Forever Beautiful DIY Fake Cupcakes

Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute

So, I’ve been working on this basement ice cream shop for a while now. And while I’ve used candy as a decoration in the past, I’d like some sort of baked good under glass for a table center. The trouble is, cupcakes don’t last. Or do they?

I’m not entirely sure where I first hear of piping light weight spackle. But since then I’ve had this fake cupcakes idea in my head. So, I went ahead and did it. I am so glad I did! These look so real, and they are NEVER going to go bad! I’ve got them in the room and I can’t help but squee at how cute they are in the space. =D

Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute

What You Need:

  • Plaster of Paris
  • Cupcake liners/cups
  • Acrylic paint to tint the “frosting”
  • Light weight spackle compound
  • Foam spheres (for the dome shape of the cupcake)
  • Sprinkles (optional)
  • Piping bag and tip

How To Make It:

  1. Prepare your plaster according to the package instructions. Fill your cupcake liner or cup with it. Allow it to set per package instructions.
    Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute
  2. Cut a peice off the foam sphere to make a dome to the cupcake. This will help your frosting look more real, and fill in the shape better. Glue the foam to the plaster with a water based glue (some glue melts foam).
    Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute
  3. Open your spackle and add a bit of acrylic paint. Mix it well until the color is even. Spoon into a disposable piping bag.
    Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute
  4. Pipe the spackle just like frosting. It isn’t quite as viscous, so curly tops and spikes aren’t really possible. But with some practice it can definitely look like frosting!
    Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute
  5. Add sprinkles while the spackle is wet. You might have to kinda throw them at the cupcake to get them to stick.
    Easy DIY Faux Cupcakes! They look like the real thing, but will last forever! Great for ornaments, decorations, or photo props! | Saynotsweetane.com | #diy #prop #decor #cute
  6. That’s it! Experiment with different colors, liners, etc. The plaster base is nice and heavy so these would make a great paper weight. I’m thinking about drilling a hole through one to hang it like an ornament for Christmas!

 

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Kayla Domeyer

My name is Kayla and I am a Graphic Designer. That means that I love pretty things, and also that I like to make free printables! I'm so happy that you've stopped by to visit my blog, and I hope you will follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest or Instagram!! (Yeah, and I'm totally addicted to the internet).

30 thoughts on “Forever Beautiful DIY Fake Cupcakes

  1. Lightweight Spackling works great. I put the foam insulation in a can in the bottom of the liner. It takes a few hours to expand and dry.

  2. Wondering whether anyone has ever tired usingthe regular spackel for the faux whipping and how it turned out , why do you need to use the lightweight as it seems the same to me either way dries white and hardens the same way just curious and it also comes ready mixed to use

    1. Great questions Sheri! In my experience, the regular weight spackling does not work as well. It is too thick when piping, and will crack as it is drying in such large amounts.

  3. Hi, Kayla! I’m wondering about the spackle and if it flakes off at all? I am working on making a purse shaped like a cookie and the spackle icing seems like an incredible idea… I was thinking of making the icing and letting it set, and then hot glueing it onto the purse. Having worked with the spackle before, do you think this would crack and might not be a good idea for a decoration on a purse? Thanks for any input!

    1. Cristine – I’ve not had any trouble with the spackle flaking off. But yes, I think on a flexible medium it would definitely crack. You might consider some sort of silicone caulk though? Something with some give in it.

  4. Hey all, just wanted to suggest making them…and then…are you ready for this? Address as if it were an envelope and take it to the post office! Mail it to someone for their birthday. It is a card they will never forget! And caption it: Happy Birthday Cupcake! : ) I make cake slices and other things and do just that. But I needed to see Kayla’s brilliant work to begin my newest…CUPCAKE Cards! Need a wee bit more real estate to provide the tracking number and postage room. But I can use her plan. I buy sheet foam at the craft store an a mini hole punch. Make my own sprinkles. Attach when the caulk or plaster is still wet. Some may require extra glue. Oh and a ribbon out of the top like a Hershey’s kiss will make an impression as would a faux cherry. Thanks Kayla! You are such a cupcake!

  5. I have a 3 tier stand for mini cupcakes. Where would I find mini cupcake holders? Joann’s? Micheals? Candy store?
    I have a domed cake stand and want to put the mini’s on it,
    Where do you all the stuff to make the cupcakes.? Home Depot?
    Thanks for your help,
    Marisa

    1. I would start with Joann. You might also cut down something like a Dixie cup. And yes, a Home improvement or a hardware store will have the spackle and plaster. Craft stores will have the foam.

  6. So glad I found this post! I am thinking about making a foam cake dummy of the cake Hagrid makes for Harry Potter’s 11th birthday (movie version). I think it should work okay to smooth it on with a putty knife or some such thing and then pipe the letters on.

  7. I’m an art teacher and when we study Wayne Theibaud my students make fake cakes. The recipe I used for the icing is a homemade puffy paint and it begins to flake over time but it’s easy for the students to pipe. Your solution looks far superior I do wonder about a few things. Should you know how long will the spackle stay soft and workable? Was it hard to pipe? Could it be thinned slightly and still keep its durability?

    1. Hey Mychelle!

      The spackle works pretty well, and different types would yield different results. I used the lightweight type. I think if you got the regular type it is heavier and wetter, and would stay wet longer. Additionally, the lightweight type did have a lot of air pockets which piped out as cracks in the piping.

      All in all, I think it could definitely work for you – maybe experiment in mixing lightweight with regular type.

      I’ve had mine for years and they look easily as good now as they did when I made them. No chipping!

  8. really really cute, im making these for mothers day. im having a hard time finding the right size foamballs locally, could i make the dome out of plaster? would the spackle compound adhere to the plaster?

    1. Hey Martha! Yeah, I think you could make the dome out of plaster, but it would be tricky to mold that shape. I hope it works out!

  9. Just wanted to know if you use real cake decorating–(Sprinkles, Pearls) whatever you would be on a real cupcake? If so it seems like it would eventually go bad or melt. Is it best to use faux decorations? ( By the way–your cupcakes are adorable !!!)

    1. I decorated with just regular sprinkles. These are essentially royal frosting, and that has been u sed for faux cakes and decorations for he span of years without any sort of deterioration. The main problem I think would be mold if the faux cupcakes were to be exposed to moisture.

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