Decoupage Cake Stand Makeover

Cake plates or cake stands are plentiful at thrift stores and second hand shops. They make great decor and serving pieces.

With a little bit of decoupage you can give one a makeover and turn it into a treasure for any season or event.


A few days ago, I shared several treasures I recently picked up at the thrift store.

Some of them were in perfect condition, ready for display.

However other's needed a little TLC to take them from second hand blah to beautiful, including this $4.00 cake stand.

I don't know why but I'm a sucker for any kind of cake stand.

I have too many to count and no right to own more than one, since I don't really bake.

I just like their shape and the way I can display seasonal items on them.

And occasionally something sweet.

I have wooden ones, milk glass ones, domed ones, tall ones, short ones, galvanized metal ones and a few made of glass. Ones that are big enough for a sheet cake and small enough for one cupcake. 

I even have a DIY cake stand.

However today, I'm sharing this one, made of a wood like material and full of cracks. I honestly think I paid too much, but it was huge, with room for food and decor.

Did you know I started a Facebook Thrift Store Home Decor group? Come join and share your finds and DIYs with us!

And I had a vision, so I took it home, made it over and dressed it up for fall.

Just in time to share with The Thrifty Style Team! Don't you just love a party? Oh good, me too. Now before we get to the hopping, let me show you what I did to my overpriced thrifted plate.

How To Decoupage A Cake Plate

I started by removing the price tag, getting rid of the sticky goop and wiping it down with a damp paper towel.

Then I collected all my supplies. 

The Steps

One rice paper sheet wasn't large enough to cover the cake plate on its own, so I had to cut the white edging off each sheet so I could fit them together seamlessly.


Next, I placed them together on the table, patterned side up so I could see where they'd be joined. 

Then I put the cake plate, upside down, on top of the paper and traced all the way around it in pencil, like I did on my toile fabric sled.


When I lifted it away, I was left with a circular pattern. I carefully cut on the pencil line with very sharp scissors. 

Dull scissors could tear the paper.


Once the paper was ready to go, I dipped my brush into the satin sealer (or Mod Podge) and added a generous amount to the top of the cake stand. 

I was careful to go all the way around the edges of the plate, too.


Then I placed the rice paper on the stand, lining up the patterns so they wouldn't be noticeable.


I put on a glove, vinyl gloves from the drug store that I use for crafting, and smoothed out the rice paper. They look a little scary, but they work amazingly well. 

I've mentioned before that I prefer decoupaging with rice paper, as opposed to using napkins. It's much sturdier and it doesn't tear when you smooth it out or need to move it a bit.

Of course, napkins would work for this project, too.
 
The last step in this process was to coat the top of the rice paper with more satin sealer. I prefer this to Mod Podge, it doesn't smell, it's not as sticky and it dries quickly.

It is much more expensive, but it lasts much longer and, honestly, the lack of a smell, is worth it to me.

I had to lift the flap where the seams met to get under it so it would stick to the paper below it.

Then I used my gloved fingers again to smooth out any wrinkles and to seal the sides of the paper around the edge of the plate.

After about an hour, the newly dressed cake plate was totally transformed. The cracks disappeared and so did the blahs.


When it was dry you could still see that faux wood pattern through the paper, making it the perfect rustic accent for my cottage style kitchen.

Especially during fall.


Not that I'm ready to let go of summer just yet.

But it's nice to prepare for the upcoming season.

And it's always fun to get crafty with a thrifty find.

😉

What do you think of my cake plate now?

A few things to keep in mind with decoupage crafts:

• Decoupage gels, including Mod Podge and the Dixie Belle sealer I used, are not food safe. That means if I were going to serve food on my cake plate I would need to place a barrier between the food and the decoupaged surface.
  
  
• This is a great project for any season, all you need to do is swap out the rice paper or napkin pattern and you can have a Christmas cake stand, baby shower, wedding or birthday cake plate. Endless options here, just use your imagination.
  
  
• If you have a glass cake stand, you can add the rice paper or napkins to the bottom of it. You'll see the pattern from above...and you'll still be able to place food directly on the glass. Just don't submerge it when washing. Even the dishwasher safe Mod Podge isn't quite that waterproof.
  

Hope that helps!

And now...drumroll please... it's time to hop!! I hope you'll stick around to visit my creative friends and check out all their thrifty fall home decor!!



It's a lovely party hosted by Julie from Redhead Can Decorate and Michelle from Our Crafty Mom. They're first on the list so hop on over and say hello!



Happy Hopping, Friends!