Is it ever too early to start planning your next birthday party? I certainly don't think so, which is why I've been mentally gathering ideas for my dream cat-themed May birthday for weeks now. I found a few plastic lion, cheetah, and leopard toys last month that I snatched up with the intention of making a party DIY, but I wasn't able to think of a good use for them for a couple of weeks. Finally, it hit me-cake stands! Supplies: Plastic animal toys (the really hard plastic ones), wooden dowel rod (at least 1/2" thick), wooden plate, smaller wooden circle (I used a 4" trophy mount), drill, hand saw, gold spray paint, white spray paint, wood glue, quick dry cement.1. Drill a hole the size of your dowel rod into the top of your plastic animal (my dowl rod was 5/8" thick, but not all drills can take a drill bit that big, try 1/2" if yours can't or check out spade bits). I found it a lot easier to start with a smaller bit first and then drill bigger and bigger holes until you get to your desired size. 2. Drill a hole the size of your dowel rod into the middle of your smaller circle. Stick your dowel rod down into the back of your animal and make a mark where want your cake stand top to sit. Use the hand saw to cut your dowel rod to that height. 3. Put some wood glue in the hole of your smaller wooden circle and stick the dowel rod into the hole. Then glue this new piece onto the middle bottom of your wooden plate. Allow the glue to fully dry. 4. Use your spray paint to spray your animal and your wooden topper (I painted the top of the plate white, but you do whatever you like!). 5. Follow your quick dry cement instructions and fill your animal almost to the top. I found a cement crack filler that was already mixed in a bottle at Home Depot, so I would recommend something like that if you can find it. 6. Stick the wooden top into the hole and allow the cement to dry (make sure the top is centered and straight before you let it dry).
Note: Since the surface on the top of the plate isn't food safe, don't put food directly on the stand. However, cupcakes with liners are fine, or just put some parchment paper under any other food you choose to display. Plucked from the wild, these fierce felines are now ready to carry as much sugar as their four paws can carry. I can't wait to use these guys at my party, but I have a feeling they may make an appearance sooner, since I just can't wait another 4 months. Wouldn't these be so cute with lots of other animals too? xo. Laura
Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman
87 Comments
What a brilliant idea! I love it!
Have a lovely day Xx
Those look absolutely AMAZING!!
So fun! Perfect for a party and such a unique twist on the traditional cake stand! Love it!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
This is such a cute idea! I am actually planning a “golden party” right now so I’ll definitely try this out! 🙂
ANDREA
This is so awesome! Imagine making it with plastic dinosaurs too? Rad!!xoxo
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrownofCreationShop
This is absolutely perfect! I love it so much. Also, D.I.Y. cake stands are the best. Thanks for sharing!
http://aweekfromthursday.com
These are just adorable! Can’t believe how great they look, thanks for the share. x
I love this! Absolutely brilliant! My kids have tons of those plastic animals. 🙂
Wow, this idea makes me long to my b-day, and it’s in December…..!!!
LOVE IT!!!
Laura, it’s just AMAZING!! I LOVE IT!!
Those are really neat! Were there any issues with balance?
woooowww even ugly stuff (the animals) turned out great once they are covered in gold ^.^
Love this idea. Where did you get a wooden plate?
this is SO amazing.. would be so brilliant at a wedding!
xx
Wow these are really cool and it is awesome how sturdy they are, that is surprising to me. Well done DIY and what a fun display for cake!
http://thelittlesloth.blogspot.com/
How fun would this be for a kids birthday!
xo, Juliette Laura
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
what a clever idea!
Molly {Dreams in HD}
http://www.dreamsinhd.blogspot.com
This is so cute…and NO it’s never too early to plan a party-especially for your birthday!! 😀
This is so cute! You’ve give me an idea for my daughter’s cat themed birthday party this weekend 😉
This is such a brilliant idea!
You have the BEST ideas on here! These are so so cool! I need to get myself a tool kit for all of these! Something I never thought I would say! > http://www.electricsoiree.com
THIS IS SO COOL!!!!!!
That would be so cute at a safari themed birthday party. Another awesome creation!
XOXO,
Erin
http://www.thevaughnlife.us
So fun!!! It’s a very original presentation!! Sure you impressed !
Laura from http://monarchproject.blogspot.com.es
Wow!!!!!It is great idea!
http://www.xeanafashion.com
i think that’s the coolest idea for food display, but i’m thinking more of a permanent decoration piece since it doesn’t seem that easy to storage D:
i love cake stands! i got so many together to display the cupcakes at my wedding:)
http://semiweeklyeats.blogspot.com/2014/01/museum-birthday.html
This is actually just the coolest thing ever! So awesome! x
holljc.blogspot.co.uk
Very original, we suppose that this party was for cats, sweet for cats? 😉
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com
These are amazing! I’m plan on making one for my son who LOVES wild cats!
This is so awesome.
Awesome! Love toys painted gold for other applications — my friend owns Alyce Paul, a shop that makes little planters for air plants out of dinosaurs like this. She’s been uber busy since Real Simple picked up her product for a feature for their holiday features, lucky! I wrote about her here!: http://littleeyedesigns.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/hibernating-now/
Oh my god these are amazing. I love the kitsch aspect of it all.
I absolutely love this!! And a cat-themed birthday?! That sounds like something I would do. haha. My birthday is in May as well! Wonder if we have the same one!
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
omg this is so weird but so awesome. I love ittttttt
What a brilliant idea love it xx
I need this with dinosaurs!! xoxo
THESE ARE INSANELY FANTASTIC!
OMG I have seen a lot of uses for plastic animals lately but this is by far the most creative.
Hey! I did something similar to this but for candle holders! (http://www.chasingthere.com/2012/12/christmas-craze-candle-holders.html)
Love this!
Amazing! I recently bought a toy elephant that I’ve been meaning to turn into bookends. Might turn it into a cake stand instead!
Ah, they are so beautiful!
If one would like them to be food safe, what colors/material could one use?
Love this!
I have tried to spray paint our plastic toys before and the paint doesn’t stick. Any thoughts?
Thank you.
This is seriously fun!
I’m in love.
These are fantastic! I’ll surely keep them in mind for my son’s birthday!
Wow, this is so cool! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
xx
Camilla
http://kapteinmoe.blogspot.no
Hi Kristin!
Mine are pretty well balanced, but it might not be depending on the animal’s feet placement 🙂
Laura
Hi Melissa!
The plate was from Hobby Lobby 🙂
Laura
what a fun idea! love this!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
What an awesome idea! You’re a genious!
I want them all!
OMG not sure if I would ever use these, but they do look pretty darn cool… Beautiful photos too.
http://permanentdaydream.com
What an awesome idea! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.com
this is so cool! I now want to do this with dinosaurs!
xhaley
adorable and clever. reminds me of something out of “Pad”
These are so awesome! I have a question, I recently spray painted plastic dinosaurs gold with that same spray paint, but 2 weeks later they’re still sticky to the touch… Will they ever dry completely? Any suggestions?
Absolutely Brilliant!!!
Such an adorable idea!! Can’t wait to try this out :)- sipopulaire.blogspot.co.uk
Now that is fancy! Way to think outside the box…love this idea!
Super idea !
Lauren
livinginaboxx
obsessed with this idea!
What? Are you kidding me with how awesome this is?? I know what I’m doing tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!!
Where did you get the animals?
Love these. I’ve been meaning to add metallic dino decor. Might give these a shot
X. pixelhazard | Bright Green Laces |
Thats so COOL and seem so easy to make 😛 Love your site !!
Love Lisa
So cute! I agree, it’s never too early to start planning a birthday party.
Increible, chulisimo, me encanta
Confeti en los bolsillos
This is absolutely brilliant! I would’ve never thought that those plastic animal toys for children could be used other than for playing.
This is something I’d recommend mainly for a wild-animal themed birthday parties for younger women. It’s fashionable, it looks kind of expensive and pretty.
This is great! I can imagine all the possibilities of cute displays.
Where did you find the wooden plate?
I love these so much! (Of course, anything with gold is a winner.)
LOVE this idea! It’s so glamorous…
I LOVE this! How do you guys keep coming up with awesome things like this?! I have to find some plastic animal toys…
What a super cute idea! This would also be fun with dinosaurs for a little boys birthday! 🙂
So cute! I’d love to use these for a bridal shower! Where did you purchase these animals? I can only find small ones
For everybody talking about doing this with dinosaurs:
http://www.threelittlemonkeysstudio.com/diy-dinosaur-serving-dish/
This is SO cool. I want to make one with an elephant! Hello Thailand Theme Bday Bash!…or upscale Babar?
My birthday is May 11th which is also Mother’s Day, this sounds like a great idea !
Wow! My seven year old is a mega animal fan ( last Christmas, Father Christmas adopted a snow leopard for her via WWF) think I may make these for her next birthday. Thank you
Genius! So darn cute! Kudos to you for coming up with such a creative idea!
I am dreaming of doing this with ELEPHANTS!
Fabulous idea! Very original, in love with the gold.
http://lifeandcity.tumblr.com
Made one of these today.
Looks amazing in my dining room
Thanks for the inspiration
Fantastic!
I am obsessed with these!
I have been looking everywhere for animals/dinosaurs like that (hard plastic and hollow) for various projects that I have in mind. Where did you find yours?
These are too cute!
I have only come across animals that are solid plastic. Did you find that the concrete filling was necessary for stability, or would drilling into the plastic and securing the dowel with glue be sufficient?