So festive and pretty, and so easy to pop into a homemade or store-bought cake (mmm, Tres Leches, maybe?), or even a sugary stack of churros. And, this topper can be made in about 20 minutes once you’ve gathered your supplies!

Materials needed: tissue paper, scissors, string or twine, glue, bamboo skewers.

Step 1: Take two sheets of tissue paper, and cut out a 4″ x 1 1/2″ rectangle. Repeat 9 times, using different colors. I used coral, orange, magenta, apricot and yellow.  Fold in half so you have a four-layer 2″ x 1 1/2″ rectangle with the fold on the top side.
Step 2: Cut a length of 30″ string. Tie one end to the top of a bamboo skewer.
Step 3: Stretch the string 8″ across the top, and tie a knot on the other skewer, at the top of the second skewer. Do not cut the string. Take the string and tie it back on the first skewer, about 4″ below the first knot. Again, take the string and tie it back on the second skewer, about 5 1/2″ below the top knot on that side.
Step 4: Slip three tissue paper rectangles over the top string. Evenly space them out.
Step 5: Open the fold and apply a line of glue to attach the tissue paper to the string. On the same rectangle, open the layers of tissue, and apply a few daps of glue across the top to attach the first layer of tissue paper to the second layer of tissue paper.
Step 6: Repeat with all 9 rectangles on the second and third rows of string.
Step 7: Apply a small dab of glue where the top knot is tied to the skewer.
Step 8: Repeat with all knots. Let dry. During this time, the glue on the tissue paper should dry as well.
Step 9: Carefully fringe all the rectangles with sharp scissors.
Step 10: Insert topper into cake. Angle the skewers so you get a little dip in the string. Gently fluff the fringe with your fingers to give it a little dimension. Enjoy!

Photography by Tim Gibson