Crafting A Wedding Cake Pop-Up Card: A Step-By-Step Guide

Are you looking to create a unique and special wedding card for someone? Why not try making a wedding cake pop-up card! This card design is perfect for those who want to give a card with a personal touch. In this guide, you will learn how to make a pop-up wedding cake card with a two-tiered cake that pops up when the card is opened. The materials required include card stock, ribbon, glue, and tape. You can also add your own creative touches with decorations such as candles, cake toppers, and more. Making a pop-up wedding cake card is a fun and rewarding project that is sure to impress the recipient.

Choosing a template

When choosing a template for your amazing wedding cake pop-up card, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide on the overall design and style you want to achieve. Do you want a simple and elegant card, or something more intricate and detailed? There are various templates available online, ranging from basic designs to more complex 3D pop-up cards.

Another factor to consider is the level of customisation you desire. Some templates offer a basic structure that you can decorate and personalise to your liking, while others provide detailed instructions and specific measurements for a more precise outcome. If you are an experienced crafter, you may prefer a template that allows for more creativity and experimentation. On the other hand, if you are a beginner, a step-by-step template with clear instructions and video tutorials may be more suitable.

Additionally, the materials required for the template should be considered. Most pop-up card templates will require cardstock, glue or double-sided tape, and decorations such as ribbons, stickers, or markers. If you plan to use a cutting machine, ensure that the template is compatible with your machine and that you have the necessary design software. Some templates may also offer additional features, such as SVG cut files or PDF instructions, which can make the process easier.

Finally, take into account the level of difficulty of the template. If you are new to card-making, opt for a beginner-friendly template with clear instructions. More complex templates may require advanced techniques and could be more time-consuming. Choose a template that aligns with your skill level and the amount of time you are willing to dedicate to the project.

Remember to read through the instructions and reviews, if available, before purchasing or downloading a template to ensure it meets your requirements and expectations.

Selecting the right ribbon

When selecting a ribbon, opt for cloth ribbons made of satin or silk. These are higher quality than the cheap ribbons used for wrapping presents and will give your card a more elegant finish. You can find these ribbons at craft stores like Michaels or on Amazon. The ribbon can be either 5/8” or 7/8” thick. Before purchasing your ribbon, test its flexibility by folding it to see if the crease stays. A small crease is normal, but you don't want a deep crease that affects the function of your card.

In addition to the ribbon, you'll also need double-sided tape or glue to attach the ribbon to the card. If using glue, be careful as it can get messy if it's not fully dried.

Cutting out the pieces

The first step to making a wedding cake pop-up card is to cut out the pieces from card stock. You can purchase a template online, or design your own. If you are using a template, you will need to cut out the pieces from card stock. The number of pieces you will need depends on the design of your card, but typically you will need a cake support piece, two cake rounds (one large and one small), a cake plate, and four side supports. You may also want to cut out some decorations, such as candles or a bride and groom.

When cutting out the pieces, it is important to be as precise as possible. Any mistakes made during this step could affect the final look of your card. Take your time and use a sharp craft knife or scissors to make clean cuts.

Once all the pieces are cut out, you can start to assemble the cake. Fold the cake support piece as shown in the template or instructions. The two tabs on the side should be folded in, along with the tab on the bottom. This will form the structure of your cake.

Next, fold the cake rounds. The narrow strips on the rounds will become the supports for the sides of the cake. You will also need to fold the cake rounds into a V-shape to allow them to fold easily when you close the card. If you do not plan on ever folding your card, you can skip this step.

Now that all the pieces are cut out and folded, you can start to assemble the cake. This will be the base of your pop-up structure. Carefully slot the pieces together, following the instructions or template. It is important to be gentle during this step, as the paper can tear easily.

Once the basic structure of the cake is complete, you can add the side supports. These can be made from flat cardstock, crimped cardstock, or ribbon. If you use flat cardstock, be aware that once it is folded, it may not want to make a perfect circle around the cake. Crimped cardstock or ribbon will give a nicer finish.

Finally, add any decorations you have cut out, such as candles or a bride and groom. You can also add extra decorations, such as glitter, ribbons, or lace, to make your card truly unique.

Assembling the cake

Now that you have all the pieces cut out, it's time to assemble the cake! First, watch a full assembly video so you can see how it goes together.

First, fold your cake support just as shown in the image. The two tabs on the side get folded in, along with the tab at the bottom.

Next, fold your cake rounds (both large and small) as shown. The narrow strips fold down to become supports for the sides of your cake. You also fold your cake rounds into a V-shape to allow them to fold easily when you close your card. Note: If you do not intend to ever fold your cake, you do not need to fold the tops of your cake rounds.

Now, slide your cake support up through the bottom of your large round cake, through the slot in the middle. Then open up the tabs on the side of the cake support.

Next, put your small cake round on top over the tab at the top of the cake support, and slide the side supports into the slots on the top of the large cake round. Glue the tabs of the side supports to the bottom of the large cake round.

Now decide which of the two round cake plates you want to use — plain or scalloped. Fold it in half along the score line. Then insert the tabs of the cake supports (centre and sides) into the slots on the plate, and glue down on the underside.

This is the basic structure of your cake! Now you need to decide what sort of cake sides you want — flat cardstock, crimped cardstock, or ribbon. Flat cardstock is fine, and it looks great if you never fold it. But once you fold it, the paper won't ever want to make a perfect circle around the cake again. So if this bothers you, you have two solutions: crimp your cardstock cake sides before you put them on, or use ribbon. All three go on in the same way, so the following instructions are for attaching the plain cardstock.

Put double-stick tape on the four side supports of your cake. Be sure your tape does not peek out around the sides or tops of your supports — trim it off if it does, or else your cake may stick to itself instead of popping up.

Next, put the end of one of your cake sides onto a taped support and press down hard. Do this for both layers.

Wrap the sides around. When you get to the start point for each side, do not attempt to use double-stick tape — it's not strong enough. Instead, use regular tape on it — this will be the back, so the tape won't be noticeable. But you can also try to glue it (though this may be difficult).

Now, tape the candles (or whatever you want) to that tab sticking out of the top of the cake. If you decide not to put anything on the top, glue or tape that tab down flat on top of the cake so it doesn't wiggle its way loose.

At this point, you can decorate your cake as you please. If you decide to make more elaborate decorations, glue them on while the cake sides are flat.

Now, fold the outer card in half along the score line. Then glue the bottom of the cake plate to your outer card. Attach it while the card is opened and perfectly flat, making sure you line up the creases in the cake plate with the creases in the card.

Finishing touches

Your basic pop-up cake is now finished! It is now time to decorate to your heart's content. We used pretty patterned paper to make the pop-up cake layers and add our candles. But you can use any paper and just decorate it using markers, washi tape, stickers, glitter, ribbons, lace or even buttons! A great way to customise this easy DIY card to suit what you have at home.

Decorating the card

Once you have assembled the pop-up cake, it's time to decorate it! Here are some ideas:

Choosing a colour scheme

First, decide on a colour scheme for your card. You could opt for a classic white cake with white cardstock, or choose coloured cardstock for a more vibrant look. If you want to stick to a wedding theme, you could choose traditional wedding colours such as white, cream, or ivory. Alternatively, you could choose colours that match the wedding's theme or the couple's favourite colours.

Adding patterns and textures

To add interest to your card, consider using patterned or textured cardstock for the cake layers. You could use glitter paper, washi tape, stickers, ribbons, lace, or even buttons! If you want to keep it simple, you can just decorate the cake with markers.

Cake toppers

You can choose from a variety of cake toppers to suit the occasion. For a wedding card, you could use a heart or a bride and groom topper. You could also add some candles for a birthday cake. If you want to make the topper more secure, you can glue it to the cake.

Additional decorations

You can further decorate your card by drawing or painting additional elements, such as birthday balloons in the background. You can also add a personal message inside the card.

Frequently asked questions