishments like beads, buttons, or glitter
Step-by-Step Instructions DIY Cake Topper
1. Choose Your Design:
Decide what kind of cake topper you want. Try various banner shapes to fit your style and occasion. If desired, sketch your design on a piece of cardstock to use as a template.
I chose to have the banner say “TWO” as we were celebrating my daughter’s second birthday.
For this style of cake topper names and numbers work great too!
Originally I was going to use a traditional Vertical Pennant but then decided on the Dovetail shape!
2. Cut Out the Fabric:
Place the cardstock template on your fabric. Trace around the template with a pencil, then carefully cut out the fabric shape. If you want a more layered look, you can cut out multiple shapes in different fabrics. *optional*
Utilizing a template can be very helpful but I chose to freehand the fabric cutting. Since these fabric pieces are so small a template is sometimes harder to work with.
When cutting my fabric pieces, I left extra space at the top to fold them over and glue them onto the string.
Then I wrote the letters on each piece using these acrylic paint pens with the fine tip side. You can choose to write on them now or after your string is attached (this is probably the easier way).
3. Prepare Your Banner:
Take your string or twine and measure it out between your two wood skewers to get your spacing and size right. Then cut your string (be sure to leave extra space on the ends for tying around the skewer).
If you have already written on your fabric pieces place your cut fabric pieces face down and *backward* on the table. This ensures your word is correctly written once the string is turned around.
Place your string on the backside of the fabric pieces. If you left space to fold over the fabric, place your string there.
Use the hot glue gun to carefully add glue to the space where the string and the fabric will fold. Lightly press the fabric over the string to glue it in place.
Caution- A little hot glue goes a long way and can bleed through to the front of thin fabrics.
4. Assemble the DIY Cake Topper:
Once your mini banner is complete, tie the ends of the string to each wooden skewer. Ensure it’s securely attached, using a little hot glue if needed. Make sure you keep the skewers pointed side down. This allows you to easily insert the topper into your cake.
Depending on the height of the cake, the skewers can be cut down to the appropriate size. Keep in mind the height above candles for safety!
5. Add Ribbon Details:
Create simple ribbon clusters by laying out a few pieces of ribbon or fabric strips on top of one skinny ribbon or twine. Using the twine, tie a knot around the ribbon pieces and adjust as needed. You can attach these clusters to the cake topper by tying them on or using hot glue to add flair.
6. Add Finishing Touches:
Embellish your cake topper with any additional decorations like beads, glitter, or buttons to make it pop. Be creative! This is your chance to personalize it even more to match your event.
7. Let it Dry:
Allow the glue to dry completely before inserting the topper into the cake.
Tips for Success
- Theme Matters: Match the colors and patterns of your fabric and ribbon to the theme of your occasion.
- Repurpose Materials: Shop your house for leftover fabric scraps or ribbons from previous projects—this can make your DIY topper even more special and eco-friendly.
- Practice Your Design: If you’re trying a new design, consider practicing on scrap fabric before committing to your final piece.
Conclusion
Making a custom DIY cake topper is not just a fun craft—it’s a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your baked goods. With just a few materials and a splash of creativity, you can create something truly unique that will impress your guests and elevate your dessert presentation.
I will always Rejoice About a custom creation for celebrating!
Happy Crafting
