Cake postcard tutorial

Jul 20, 2012 1:51 PM by Sandra Denneler

Posted in Living / Crafts

Make a mailable slice of cake

I have so many friends and family members that always say "I wish you could mail me a birthday cake!" ... well, now I can send them a slice.

Imagine how happy and excited you'd be, if you went to your mailbox one day and pulled out a slice of cake. Now you can surprise friends and family (and probably even your mail carrier), with this three-dimensional, mailable postcard, cleverly disguised as cake. With only five ingredients in this crafty recipe — a large sponge, spray paint, caulk, spray adhesive and heavy paper — it's a piece of cake. Literally. Postage is around $3 per slice, but the reaction from the recipient will be priceless.

photo gallery

Click here to see more cake postcard images.

Supplies

Materials needed to make two cake postcards:

1 large sponge (yellow paints the best)
Serrated knife
X-Acto or utility knife
Spray paint (brown, yellow, pink or white)
1 tube acrylic latex caulk (brown, cream or white)
Spray adhesive (3M Super 77 works great!)
Cardboard, kraft paper or scrapbook paper

Instructions

Cut sponge into wedge shape

Postcard Cake Step 1: cut the sponge

With a serrated knife, using a sawing motion, cut a sponge into two, cake wedge shapes. Large sponges can be found at hardware stores and in the automotive departments of most big discount stores.

Cut a center groove into sponge

Postcard Cake Step 2: cut center of sponge

Using an X-Acto or utility knife, cut a section of foam from the center of the sponge. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just cut a wedge big enough so that you can add a line of caulking there later.

Paint the sponge

Postcard Cake Step 3: paint the sponge

Paint the sponge wedges in desired color. (Brown looks the most realistic, but pink and yellow are fun too. White was probably my least favorite.)

Trace the slice of cake

When the sponge wedges are dry, trace around them on a piece of cardboard, kraft paper or colorful scrapbook paper. This will be the postcard side of the cake. Heavier paper works better and will give you a sturdier wedge of cake for mailing. Cut the postcard shapes from the paper.

Attach the postcard

Postcard Cake Step 5: attach the postcard

Spray glue the postcards to the solid, flat sides of the sponge wedges.

Prep the "icing"

Postcard Cake Step 6: add caulk to piping bag

Using a caulking gun and your desired caulk, fill a plastic disposable piping bag with half of the caulk. This should be enough to do one cake wedge. I was able to pipe two cake postcards with one tube of caulk, but I recommend putting only half of the caulk in the bag at a time. Also, I tried decorating my cake wedges using the caulking gun, but it was nearly impossible to control. It's much easier with a piping bag.

Pipe the center of the cake

Postcard Cake Step 7: pipe the caulking

Pipe a line of caulk down the center of the cake postcard wedge, where you removed the sponge with your knife.

Pipe the icing on the top

Pipe dollops and swirls of caulking on the top and sides of the sponge wedge just like you're decorating a cake. Pipe along the edge of the cake postcard to form a seal between it and the sponge.

Add the swirls

If needed, use a small paint brush or toothpick to swirl and adjust the thickness of the caulk on the cake top and side.

Allow your cake postcards to dry for three to five days. I placed mine on sheet of parchment paper and lifted them up periodically so that the caulk wouldn't dry and adhere to the paper.

Postcard Cake Step 9: let dry

Write your message on the postcard side, leaving enough room for an address and postage. Sizes, shapes and weight of each cake postcard will vary, but most of mine required three, $1 stamps.

Postcard Cake Step 9: back of cake postcard

Note from the editor

This totally works! I had Sandra mail me a slice of cake so I could see it with my own eyes. It made it to me in perfect condition. I could hardly believe it. See for yourself below:

Proof that you can in fact mail a slice of cake.

mailed cake postcard

Video how-to: Cake postcard

Not into diy?

Fear not! You can still have your cake and eat it, too. Check out this Etsy shop where you can purchase your very own mailable slice of cake.

Like
this
craft?

Check out our
DIY pumpkin pie postcard tutorial
here!

Comments

Comments on "Cake postcard tutorial"

Oh my gosh, these are the cutest invitations I've ever seen. I'm forwarding this onto my daughter and daughter-in-law who have kids. They will love it :-)

This is so clever, unique and just darn cute. Quite impressive, Looks so easy, even I can do it and I can't wait to try!

this is soooo cute!!!!

Fun idea. Thanks for sharing it. I wonder how much, approx., they would cost to mail out in the U.S.

Too cute! Are you sure the mail will take this?

I'm not sure if styrofoam would react to caulk or not. I know silicone caulking would probably "eat/melt" it, much like spray paint does. To be safe, I would coat your styrofoam with acrylic or latex paint first.

I collect cake stands and have been looking for a way to "make a cake" that I can put on one or more stands. I've seen the green flower styrofoam in circles that would work well but had never thought of using caulk for the "icing". Any suggestions on how to make my cake better? Do you think I would need to cover the styrofoam or just add the caulk to the foam?

I'm so far away from my children and grandchildren... I will definitely make these and have ready for family "gifts"... I'll probably put mine in a priority mail box since I'll send other items as well, but may test the mailable slice to my best friend in MI. Thanks for sharing... Love this idea!

I did not transfer the caulking to anything. I used it straight out with the help of my caulking gun. I spread it with a toothpick and used the same toothpick to make the swirls. It was less of a hassle and no brush to wash for the next go round!

You can buy caulk in brown, cream or white. If you want to paint it with acrylic paint, make sure the tube of caulk that you buy says "paintable."

I may have overlooked it, but I don't see how to color the caulking. Anyone know?

This is the cutest idea ever. I plan on making several so I'll have one when I need it. Great Idea!

Tracy, what about: "That (challenge) was a piece of cake!" "That's just the icing on the cake!" "You take the cake!"

I love this!! My lazy preteen & teen don't want to make cards anymore but love this idea too. We are going to make up a bunch as a "family project" for teacher's, family members and my kids' school friends. Now I just need a few good cake quotes so we don't just have to send them for birthdays! Like... You can do it!! Have your cake and eat it too! Thanks for posting!

My friend bought one of these somewhere and sent it to me. It's awesome! Now my daughter uses it as part of her imaginary food toys. It's the gift that keeps on giving ;-)

Leslie....lighten up. Take your negativity elsewhere. I can't wait to make these and send them out!!! They prolly do end up in the trash....but it's the thought that counts...showing someone you are thinking of them is priceless...besides everything we use, make, consume...all eventually goes back to the earth....including us.

I made one of these over Memorial Day weekend for my sister's birthday and it turned out great!! My co-workers thought it was an actual piece of cake. I mailed it today and it only cost $2.07. The post office workers loved it!

Super cute idea!

May 24, 2013 10:00 PM I love this craft so much and can't wait to gather supplies and get started making them for all my family and friends. Also, it's a great idea for diabetics and those on restricted diets. Thanks so much for sharing!!

This is cool. Great for any kind of party. Even a small wedding.

Revolving

Cake postcard tutorial

Make a mailable slice of cake