Cake Toppers 101
Are you new to creating paper cake toppers with a Cricut? Here’s a list of FAQ to help you start creating faster and not waste your time searching for answers.
FAQ
What paper can I use for cake toppers?
Cake toppers that are cut on a cutting machine (such as a Cricut), are mainly created out of cardstock paper. You can find cardstock in many different colors, patterns, and glittery finishes. However, the most important thing is to look for heavier cardstock that will help your design stay up and not just flop over.
What kind of sticks can I use for cake toppers?
There are many options to use as sticks for your cake toppers, it all comes down to design preference and your budget. Here are some popular options: cake pop sticks, paper straws, wood skewers, and clear acrylic sticks.
Can I cut acrylic with Cricut?
Yes. Cricut Explorer can handle materials up to 2.0mm and Cricut Maker up to 2.4mm. However, cutting acrylic on your Cricut for creating cake toppers is not your ideal solution.
Can I cut fondant with the Cricut?
Technically the machines would be able to cut fondant. But, Cricut current models of Joy, Explorer, Maker and Venture are not food safe and should not be used to cut any food products.
What to use as the clear material for creating shaker cake toppers?
Acetate sheets are a popular choice for creating the window in the shaker cake toppers.
What can I use to make the cake topper 3D?
The 3D look can be achieved by using double-sided foam tape which also comes in precut squares or circles.
What glue do I need to use for creating cake toppers?
When working with cardstock you don’t really need any special glue to keep your design together. A glue stick, liquid glue, or a hot glue gun can be used. When using acetate or embellishments, a glue gun is a better solution for you to have a stronger hold and your pieces to set in and dry faster. Find glue options here.
What size should the cake topper be?
The size of your cake topper will depend on the size of the cake it’ll go on. The standard size of a cake topper is about 6 inches (15.24cm) wide.
What to use to create the space/gap for a shaker on a cake topper?
There are a few ways to create depth for your shaker component. The most common way is to cut craft foam with your Cricut machine. This way you can design any shape for the shaker. Another way is to use foam tape and carefully tape piece by piece, making sure not to leave any spaces in between each one. And finally, you can cut a strip of cardstock on your Cricut. This is a special strip that has multiple little tabs and looks sort of like a caterpillar with many feet. You would then bend the little tabs and glue them to the main piece of the cake topper to create the space needed for the shaker components.
What can I put inside a shaker for a cake topper?
You can get really creative with the pieces that go inside the shaker and there’s not one that works better than the other. You can use sequins, spangles, glitter, small beads, and even small cardstock cutouts that match your design. Mix and match, and most of all have fun.
How long should a cake topper stick be?
In most cases, the cake topper stick doesn’t need to be longer than 4 inches (10.16 cm). However, this can greatly depend on the cake topper design and also the design of the top tier of the cake itself.
Which Cricut machine should I buy for making cake toppers?
Cake toppers can be created with any current Cricut machine model: Joy, Explorer, or Maker. The specific machine you choose to buy will depend on your budget, your crafting needs, and what type of cake toppers you would like to start making. Keep in mind that Criuct Joy is a small machine and does not do Print then Cut, thus will have limited design options that you can create.
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