How to Make Your Own Lifts and Levels for Tablescapes

  Cardboard lifts and levels?  Last summer, I was asked to create a dessert table for a wedding reception, and make more than three hundred individual desserts.  It was a challenging proposition.  We easily decided which desserts would be included and then, other than color, the table was left to my own creativity.  

One thing I was sure of, was that I wanted lifts and levels to create more interest and drama, and spotlight certain desserts.  You’ve seen buffets where everything is just placed on a table and all the dishes are virtually the same height.  Blah!  No visual interest, right?

   Since I was not attending this wedding and did not want to return the next day to retrieve my tiered dessert and cake stands,  I began brainstorming for inexpensive ideas.  We had some sheets of cardboard and cardboard boxes… So, I hit upon the idea of creating spools of cardboard, which would be very sturdy; and making them, I could easily create whatever sizes I needed.

Directions For Making Cardboard Lifts And Levels

   First, mark each sheet of cardboard the desired width, and then cut each strip against the corrugation, not with it.  After using scissors for a while, my son suggested the use of the battery-powered scissors he had given me, which might make things go a little faster.  Yes!  Great time saver!     Next, in order for the cardboard to form neatly into a spiral, fold the cardboard along each of the grooves.  This can be achieved by running the strip over the edge of the counter and pressing along each line of corrugation.  It’s kind of like curling a ribbon with scissors.

   If you don’t fold on each line of corrugation, or almost every line, the cardboard won’t lay as neatly against the prior layers.  It will look ‘wonky’ and won’t be as uniform.

   Using cheap white or clear school glue, start gluing the strips in a tight spiral.  When it gets awkward to hold it, wrap a couple of rubber bands around your form.  Then, set on the counter or table, and push down on the cardboard to form a solid base.  Let this dry, then continue adding strips in the same manner, butting up the new strip to the end of the previous one.  Secure with rubber bands while the glue dries, until the desired size is achieved.

Decorating The Cardboard Forms 

 The stands for this particular event are covered with silver wrapping paper and are embellished with a 2″ band of mesh rhinestones an inch from the top.  These can be covered with fabric and ribbons.  While these can be decorated, they are great underneath your tablecloths and fabric pieces.  This is how I use them most of the time.

  These are inexpensive, sturdy, easily stored, and is it a great loss if left behind?  Nope!  Let me know what you think of the idea!  I had never seen it done before and thought it was rather ingenious!

   For more ideas on using these, click here ►Lifts and Levels.