If there's a time to get playful and experiment with how you serve up a dish, it's dessert! After the meal's cleared away and you're ready to serve something sweet, why not break out your crafty side? Here are some examples we've found around the web for getting creative and making a one-of-a-kind, DIY dessert stand:
Make any playful plate into a stand a la these folks, as pictured above:
1: Sweetspot uses painted tin trays and makes them food safe with pretty printed papers.
2: Birds take the plate at iDiy.
3: with candlesticks at A Spoonful of Sugar
4: Hostess with the Mostess uses cake boards and canned goods via Libby James
5: Kinser Event shares a step-by-step for spring-like wood pedestals.
Related: Airy Angel Food Cupcakes with Naturally Pink Icing
(Images: Sweetspot, iDiy, A Spoonful of Sugar, Hostess with the Mostess, Kinser Event)
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I really like the ones at Bee In Our Bonnet:
http://beeinourbonnet.blogspot.com/2010/09/project-wedding-cake-stands.html
They are easy to wash because the food is placed on a plate on the stand. That made it really easy for me to use them to switch out fresh plates of food for a dessert buffet I catered a few weeks ago. I couldn't find the dollhouse trim so I wrapped the edge of the stands with a ribbon and added half pearls to coordinate with the colors of the party.
Check out this one as well:
http://confetticookies.blogspot.com/2012/03/diy-cookie-stand.html
I hate stands. They're functional 2% of the time, and they're a pain in the neck to store. Give me stackable dishes any day.
I made cupcake stands for my sister's bridal shower. They doubled as cupcake display and party favors. Everyone loved them! They are really easy to make, here's my tutorial: http://dohdums.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/tutorial-individual-cupcake-stands/
I now use mine as a jewellery holder in my bathroom to catch my rings / earrings that I wear daily.