I may have shared three cake-related DIYs in one week, but honestly — it’s cake, so no apology necessary. There’s very little better than cake (well, maybe donuts), and today I’m sharing a childhood-favorite-inspired cake topper: a balloon animal. My friend Michelle and I used to make balloon animals constantly as kids. Recently I picked up a balloon-animal kit and rediscovered that simple joy. This time, I decided the little balloon creatures belonged on top of a cake — so I made a balloon-animal cake topper.
Supplies:
Twisting balloons
Balloon air pump
(I used a kit from the 99 Cent Store that included both.)
Instructions:
Start by inflating the balloon, leaving a few inches of uninflated “tail” at the end. The length you leave uninflated and the way you twist the balloon will affect the final tail shape. I made several dog variations using the same basic method but adjusting section lengths. These instructions describe the dog shown on top of the cake.
First, twist three sections starting from the tied end. Make a two-inch section followed by two 1½-inch sections.
Fold the balloon where the two 1½-inch sections meet and lock the first and third twists together by twisting them around each other. This creates the dog’s nose and ears. Next, make three more twists, each about 2½ inches. Fold and lock the first and third of these new twists the same way to form the neck and front legs.
Repeat the three-twist method once more with 2½-inch sections to form the back legs. The leftover portion of the balloon becomes the tail.
Finishing and food-safety tip:
Set the balloon animal on the cake. Because balloons are often inflated by mouth, I recommend wiping the balloon’s feet with a damp cloth before placing them on frosting. If you prefer no direct contact, cut two small parchment circles and attach one under each set of legs with a glue dot, then place the balloon animal on the cake.
All photos by Studio DIY
I had so much fun making these balloon-animal toppers — you might see more variations soon. Quick tip: if you leave a balloon animal for a few days, it often shrinks into an adorable tiny version of itself. It’s one of the rare times a balloon losing air actually improves the look.
Thanks so much for the enthusiasm and advice about my new studio space — I can’t wait to share more!