Donut Cupcake Stand

As I was looking for donut and cupcake stands I couldn't find one that fit right into what I needed; so I set out to design one.

With a clean modern design, this sweet stand is made to be double sided and can be enjoyed from both sides of the table. It can be set up to serve either donuts, or cupcakes, or both! The mounts are interchangeable and can be switched from one event to the other and disassembles for storage. The best part is it can easily be personalized. You can incorporate decorations and pictures into the slots to match the theme of the event (think halloween with skulls and spiders or engagement with photos and rings.

Plan to give yourself some days prior to your event to make this, it takes longer to make than what it seems!

3 pieces of 4.25mm thick corrugated cardboard 24" x 40"

3M multipurpose adhesive

Glue gun / glue sticks

Tube 1/8" ID 3/16" OD, 35" length (It can be made of any metal or heat resistant plastic)

Vinyl or Con Tact Shelf Liner (if you can't find a pattern you like, you can use fabric or wrapping paper and then seal it with clear acrylic sealant spray)

12 gauge Galvanized Wire

Faux plants or decorations to fit your theme (live flowers without soil and plants can also be used)

Utensils: Pencil, Permanent Marker, Utility Knife, Cutting Mat/Surface, Scissors, Ruler, Pliers, Wire Cutters, Metal File

Draw out the template to your regional sized donut. Where I live they are no bigger than 4", so my hexagon's sides measured 2.6" in order to hold the 4" diameter donut inside. The thickness of the frame is at 1.25" and a slightly bigger hexagon at the end for the sign has sides measuring 3.68". This step can either be drawn directly onto the cardboard or on the computer and printed out.

Spray 2 of the pieces of cardboard with 3M adhesive and join them together so that you have a double layer of cardboard. Spray adhesive onto the template and lay it on the cardboard starting at one corner and slowly rubbing it as it touches the cardboard to minimize bubbles or wrinkles. Cut out the outline and the inner hexagons from the pattern of your double layer cardboard. It is important you keep the inside cutout hexagons in tact, as they will become the cupcake holders. Set these aside to work on them later.

The tube inserts will be the holes that keep your wire donut holders on the main frame.

Cut the tubing into 34 pieces 1" in length. Draw out a diagonal line on the bottom corners of all your hexagons to 1" length and box it out to 3/16" thickens. The diagonal should be parallel to the frame structure (see picture for reference).

With the utility knife, cut out the first layer of the cardboard only and pull it out. The tubing should fit snuggly and in line with the bottom corner of the hexagon. Glue all the tubes to the cutouts of all the hexagons with the glue gun.

Stencil the main frame on top of a third piece of cardboard and outline the entire frame. Cut out the stenciled single piece of cardboard. Keep the inside hexagons intact and set aside, these will be used for the bases.

Spray adhesive on the double layer frame on the side with the inserted tubes and on the single layer frame. Align the two together, and adhere to form a three layer cardboard frame with the tubes sandwiched in the middle.

Apply the vinyl on one side of the frame. Start at a corner and slowly stick it on, rubbing it as you go to minimize bubbles and wrinkles. Once it is on, flip over the frame and cut the outside outline 2" away from the frame. Cut out all the corners and fold over to wrap the sides. To wrap the hexagons, cut out an outline 2" away from the edge, then cut straight lines from corner to corner and wrap them over.

Once the outer edge and all the hexagons are folded over, apply 1/5" strips of vinyl to all the inside hexagon edges and the outside perimeter.

Apply vinyl to the other face of the frame, flip over and cut out the full outline of the outer perimeter and all the inside hexagons.

The single layer cardboard hexagons that were set aside will be used to create the base. For the backing, cut 6 of the hexagons at 1 1/2" parallel from one of the sides. For the legs, cut 12 of the hexagons 1" parallel to the top, 1 1/2" parallel to the bottom and a straight corner to corner cut from the side. There arn't enough hexagons to complete all the parts, so use the scrap cardboard to trace and cut to complete the 12. For the bases, cut out 3 pieces of single cardboard at 8" x 4 1/4" .

To cover the base parts, place a piece of vinyl on one side of the cardboard piece. Cut out all the corners perpendicular to its side and fold over to wrap the sides. Flip the part over and place a second piece of Vinyl on the other side. Cut away the excess with an exact knife.

Use the glue gun to adhere 2 legs to each backing then glue one of the assembled backing and legs to one end of the floor base and another to the other end. The space between both backings should be 1/2" to fit the frame in between. Glue the rest the same to make the 3 bases.

Use the double cardboard hexagons to make the cupcake platforms. Cut out 1/2" slit on opposing corners up until it meets the corner to corner mark. Check fit before you cut the other 16 platforms.

To wrap with the vinyl, cover the edge first with a 1 1/2" strip. Cut at the corners and fold over on both sides. Place a vinyl on one face and cut out the excess. Then turn it over and place vinyl on the other side and cut out the excess.

To assemble onto the frame, fit the frame inside of the cutouts and press down until it sits on the bottom of the hexagon.

Bend the wire with pliers 90 degrees at 3 1/2". From that corner, fold to give it a 1 1/2" loop on one side and another 1 1/2" loop on the other side. Then fold it back down to create the other leg of 3 1/2" and cut it with the wire cutters. Repeat to make 16, enough for every hexagon.

Sand the ends to round them out.

To assemble them onto the frame, insert them in the tubes of the hexagons. Adjust any bends as necessary.

To make the 3 decoration holders, mold the wire with your hands to make a double loop the diameter of a toilet paper roll and with legs measuring 3 1/2". File the ends to round them out.

Cut toilet paper rolls to measure 2" in length and wrap them with vinyl. Place them inside the wire loop and adhere your decorations with the glue gun to both ends so to that they can be viewed from both sides of the stand.

To assemble them onto the frame, insert the legs of the wire into the tubes of the hexagon until centered. Adjust any bends as necessary.

To make the sign, you will need the double cardboard cutout from the big hexagon and the single cardboard cutout from the big hexagon. Use your single cardboard hexagon to draw and cut another, adhere it with spray adhesive and make it into a second double cardboard hexagon.

Wrap both hexagon's edges with 1 1/2" strips of vinyl, cut at the corners and fold over.

Print out 2 signs slightly smaller than your hexagon and adhere one to each piece with the spray adhesive.

Create a double loop wire like the ones used for the decorations with a 2" diameter and 4" legs. File the ends to round them out.

Flip the hexagons over and mark the centers. On one of them, glue a 1" strip of cardboard with the glue gun to form the 2" diameter of the wire. On the other, glue an X to fit inside the cardboard circle of the other hexagon.

To assemble onto the frame, insert the wire into the tubes of the big hexagon on the frame. Connect the circle with the X and align with the frame.

The same method could be applied to insert photos instead of the decorations in the small hexagons.