Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Last week I promised Cake Week wasn’t over, and here’s the follow-up: a simple, festive DIY Fourth of July firecracker cake topper. Paired with Jennie’s delicious inside-out star cupcakes from Garlic, My Soul, these toppers make a perfect patriotic presentation. Bake the cupcakes first, then use this tutorial to create charming red, white and blue toppers for your July 4th celebration.
Supplies:
- Red and white striped paper or cardstock
- Blue paper or cardstock
- Silver mylar tissue paper
- Lollipop sticks, skewers, or toothpicks
- Scissors
- Double-stick tape and/or glue dots
Overview:
These toppers are quick to make and scale well for both cakes and cupcakes. Each firecracker is a small paper tube with a blue cone nose and a fringed mylar tail for a festive finish.
Step-by-step:
- Cut your pieces. For each firecracker you’ll need one 3″ x 2″ rectangle from the red-and-white striped paper and one 2″ circle from blue paper. Cut 2″ strips of silver mylar and fringe them along one edge.
- Layer three 3″ lengths of fringed mylar for each topper. Adhere them together with double-stick tape and attach to the back of the striped rectangle along one long edge.
- Place double-stick tape along one short edge of the rectangle, roll the paper into a tube, and press to secure.
Forming the nose cone:
Cut roughly a quarter out of the 2″ blue circle (think Pac-Man). Curve the remaining circle into a cone shape and secure the seam with tape or a glue dot.
Assembly:
Attach the blue cone to the top edge of the striped tube using glue dots or tape. Next add the stick: either attach the lollipop stick to the back of the topper with tape or push it into a small hole at the bottom of the tube and secure with a dab of glue if needed for extra hold.
Finishing touches:
Trim any excess mylar, fluff the fringes for a fuller look, and make sure seams are secure. If you expect little hands to pull at the toppers, reinforce the stick connection with a small amount of glue inside the tube.
Display:
Stick your finished toppers into cakes, cupcakes, or the inside-out star cupcakes mentioned earlier for a coordinated patriotic dessert display. They add a whimsical, handmade touch that’s perfect for backyard barbecues, picnics, and fireworks nights.
That’s it — a little paper firecracker to top your desserts while you enjoy the real fireworks above. These take just a few minutes each and look great in groups.
All photos by Studio DIY
Thanks to Jennie for partnering on this project and for the tasty cupcakes that inspired it. What are you planning to bake and craft for the Fourth?