Crafting Wedding Cake Toppers: A Guide To Personalization

DIY wedding cake toppers are a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your big day. Whether you're crafting a topper that reflects your unique style or opting for a classic design, making your own topper is a rewarding project that can be kept as a special keepsake for years to come. From rustic twig toppers to glittery gold decor, the possibilities are endless for creating a topper that showcases your personality and complements your wedding cake perfectly. So, if you're feeling crafty, grab your supplies and get ready to unleash your creativity!

Using a Cricut machine

Step 1: Choose Your Design

Select a design that suits your wedding theme. You can choose from a variety of pre-made designs available on the Cricut Design Space, such as "Love," "MR & MRS," or "Couple Silhouette." Alternatively, you can create your own custom design using a program like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign. If you're designing your own, consider using a calligraphy font or adding a stroke to the lettering to ensure the topper holds its shape.

Step 2: Prepare Your Machine

Ensure your Cricut machine is calibrated correctly, especially if you're using the Knife Blade for the first time. Adjust the settings as per the material you're using, and make sure the white start wheels are moved to the right side to avoid indents in your material.

Step 3: Select and Cut Your Material

For wedding cake toppers, you can use materials such as glitter cardstock, Cricut chipboard, or even balsa wood with the Cricut Maker and its Knife Blade. Tape your material securely to the cutting mat, especially if it's thick, to prevent it from moving during cutting. Load your chosen design into the Cricut Design Space, size it according to your cake's width, and centre it on the cutting mat.

Step 4: Assemble the Topper

After cutting, carefully peel the mat away from the material. Weed the design, and if necessary, glue the pieces together. You can use glue sticks, Mod Podge, or SuperGlue. For added stability, consider adding a poster board backing to your topper.

Step 5: Attach to Skewers

Finally, attach your topper to bamboo skewers or cake dowels using tape or glue. Ensure they are attached evenly and at the desired height.

With these steps and your Cricut machine, you can create a stunning and personalised wedding cake topper that will impress your guests!

Silhouette toppers

Silhouette cake toppers are a popular choice for weddings, and you can find them in many designs and materials. They are often made from acrylic, but you can also find them in wood, paper, or cardboard.

You can buy silhouette cake toppers from online retailers like Etsy and Amazon, or you can make them yourself. If you want to create a custom silhouette topper, you can start by choosing a design that reflects your personality and wedding theme. This could be a simple Mr & Mrs design, a romantic couple embracing or kissing, or a fun silhouette of your family, including your pets.

Once you have your design, you can cut it out of your chosen material using a craft knife or laser cutter. If you're using acrylic or wood, you may need to sand the edges to smooth them. You can then paint or decorate your topper as desired—perhaps adding a splash of color or some glitter to make it stand out.

Finally, you'll need to attach a skewer or dowel to the back of your topper so that it can be securely placed into the cake. This can be done with a strong adhesive like epoxy or a hot glue gun.

Silhouette cake toppers are a beautiful and elegant way to top off your wedding cake, and with a little creativity, you can make one that's perfectly tailored to you.

Polaroid and wire toppers

A Polaroid and wire wedding cake topper is a great DIY project that you can easily make and keep as a special memento.

To make this, you will need to purchase or create a wire cake topper with a heart-shaped holder for the Polaroid picture. You can find these on Etsy, Amazon, or other online craft stores. Some of these cake toppers also come with initials or customisable elements.

When purchasing, ensure you select the correct colour, size, and style for your cake. The wire should be sturdy but be careful when handling it so as not to distort its shape. The heart-shaped holder should be large enough to hold a Polaroid photo, measuring around 4cm in height.

Once you have your cake topper, simply add your chosen photo, and it's ready to place on your cake!

Paper cut-outs

First, choose a design for your topper. You could opt for a silhouette, a phrase, or something more abstract, like paper flowers. If you're going for a silhouette, you could trace around the outline of the happy couple's faces, or use a side-view image of a bride and groom kissing. If you're going for a phrase, "Love You More", "Mr & Mrs" and "Just Married" are all popular choices.

Next, select your paper. Thick glitter card is a popular choice for wedding cake toppers, but you could also use regular card and glue two pieces together for a sturdier finish. If you're concerned about the glitter flaking off, you can use glitter paper where the glitter is pressed into the paper.

Now, cut out your design. If you're using a Cricut machine, load your chosen image into Cricut Design Space, and set it to 'Moderately Complex' to ensure a precise cut. Size the image according to the width of your cake, and select your paper type. If you're cutting by hand, print out your design and cut around it carefully.

Finally, attach your topper to a base, such as a skewer or toothpick, using glue or adhesive. You can also cut out a mirrored version of your design and glue the two together for a sturdier, double-sided finish.

Clay models

Clay is a great material to use for a wedding cake topper as it can be baked to seal and harden your creation, meaning it can be kept as a memento long after the cake is gone. Polymer clay is a popular choice for this craft, as it has a similar consistency to fondant, is soft and pliable, and will not dry out.

When creating a cake topper, it is important to keep the size small, around 4-5 inches in width and height, so that it does not become too heavy and potentially topple over. It is also important not to take away from the cake itself, so ensure your topper is not too big.

To create a simple message or phrase topper, you will need oven-bake clay, alphabet and number cookie cutters, a rolling pin, parchment paper, bamboo skewers, acrylic paint, and a glue that can withstand heat, such as super glue. Begin by preheating your oven according to the clay manufacturer's instructions. Roll out your clay between two sheets of parchment paper to an even thickness of about 1/4". Use your cookie cutters to punch out your desired letters and numbers, and place them on a piece of parchment paper on a cookie rack. Bake according to the manufacturer's instructions, then let them cool. Paint your letters and numbers with your chosen colours, then glue the bamboo skewers to the back.

For a more complex topper, such as a couple of figurines, you will need polymer clay in your chosen colours, a tool set, and possibly some wire and glue, depending on your design. Begin by creating the internal structure of your topper with wire and/or toothpicks, then build up the clay around it. You can use different colours of clay to create clothing, hair, and other details, blending the seams with your fingers or a modelling tool. Be sure to create a sturdy base so that your topper does not topple over. Once you are happy with your topper, bake it according to the clay manufacturer's instructions, then allow it to cool and harden.

Frequently asked questions