Did you know that you can make a DIY acrylic cake topper with the Cricut Maker? Yes, the Cricut Maker can cut plastic and make an cake topper that looks just like those expensive acrylic versions. Save yourself some money by making your own cake toppers right at home with your Cricut machine. I have cut acrylic with my Maker before but I got so many questions about whether or not this would work for cake toppers, I thought I would make a project as well!
DIY Acrylic Cake Topper
You can actually watch as I design and cut an acrylic cake topper in the video below. Just click play and see all of the details of making this craft for your next party or event.
Can’t watch the video or missed some of the information? You can keep reading below for further details.
Supplies needed:
- Cricut Maker
- Knife Blade
- Acrylic Sheets (I find that this .020 size works great in the Maker as thicker materials don’t cut through.)
- Pink Holographic Vinyl
- Weeding tools
- Scraper
- Brayer
- Transfer tape
- Painter’s Tape
- Strong grip mat
Designing Cake Toppers in Cricut Design Space
First, you will need to make your design. You can definitely use the same design I used by going to Cricut Design Space and searching for image #M1BB38912. Or you can make your own design in minutes. Just follow the directions below to make a variety of cake toppers for your next party.
For a cake topper using an image, you will need the image you are going to use plus a circle or shape to go around it and a long, skinny rectangle to go into the cake. You can use the shape tools to get your circle and rectangle. I just searched for happy birthday images in Design Space for my vinyl cut file.
Then put the circle and square together. Be sure to align the two by centering horizontally. Then you can click weld to get your design. This one is ready to cut! The gray will be the acrylic while the pink will be the adhesive vinyl
You can also turn text into a cake topper. There are a few ways to do that. First, let’s use the offset feature on some cursive text to make an outline.
The weld together with a simple rectangle as before to get your shape. Now you can cut the grey from plastic and the pink from vinyl
Finally, you can use a stencil font as a cake topper. I prefer a stencil font so that all of my letters stay together. You will need the word, one rectangle for the bottom, and one to put in your cake.
Then just weld all three pieces together and cut! This one is simple and you can use as is or even paint the back after it is cut.
How to Cut a Plastic Cake Topper with the Cricut Maker
Now that you have your design, it is time to cut the acrylic with the Cricut Maker. These plastic sheets come with a protective film on the front and back. I usually remove that before cutting.
Then place on your strong grip mat. Use a brayer to stick down to the mat well and tape all the way around with painter’s tape to secure.
Add that to your Cricut machine. Be sure to move the white star wheels all the way over to the right. I like to use the basswood setting and the knife blade to cut these sheets. Be sure to watch the cuts and pause the machine occasionally to check the cut. Mine went about 16 passes and was cut through. The curves will be the last to be completed.
Once the cuts are complete, remove the mat from the machine then you can start removing your cut pieces.
It may be easier to flip the mat over and pull the cut pieces off.
Adding Vinyl to an Acrylic Cake Topper
You will also want to cut your vinyl pieces then you can add them to your cake toppers as well. Be sure to weed your cut vinyl then add transfer tape over the top.
Peel the vinyl away from the backing then place on your cut acrylic. Press down well with your scraper then remove the transfer tape. You have just make a DIY acrylic cake topper!
Adding a DIY Cake Topper to Your Cake
Just put the long piece into your cake and press down. This thin plastic is fairly flimsy but the cake will hold it up enough for a party. You can also trim the part that goes into your cake with a pair of scissors if you get it too long.
If you make a larger cake topper like the Happy Birthday version, you will need to push it all the way down into your cake so that the cake itself helps to hold it up. Otherwise, this version would lean forward or backward when in the cake.
Otherwise, I think these cake toppers look amazing and they are perfect for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and so much more.
So, be sure to use your Cricut Maker to create your own DIY acrylic cake topper. You can customize this project to say anything that you like and make something amazing for any party that you are hosting.
What will you celebrate with this simple Cricut party craft? I know you will love making your own DIY acrylic cake topper for every occasion that you are celebrating.
Love this and want more Cricut ideas? Try the links below as well!
You can also print this party craft idea by using the card below!
Supplies
- Cricut Maker
- Knife Blade
- Acrylic Sheets I find that this .020 size works great in the Maker as thicker materials don't cut through.
- Pink Holographic Vinyl
- Weeding tools
- Scraper
- Brayer
- Transfer tape
- Painter's Tape
- Strong grip mat
- Design for cake toppers
Instructions
Designing Cake Toppers in Cricut Design Space
- First, you will need to make your design. You can definitely use the same design I used by clicking here or you can make your own in minutes. Just follow the directions below to make a variety of cake toppers for your next party.
- For a cake topper using an image, you will need the image you are going to use plus a circle or shape to go around it and a long, skinny rectangle to go into the cake. You can use the shape tools to get your circle and rectangle. I just searched for happy birthday images in Design Space for my vinyl cut file.
- Then put the circle and square together. Be sure to align the two by centering horizontally. Then you can click weld to get your design. This one is ready to cut! The gray will be the acrylic while the pink will be the adhesive vinyl
- You can also turn text into a cake topper. There are a few ways to do that. First, let’s use the offset feature on some cursive text to make an outline.
- The weld together with a simple rectangle as before to get your shape. Now you can cut the grey from plastic and the pink from vinyl
- Finally, you can use a stencil font as a cake topper. I prefer a stencil font so that all of my letters stay together. You will need the word, one rectangle for the bottom, and one to put in your cake.
- Then just weld all three pieces together and cut! This one is simple and you can use as is or even paint the back after it is cut.
How to Cut a Plastic Cake Topper with the Cricut Maker
- Now that you have your design, it is time to cut the acrylic with the Cricut Maker. These plastic sheets come with a protective film on the front and back. I usually remove that before cutting.
- Then place on your strong grip mat. Use a brayer to stick down to the mat well and tape all the way around with painter’s tape to secure.
- Add that to your Cricut machine. Be sure to move the white star wheels all the way over to the right. I like to use the basswood setting and the knife blade to cut these sheets. Be sure to watch the cuts and pause the machine occasionally to check the cut. Mine went about 16 passes and was cut through. The curves will be the last to be completed.
- Once the cuts are complete, remove the mat from the machine then you can start removing your cut pieces.
- It may be easier to flip the mat over and pull the cut pieces off.
Adding Vinyl to an Acrylic Cake Topper
- You will also want to cut your vinyl pieces then you can add them to your cake toppers as well. Be sure to weed your cut vinyl then add transfer tape over the top.
- Peel the vinyl away from the backing then place on your cut acrylic. Press down well with your scraper then remove the transfer tape. You have just make a DIY acrylic cake topper!
Adding a DIY Cake Topper to Your Cake
- Just put the long piece into your cake and press down. This thin plastic is fairly flimsy but the cake will hold it up enough for a party. You can also trim the part that goes into your cake with a pair of scissors if you get it too long.
Will the explorer 2 cut acrylic
NO it will not.
I have a maker. When you say the “knife blade” do you mean the “fine point or deep point” blade or is there another blade?
With the Maker machines, there is a different blade called the Knife Blade. It can cut thin woods, leather, and chipboard 🙂