Issues → November/December 2010 → Home & Garden →

Inspired Ideas: Custom Cake Plates

Whether whimsically patterned or elegantly simple, these personalized cake plates add a festive touch to any celebration.

by Nancy McAllister

COMMENT

EMAIL

PRINT

SHARE: Pin It

Credit: Annie Card

A special project from Nancy, Megan, and Patrick McAllister

Credit: Annie Card

For a colorful touch, try fun ceramic pieces from Pier 1 Imports.

Credit: Annie Card

For an antique look, find plates at local flea markets.

Here's something different: There was no multitiered wedding cake at the last reception we attended. The bride was Kate, daughter of our friends Meg and Gerry, and she opted for fancy cupcakes instead. Her mother and sister decided that those lovely little treats would look great on special china, so they crafted a variety of pedestal cake plates, each with a different style and character.

At the reception, every table was graced with two unique serving pieces stacked high with the desserts. The presentation was fun, pretty, and definitely a conversation starter among the wedding guests.

I loved the plates and asked Meg how she'd made them. Then, with my two children, 12-year-old Megan and 14-year-old Patrick--and our Christmas list in mind--I set out to hunt for dozens of plates and pedestals, new and antique. By the end of our marathon craft session, we'd produced 18 dishes, each matching the personality of one of our loved ones and the décor of his or her home.

Whether as holiday gifts or as serving pieces for special occasions, these pedestal dishes are fun, beautiful, and unique--and they come with that personal touch.

1. Select a ceramic plate--any design, style, or color that appeals.

2. For the base, select a candlestick, dessert dish, shot glass, or other sturdy, pedestal-like shape. Make sure it's strong and wide enough to provide adequate balance (you don't want the plate to tip while you're arranging food on it).

3. Buy some clear ceramic epoxy at your local hardware store. Read the directions so that you'll know how to mix and apply it correctly and safely.

4. Put on your latex gloves. Using a Popsicle stick or a tongue depressor, mix the epoxy on a paper plate or other disposable surface. Use a small amount at a time, enough for just two applications.

5. Dip the top of the candlestick or other pedestal item into the epoxy puddle and use the Popsicle stick or tongue depressor to spread it--evenly, and not too thickly (to avoid a lopsided look).

6. Now affix your pedestal to the center of the plate's underside. Work fast; epoxy hardens quickly.

7. Turn the pedestal right side up; the weight of the plate itself will apply pressure while the epoxy is drying. And there you have it--a lovely, handcrafted present for one lucky recipient on your gift lift.

ceramic plates
candlesticks or other pedestal-shaped items
clear ceramic epoxy
paper plates
Popsicle sticks or tongue depressors latex gloves