DIY Summoning Circle with a Cake Tray

Hello, fellow crafters and fantasy enthusiasts! Today, I’m excited to share a fun and slightly spooky project with you: how to make a summoning circle using a repurposed cake tray. This idea came to me after my brother kindly brought over a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for my birthday. As soon as I saw that empty cake tray, I knew it was destined for something… magical. Let’s dive into the steps so you can make your own!

Materials You’ll Need:

  • Cake tray (I used one from a Dairy Queen cake)
  • Summoning circle pattern (you can create or find one on Canva by searching for terms like “witch circle” or “rune circle”)
  • Sticker sheet or Mac tack (for stenciling)
  • White primer
  • Acrylic paints (gray, brown, and green)
  • Sponge brush
  • Cricut or scissors (if you’re cutting by hand)
  • Fancy hexagonal LED lights (optional but highly recommended!)

Step 1: Designing the Summoning Circle

I started by creating my summoning circle design on Canva. If you search for things like “witch circle” or “rune circle,” you’ll find some cool patterns. The tricky part is sizing the pattern correctly to fit your tray—this is something I didn’t quite nail, but in the end, it worked out fine.

Step 2: Cutting the Design

Fortunately, I had access to a Cricut machine to cut out my pattern, but if you don’t have one, you can cut it by hand using a sticker sheet or Mac tack. If you go the manual route, just take your time with the details!

Peeling the summoning circle sticker for TTRPG Cake tray summoning circle

Step 3: Affixing the Sticker

Once the Cricut finished cutting the design, I carefully applied the sticker to the tray, aligning it with the natural ridges of the tray. This part can be a little tricky, but do your best to follow the shape.

affixing the sticker for TTRPG Cake tray summoning circle

Step 4: Priming the Tray

With the sticker in place, it was time to apply a white primer. This will help prep the surface for painting and seal the edges of the sticker to the tray. The goal is to keep the paint from seeping underneath.

Step 5: Adding the Base Layer

Next, I used a gray acrylic paint to cover the tray. Instead of a traditional brush, I opted for a sponge brush, which allowed me to use a pressing motion rather than brushing. This helped prevent the paint from peeling up the sticker. A thick layer works best for covering the primer.

Painting the summoning circle

Step 6: Grunging It Up

Once the gray layer dried, I added brown and green acrylic paints to give the tray a grungy, worn look. I dabbed the colors randomly around the tray to add texture and depth. At this stage, I wasn’t sure how the project was turning out, but I’m a bit stubborn, so I pressed on!

Step 7: The Big Reveal

After everything dried, it was time for the most satisfying part—peeling off the stickers! Even though I still had some doubts about how it looked, I was glad to see the summoning circle design clearly emerge.

revealing the TTRPG summoning circle

Step 8: Adding the Finishing Touch

Here’s where the magic happens: I added these fancy hexagonal LED lights around the tray. These lights come in various colors and modes, adding a whole new level to the project. Whether you’re summoning a spirit or just creating some mystical vibes, they’re a must-have!

hexagonal lights
TTRPG Summoning Circle upcycled from cake tray

Bonus: A Free Dark Fantasy Novel

Before I go, I want to apologize for my long break between videos—I’ve been working on something special! I’m writing a 100% free dark fantasy novel called The Grimm and the Reaper. I release new chapters every week, and if you prefer to listen to books, I also narrate it on my other YouTube channel in audiobook format. I’d love for you to check it out!

The Grimm and the Reaper Thumbnail. Gold eye on blue/black fur.

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