Kick off your crafty celebrations with a playful twist on cake: a faux paper birthday cake box filled with treats. This easy project makes a charming gift topper or stand-alone present, and you can mass-produce them quickly if you have a cutting machine like the Cricut Explore. The finished boxes look like layered cakes, complete with paper sprinkles and a tissue-paper flame on a straw candle—perfect for birthdays, party favors, or any cheerful surprise.
One of the most satisfying elements of this project is the tiny paper sprinkles. They cut beautifully from cardstock, and you can vary size, color, and material to create different looks—from glossy confetti to matte, muted tones. Small details like sprinkles bring the whole piece to life and make each box feel special.
Supplies:
Cardstock in a variety of colors (one color for the box “frosting,” another for the cake base strips, plus additional colors for sprinkles)
Cricut Explore (or another cutting machine)
Cricut Scoring Stylus (or scoring tool)
Paper straw
Tissue paper
Glue stick
Hot glue gun
Instructions:
1. Open the project file in your cutting machine’s design software. Install the scoring stylus or tool before loading the mat, then follow the on-screen prompts to cut and score the box, cake strips, and sprinkles.
2. Fold along every scored line on the box. Apply glue to the front tab and attach it to the opposite side. Secure the bottom triangle to the matching bottom tab. Add treats, then tuck and adhere the back flap to close the box—use glue or tape as needed.
3. Fold each cake strip in half and glue them to the box’s sides to form layered “cake” tiers, making sure to fold neatly across the cake’s point so the layers sit smoothly.
4. Adhere the paper sprinkles to the top and back of the cake for a festive finish. Mix colors and sizes for a playful look.
5. For the candle, trim a paper straw to your desired length. Take two small squares (about 2 inches) of tissue paper, pinch each one in the middle, and place a small bead of hot glue on the pinched end; insert both pinched pieces into the straw to form the flame. Secure the straw to the top of the cake with hot glue.
All Photos by Studio DIY
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