Creating your very own custom tiered cake stand is a cinch and the best $20 to $30 party and tablescape investment you could make using a couple of Styrofoam molds. Since purchasing my own molds about a year ago, I have since used them for four parties, easily revamping my stand each time to perfectly fit the party’s theme.

The Styrofoam molds are really easy to find, anywhere from your local bakery supply stores to Amazon.com. The particular type that I have purchased are called Cake Dummies and I generally prefer the round shape. But you may certainly construct your stand using various sizes of squares or rectangular cake dummies as well… it’s all about preference. A general consideration in determining which to purchase is the shapes of the rest of your go-to serving platters. Pick a dummy shape that will blend well with the rest of what you already have to achieve unity on all your tablescapes.

Once you have the molds in hand, grab your kid’s Elmer School Glue and glue together the tiers, alternating layers with smaller inner cylindrical molds which act as risers, separating the layers and creating some depth to place cupcakes, parfaits and other desserts. Voila! You’re ready to decorate once the glue dries!

I have found that the easiest method for customizing my stands was to use a variety of 2″, 3″ and 4″ ribbon and layers of scrapbooking paper, in matching colors to your party theme, and fasten it to the stand with sewing pins. Easy in and easy out…

Here’s some of the details I added…

• Fiesta College Graduation Party: I used vibrant plastic pennants from party store with strips of coordinating ribbons to build up my mosaic. I served mini caramel apple shooters, cherry cheesecakes & Oreo Truffles on the stand.
• Leopard Hello Kitty 2nd Birthday: I used strips pf blue and pink ribbon and sealed everything down with leopard print duck tape from Target. I didn’t need to pin anything, because of the masking tape- super easy  I served mini banana shooters & mini oreo parfaits on the stand.
• Slam Dunkin’ 4th Basketball Birthday:  I pinned strips of orange wrapping paper that I already had and overlaid stickers and scrapbooking strips of paper in a basketball theme, with cool sporty lingo, like “All Star” and “Team Work.” I served really bright cupcakes topped with orange gumballs on them, to echo the “basketball” theme.
• Nautical Baptism & 1st Birthday: I pinned 4th of July ribbon (red, white & blue) that I got on sale and a couple large decorative Nautical stickers, including a 3-D lighthouse, a boat & an oar. The Oreo shooters really popped against the background. Ahoy!

Enjoy crafting & cheers!