Have you ever wondered how you could decorate your cake boards? Do you want to make them prettier without a lot of effort or money? I have the answer for you and I'm gonna show you How to Cover a Cake Board with Glitter Paper.
For the longest time, I didn't put forth any real effort into decorating my cake boards. I mean, I'd cover them with foil wrap and make sure they were clean, but I didn't "decorate" them.
Then around 2 years ago, having "covered cake boards" became a big deal and well... I loved the way it looked! I should note, having covered cake boards might have been a big deal much earlier than that, but I live in the sticks and trends are slow coming around here 😉 ).
So slowly but surely, I started making a habit of covering my boards and now I can't imagine sending a cake out with a "plain board". Now this is not the only way I cover boards. Sometimes I cover them in fondant to match the theme of the cake (wood grain fondant, checkerboard, matching color, etc.), but mostly these days I used scrapbook glitter paper to cover my boards and I love the way it looks!
Okay - let's get on with the tutorial.
How to Cover a Cake Board with Glitter Paper
Here's what you'll need:
- Cake boards (one the same size as your cake - it should already be on it, three larger ones to put your cake on)
- Hot Glue Gun & Glue
- Stick Glue
- Packing Tape*
- Duck Tape*
- Glitter Paper or
- Scissors
- ⅝" ribbon (perfect size for 3 stacked caked boards)
See how I store my ribbon HERE!
*Sometimes I skip the tapes and use hot glue for all of those steps. I'll explain as we go!
Note: You will have to adjust these sizes depending on how big your cakes are and how much board you'd like to show but for this order, I had a 6" cake and I used 10" boards for my display. I'd say 9 times out of 10, I use 12" boards (that's the biggest you can do with standard 12"x12" scrapbook paper), but for smash cakes, I use smaller 10" boards.
Step 1: Start by taping together your three big base boards. I double over packing tape for this step. You can also use Duck Tape or hot glue here, but packing tape is cheaper than Duck Tape and works perfectly well, so I generally use that or the hot glue.
Step 2: Use stick glue to cover the entire surface of the top board.
Step 3: Place the glitter paper over the sticky surface, smooth out any air bubbles, then flip it over and add some weight to it. I usually let it sit for at least 10 minutes. The great thing about this is - you could actually make it days or weeks in advance as well.
Add Glitter Paper ...
From this angle, the glitter on the back of the paper looks black or like it's dirty, but I promise, it's just the glitter. You can see some of it shining on the pic above from a different angle.
Step 4: Once the paper is set, flip it over and trim off the excess with a pair of scissors.
I trim it as close as possible so it's a really clean edge when flipped over:
Step 5: Now the steps are a bit mixed up here, but you could absolutely skip ahead and do the ribbon without having the cake on the board... just saying. But for me, this is the order I did it in. Here I have a prepared 6" cake, already on a cake board matching it's size (6" cake on the 6" cake board).
*Although the cake itself does not sit on the glitter paper, if food safety is a concern with the glitter being close to the cake, you could always cover the paper with cellophane or even contact paper at this point (to contain the glitter). It's not something I stress over or worry about, but I know it's a big deal for a lot of people.
This will be covered in ruffles so the crumb coat is pretty messy and I didn't stress over it:
Apparently, I also didn't center it (oops!). Anywho, to avoid confusion, this is the only 6" board you'll need and it's the one listed in the instructions.
Step 6: Using Duck tape, attach the cake to the glitter paper. By using the board under the cake, you're preventing your cake from touching the glitter paper. You could also use hot glue for this step if you like, but I don't recommend packing tape. You want something that's gonna really secure the cake to the board and packing tape is not strong enough.
-->Insert Cake Decorating here. For this cake, I piped on large buttercream ruffles. <--
Decorate the cake! (if you haven't already)
Step 7: To finish the look, you're going to use your hot glue gun to attach a coordinating ribbon around the sides of the cake boards. What I do is put thin strip of glue a few inches long, attach the ribbon, turn, and repeat. Keep going until it's completely covered, then use scissors to trim the end (overlay it slightly).
Excuse the terrible fingernails... I think my son had given me a manicure and I had let it stay on a few days too long 😉
And that's it!! You have a beautifully decorated cake board that took no more than 10 minutes work and it costs less than $5 (you can roll that into the cost of your cake).
OH - when I do smash cakes like this, I sometimes take the extra scrap paper cut off the sides and cut out a "1" for the top. I use hot glue to attach the number to a lollipop stick (scroll up a couple of pics to see the back of the "1" and voila - you have a matching topper! SO cute, huh?!
Scroll down and you'll see a couple of other boards I've decorated this way (directly below and the other linked up tutorials)!
Where do I get the glitter paper? I buy it online at Amazon or in Hobby Lobby stores. It's cheapest to wait until it's on sale at Hobby Lobby (or use a coupon) and buy only the sheets/colors you need OR buy it by the bundle if you'll be using it a lot (like me!). I aim to pay $.50-$1 per sheet at most.
How did I decorate the cake? I piped on Vanilla Buttercream with large petal tip (Wilton #402).
And that's it! Do you have any questions? Leave me a comment! Check out the related posts here:
How to Organize Ribbons
How to Decorate a Cake Board & Matching Bunting Topper
How to Make an Easy Bunting Topper (and see the brown glitter paper with orange ribbon? love!)
refilwe
I love the idea.. but instructions aren't clear really. Confused
Rose Atwater
I really don't know how I could explain it any better.
CuteEmi
6 I thought it was well explaind, but where did you have concerns?
Sulyman baliqees
Pls can we also decorate the board with fondant after covering with cellophane? Thanks for sharing your idea's
Dea
Does the glitter come off onto the cake when the cake is cut? I have always covered the glitter paper with clear contact paper. But, it's not nearly as pretty.
Rose Atwater
I haven't had any issues or complaints about that happening.
Sandra
Great tutorial thank you! I usually just cover my boards with foil but this is much prettier and easy to customize. Do ask clients if they want a fancier board or just roll it into the cost?
Rose Atwater
Thanks Sandra! I just roll it into the cost since it's fairly inexpensive and I like to present all of my cakes as nicely as I can!
Evy Rodriguez
Thank you Rose I was wondering how to do this! Thanks for the tutorial!
Rose Atwater
You're welcome!
Kellie Gray
Hi Rose
How does this go with food safety regulations?
Rose Atwater
Well the cake is not actually touching the glitter paper but as stated above, if it bothers you or if you feel like it violates a food safety regulation, then by all means, cover it with contact paper or cellophane.
Pamela G
Have you ever tried covering a cake board, made thicker using multiple boards like you do here, with edible glitter instead of the glitter paper? Granted, it would take quite a lot of edible glitter and would only be feasible at all if purchased wholesale in much larger quantities than what the type of place like Wilton sells in those itty bitty jars. Thinking about it, I don't see how a layer cake like this can be cut and served without getting ANY glitter on cake or frosting. Unfortunately much of that stuff is just not that secure on the paper. I know the hard way as I'm always cleaning it up after people rent the community room of my family's business. If they can, then that's some pretty nifty serving skills they have. Or, I'm wondering if there is a food safe sealant along the liquid or "shellac" type or product? I agree that plastic wrap, contact paper, cellophane, etc just doesn't look as nice as "naked" glitter paper so its an odd dilemma to solve. It's a good idea but I think this is only the beginning of this design idea and there is a way to go to perfect it yet.
Kim
Such a fantastic idea!! Pinning for all of my future cakes!
Rose Atwater
Thank you!
Jamie
That looks beautiful!! I could make the stand, but the cake wouldn't look too good!! ha/ha Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
Melissa
Love it! I always buy the $1 rolls of wrapping paper at the Dollar store and cover my boards with them and use clear cellophane over it and it's always a big hit with my customers!
There are always so many ways to compliment your cake when using decorated cake boards! I love it!
Thanks for all you do Rose! I LOVE reading your blogs!
~Melissa
Kathy
Oh I like this idea too. Appreciate you taking the time Rose.
Sher Ramsey
I love the comment about your nails! And your cakes are awesome...where do you get your ideas? Pinterest, customers or do you have a really creative mind??
Rose
Ha - thank you! Sometimes I come up with designs on my own and other times I'm inspired by decorations, invitations, Pinterest, etc.
ana clara
HI Rose as always your posts are so clear. Thank you for sharing your steps to do so. Can I ask you from where do you order your cake boxes and cake bords? there are lots of places out there but would be nice to know someone that had order before and what was their experience.
As always you rock!
Thank you
Ana
Rose
I have a post about that here 🙂 Thank you bunches! XX
Dea
I love the ruffles on your bunny cake! Is there a tutorial for that kind of ruffle?
Rose
Hi Dea - which Bunny Cake? I've done a few!
Dea
I just realized my above comment went on the wrong page. I was looking at your bunny cake and linked to this page. Your bunny cake posted in my email today, March 11, 2017.
Rose
LOL - I didn't see this comment until I had replied to the other! Are you talking about the pink piped ruffles? I don't have a tutorial for that - sorry! I just used a large leaf tip, started at hte bottom and piped up and over until I reached the top.
Deanne Brews
Thank you for sharing. I think it is a great way for decorating a cake board. Instead of using boards one on top of the other I cut mine out of 1/2 inch foam core. It is more difficult to find 1/2 ribbon though.
Sara Strait
I know you posted this quite a while back and I don't know how I'm only just now finding it but I am SO doing this!!! Sooooo stinkin' cute!! Thanks for sharing!
Maria
Thanks for the info,I want it to do it before but was a little stumped on how to do it, for sure I would do it now!
Sally
I am concerned about the icing boarder coming in contact with the glitter paper. Is the icing safe to eat after touching the glitter paper?
Hyacinth Rodrigues
Beautiful - easy to follow your instructions