Making wavesBirthdays · Free to customise
Under the sea
Shells, starfish and soft waves in seafoam and coral. Open it in the editor, replace the sample message and choose the size for your cake or cupcakes.
Use this templateNo account needed to edit. Downloading comes with a CakeyTops membership.
- You can change
- Text, size & shape
- You download
- A 300 DPI PNG
- You print on
- A4 or US Letter
Why this design works
The wave lines along the bottom are the whole reason this design works: they give a circular topper an up and a down, so it cannot be placed on a cupcake the wrong way round and look wrong. Everything else is arranged around that. Seafoam and coral is a deliberate two-colour scheme rather than the full rainbow most under-the-sea artwork uses — two colours reproduce predictably on a cheap inkjet, six do not.
What to put in the centre
The blank centre is the point of the design. These are three that work, and why:
- “Making waves”
- Two short words sit above the wave lines without crowding them.
- “Nell is 4”
- Name and age, centred. The safest option at 2.5 inches.
- “Splash!”
- One word at full size, for a cupcake box where the cake carries the name.
Sizes for this occasion
The wave lines are fine strokes and the first thing to disappear below 2 inches. For mini cupcakes or cake pops, a fondant shell pressed from a mould reads better than a shrunken print.
| What it is for | Size |
|---|---|
| Topper for a 6" cake | 3.5–4 inches |
| Topper for an 8" cake | 5–5.5 inches |
| Edible image covering an 8" cake | 7.5 inches |
| Cupcake discs | 2 inches |
The under the sea cake toppers guide covers the palettes, wording and materials for this occasion in full.
Printing it
Two short words hold their shape better here than one long one, because the waves crowd the lower third. Keep lettering above them.
Choose A4 or US Letter and download a 300 DPI PNG. Print at 100% / actual size. Use a normal printer for paper decorations, or dedicated edible printing equipment for edible toppers. Materials and printing are not included.
You can design and preview before signing in. The watermark-free 300 DPI download is included with a CakeyTops membership at £4.99/month, along with unlimited printing and AI artwork — the first 3 days are free. See what is included
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should this birthdays topper be?
Topper for a 6" cake takes 3.5–4 inches, and topper for an 8" cake takes 5–5.5 inches. The wave lines are fine strokes and the first thing to disappear below 2 inches. For mini cupcakes or cake pops, a fondant shell pressed from a mould reads better than a shrunken print.
What can I personalise?
Change the name, message, lettering colour, size and shape in the editor. The illustration itself has a fixed palette. Personalising is free and needs no account; the watermark-free 300 DPI download is included with a CakeyTops membership, which starts with a 3-day free trial.
What do I print it on?
Cardstock at 250–300gsm for a paper topper on a stick, or an edible icing sheet if it will sit directly on buttercream and be eaten. Edible printing needs a printer dedicated to edible ink — you cannot use one that has had regular ink through it. Print at 100% or "actual size", never "fit to page", which silently shrinks the topper.
Anything to watch when printing this design?
The wave lines are the first thing to disappear if you scale below 2 inches — they are fine strokes by design. At 1.5 inches or smaller, use one of the shell-only designs instead.
