So, we had a baby shower potluck at work, and as per usual I took it as an excuse to over do it and get crafty. I really wanted to make mini-cupcakes, having just gotten a set of mini-cupcake baking trays for my new apartment, but I also wanted them to stand out.
I couldn't find any cute toppers at my usual haunts (Michaels, Target, etc.) so I opted to make my own.
Hit the jump for a step-by-step and tons of photos:
The Ingredients:
- Print-outs of your design - I handcrafted mine in Photoshop
- Paper punch - I opted for this one from Martha Stewart
- Tacky glue
- Toothpicks
- Ribbon
- Scissors
- Time and Patience - This project took me about 2 hours start-to-finish.
The Process:
1. Punch out your designs
For the future, I will not be cutting mine into squares first. It would have been much easier to position the paper in the punch if it was on a larger sheet, as opposed to one that fit perfectly inside the punch space.
2. Glue the punches to the toothpicks
The nice thing about Tacky is that if you let the glue sit for a few seconds, it's easier to set and position. (Obvious glue name is obvious.) For this reason, I got my best results by laying down the glue for 4-6 toppers at a time, then attaching the toothpicks.
 |
| I made 40 blue mustaches and 40 pink high heels. |
3A. Tie the ribbons.
I hear by dub this the most time consuming, but also most important, part of the process. You'll get it when you see the finished project.
 |
| Start by creasing your ribbon. It took me a little bit, but I ultimately decided that about an inch and a half was the proper length per segment for this project. |
 |
| Figuring out how to tie these suckers was the most time- consuming part, after which actually tying all 80 was the most time-consuming part. You'll figure out a tying system that works well for you after a few attempts. |
 |
| Voila! |
 |
| Trim off any excess with a scissors. After about 10 ribbons, I had a pretty good grasp on the lengths and really only needed to separate the tied bow from the spool. Very little wasted ribbon. |
3B. Decide the ribbons are worth the effort.
Seeing with VS without was all I needed. Continue tying ribbons. This is also a great time to pour a glass of wine.
4. Glue ribbons to toppers.
The beauty of Tacky... I hit my stride glue-dotting 7-10 bows, then attaching them. I consider the waiting period here imperative to the bows not sliding to the side of the toothpick. You'll also find that each bow will naturally have a flatter side; this is the one that I put the glue on.
5. Stick in cupcakes and get complimented on your craftiness.
I also recommend investing in a cupcake tree. $15 well spent!
I wasn't sure if the party was for a boy or girl, so I made both. The good news is that I have toppers ready to go for my friends' Movember kick off party!
comments:
Post a Comment