DIY Project ~ Recycled Cake/Cupcake Stands

I just love this idea I found on Design Sponge for recycling an eclectic mix of old vases and

cake plates to combine something new ~ a one of a kind cake plate or cupcake stand!

The bases can be made out of anything from milk glass bottles, to brass candlesticks,

to whatever treasure you have around the house or happen to find during a thrift

store shopping spree.

As with the bases, the cake plates themselves can be found at thrift stores, garage sales and probably around Grandma's house if she is willing to part with them.

What's fun about this idea is you are creating something unique. Your stands, whether they are used to serve cake and cupcakes for a birthday party; or pastries, muffins and quiche for a special brunch, you are sure to have the most thoughtful and unique food presentation for your celebration. You can use bases of varying heights as well as textures to create an even more eclectic and vintage feel. And the best part is they can be used over and over again!

What you'll need:

*old plates (any size)

*old candlesticks or vases (look for anything that is wider at the bottom, with a sturdy base and a flat top)

*epoxy (from a hardware store)

*masking tape

*popsicle sticks or q-tip without the fluffy end (something to apply the epoxy with)

*paper plate or scrap cardboard (something to mix the epoxy on that you can throw out)

*rags and cleaning solution

Directions:

1. pick out which pieces you want to put together and test it out. They should be able to balance on each other without the glue. If not, you may want to rethink your choices...is your plate too uneven or does your base have a flat enough top?

2. clean all plates and vases/candlesticks thoroughly. Dry completely.

3. measure the back of the plate and mark a dot in the center with a pen or marker.

4. squeeze out a little epoxy and follow its directions for use. After it's mixed, apply it to the top of the candlestick/vase and gently place your base upside down on the plate, using your dot as a guide to help you center it.

5. let it sit for a few minutes, then gently press down on it to hold it in place and get rid of any excess epoxy with a q-tip. Apply tape on four sides to anchor it while it dries.

6. let it dry overnight.

Note: while these are studier than you would expect, they are not dishwasher safe; therefore hand washing is recommended.

Tutorial, post and photos adapted from Design Sponge