Creative Cake Toppers: Unique Materials For Wedding Masterpieces

Wedding cake toppers can be made from a variety of materials and in a range of styles, from rustic to novelty. Popular materials include glitter cardstock, bamboo skewers, wood, and sugar craft. Some couples opt for a more natural look, while others prefer a fun and unique cartoon-style topper. Cake toppers can be purchased ready-made or handmade, with many couples choosing to make their own as a special keepsake.

Using glitter cardstock and skewers

Materials and Tools:

• Glitter cardstock in your choice of colour (gold, silver, or any colour that matches your wedding theme)
• Bamboo skewers (standard BBQ skewers will work)
• Cricut machine (such as the Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air)
• Cricut Weeding Tool and Spatula
• Poster board (optional but recommended for added support)
• ModPodge or SuperGlue
• Custom cake topper design or pre-made design files

Step 1: Design and Cut:

• Create your custom cake topper design using software like InDesign or choose from pre-made design files available online.
• Load your chosen design into the Cricut Design Space and set it as Moderately Complex to ensure delicate cuts.
• Size the image according to the width of your cake.
• Select Glitter Cardstock as your material in the Cricut Design Space.
• Cut out the design using the Cricut machine. You may need to weed out the cake topper from the cutting mat and use a scraper for easy removal.

Step 2: Add Support and Attach to Skewers:

• For added support, cut out the design again on poster board to use as backing.
• Glue the glitter cardstock cake topper to the poster board backing.
• Glue the assembled cake topper to the bamboo skewers. You can use ModPodge or SuperGlue for this step.

Step 3: Final Touches:

• Trim the skewers to your desired length if needed.
• Place your finished cake topper on your wedding cake, ensuring it is secure and well-positioned.

And that's it! You now have a personalised, glittery wedding cake topper. Feel free to experiment with different colours, designs, and fonts to make it truly unique.

Wooden cake toppers

CraftCuts offers a range of wooden cake toppers, including unpainted, painted, stained, and decorative wooden letters. You can also request a custom design to be made to order.

Amazon also offers a wide range of wooden cake toppers, including rustic designs, Mr & Mrs toppers, and personalised options. Many of these toppers feature natural wood slices or rustic-style wreaths and flowers.

If you're looking for a more western or rustic theme, Wedding Collectibles offers a variety of wooden cake toppers, including Mr & Mrs toppers, hunting-themed designs, and silhouette cut-outs.

With so many options available, you're sure to find a wooden cake topper that fits your wedding theme and adds a unique touch to your special day.

Using a Cricut machine

Design and Customisation

Firstly, decide on a design for your cake topper. You can choose from a variety of pre-made designs available on the Cricut Design Space, or create your own custom design. If you're designing your own, choose a font carefully, especially if you plan to cut the topper out of wood. The Cricut font Retro Script is a good choice for script-style toppers, as it allows you to connect all the letters to form a solid piece. Ensure the letter lines are at least ⅛" thick for the best results.

Materials and Preparation

Once you have your design ready, gather the necessary materials. You will need a Cricut machine, a cutting mat, and your chosen material. Cardstock, glitter cardstock, sparkle paper, and metallic poster board are all popular choices for cake toppers. You can also use wood, but this requires a Cricut Maker or a Cricut knife blade and a strong grip mat.

Cutting and Assembly

Load your design into the Cricut Design Space and set the complexity to "Moderately Complex" to ensure delicate designs are cut with precision. Size the image to fit the width of your cake and centre it on the cutting mat. Select your material in the Cricut Design Space and follow the prompts to cut out the design. If using wood, you may need to make multiple passes and add more cuts if the topper is not cut through completely.

After cutting, carefully remove the topper from the cutting mat. If using paper or cardstock, peel the mat away from the material to prevent curling. Weed the design and glue the pieces together. Finally, attach a wooden dowel, bamboo skewer, or another type of support to the back of the topper.

Finishing Touches

Your DIY wedding cake topper is now ready to be placed on your cake! You can further customise it by adding flowers, paper flowers, or other embellishments. If you used wood, consider preserving your cake topper in a frame to keep it as a special memento.

Sugar-crafted bride and groom

These sugar-crafted toppers can be made even more special by personalising them to reflect the couple's appearance on their wedding day. Lindy Smith, an award-winning cake decorator, specialises in creating such personalised toppers, asking couples to provide information and photographs to ensure the figures are as true to life as possible.

The process of crafting these toppers is intricate and time-consuming, requiring a high degree of skill. The price for a topper from a skilled artisan like Lindy Smith typically ranges from £250 to £300, including delivery. However, for those who enjoy the challenge of DIY, it is possible to create your own unique sugar-crafted bride and groom with the help of online tutorials.

Sugar-crafted toppers are not only visually appealing but also serve as cherished keepsakes, reminding couples of their special day and all the little details, from the dress to the hairstyle.

Rustic cake toppers

Materials

• Wood: A popular choice for rustic cake toppers, wood can be left natural or stained, and can be customised with painted or engraved details.
• Cardstock: Thicker cardstock is a good option for a DIY cake topper, especially if you want to include glitter or confetti.
• Glitter cardstock: For a sparkly touch, consider using glitter cardstock for your cake topper.
• Poster board: Backing your cake topper with poster board will make it more durable and help it hold its shape.
• Bamboo skewers: You can use bamboo skewers or acrylic sticks to secure your cake topper and ensure it stands up straight.

Examples

• Wooden Mr & Mrs cake topper: A classic choice for a rustic wedding, you can find wooden cake toppers in a variety of styles, from simple letters to more intricate designs.
• Rustic love bird cake topper: This topper features a pair of love birds sitting in their nest, symbolising the couple's new life together.
• Custom silhouette cut-out: Create a personalised silhouette of the happy couple, or opt for a rustic design like a buck and doe deer with your names and wedding date.
• Rustic arrow cake topper: A simple yet effective idea, an arrow cake topper can be made from wood or cardstock and decorated with rustic elements like twine or dried flowers.
• Mountain wedding cake topper: Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, this topper features a silhouette of a hiking couple against a mountain backdrop.
• Tractor wedding cake topper: A fun and unique option for a rustic-themed wedding, a tractor cake topper will add a touch of whimsy to your celebration.

Frequently asked questions