Over the past four years, there have been exactly 776 things that I’ve blogged about.
There’s the obvious: mushroom biscuits, strawberries, and doughnuts. I’ve shown you a craft or two, and a few of my life essentials.
But… the one thing I don’t get my blog on about is my birthday cake.
It’s bad enough that I have to make my own birthday cake (mostly because I’m a slight control freak)… it’s just not a thing I want to turn into photo editing and uploading and.. well, some things are just for eating.
This year’s birthday was spent in Palm Springs, California with friends, champagne, a heated pool, some floppy hats, soooo many hot dogs, some really competitive card games, and and and… I made a little paper decoration for the birthday cake!
It’s so easy. You’ll feel so crafty. Major satisfaction.
I’ll show you how!
One: Start with colorful card stock.
I LOVE pink and red. Black and white is a classic combination. Pink, orange, and yellow just feels like summer.
Pictured above are business card sized card stock. Whatever size you use, maximize space by cutting several triangle flags out of each piece of card stock.
Two: Trace and cut out a a small triangle. This will be our guide piece (in blue, above).
Three: Trace the guide triangle onto card stock.
Four: Cut the triangle pieces out!
Five: Find a thick tack and puncture two holes in each triangle corner. Wriggle the tack around a bit, creating a slightly larger hole. It’ll be easier to pull the string through.
Six: Thread baker’s twine through the the punctured holes. I was able to do this without a needle by moistening and twisting the end of the baker’s twine and carefully, but firmly shoving it through the tiny holes created by the tack. Careful not to bend the little triangle piece. Once one triangle was threaded on the twine, we’ll thread all the same way. Five or six little triangle flags is nice.
Seven: Tie each end of twine onto a bamboo skewer. We’ll leave a bit of slack in the twine so the banners hang loosely.
Eight: (Drive homemade cake banner to Palm Springs, California, drink lots of champagne with your friends, allow a friendly game of Spades to devolve into yelling and tequila shots.) Place each end of skewer inside of frosted cake to decorate. Slice, eat and enjoy cake! (Stop yelling… eventually.) (Learn how to not be such a sore loser.)
If you love this idea, but aren’t feel particularly crafty, these cake flags were inspired by Poketo’s Rainbow Bunting Flags… and the cupcake version is super cute as well!
Elmer Cruz
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. Thanks for sharing. I am a faithful follower of both your blogs. Thanks!
Elmer Cruz
Your writing always makes me smile! Lovely banner!! Thanks!
Elmer Cruz
The banner looks fun. Might be an idea for a birthday I am hosting. Thanks!
Monica
I just made the banner! I do feel fantastically crafty and quite proud of myself. Thank you again for posting this. My banner will adorn an ice cream cake I plan to make for my son’s 7th birthday coming up in a few days. And I totally understand about your birthday cake – some things are sacred. : )
Chez
Hi Joy, first of all, happy birthday!! I personally can recommend being thirty, and even more, thirty-plus. You’ll look back on your twenties with nostalgia, but not want to change places for a second (except maybe for slightly plumper skin)
But no photo of the banner on the cake? I’d love to see what it actually looked like…I have to make a celebration cake myself soon and I’m looking for simple ideas to up the fancy.
I’m a long time commenter, first time reader, no wait that’s not right? What I mean to say is that I read your blog regularly, with pleasure Joy, have done for ages, and now will press submit before I embarress myself further/totally and belie my 30 plus years…
joythebaker
thanks for the lovely comment. i blog about nearly everything that comes out of my kitchen. the once exception to that is my birthday cake. i don’t want to turn my birthday cake into work… and that’s why there are no pictures of it on the blog.
Cookie and Kate
This is beyond perfect! I’m baking a cake for a 5-year blog anniversary party and I’ve been brainstorming festive toppers… I think I just found the winner. Thanks, Joy!
Chineka
Great and cute idea.
Mama Maria
I’m SO going to make these!!!
Thanks. :)
deirdre @ aliment
So cute and easy…just like crafting should be…for those not creatively stunted like myself. thanks for the share! love bakers string!
Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a splendiferous day!
Hannah @ All-Purpose and Semi-Sweet
So crafty! I usually come by for your recipes but you’re clearly creative in other ways too! Now when is your non cookbook book going to be coming out?! I’ll be first in line.
Clara
Love this, Joy! My boyfriend is traveling for a full month- I’m going to use this technique to create a welcome banner for his return. Thanks for the idea!
Carly
So cute! I’m making 6 dozen red velvet cupcakes for my inlaws’ 40th anniversary (the 40th is the ruby anniversary, hence the red velvet) and I’m totally making little flags for them now! I might even have to decorate them with hearts. Thanks for the great idea!
Lauren
This is so cute and easy! What a great idea!
Monica
What a great simple idea that even I could do. Thank you!
Annie
Uber cute!
When I need to thread twine or tiny ribbons, I cut the end at a sharp angle and brush on a dab of nail polish. It dries in just a couple of minutes and gives you a stiff needle-like end that makes threading a breeze. I KNOW you have nail polish. :-)
mariana
super adorable!
Margarita
What a cute idea! I wanna make this with my students… Thanks for the share! Also, I really enjoy your blog posts, all of it. I hope I can write and cook and bake as well as you can someday.
Lexi @ You, Me, & A World to See
Totes awesome for a b-day cake. And yelling, yelling is good ;)
Salee
super like!!!
anna
happy birthday joy!
Julie N.
I’m gonna say what everyone else is thinking, “SHOW US THE CAKE!” I’m so curious now hah
Nicole @ the Dirty oven
Just adorable…just like you! I am so glad you had fun.
PS…card games are fun and it is ok to yell (sometimes)
Melanie
Darling!
Grubarazzi
Super duper cute!
Frances
Such a great way to customize! I feel like such an alien for hating chocolate cake! Ha! I just had a birthday, too. ;)
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
Happy belated birthday! I love this idea – I wish I was more crafty!
Anne
Too bad my birthday just passed, this topper would’ve been adorable for my picnic lunch with friends. I did get a bit too carried away making the cake (the kind with pink ombre layers) and ended up giving up on last minute decorations. It wasn’t as pretty as could be, but definitely and most importantly, delicious.
Mawiyah J
This will great on my daughters cake :)
Jessi
What a great idea! Perfect for the 4th of July!
Becca- cookie jar treats
This is such a cute idea. I think I might use this when I make my dads birthday cake this year :D
Jennifer
Super cute! Glad to hear you had a fun birthday!
Tamara
Cute. A crafting project I can probably do! :-)
Carol in the OC
Happy birthday (belated) to my favorite blogger! Glad you had fun with friends.
Emily
super fun! i meant to make one for our wedding cake… maybe i’ll break some out for my husband’s strawberry birthday cake in july!
p.s. i like the joy recently photo links below, very nice!
p.p.s. i’m totally making that buttermilk strawberry cake tonight/tomorrow… sometime soon.
Maggie
SO cute! And pretty perfect because I just made a chocolate caramel cheesecake for my sister’s graduation!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Happy Bday and I wouldn’t let anyone make my cake either…so I make my own. But not cake. Usually super gooey brownies :) And a weekend with friends and champagne in Palm Springs sounds perfect!
Francy
Love, love, love this one!!!! great Joy!! I will made for my kids’nex birthdays!
Annette
i keep seeing these, and want to try them, but everyone has their own requests for their cakes. BUT now it’s my turn, thanks for reminding me. Banner cake you are mine.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
This is awesome! I had no idea this was so easy!
Shirley@bells-bakery
These are the cutest things ever!!
Monsterscircus
Lovely idea, and a feast for the eyes! Have a wondeful day.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
I’ve always loved these. Thanks for the cute tutorial
michelle
Birthday flare!
Frieda
Very festive with bright colors! Sometimes the easiest projects are the cutest :-)
Jane M
We just got back from Palm Springs celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. We didn’t want to leave to come home (to NJ). LOVE IT OUT THERE! GAAAAAAAH! The DRY heat and all!
mary fran | frannycakes
I love this. Little flags on cakes are super cute.
Reformed Foodie
Love this idea – so much better than my lame attempt at frosting roses:)
Shelly
Oh my goodness! This is such a cute idea!
Heather
I love decorating cake with banners. Adds just a little extra touch of piz-zazz.
anne
you’re too cute. love it!
anne
love it!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Love the cake banner – too cute!
Jamie @ green beans & grapefruit
I’m not much of a crafter but I can handle a project here and there! Cool idea and sounds like you had a wonderful b-day!