Paper cupcake cases: 11 amazing ways to creatively recycle them
Indispensable for baking, paper cupcake/muffin cases are kitchen accessories that most of us always have at home. For example, these cases help us to ensure our small cakes hold their shape in the oven; they also prevent muffin trays from getting dirty when we are preparing and baking all sorts of treats and "goodies". Given just these advantages, it's no surprise cupcake cases can be found in most kitchens.
The cases come in many different colors, and they are perfect for presenting muffins. And given their inherent "cuteness", cupcake cases can be used for other arts and crafts - keep reading to find out more:
Start with something useful and colorful
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Have you ever prepared jam or some preserves that you perhaps want to give someone as a gift? Presenting a gift like this in a rustically-decorated jar is a great idea and can be done even more quickly by using cupcake cases as the top cover (instead of the usual piece of fabric, like jute or burlap). And it's even better if the case has a beautiful patterned print on it (like the example you see here)!
If you want to serve drinks that take straws, wouldn't it be much nicer to do so by putting on lid through which a straw can be slotted? You do this easily by using cupcake cases!
Cupcake cases become paper flowers
Now, on to decorations: the thin paper of cupcake cases is foldable and easy to cut. Given this, they are perfect for shaping into the petals of double-corona flowers. Here's an example of how very simple white cases can be turned into paper peonies or chrysanthemums!
Here's a slightly simpler idea, ideal for the kids: fold a cupcake case in four, then cut out the edge to create the jagged shape of a corolla of a flower. Whe you open the case, you will have a sort of colored daisy... cut out a bunch of these to make a cute, colorful bouquet.
Speaking of paper flower bouquets, isn't the one shown here amazing? And this bouquet will never withering. The procedure is not very different from the one described above: the cuts are made along the edge, from the edge towards the center, without going all the way to the bottom, creating strips joining up at the base.
Make cute animals
Who could resist these cute little owls? They can be used as decorations around the house (especially in autumn), and they could also be used to decorate gifts, a centerpiece, or perched on top of a cake.
And how about a small picture, or a greeting card with a cute black-faced sheep. And don't forget the famous Valais sheep, which are the cutest sheep of all!
These jellyfish are also very cute and easy to make. The only thing you really need to do is decide on what the best colors colors to use for the bodies and the tentacles. For tentacles that will move in the breeze, use tissue paper!
To make the wings of a butterfly like the one shown here, you need two cupcake cases of different colors, creating a two-tone combination for each wing. And then, a pipe cleaner joins the wings together into the butterfly form!
Other crafts you can do with paper cupcake cases
There are many ways for using colored cupcake cases as decorations to a card: whether it's a greeting card or a birthday card (or for some other auspicious event), these colorful cases can add the finishing touch. What message would you include in a card shown here which has been decorated with colorful umbrellas?
If combine cases together with flat wooden sticks (like ice cream sticks), you can make graceful ballerinas, like the ones shown here: each individual case will be a tutu, and pipe cleaners will be the arms, positioned in typical ballet poses.
Ready to let your creative juices flow?
