Holiday Decorating -- DIY Cake Stands

Offering height, drama, design, glamour, the cake platter is the décor diva of the holiday food buffet (although, it can be used for so much more). They can be classic, shabby chic, contemporary or vintage and of course beautiful. But beautiful does not have to be pricey, this year make a statement at your holiday gathering by trying one of our DIY cake platters that cost $5 or less.

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

After scouring the stray plates and odds and ends in our cupboards, visiting the thrift and dollar stores and hardware stores we found some bits and pieces that we turned into these cake platter projects. Our favorite finds: a glass dome at Deseret Industries, A Christmas box tin and lid, a tea light candle holder and some old vases. The key to designing your own platter may be found in your own cabinets or storage. Candle holders, vases, brandy glasses, Christmas plates all make good finds. The key is to look at your odds and ends with a different perspective.

Supplies

Although you will need to invest in some basic supplies, they can be used for other DIY projects and you may have some of them in your craft closet already. We are not really counting these supplies in our price tag.

Spray paint – we used white and turquoise. But choose your favorite colors.

Heavy duty glue – We suggest E600 or Epoxy.

Spray sealer

Plastic trash bags or newspapers for spraying

Contemporary Chic $5

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

We actually saw wine bottle vases done like this on Pinterest. Immediately we realized they would make even better cake platters We used an old vase, an old rootbeer bottle and a glass goblet from a cruise ship trip. Look how amazing these snowy platters will look at your holiday bash.

DO It Yourself

Supplies

Vases or bottles

White spray paint

Spray Sealer

Epsom Salts

Spray Adhesive (This can usually be found in the silk floral section of a craft store.

White or holiday themed plates.

Directions:

1. Spray bottles with white spray paint. Let dry for a couple hours.

2. Spray bottles with spray adhesive and roll in Epsom salts. If you have odd shaped vases you may need to sprinkle Epsom salts on bare spots by hand.

3. Spray with several coats of sealer – letting dry between coats. The Epsom salts are messy but they tend to stay put if they are well sealed.

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

Find the center of your plate and using epoxy or E600 glue spread a layer of glue around the rim of the base. Center plate and glue onto base. Allow glue to dry thoroughly.

Hand wash only.

Trendy -- Monogrammed Color $3

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

A monogram platter adds a little trendiness to your décor. Although we used electric tape to make our initial, using a precut vinyl letter or sticker would have a cleaner finish.

We also upcycled the tin lid from a holiday cookie tin as our platter. The base was found in the decorative hardware section at Home Depot. It is a part of a wood staircase. Cost on the wood base was about $3.

Supplies

Turquoise spray paint

White spray paint

Wooden stair spindle (screw removed )

Tin lid from a metal cookie tin

Electric tape

Plastic pearl trim (found in the sewing section of JoAnn Fabrics)

Directions:

1. Spray paint your tin white or whatever color you want your initial or Monogram to end up. Let dry for a couple hours.

2. Tape your initial or letter onto the tin where you want it on the platter. We used black electric tape but feel free to use vinyl letters or stickers just make sure you secure it tightly.

3. Spray your base and top turquoise or desired color. Allow to dry for at least an hour. Remove tape for the letter. We actually did some retouching on the letter with a small paintbrush and white acrylic paint.

4. Cut your pearl trim to the circumference of your platter top. Secure with glue. We applied our glue with a toothpick or the end of a wood skewer.

5. Spread glue on the top of your base and center your platter top on base. Allow to dry.

6. Spray with clear sealer.

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

Playful Holiday Charm -- $3.50

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

This is by far the easiest and yet the most playful cake platter. A collection of these would make a great gift or table centerpiece.

We purchased the mini cookie holiday cookie tin for $2.50 at JoAnn Fabrics. The plate is a salad plate we bought at Smiths grocery store for $1. Cheap holiday dishware is often available at grocery stores during the holiday season.

Remove the tins lid and glue the plate onto the tin canister. Simple, fast and adorable.

Whimsical Platter Kit. This platter set cost $7 including the snowflake decorations.

Using glassware and clear plates found at Deseret Industries and the Dollar Store we came up with a platter kit that can be customized to the season. We did not permanently glue these pieces together because we found flat snowflake ornaments to place between the base and the plate. By leaving these unglued we can use other flat paper decorations for other seasons to recreate a seasonal look. It also makes them easier to wash in the dishwasher and store. Just make sure your bases are stable enough to hold food.

For the bases we used mini goblets and one taller tealight candle holder.

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

Classic Tiers. $3

Photo by Karynn Jorgensen, Bloomshoot Photography

Two tiers in a bold sparkling color with another tealight candleholder glued between the two platters create a classic traditional food tray with graceful lines and elegant style. The platters are plate chargers and can be found in silver, gold and red at this time of year. They can be purchased at Wal -Mart for $1 each.

Our chargers did warn they were not meant for serving food but for decoration only. But adding a little paper doily between the charger and any unwrapped food solves this problem.

Once again the possibilities are endless. Use an old tart pan on an old thick candlestick. Find vintage plates and teacups for a platter perfect for a tea party or create your own design. Once you get started you will never look at a glass goblet the same way again.