How to Make DIY Birthday Cupcake Toppers with Face

Discover how to transform your next celebration with these cupcake toppers with face, featuring your guest of honor in a fun way!

These DIY face cupcake toppers have quickly become a cherished tradition for all birthday parties. They add a fun, personalized touch that never fails to delight guests and make the party truly memorable. At Stetson’s “First Rodeo” birthday, these rodeo-themed cowboy face toppers stole the show, featuring a playful display of his monthly photos. If you’re searching for a unique way to dress up your cupcakes and add a dose of personality to your party décor, follow these comprehensive steps to create your very own face cupcake toppers.

This post is all about how to make cupcake toppers with face!

Check out these tutorial on TikTok instead!

Step 1: Gather you Photos

The first step in this creative journey is to collect the photos you’ll need. For Stetson’s cupcake toppers, I chose one front-facing photo from each month of his first year. However, the beauty of this project is its flexibility—feel free to use just a handful of photos, or even a single favorite image, depending on your theme and available pictures.

Tips for Sourcing Photos:

• Start Early: If you’re a new parent or planning a milestone birthday, begin saving monthly snapshots as soon as possible. I started throwing cute front-facing photos into a Google Photos album. This habit not only builds a lovely photo archive but also gives you plenty of options when the big day arrives.
• Choose the Right Angle: Ensure that the selected photos are taken with the face looking directly at the camera. A head-on shot is ideal for this project because it simplifies the editing process later. Side profiles or angled shots can be challenging to crop and might not translate as well onto a cupcake topper.
• Quality Matters: Use high-resolution photos if you can. Clear, crisp images will look much better when resized and printed. 

Step 2: Edit your Photos in Canva

Upload and Select

• Import Your Images: Start by uploading your chosen photos into Canva. 
• Select Your Best Shots: Choose the images that not only have great quality but also best capture the personality you want to highlight on your cupcake toppers.

Remove the Background

• Navigate to the Effects Menu: Click on the photo you want to edit, then head to the “Effects” section. Here, you’ll find the Background Remover feature.
• Automatic Removal: Click on the Background Remover, and Canva will automatically erase the background from your image. This step is crucial as it isolates the face, creating a clean canvas for further design elements.

Clean It Up with the Eraser Tool

• Fine-Tuning:  Use the Eraser tool to remove any leftover bits of background.
• Focus on the Face: Your objective is to isolate the face—from the forehead to the chin—while discarding unnecessary parts like the neck. This refined crop ensures that when you add other elements later, the focus remains solely on the face.

Step 3: Add a Party Hat or Cowboy Hat & Personalize

With your face neatly cropped, it’s time to get creative by adding a festive hat. Given the rodeo theme of Stetson’s party, I opted for a cowboy hat, but you can choose any style that fits your event—whether it’s a fun party hat for a kids’ birthday or a crown for the bride. 

Choose Your Hat

• Browse Canva’s Clipart Library: Search through Canva’s clipart collection and pick a hat that resonates with your party’s theme. If you’re going for a rodeo vibe, a cowboy hat is the perfect match.
• Match Your Style: Consider the overall color scheme of your party. For Stetson’s toppers, I even changed the hat’s color to blue so that it coordinated with the rest of the birthday decorations. 

Customize Your Design

• Overlay the Hat: Once you’ve selected your hat, overlay it onto the cleaned-up face. Adjust the position and size until it fits naturally on the head.
• Personal Touch with Numbers: For an extra layer of personalization, add a number to the hat. For instance, if the photo was taken when the baby was 4 months old, place a “4” on the hat. This is especially fun for milestone birthdays, such as a sweet 16, where the number can add a significant detail.
• Group and Resize: When you’re happy with the look, group the face and hat together. Resize the combined image to about 2 inches in diameter, or choose a size that best fits your cupcake design.

Step 4: Create PDF, Print & Cut your Toppers

Layout Your Designs

• Arrange on a Canva Page: Create a new page in Canva and arrange your finished designs. Copy and paste your grouped images to fill the page. This makes it easier to print multiple toppers at once.
• Consider a Guide: To speed up the cutting process, consider placing a circle behind each face in Canva. This ensures that each topper is perfectly round and uniform in size and easier to cut.

Printing Your Toppers

• Use the Right Paper: Print your designs on regular computer paper if you plan to add an extra base later, or opt for thicker card stock if you want a sturdier topper right out of the printer.
• Multiple Copies: Make sure to print enough sheets so that every cupcake gets a topper. 

Cutting Out the Toppers

• Precision Cutting: Once printed, carefully cut around each design. Using a circle punch cutter can help ensure that all your toppers are the same size, which is especially important for a polished look.
• Time-Saving Tip: By designing your layout with uniform circles, you can cut them out quickly and efficiently, saving you time and effort on the day of the party.

Step 5: Make your Cupcake Toppers More Durable (Optional)

For those who want their cupcake toppers to be extra durable, especially if you’re using thinner paper, adding a sturdier base is a great idea.

Create a Base for Your Toppers

• Cut Out Base Circles: Using card stock or craft paper, cut out circles that are approximately 2 inches in diameter. A circle punch can help achieve perfectly round shapes, but scissors will work too.
• Tape the Design: Once your base circles are ready, tape your printed topper onto each one. This added layer not only reinforces the design but also gives your toppers a professional finish.

Step 6: Assemble Cupcake Toppers and

With all the components ready, the final step is to assemble your cupcake toppers and prepare them for the big day.

Attach to Skewers

• Secure with Hot Glue: Use a hot glue gun to attach each layered topper onto a small skewer. The glue should hold everything together firmly without adding too much bulk.

Storage Tips

• Store them: Once assembled, store your cupcake toppers in a ziplock bag.
• Easy Access: Place the bag near the cupcake station during party prep. This ensures that when it’s time to decorate the cupcakes, your toppers are within easy reach, reducing the risk of any last-minute scrambling.

Need More Birthday Party Ideas?

• Hosting in Your Home: My 20 Party Hacks
• DIY 6 ft Balloon Garland: Everything you Need to Know!
• How to Decorate for a Bridal Shower

Final Thoughts

Not only do these toppers serve as delightful decorations, but they also spark conversations among guests. Imagine the smiles and laughter as everyone admires the unique blend of technology and tradition—a modern twist on a classic party treat. With a bit of time, some creativity, and the right tools, you can transform ordinary cupcakes into a spectacular showcase of personal style and joyful memories.

Crafting these DIY face cupcake toppers is more than just a fun project—it’s a way to personalize your celebration and create lasting memories. Each step, from gathering your photos to the final assembly, is an opportunity to infuse your event with creativity and love. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone birthday, hosting a themed party, or simply looking for a new way to decorate your treats, these toppers are sure to impress.

So, gather your photos, fire up Canva, and get crafting! Enjoy every moment of this creative process and watch as your personalized cupcake toppers become the highlight of your next celebration. Happy crafting, and here’s to many more memorable birthdays filled with creativity and fun!

By following these detailed steps, you’re well on your way to creating stunning, one-of-a-kind cupcake toppers that add that extra dash of charm to any birthday celebration. Enjoy crafting and celebrating your special moments with these DIY delights!

Share your Cupcake Toppers with Face

As always, thank you for following along with me in my creative journey. Be sure to tag me and use #meagannicholedotcom when sharing your Cupcake Toppers with Face! Thanks for stopping by MeaganNichole.com

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting, so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!