How to Make a Banded Cupcake Stand

Have fun creating a cupcake stand for any occasion.

Avoid paying high prices for store-bought cupcake stands. Custom-design your own three-tier, banded cupcake stand instead. Purchase inexpensive cardboard cake rounds and decorate with wrapping paper. Add matching bands of ribbon to complement the theme and the color scheme of your event. This three-tier stand will hold 20 to 24 cupcakes. Find cake stand supplies in the cake decorating section of your local craft store or online.

Things You'll Need

• Double-sided tape
• Ribbon, at least 1/2 inch wide
• One 8-inch cardboard cake board
• One 10-inch cardboard cake board
• One 14-inch cardboard cake board
• Heavy-duty wrapping paper or self-adhesive shelf liner
• 2 6-inch-tall ceramic flowerpots
• Craft glue
• Pencil
• Scissors

Instructions

Decorate the Banded Cupcake Boards

1. Place each cake board on the wrapping paper or shelf liner.

2. Trace around the cake board with a pencil. Cut the paper and glue into place on the top side of each cake board.

3. Measure the double-sided tape to fit around the edge of each cake board. Cut to fit, then stick the tape to the board.

4. Wrap the ribbon around the cake board, sticking it to the double-sided tape. Trim to fit.

Assemble the Tiers

1. Apply strong craft glue to the top edge of one of the ceramic flowerpots.

2. Turn the flowerpot upside down and center it on the 14-inch cake board. Glue the pot to the cake board.

3. Add glue to the bottom of the flowerpot (remember the pot is upside down, so the bottom you're gluing is really now the top).

4. Center the 10-inch cake board on top of the flowerpot. Be sure the glue is secure.

5. Repeat with the second flowerpot and the 8-inch cake board to create the third tier.

6. Allow the glue to set for two to three hours.

7. Arrange your cupcakes on each tier.

Tips & Warnings

• Add extra cake boards and flowerpots to create a cupcake stand with four or five tiers.

• Instead of flowerpots, you can use glasses or candle holders as pedestals.

• Do not reuse the cardboard cake rounds, even if you re-cover them with fresh wrapping paper. Oils and food matter may have leaked through the original wrapping paper, contaminating the cardboard.