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DIY Wooden Cake Stand

October 24, 2015

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Make a super simple DIY wooden cake stand or cake plate without cutting, drilling or sanding. Here's an easy tutorial that only requires paint and glue.

Fabulous!

DIY Wooded Cake Stand Graphic

I have a serious cake plate addiction.

The elegance of their shape draws me in and everything, from food to flowers, looks better when elevated.

Naturally, I have too many, stands in all shapes and sizes. Some are made of ceramic, some of glass and some are tin ~ you name it, I've got it.

Except wood.

Pssst- Update! Now I have several wood pieces to display my cakes and cupcakes!

 I have never had a wooden cake stand and in recent months I found myself completely bewitched by these beauties. Unfortunately, they are very popular right now and that means they're typically very pricey.



That doesn't work for me, I like cheap, so I decided to look into making one.

Well, that idea had its own issues.

Most of the tutorials I found required some amount of sanding, cutting, drilling or nailing and, nope, that's not something I have any interest in doing.

So I went to the hardware and craft stores, poked around a bit and came up with my very own, super easy, super inexpensive DIY wooden cake stand.

It honestly took me about ten minutes to put together and I love, love, love it.

I featured it earlier this week, when I paired it with my thrift store pumpkin cookie jar vase. I promised to share the simple how to, so here it is.

How To Make A DIY Wooden Cake Stand


I purchased a few wooden rounds. I have tons of large stands, but I was looking to create something a little more demure, so I went with the eight inch.

Next, I grabbed four of the four inch rounds and one five inch. These sizes were all readily available at the craft store and for 40% off.

Wooden Rounds In Assorted Sizes To Make A Cake Stand

If I did want a larger plate, the hardware store carried a twelve and fifteen inch version.

Those sizes would work well with one of my existing glass domes.

My small stand will work with a cloche if desired. I also have a glass cover from a cheese plate that will work well.

The possibilities are endless, you just need to decide what kind of look you're going for.

Whatever you choose, the next step is the same.

Paint the rounds with craft paint.

Yup. Craft paint.

I told you, I am all about easy. I did not wax them, prime them or stain them. I painted them with sixty nine cent craft paint in a brown tone I liked.

Painting Wooden Craft Rounds With Brown Paint

To achieve the look I wanted, which allowed the wood grain show through, I used a foam brush and a wet paper towel.

I applied the paint with the foam and then rubbed it off with the wet paper towel. I made sure to use movements with the grain of the wood.

When all of my pieces were covered with paint I let them dry...that took about five minutes. No joke.

Rolling Brown Paint Onto Craft Rounds

To seal the wood and add a little shine, I rolled on a little decoupage gel with the roller that came with my stenciled pillow kit.

Again, I let them dry. I placed the five inch round on the bottom and stacked the four inch rounds on top of it, in a pretty pattern.

Everything was bonded together with a sturdy wood glue, the largest round on top and that was that.

I actually have a few more rounds leftover to make a companion for this little guy. It will be a five inch version and sit a bit lower for interest.

Easy DIY wooden cake stand with cookie jar flower vase on top in front of a fireplace

I am very pleased with the way it turned out. It's rustic and sweet and has satisfied my craving for a wooden stand.

Look at me, I'm so on trend and I'm actually looking forward to using it for cake very soon.

Although, who am I kidding? I don't bake.

Maybe my stand should have a different name, something without the word cake in it.

Ironic addiction, isn't it?

What's your addiction?

Kim Signature


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  1. Love this idea...very creative! Thanks!

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    1. Thanks Cheryl Ann. I am so glad you like this one!

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  2. Great tutorial Kim. I love cake stands too :)

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  3. Great thing, that 69 cent bottle of paint! The thing I esepcially like is that there is no drilling, screwing, measuring, etc involved! Great work! Looks lovely!

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    1. Me too, Nancy! No muss, no fuss...that's my style!

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  4. Love this idea - I see a fun, easy project in my future. Thanks!

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    1. Oh so happy you found something fun to make here, Betty! Let me know if you try it. I would love to put it up for others to see!

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  5. Ha! Aren't you the crafty clever frugal gal! Talk about getting what you want at a fraction of the cost... now that is pretty awesome! I love your idea of gluing the rounds together to make your own, very sturdy, and cute stand! You don't have to put a cake on it... how bout a pumpkin... :D Your pumpkin stand looks great!

    As for me, an addiction? Hmmm.. would you believe that it is looking out the window, or walking in the yard with my funny chickens, I know that sounds crazy, but its true! They are so hilarious, and I enjoy watching their antics all day long... LOL!

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    1. Your addictions sound wonderful....they don't cost a thing or clutter your house...and yes, your chickens are funny!! :)

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  6. Hi Kim,
    I love your new cake stand you made! You did a great job and thanks for sharing the tutorial. It looks so pretty with the pumpkin flower vase!
    Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
    Julie

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    1. Thank you Julie! It was super easy to do. I hope the tutorial will help others enough to copy it! :)

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  7. Such a cute idea. I bet they would make great gifts too!

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    1. Never even thought about that Brandi, but you are so right! Especially if I included someone else’s baked goods! ;)

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  8. Well, my addiction seems to be the same as yours. Who would have thought it? Lovely job and really eye catching and you did good and, of course, I will have to copy..Happy Weekend..Judy

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  9. I'm all about the 69 cent craft paint too! Your little dohickey stand turned out great. See, I didn't call it a cake stand. :)

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    1. Thanks Stacey! I like your name better! ;)

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  10. What a clever idea. I love the look of the finish that you created. And it could be customized to fit many occasions just by using different paint colors, white for Easter/spring, green or red for Christmas, black, silver or gold for an elegant table, team colors for homecoming/Superbowl. Very fun.

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    1. Love those ideas, Lorri. I will have to keep them all in mind...the rounds are certainly cheap enough!

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  11. that is so clever!
    i was thinking you were going to use some kind of ready made post from home depot for the base.
    your way is SO much better! you'd have to saw the post to make it the right height.
    my addiction is eating the cake that you don't bake.
    i don't bake anymore either. because then I would eat it.
    i love the unusual color combination of the entire vignette! it's just lovely.

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    1. Tammy you are so smart...I did start out looking at the posts at Home Depot, but yes, they required cutting. So I vetoed that idea. I'll make you a deal, I'll make you a stand, if you make me a cake! ;)

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  12. Thrifty idea! I had to laugh that you don't bake :) Well it's perfect for display. Have a wonderful weekend. xoxo Su

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    1. I know, ironic isn't it, Su? Ha!! I like to eat cake though. ;)

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  13. Very creative Kim. Love this. You need a trip to the bakery to put a pretty cake on top of this sweet new piece.
    Have a great rest of the week end.
    Kris

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    1. The bakery sounds like a very fun field trip, Kris! Great suggestion! :)

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  14. I LOVE the creative way you used those wooden rounds I see at the craft store all the time and have no idea what they are for!! I am very drawn to cake stands too and have quite a few. But, I don't use them! I guess I don't make cakes very often and I never thought to use them for décor...duh!! My latest addiction is wanting to try all these crafty ideas I see all over blog land!! Really!

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    1. I know, blog land itself is pretty addictive isn’t it? ;) I guess there could be worse addictions to have!

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  15. What a clever and creative project, Kim! This is a fabulous idea!!! I think my biggest addiction may be cookbooks.....I have 4 new ones sitting in a stack next to my chair that I haven't even opened yet!

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    1. I believe that, you are quite the chef! I like the pictures inside, but that's about as far as I get! Enjoy that stack.

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  16. You can always go to a fancy bakery and buy a lovely cake and put it on your new cake stand. ,-))))

    Hugs and magic,
    Tessa

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    1. Yes, I will definitely need to visit the bakery! ;)

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  17. Hi Kim, love your creative cake stand. I have a weakness for them as well and this is a brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week ahead. cm

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    1. Thank you so much, Celestina Marie. It was super, super easy!!

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  18. Great idea, I love how it turned out. :-)
    I am off to finish cleaning my gardens, getting them ready for W-----. :-)
    Have a great Sunday!
    Carla

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  19. Just call it the no-bake cake stand :)

    It looks great! Now there has to be a way to make a fake cake for that stand ! :)

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  20. Cute! I gave away my beautiful cake stands. Didn't have the room.
    Brenda

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    1. Yes, cottage living here, too, Brenda. I have to be careful with my addictions! ;)

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    1. Thank you, Carol. This was an easy one! ;)

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  22. Nice job! And the first I've heard of wood cake stands.

    My addiction for years was the candlewick glass snack plates, you know the ones with little punch cups that sit on them? I bought stacks for years thinking they would be perfect for appetizers and of course for women's lunches. I used them about once a year for our family Christmas party and that's it. But I can't bear to get rid of them and someday I just know I'm going to have a lot of people wanting punch.

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    1. Thank you, Dewena. Your plate collection sounds lovely....and I think once a year is better than not at all. I know lots of people (including this gal) who have those kinds of collections!

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  23. When you have a quest . . . you go for it, solve it, succeed!
    Very nice . . . indeed!
    Addictions you ask . . . Santa plates by Knowles . . .
    I stopped at thirty . . .

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  24. I love it!! I'd like to try this---lots of cake stands here except for wood. Sounds fun, too!,

    Jane x

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    1. The wood is interesting Jane. So easy and cheap too, worth a try for sure! :)

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  25. Very clever. I like that you put it together with craft rounds. Great rustic style. Well done, Kim. My addiction? You mean besides dark chocolate? ;-)

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    1. Mmmm. Dark chocolate. I bet that would look fabulous on my cake stand! ;)

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  26. So Creative! I can see lots of goodies on this. Isn't it fun when a project comes together so nicely? Thrift stores I suppose is one of my biggest addictions. I get very excited when I find something I truly love for a cheap price. I am a lot more frugal than I used to be. It would not have been a concern for me to spend big bucks for something I really liked, but now oh no! I look at every penny! Older and wiser? Maybe! Have a fun week, always look forward to your posts! Lynn

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    1. Thanks for the sweet comments, Lynn. I too have become more cautious with my pennies as I have gotten older. I do love the thrift stores though! ;)

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  27. This is so cute, perfect with your pumpkin vase!

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  28. Kimmie! I absolutely LOVE it! I will be doing this for sure! So awesome and creative! xoxoxoxo Jen

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  29. This is GREAT and very timely!!! I have the need of a riser for a figurine!!! This will be perfect!
    Thank you so much for the idea.
    Blessings,
    J

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    1. It’s so easy J and cost me almost nothing to make! Send me a picture if you make it! :)

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  30. That looks beautiful! I would have never thought to buy the different sizes to put it together...you are so creative!! What a great project and I like the fact that it is easy to do...AND in a great price range! The pumpkin vase fits perfectly on top! Who needs to bake a cake when you already have something that pretty to sit on your cake stand??!! Hugs!!

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    1. Thanks Benita! I am going to put everything I can on that stand, so I don’t have to bake a thing…poor goldfish may find himself on display! ;)

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  31. Both the pumpkin vase and the stand are darling! By the way, they sell baked goods and you could just lie ;)

    xoxo,
    rue

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    1. That is my Thanksgiving and Christmas plan, Rue! Shhh! ;)

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  32. Love this Kim and it showcases your pumpkin vase perfectly! :)

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    1. Thanks Kristi! :) Better the vase than one of my cakes! ;)

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  33. Such a creative idea!
    I love how it looks with your pumpkin vase on top...and it's just as pretty as a cake! ;)
    Have a wonderful week!
    Kimberley

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    1. Thank you, Kimberley! You are always super sweet!

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  34. Kim,
    With our new home being more rustic I definitely need this cake stand!
    Thanks for the tutorial-love it all- the process included.
    Jemma

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  35. Kim,
    I love your wooden cake stand. How clever, now I need to make some for myself or as gifts. Thanks

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    1. Thanks Vanessa! I am sure you could make something even more fabulous. You are very creative! :) Kim

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  36. I was just looking at the AmaraI nterior Blog Award lists and saw that you were short listed - WOW! and Congrats!

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    1. Thanks so much, Carol! It was an honor for sure!! :)

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  37. I like how our addictions to things take over and we obsess. I have been hoarding cereal boxes.. Do you see my brand of crazy? I just cannot bear to throw them out not even in the recycling bin. It's Hometalk's fault. Months back I had made an organizer for my phone wires using, you guessed it, cereal boxes. It was such a hit, it left me speechless. So now I thing I have to repurpose them somehow... will I be lucky a second time?? Probably not, but I'm scarred for life.

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    1. Hometalk is not helpful, is it? ;) SO many cute ideas for everything in the recycle bin!!

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  38. My addiction's? Too many to list, but I'll try nonetheless...Clooney, cannolis, and Charlie my granddog. Guess I'm partial to the letter 'C'.

    I love cake stands too, but I don't love how much room they take. I'll just borrow yours when I need one.

    (Congrats on the Amara mention)

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    1. There's nothing wrong the letter C...especially that Congrats!! And thank you! :)

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  39. Clever you and it really turn out nice. I have several cake stands and never seem to use them? I like the idea of a wooden one since I have a tendency to break things!

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    1. Mine are usually empty, too, Cathy! I try to keep them full of empty plates...at least the look a little less sad! ;)

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  40. This is really cute!

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  41. Kim, thank you for sharing your wonderful DIY creation at Vintage Charm! Blessings, Cecilia

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  42. Replies
    1. Thanks Christine!! And super easy to make...

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