Creating Custom Wedding Cake Toppers With Cricut

If you're looking to add a personal touch to your wedding cake, why not try making your own cake topper with a Cricut machine? It's an easy way to elevate your homemade cake into a stunning masterpiece that will impress your guests. With a Cricut machine, you can create a variety of delightful DIY cake topper designs, from simple paper or cardstock toppers to more intricate custom creations. In this introduction, we'll explore the basics of making a wedding cake topper with a Cricut machine, including the materials you'll need, design options, and step-by-step instructions to get you started on crafting your own unique topper.

Using Cricut Design Space

First, you will need to load your images into Cricut Design Space. You can use pre-made designs or create your own. If you are creating your own, consider adding a stroke to the lettering or underscoring slender fonts to ensure the topper holds its shape.

Once you have your design, set it as Moderately Complex to ensure delicate designs are cut with precision. Size the image according to the width of your cake and centre it on the Cutting Mat.

If you are using glitter cardstock, select this option in Cricut Design Space. You can also cut the image on poster board for backing support.

After cutting, weed out the cake topper and use a scraper to remove it from the cutting mat. Glue the topper to bamboo skewers, and you're done!

For more complex designs, you may need to use design software such as Adobe Illustrator to create your image before uploading it to Cricut Design Space. You can also find tutorials on YouTube and TikTok that will guide you through the process of designing and assembling your cake toppers using Cricut Design Space.

Selecting the right materials

Choose the Right Cricut Machine

Start by selecting the right Cricut machine for your project. The Cricut Maker is a popular choice for cake topper projects, especially if you plan to use thicker materials like chipboard or balsa wood. The Maker's Knife Blade is specifically designed for cutting through these thicker materials and is essential for this type of project.

Select Your Base Material

The base material you choose will depend on the desired look and durability of your cake topper. Here are some options:

• Chipboard: Cricut's chipboard is a heavy-duty option at 2mm thick. It cuts cleanly with the Knife Blade and doesn't lift or tear. It provides a sturdy base for your design and can be painted or decorated as desired.
• Cardstock: This is a popular choice for cake toppers as it is lightweight and easy to cut. It comes in various colours and finishes, such as glitter cardstock, adding a fun and elegant touch to your topper.
• Poster Board: Using poster board as a backing for your cake topper provides extra support and ensures your design remains firm and long-lasting.

Additional Supplies

In addition to your Cricut machine and base material, you will need a few other supplies to complete your project:

• Cutting Mat: Use a Cricut Strong Grip Mat to ensure your material stays in place during cutting, especially when working with thicker materials.
• Adhesives: ModPodge, SuperGlue, or hot glue can be used to attach different layers of your cake topper together and to secure it to skewers or dowels.
• Skewers or Dowels: These provide the structure for your cake topper to stand on the cake. Standard BBQ skewers or cake dowels can be used, depending on the weight of your topper.
• Design Software: While optional, design software like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign can help you create custom designs and text for your cake topper.

Remember to calibrate your Knife Blade if it's your first project and always test cut with scrap materials to ensure your settings are correct before starting your final project. With the right materials and a bit of creativity, you'll be well on your way to crafting a stunning wedding cake topper with your Cricut machine!

Designing your topper

If you're short on time or prefer a simpler approach, you can choose from a variety of pre-made designs available in the Cricut Design Space. Select a design that fits the theme of your wedding, such as "MR & MRS", "Couple Silhouette", or "Infinity Love". You can also personalise certain designs, such as adding your initials to the "Initials + Arrow" cake topper.

When creating your design, keep in mind the size of your cake and the sturdiness of the materials. For a freestanding topper, consider using glitter cardstock or Cricut chipboard as your base. If you want a firmer and longer-lasting design, add poster board backing for extra support. Additionally, adding a stroke to the lettering or underscoring slender fonts with a thick line will help the topper hold its shape.

Once you're happy with your design, load it into the Cricut Design Space and size it according to the width of your cake. Make sure to set it as Moderately Complex to ensure delicate designs are cut with precision. With the Cricut machine, you can bring your vision to life and create a truly personalised wedding cake topper.

Calibrating your Cricut knife blade

When to Calibrate:

You only need to calibrate your Cricut Knife Blade once, when you first use it. Calibration ensures that your Cricut Maker machine recognizes the Knife Blade Drive Housing to execute the best cuts on your materials. If you replace the blade, the housing remains calibrated. However, if you move the housing to a different machine or use a different housing, you will need to recalibrate. If your cuts are not cutting cleanly, recalibrating may help.

Step-by-Step Calibration Guide:

• Select Calibration in Design Space: Open Design Space on your Windows or Mac computer. At the top right, go to Settings > Machines > Machine Calibration, and choose your machine type. Then, select the calibration for the Knife Blade.
• Load the Knife Blade: Put a blank piece of copy or printer paper onto your mat and load your Knife Blade into the machine.
• Start the Calibration: Select 'Continue' and load the mat with paper into the machine. Press the flashing 'Go' button to begin calibration.
• Inspect the Cut Lines: The machine will cut seven sets of overlapping lines. Remove the mat and inspect the cut lines to find the set with the best overlap. This will appear as a single cut line with no offset. If you have trouble seeing the lines, shine a flashlight or bright light onto the page.
• Select the Best Overlap: Count down on your mat to determine which set of lines overlap the most cleanly. Use the drop-down menu to make your selection and then click 'Continue'.
• Calibration Complete: A confirmation message will appear, indicating that the calibration is complete. Close the window and return to your Canvas to start crafting!

Remember, calibration ensures that your Cricut machine and blade work together optimally. By taking a few minutes to calibrate, you'll achieve more precise and clean cuts for your wedding cake topper or any other project you're working on!

Assembling your topper

Now that you've cut out your design, it's time to assemble your cake topper! Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Weed out the design: Use the Cricut weeding tool to remove any excess material from your cut design. Carefully remove the pieces that you don't need, ensuring that you are left with the desired shape or wording for your topper.
• Prepare the backing: If you are using a backing for added support, cut the design again on poster board or chipboard. This will provide a firmer base for your topper and ensure it lasts longer. Tape down your chipboard to the cutting mat using low-tack tape to prevent it from moving during cutting.
• Glue the layers: If your design has multiple layers, such as different colours or materials, glue them together carefully. You can use ModPodge or superglue for this step. Ensure that the layers are aligned properly before gluing.
• Attach to skewers: Decide how many skewers you will need for your topper, depending on its size and weight. Add two or more skewers evenly to the ends of the topper with tape, ensuring they are attached at the height you want the topper to sit on the cake. If your topper is on the heavier side, consider using cake dowels for better support.
• Finishing touches: If you plan to add any additional elements, such as glitter or paint, now is the time to do so. You can also seal your chipboard with Mod Podge before painting to prevent the material from warping. Let the paint or glue dry completely before placing it on the cake.
• Place on the cake: Carefully position your finished topper on the cake, ensuring it is secure and at the desired height. Adjust as needed to achieve the perfect look!

Your DIY wedding cake topper is now ready to wow your guests! This detailed and instructive guide ensures that assembling your topper is a smooth and enjoyable process, adding that extra special touch to your big day.

Frequently asked questions