Cake Stand

cheap and cheerful for summer parties!

Posted by Britta J.

About

I found this rather wonderful project entitled 'Car Boot Cake Stand' by Victoria Woodcock in the book Making Stuff. I've always wanted one (well I say always... last few months really. But it FEELS like always!) so thought I'd give it a try! Here's how...

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You Will Need (8 things)

  • small Plate
  • medium Plate
  • Araldite Glue
  • large Plate
  • 2 small Vase s or sherry glasses/egg cups for the central columns
  • Scrap Paper
  • Paper Scissors
  • Pencil(s)

Steps (9 steps, 120 minutes)

  1. 1

    Go to a car boot sale and find some pretty plates and something to go between them. Most sellers aren't prepared to sell just one of each size plate from their sets so it's cheaper if you're prepared to go for mis-matched ones - and more hobo chique too imho u_u The big plate cost me 60p, the medium one 15p and the smaller one £1.50. I got the vases together for £1.50. Also get some Araldite glue, which can stick ceramic and glass. I got mine for £3.99 at Wilkensons.

  2. 2

    Give it all a good clean and let it dry. It's important to get the dirt and grease off otherwise the glue won't be able to do its thang

  3. 3

    Turn your largest plate face-down on the scrap paper and draw around it.

  4. 4

    Cut the shape out and fold into quarters to find the centre. Find out how big the base of the vase/sherry glass is and mark where it's going to go on the paper. I drew measurements onto the paper to line it up centrally.

  5. 5

    Cut the hole out for the vase and lay the paper on the plate, right side up. You should be able to place the vase in the hole without catching any paper. Mix up a small amount of glue as per instructions (also safety instructions!) on the packet and apply to both surfaces. Move the paper out of the way and place the vase on the plate.

  6. 6

    Leave to set for at least 10 minutes and then try lifting the plate holding the vase. If it doesn't hold together then you just need to apply more glue and let it set for longer next time.

  7. 7

    Keep assembling your cake stand as you see fit. I glued the medium plate to the lower vase (the most tricky bit), then turned to smallest plate upside-down and attached the upper vase (see picture), then put them together when they were set. As well as planning out the centre on paper, I also did a lot of eyeballing to see that it was symmetrical, and I held a pencil up against the two plate edges to see that the angle was the same the whole way around.

  8. 8

    Leave the cake stand to set fully for a while before you use it (I left mine overnight.) A note about Araldite glue - the instructions on my packet said not to use it for things that would contain food, cos it's strong chemically stuff and poinsonous to life apparently. I figure since I got the how-to from a reputable book, and also since the glue just goes on little joints which wouldn't touch your cakes, it should be ok. Play it safe and paint over it if you're worried.

  9. 9

    Put it in pride of place in your kitchen and see how it looks with cakes on! Tadaaa! ^__^