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DIY Cake Stand with Dollar Store Supplies

I created this DIY cake stand using a plate from the dollar store and an old candlestick. This is the perfect budget craft idea for a party!

Skills Required: Beginner. It’s a very easy project for those with basic crafting experience. You’ll be painting, gluing, and Mod Podging.

DIY cake stand

I actually did this DIY cake stand last year, but I wanted to share it again because I really like it. Vintage holiday-ish colors are my fav, and I think the blue and silver work in that regard – yet I could use this for a party all year round. If you love DIY cake stands for party or decorating . . . this is SO easy and inexpensive!

I assembled this DIY dessert stand for only $1. I had everything else on hand. I would love to do a series of these in coordinating patterns so that the party table I don’t have yet looks cool.

One day I will have a party table, and this will be on it! Here’s how I made this cake stand.


Gather These Supplies

Notes and Thoughts on This Project You Should Know

Before you paint anything glass with glass paint, you’ll want to make sure to clean it with mild soap and water and then let dry. You can also use rubbing alcohol.

When you paint the candlestick, make sure that you use a soft brush or the strokes will show in the paint. You will also need to paint several layers if it’s a metallic paint, letting dry between layers.

Instructions will tell you to bake or dry your candlestick for many days – you can obviously complete the project and let dry while you are using it since the base won’t be exposed to anything that will damage it.

If you don’t have a circle cutter to cut the paper, never fear – simply turn the plate over and trace onto the paper – then cut a round shape inside the circle. My complete circle was about 8″ wide, so I had approximately 3″ of plate showing around the entire edge.

After I cut the circle I trimmed it with scalloped scissors. Again, you don’t have to do this. Alternatives are to freehand a pattern or to use punches on the edge. You can also print something off of the internet to use as a template. How you fashion your circle is up to you.

Here’s my initial layout. I grabbed the plate and placed out my paper in the center – then added some embellishments from my stash. These were little paper cutouts that came with the larger pieces of paper.

When you are applying the paper to the top of the plate, some Mod Podge might come out the sides. That is okay – wipe away with your brush. Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Dollar store plate, rhinestones, paper, circle cutter

When everything has dried for 15 – 20 minutes, coat the ENTIRE top of your DIY cake stand with Mod Podge. Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes and then apply another coat. Let dry.

To adhere the stand to the plate, apply E-6000 (or a similar adhesive) around the edge of your stand. Press down onto the plate and allow to dry for as long as your adhesive instructions tell you to.

You’ll notice that on the finished version of my DIY cake plate, I also applied some rhinestones around the base of the stand. Mine were self-adhesive so no glue was required.

And since I’m basically a psychic, I can already predict your question. Can you put food directly on your DIY cake stand? You could, but then the decoupage police would come and arrest you.

The manufacturer recommends a clear glass plate on top of the decoupaged plate – though you can break the rules and I won’t tell.

Are you ready to try this project? The how-to card is below!

Yield: 1 stand

DIY Cake Stand

DIY cake stand

Learn how to make a DIY cake stand using items from the dollar store! This is easy and you can customize it for any celebration.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $3

Materials

  • 11″ plate
  • Mod Podge
  • FolkArt Enamel paint
  • Candleholder
  • Scrapbook paper
  • E-6000
  • Clear rhinestones

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush
  • Circle cutter (optional)
  • Scalloped scissors (optional)

Instructions

  1. Clean the glass candlestick with mild soap and water or rubbing alcohol and cotton pads. Let dry.Clean glass candlestick sitting on a work surface
  2. Paint the candlestick using glass paint. Give several coats until desired color is reached, letting dry between coats. Set aside to dry.Painting the candle stick with glass paint
  3. Cut paper to fit the center of the plate, including embellishments for the edges.
  4. Add Mod Podge to the back of the paper and then smooth onto the plate. Repeat with the embellishments. Let dry for 15-20 minutes.Addding Mod Podge to the paper circle
  5. Coat the top of the plate with Mod Podge. Let dry.Painting Mod Podge over the top of the plate to seal
  6. Glue the plate to the top of the candlestick using the E-6000. Add a bead of glue to the edge, press the candlestick down in the middle of the bottom of the plate, and let dry.Gluing the candlestick to the plate
  7. Add rhinestones to bling the base using E-6000 if desired. Let dry completely before using.DIY cake stand

Notes

Set the cake on a clear plate or cake doily when using this stand.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


Would you like another option for a DIY cake plate? Check out this one that David did using a thrift store tart plate! Get the tutorial here.

Anonymous

Saturday 6th of October 2012

Can this plate be washed, or will the modge podge wash off?

Amy Anderson

Saturday 6th of October 2012

No, it can't be submerged in water. That is another reason to use a clear glass plate on top. Then you can wash that :D

Angie Sanaee

Monday 5th of March 2012

Great idea! I just discovered mod podge and didn't realize there were so many things you could do with it. This is perfect for displaying a cake :)

Niki

Tuesday 21st of June 2011

Super Cool!!! I love how you made the stand!!!!

Caitlin

Monday 20th of December 2010

Amy,

Thank you for sharing your innovative project with the FaveCrafts December blog hop.

As a special way of saying thank you, we're featuring your project, as well as projects from our other participants, in a special newsletter that mails to more than 850,000 subscribers.

I hope you'll join us again in January. The next hop is January 15.

Thanks again!

Caitlin

TidyMom

Sunday 19th of December 2010

I LOVE this!! I linked your post up to Christmas I'm Lovin' It Round Up!! thanks again Amy!! https://tidymom.net/im-lovin-it-christmas-round-up/

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