Here’s a lovely DIY upcycled tiered cake stand that I made out of coordinating plates, bowls and coffee cups from the thrift store!
Looking to add a touch of charm to your dessert table or next party? If you’re wondering how to make a three tier cake stand, this easy and affordable DIY project is just what you need! Using coordinating plates, bowls, and coffee cups from your local thrift store, you can create a beautiful and functional centerpiece that’s perfect for entertaining.
Whether you’re planning a tea party, bridal shower, or just want a stylish way to display desserts, learning how to make a 3 tier cake stand with vintage plates is a fun way to upcycle dishes and show off your creativity.
Why You’ll Love This Project
This is a fantastic, budget-friendly method for anyone curious about how to make a 3 tier cake stand with vintage plates. It’s a creative way to recycle old dishes and add personality to your gatherings. Plus, it makes a thoughtful handmade gift!
Materials Needed
- Coordinating coffee cups, plates, and bowls (you can use as many or as few as you’d like)
- E6000 adhesive glue or a strong ceramic-safe glue
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Pencil or marker (for centering)
- Optional: sandpaper or rubbing alcohol to prep surfaces
To create a 3 tier cake stand with vintage plates, try to find plates in three different sizes—small, medium, and large—for the best tiered effect.
Instructions: How to Make a 3 Tier Cake Stand
- Choose Your Pieces: Lay out your plates and cups to decide which ones will be used for each tier. Typically, start with the largest plate at the bottom, followed by a cup, then a medium plate, another cup, and finally the smallest plate on top.
- Prep the Surfaces: Clean the bottom and top of each plate and cup with rubbing alcohol or lightly sand to help the glue adhere better.
- Measure and Mark: Use a ruler to find the center of each plate and mark it with a pencil. This will help ensure that each layer is balanced and symmetrical.
- Glue Pieces Together: Starting with the bottom plate, apply a small amount of adhesive to the rim of the coffee cup and press it firmly onto the center of the plate. Repeat this step for each additional layer.
- Let It Dry: Allow the glue to dry for at least 24 hours before using the stand. This ensures that all pieces are securely bonded.
Styling Tips
- Use matching or coordinating colors and patterns for a cohesive look.
- Mix and match vintage china for a whimsical, eclectic vibe.
- Add felt or rubber pads to the base if you want to protect delicate surfaces.
FAQ: How to Make a Three Tier Cake Stand
Q: What types of plates work best for a 3 tier cake stand?
A: Lightweight ceramic or melamine plates in graduated sizes work best. Vintage plates with a flat base help provide stability.
Q: Can I use plastic or disposable plates instead?
A: While possible, disposable plates may not provide the same stability or longevity. Ceramic or glass is recommended for durability.
Q: How much weight can the cake stand hold?
A: This depends on the adhesive and materials used, but it’s best suited for lightweight desserts like cupcakes, cookies, or finger sandwiches.
Q: Can I wash the cake stand after use?
A: Hand washing is recommended. Avoid soaking or using the dishwasher to preserve the adhesive bond.
Q: What’s the best glue to use for making a 3 tier cake stand?
A: A strong industrial adhesive like E6000 works best for bonding ceramic and glass pieces.
Here are a couple other modifications/design ideas using other types of china and serving ware that I have on hand.
We don’t gorilla glue everything, because we want to keep the pieces separate to create different combinations each time. But for each event, we will hot glue a few of the pieces together because the hot glued pieces can be torn apart for easier storage. It’s up to you to decide if you want something permanent or temporary- one of the beauties of DIY.
Learning how to make a tier cake stand opens up so many creative possibilities—you’re really only limited by your imagination. It’s a fun, budget-friendly way to turn everyday items into something beautiful and functional. In the end, you’ll have a unique piece that stands out as a party centerpiece and sparks plenty of conversation.
Have you done any upcycled project from things you found at the thrift store? What do you think about this DIY craft idea? Tell me in the comments!
This post originally published on Hip Mama’s Place on May 22, 2018. Updated: February 16, 2021.
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A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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Oh my goodness! This is genius! We will have a lot of fun when creating these awesome cake stands. Love that it can be different every time!
This up cycled cake stand looks beautiful I like your DIY idea. I am going to try. I have one cake stand which is broken into top and bottom. That I can use for this project.
I am a cupcake fiend and this stand would be perfect for our family! I love how easy it is to make.
This is such a genius idea! It really turned out so beautiful!
I love this! It’s so dainty and adorable. I always wonder how I’ll serve cupcakes, this is going to be it.
This tiered cake stand is so creative! I think it really makes a statement when hosting a party.
I love this idea! I did something similar for my daughter’s birthday party with plates and cups I got at the thrift store
Now this cake stand is super cute!! I love how you upcycled it and made it out of things you already had!!
This is super cute. It would be perfect for a tea party or a garden party.
I love how this turned out. What a great idea. I might have to make one of these.
This is such a clever idea, and it turned out amazing! I can’t wait to try making this.
OMG! This is a fantastic idea! I never thought about this. But it’s so cute. It’s so perfect for the holidays and it’s so easy to make!
I love handmade and unique items so much. I am always going to thrift stores everywhere I go to get stuff to turn into beautiful creations.
This is an amazing upcycle! I have some things lying around the house that could probably be turned into something usable! Thanks for the inspiration!
This a wonderful way to up cycle and DIY. Everyone has or can get cheap but great looking bowls and plates.
I’ve upcycled a time or two. This is a cute idea and would be absolutely adorable for one of my brunches
This upcycle idea is so amazing! This is a fabulous and whimsical idea to create. I love how you figured out which bowls and cups to stack. I also loved the colours you used. They are so much fun.
I have a thing for cake stands and the one you made is so unique and beautiful. This would be perfect for a tea party.
such a creative idea! I love how it turned out. so beautiful and unique.
This is a great idea! Very creative! I always want to make my own DIY tiered cake/cupcake stand for quite sometime now, but I still haven’t gathered any materials yet. lol!
What a clever idea. Love this cute cake stand.
OMG! I love this cake stand! It is so awesome! And also so easy to make!
I mean… this is pretty impressive and genius actually. Why didn’t I think of this?
This is a really cute and simple design. Keep the kids away from it though! Lol
That is such a creative idea! I love the way it turned out. Way to go on upcycling!
How creative and super cool! I think I’ll try making this for my daughters graduation party.
Oh fab! This is so creative! I love this idea and I will recreate this!
That’s really crafty. Love how you made the cake stand. I did purchase a nightstand from a thrift store, took it home to sand and re-stained it
I think this is beautiful! I’ve made bird seed holders from tea cups I’ve bought at the thrift store before. Now I want to make a tiered cupcake holder!
This is such a cute idea! I will definitely try this! SO creative!
Such a clever idea in making a cake stand. I never tried this way before and I can’t wait to do this on my father’s birthday!
I have a friend that has done this for years. It is great for parties when you want to display a lot of food.
I love this idea. I’ve never done something like that, but can’t wait to try it as a summer project!
This looks super cute! It would be perfect for a party or a wedding.
love Love Love your tiered cake stand.
I love the shabby chic feel and It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland!
What a cute idea! My daughter has been wanting a tea party, this would make a great centerpiece to the tea party table!
I haven’t upcycled anything from a thrift store before but I think it is a great idea. I love how your tiered cake stand turned out.
This is such a whimsical, and super cute project!! Perfect for a tea party or spring get together.
This is really impressive. I’d love to do something like this for parties and special occasions.
Oh my gosh I love this! This is such a cute idea with the mugs. I haven’t seen anything like this before.
That is SO creative! I absolutely love how you used the tea cups, too. That’s beautiful the way it turned out and such a unique piece!
This is so beautiful! Gosh you are so creative!I love the extra character with the tea cups in between – time for some high tea!
I absolutely love this idea. I’ve done the single layer cake stand from a plate and a candlestick or vase, but this is centerpiece worthy.
I haven’t done any upcycling. I do have a little table that I keep meaning to do and I really should do it before school is out. I love what you’ve done! So cute!
How creative and adorable is this! Now I really want some delicious looking cupcakes too! LOL!