Monday, April 23, 2012

Guest Post: Distressed Cake Stand

I am ecstatic to be guest blogging over at The Wood Connection today. I am lucky enough to share with you one of my favorite techniques for making something new look old.
This is one of the easiest and most fun ways to quickly distress your new projects. Aren’t you so excited to see how to save time on your next project? You will need a base coat and a top coat. As you can see I was super anxious to get started and forgot to take a picture of just my supplies. I used a 12x12 , 9x9 and a 7x7 board. To create the layered look, I grabbed two of the short candlesticks. For the top I grabbed on of the big finials and they were kind enough to trim off the bottom so I had a flat edge to work with. It's going to be so cute!!



For your base coat you can use anything… Acrylic, latex and I have even tried spray paint.  I used acrylic here because it’s cheap, I had some on hand and it dries pretty quickly.  




First you want to put a coat of your base color on any surface that you want to peek through.  I like to distress the edges and corners so that is what I did.  You can paint the whole thing if you want it more distressed.




After that dries it’s time for the secret ingredient…… your Vaseline!  I said it, Vaseline!
I bought a tube of it in the baby section at Wal-mart. I think the tube is easier for application, otherwise you could have a real mess on your hands. Speaking of hands, they will be super soft after doing this. Yay!

Don't you love my trendy table protector? Yes, I use what I can get my hands on when the newspaper runs out.

I like to rub a little vaseline on any surface I want to show through my top coat.  Again I did my corners and edges but you can add more or less depending on the look you are trying to go for.  The Vaseline will keep your top coat from sticking.

I don't know if you can tell but it looks kinda greasy. 
After you have applied the Vaseline, its time to get your top coat ready. I used the Ivory Acrylic paint for the top coat. Depending on how dark you want it you may need two coats. 

Now let that dry for awhile. Once it is dry it’s time for the exciting part. Distressing!  I used a sanding block to distress mine.  Just rub your corners lightly to reveal the base coat.  The more you sand it the more awesome it will look.  Just sand it until you are pleased with the look!  So Nifty!



I love the old look. It reminds of something I could pick up at the consignment store, or at a cool flea market on the East Coast.


Next, we have to assemble the stand. I used a good wood glue and a ruler to make sure I got things all lined up. 


You may need a few eyes to look at the sides while you move things around and get them lined up. 
Make sure you let them all dry for awhile before you lift them up and move it around. Voila! You have an amazingly versatile cake stand/display stand. 




















You can use if for many different displays. I tried to give you an idea of all the things you could do. I imagine that you are all very creative so you can come up with loads of ways to use it. 






Now for even more exciting news! The Wood Connection has given me a $25 gift certificate to giveaway. Leave a comment on  my blog  by Friday April 27th at midnight to enter the giveaway. For an extra entry follow my blog, and let me know in your comment. I will pick a winner at random, please leave your email address so I can email the winner.

50 comments:

  1. What a great project! ~Monika~
    corymonika(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. That stand is darling! I would have never thought of that! Gorgeous job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love it! I've never been good at the distressed look, I'm going to have to try this out!
    nikkidnaylor@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the great idea!,Definately on my to-do list now!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love this! I want one in my own house!

    ReplyDelete
  6. So excited to try this! The vaseline tip is amazing and I can't wait to distress something.
    cindylee68@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the idea and I'm a follower now!
    jellojanae@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great idea, love the use of vaseline never heard of that before. I'll have to try that next time I distress something! samiphilcarter@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm now a follower...be sure to check out my blog sometime samicraftypants.blogspot.com Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have always wanted to know how to do this! I love this distressed look. Thank you for sharing! Llohmeyer@graniteschools.org

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful! I absolutely LOVE the wood connection! eizember(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have always wanted a cupcake stand, but this is soooo much cuter than anyone u can buy!!!! Soooo making this!!!!! Lacyasher@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. OH wow!!! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this!!! I can't wait to try this technique! I love the Wood Connection and hope I win! :)
    malinda914@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm following your blog now!
    malinda914@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. this is super cool! thanks for sharing with us!!!!!!!!!!! (pick me) (pick me)

    ReplyDelete
  16. this is such a cool idea!!! I am following your fun blog now!! ps....pick me please!! :) ckeck84@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Please pick me. I love getting new and fun ideas.
    smileylab99@yahoo.com
    Lacey Brough

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a cute stand! That Vaseline tip is so smart, I'm going to use it for sure.... Thank You!

    Stephanie
    coconut_flipflop(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I absolutely adore your cupcake stand. How easy with the right tools and creativity. I think it would be perfect for my birthday party, which is this week! Awesome job! katieandray@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this! I am trying it for a baby shower I am throwing next weekend! Is the top part from wood co also?? I love the vaseline tip! brandiliskabeck@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is. you just need to get the bottom part cut off before you leave the store.

      Delete
  21. I love this!!!! Distressing I one of my favorite things. I like the Vaseline idea. . I am excited ti make the cupcake stand. Beautiful!!!!
    Dianna1926@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. thanks for sharing how to distress projects!!!! I am excited to try it

    swetzel74@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I just love this project! Looking forward to making my very own dessert stand and decorate it with some yummy cupcakes! libbi.flynn (at) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. It's amazing! Vaseline! Who knew! Lindsayc83@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is so creative and cute. I hope I win so that I can go buy the stuff and make one for me!
    kacey.harline@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I follow your blog.
    kacey.harline@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh I am SO making this! and now I will be blog stalking you too. You have some amazing ideas here! Thanks for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a super cute and versatile idea! I can use a great cupcake stand!! THANKS for this great idea!! rnscurley@yahoo.com
    I am going to have to blog stalk you now :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi there!
    I want to make this for my wedding, but where did you find the wooden plaques? I can't find any in good sizes!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bought them all at The Wood Connection in Murray, Utah.

      Delete
  30. What a super cute cupcake stand! I am going to give it a try!
    Thanks - nicole2525@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! I have been seeing DIY cake/cupcake stands all over and this is by far my fav. Thanks for the idea!! cannoodle@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I was not expecting vasaline! Cute idea! -Whitney prettynpinkwm@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  33. Resourceful, creative, and adorable! This will be perfect for my grandson's 3rd birthday. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with those who aren't as blessed with creative ideas and have to learn from others. :) I am definitely going to follow your blog. -breakcycle1225@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. So cute! I think I need to do this for birthday parties and showers and i already have vasaline. I love the wood conection so many fun things and ideas.
    inasampson30@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love. Very good idea. briannemacey@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Super cute, I want one!
    ambeano@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. SO SO creative. It looks like one of those pricy stands! And Vaseline...
    jugubymegumi@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a great idea!!
    cali.rawlinson@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Please pick me! I want to be the lucky random winner!!! lisawahlin@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. That is the cutest Cup cake stand I have ever seen!! I got my daughter in law a Cricut cake for christmas and she has been having so much fun with cup cakes, So I will be making her one for Mother's Day! THANKS!!!
    terryg3_2@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Love this cake stand! I borrowed my neighbors and my kids totally broke one of the tiers--this would be so much more durable! (Gotta be with my kids around!!) MikeandLindsey@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. The cupcake stand is soooooo cute and can be used for many other things. LOVE IT!
    marjoeback@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Whitney! this is the cutest idea ever. Love the demo on the distressing too. Vaseline...who would have thought!
    Thanks so much for sharing and congrats on being featured on the Wood Connection blog. Off to check out your other blog entries!
    Here's my email address; pureart3@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  44. I really love this! Thank you for the idea.
    trissuarez@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. SO CUTE! I love it. I love all the ideas of how to use it, too!
    jenny209@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi, I just wanted to let you know I shared this as an idea for a DIY cupcake stand for weddings. You can find it here at TheWeddingGals.net

    http://www.theweddinggals.net/uncategorized/diy-country-cake-stand/
    Thanks for sharing!
    phyllis

    ReplyDelete