Simple Monogram Cake Topper with Paper Flowers

A glossy black wooden letter, topped with a cluster of paper flowers and a sparkling jewel in the middle, looks polished on a wedding cake or dessert table. This one is made from a few craft supplies and can be finished in an afternoon, even if you are new to crafting.

The topper is held up by paper straws glued to the back of the letter. You push the straws into the cake like stakes. The letter can be the couple’s initial, or the first letter of a name for a birthday or shower.

Supplies

1 wooden letter
Black acrylic paint and a paintbrush
Wrapping paper with a pattern you like
A pencil and scissors
Adhesive suited to paper, such as craft glue
1 jewel, flat-backed or adhesive-backed
1 paper straw
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Steps

Paint the letter. Cover the front, back and edges with black acrylic paint. Wait until the first side is dry, then flip it and finish the other side. Let it dry fully before you glue anything to it. If the wood still shows through, add a second coat.
Draw the flowers. Turn the wrapping paper over and sketch three flowers on the plain side: one large, one medium and one small. If drawing petals feels fussy, trace five circles that overlap slightly and cut around the outer edge. Cut all three shapes out.
Shape the petals. Wrap each paper flower around a pencil so the petals curl up and in. This keeps them from curling the wrong way and gives each flower a soft, rounded shape.
Build the bloom. Put a small dab of adhesive in the center of each flower and stack them, large to small. Add more adhesive to the back of the largest flower and press it onto the dry letter. Set the jewel in the center of the stack.
Add the stakes. Cut the paper straw in half. With hot glue, attach both halves to the back of the letter. Space them apart so the topper stands straight. Let the glue set before you move it.

An adult should handle the hot glue gun. The jewel is a small part, so keep it away from children under three.

Variations and tips

Change the colors. Gold, white or a soft pastel paint works as well as black. Pick a wrapping paper that goes with the party colors.
Try a different shape. A number works for a birthday or anniversary, and an ampersand suits a wedding cake.
Use a base other than a tiered cake. The topper looks good on a stack of doughnuts built into a doughnut cake, on a sheet cake or on a cupcake tower. Push the straws in gently so they go in straight.
Keep the straws away from the frosting. Paper straws are not meant to be eaten, and the hot glue should not touch the cake. Pull the topper out before you slice and serve.
Pick sturdy paper. Gift wrap that is a little thicker holds a curl better than thin tissue-like paper. Test one flower first.
Make it ahead. The topper keeps well, so it can be finished days before the event. Set it in a dry place until you need it.

If you want a fuller flower, cut a few extra layers in graduated sizes and stack them the same way. Glue the jewel on last so it stays on top.