Second Chances by Susan: Shabby Chic Cupcake Stand

My son just got married and they opted for a shabby chic wedding reception. You can read the full post here. I thought you might enjoy a tutorial on how I made the cupcake stand. Everything was thrifted objects except for the threaded rod, nuts, and washer that hold it all together. Total cost, including paint, came in under $30! Not bad since I saw a pretty nondescript one on Etsy going for $140 plus $35 shipping!

I started with a shallow wooden bowl turned upside down for a base. Next was a round table top with a carved edge detail that actually measures about 24" in diameter. A wooden lazy susan was taken apart and used for the next level, followed by two metal trays—one with handles and one with sides. A metal tart tin with a fluted edge is next. The whole thing is topped off with a small wooden bowl with straight, deep sides. A decorative wire basket sits upside down on top of the bowl. Each level is divided by a variety of turned wood objects—a candle pedestal, salt and pepper shakers, and a lamp base. (Not seen in the "before" picture is the small wooden bowl with straight sides and the decorative wire basket...they were an afterthought!)

The first step was to decide how tall each wooden divider needed to be and cut them to size. I opted for about 5" between cake stand layers. That didn't mean that I could cut all the wooden dividers evenly, though. Some of my trays (the small wooden bowl, the tart tin, and one of the metal trays) had sides to them that I had to allow for. You can see what I mean in the finished picture. I opted to put the sides facing down on these levels so that a person wouldn't have to lift the cupcake up and over the edge. After measuring and cutting the dividers, they all needed holes through them to allow for the threaded rod. I was lucky with the lamp base, it already had a hole drilled done the center to house the electrical wires. The salt and pepper shakers were also equipped with a hole through most of it. The candle pedestal needed some help, so I put in on the drill press and drilled right down the center.

I also drilled a hole in each of the levels.

Next was to paint everything white.

This metal tray with the swirly handles is my favorite! Since the sides of this tray were very shallow, I left it upright. The other metal trays I placed upside down to make it easier to get to the cupcakes.

The top of the cake stand is a wooden bowl with straight sides. I drilled a hole part way into the underside so that I could countersink a nut into it. I then used epoxy to adhere the nut.

The threaded rod screws right into the underside of the wooden bowl.

Now its just a matter of putting it all together starting with the top layer and working your way to the bottom. The final layer is the upside down shallow bowl to be used as a base. I cut the threaded rod to size and my hubby touched up the threads with a grinder so that the newly cut threads would work properly. A washer and nut holds the whole stand together.

Once everything is tightened down, turn it over and enjoy! You now have a custom cupcake stand that will be the showpiece of any party! And, one of the best parts...it all comes apart for easy storage!