Cupcake "collar" Design Idea Kaput. Now What?

Baking By kimsmom Updated 12 Jul 2009 , 8:40pm by JaimeAnn

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kimsmom Posted 10 Jul 2009 , 8:11pm
post #1 of 21

For about 6 months I've been designing cupcake collars to wrap around nutcups, but I recently found out on this forum that another company has got a patent pending for a very similar idea, icon_cry.gif so now I need to know what to do with over 50 completed designs, and about 20 more in various stages of completion. I guess I should have come up for air sooner.
I can't sell them, (too old for any legal hassels) but maybe I can give them away.
How do I offer them to you fellow cupcakers, so you can print them out yourself?? Using 30# paper (which is the heavest weight paper I can find in a ream at Staples) they will print 5 to a page.
Let me know if this is even something that anyone wants to do, and I'll create a list of the designs I have.
Thanks for letting me cry just a little.
I'll try to post a photo of 5 different ones, but I have to change the format first.
Not being a professional, I was just trying to make an easy printable version of my 3d tux and corset collars, and it just exploded from there. Hopefully they won't go to waste. Thanks.
LL

20 replies
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hammer1 Posted 10 Jul 2009 , 8:21pm
post #2 of 21

those are beautiful....i would be thrilled to have a copy.
I teach culinary skills at a high school and i think we could use the puppy one to promote our fundraiser to support the local animal shelter. my girls make the oreo puppy print dipped cookies last year and the year before we sold something else, can't remember. we have donated over 2000 dollars so far.

beautiful work, now how to you connect and attach to the cupcake?
hammer

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cylstrial Posted 10 Jul 2009 , 8:55pm
post #3 of 21

I love them too! Are you sure that you can't do this? Clorox isn't the only bleach company out there. There are tons of grocery stores. You might have to figure a different way to do it, but don't give up on it! They are gorgeous!

I'll ask my hubby about it. He studied a bit of everything in law school.

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JaimeAnn Posted 10 Jul 2009 , 11:44pm
post #4 of 21

Those are sooo cute... I am thinking like cylstrial.. Are you sure there isn't some way to do them. I make custom aprons , There are a lot of people that make them , as long as I don't use their pattern I can sell mine. No licensed fabrics but everything else is ok.. So I would think as long as they are your design you should be ok..

There are a lot of different companies selling similar items...

Don't give up yet..

I am going to have to make one in a couple of weeks that looks like a wooden washtub... Got anything like that ?

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cylstrial Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 12:13am
post #5 of 21

He agreed with me. As long as there is a small difference between your product, then you should go and see about getting a patent for it. If you have the exact same product, then that would be an infringement.

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kimsmom Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 12:31am
post #6 of 21

hammer1, that bottom one is actually representing a cowboy in jeans, but I do have a simple spotted dog pattern with a collar that would work for you. These are only 9"x 1 1/2" in size.
As for a assembly, you print them with your computer, cut them out and I notch them half way through the ends half way down on one end and half way up on the other end, and just slide them together. Or you could just tape them. They will fit just under the rim of a regular nutcup, (see the leather jacket one in my photos). And if you look at the bottom of my post I have a link to a nutcup how-to.
As far as selling, the other company is selling the whole design wrap around a cupcake concept I believe, and I don't even want to get into any problems, besides the designing itself was very theraputic. But thanks anyway for your support.
JaimeAnn -I have a wine barrel that might work for your washtub.
I'm trying to figure out how to post them so the detail isn't lost. I think the gallery pictures aren't as clear since they worked on the site, or it's just my imagination.

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matthewkyrankelly Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 6:40am
post #7 of 21

A small difference is all you need. How do they attach? How tall are they? How many uses do they have? Talk to a patent attorney before you give up.

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sara72 Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 11:14am
post #8 of 21

I think they're great!

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Evoir Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 11:30am
post #9 of 21

How do you fit it around a cupcake? Aren't they just going to slip off the narrower bottom of the cupcake base?

I think they are fantastic, just need some info on how to attach them!

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ptanyer Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 12:02pm
post #10 of 21

Have you thought about designing them so that they can be cut with a Cricut? Cricut has it's own website and message boards and people publish their designs all the time for other's to use. Don't know how you would go about selling them though.

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cylstrial Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 1:06pm
post #11 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by ptanyer

Have you thought about designing them so that they can be cut with a Cricut? Cricut has it's own website and message boards and people publish their designs all the time for other's to use. Don't know how you would go about selling them though.




Could she sell the design to Cricut? I don't have one...so I'm not sure how it works. But if her design got put on a disk or something, I would think they would pay her. It definitely doesn't hurt for her to call and talk to them about it.

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fontjunkie Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 7:24pm
post #12 of 21

You could start a blog and sell them as a svg file to be cut with a cricut using the sure cuts alot software!!! Alot of people are selling svg files such as this company http://www.myscrapchick.com I give files away on my blog and may sell some someday but most of mine are licenced images that I have created under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. I wouldn't give up on your idea!!!

http://fontjunkiesfilesandtrials.blogspot.com/

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cylstrial Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 9:42pm
post #13 of 21

There ya go! That sounds great fontjunkie! Where's the OP?? We gotta get her rolling with this!

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kimsmom Posted 11 Jul 2009 , 10:46pm
post #14 of 21

I'm sorry I didn't check in sooner, but I haven't gotten any e-mail reminders.
You are all so sweet with your kind comments and I really appreciate all your support, but the way I was going to do this originally was to have some sort of web site where you could download the page of 5 collars that you wanted, and print out as many as you needed. There is no fancy cutting, just straight lines that you can do with sissors or a rotary scrapbook cutter. I was going to make it possible to change color backgrounds as needed, as well as any size variations. Which means a lot more work is needed on my part. It's just getting too complicated for this old grandma (no offense to any other grandmas, old or otherwise).
The other company sells to Global Sugar Art and are just too similar for me to want to take on the expense of going forward just to have to stop later after a lot more hard work.
So I'll try running a set through the galleries and you can see if you can save and print them from there. If not maybe I can e-mail them when you need them.
I'll attach a photo of how they work, and will make up the list of designs I have, as there are too many to post photos of here, then when I get back from vacation I will start to use the "collars" and decorate cupcakes according to the design, and slowly post them in the galleries.
Again thank you all so much.

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kimsmom Posted 12 Jul 2009 , 12:38am
post #15 of 21

Here is the photo how-to for the collar assembly.
These use a 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of 30# paper. Each collar should measure about 9" x almost 1 1/2"
Print them on heavy weight paper. (I use 30#, which is the highest weight paper I can buy by the ream at Staples. It's strong enough to support the cupcake.)
Cut them out using sissors or a rotary cutter.
Take a strip of paper and measure around the nutcup, just under the rolled rim. Once you do one the rest go faster.
Transfer this measurement to the backside of the cutout collar, centering it.
Cut down half way on one end. Cut up half way on the other end.
Slide the two ends together into a circle making sure the flaps are on the inside. Tape the inside flaps together to secure.
Insert a nutcup. I actually put a regular cupcake still in a wrapper into a nutcup. See My nutcup how-to for this.
I hope this is helpful.
The photo isn't clear as I had to resize it.
LL

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kimsmom Posted 12 Jul 2009 , 5:27am
post #16 of 21

I tried to post a collection into the galleries, but it won't allow PNG there, and GIF or Jpeg make it too "pixilated".
These were designed using a simple paint program, so some of the colors could be easily changed if needed. Things like the cheerleader skirt and sweater so school colors could be matched for example, and skin tone on the bridal gown and corset can be changed. Some are very simple and some more detailed.
So here's the list so far, and I will slowly start to decorate cupcakes when I get back from vacation and post them in the galleries and then you can PM me when you see one you need. Sorry this is getting so complicated.
Stars and Stripes-----Baby Clothesline-----Carousel-----Cheerleader skirt-----Cheerleader sweater-----Diamond plate toolbox-----Fireworks-----Gray castle-----Pink castle-----Ladybug-----Iron fence-----sailor suit-----Shower umbrella-----Beach umbrella-----Wine vat-----Blue house front door-----Yellow house front door-----White house front door-----Picnic ants-----Dark pink corset-----Pink it's a girl-----Blue it's a boy-----Kitchen counter-----Cowboy-----Lockers-----Doctor lab coat-----Diamond ring-----Leather jacket-----Black tux-----White tux-----Xmas elf skirt-----Red corset-----Piano keys-----Baby quilt-----Open barn door-----Ocean waves-----Grass skirt-----Poodle skirt-----Blue eyed cat-----Popcorn-----Racetrack/grandstand-----Racetrack/checkered flags-----Railroad tracks-----abcs/123s and crayons-----Terra cotta pot-----Dog spots and collars-----Library bookshelf-----Bridal gown/white flowers-----Pinkandblack cake/hatbox-----Lt.Yellow bow heart drop cake/hatbox-----Sage greenand yellow cake/hatbox-----Black and white heart drop cake/hatbox-----Black and white swag cake/hatbox.
Hope these will be useful.

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JaimeAnn Posted 12 Jul 2009 , 5:48am
post #17 of 21

KimsMom,

Thank you for contributing this to your fellow cakers! I understand about you not wanting to deal with taking them to market. I think they are great and you did an awesome job with the creativity in your designs..

I would like to see the wine vat one you have , wondering if I could use it for a washtub... I have been getting a lot of requests for cupcakes lately for baby & bridal showers so I am sure these will come in handy!

Thanks Again..

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cylstrial Posted 12 Jul 2009 , 11:54am
post #18 of 21

You are so nice and so generous! Thanks for sharing this work with us. I know it has been very hard and timeconsuming. Why don't you get some sort of blog and put them on there? Blogging it super easy and fun.

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PattyT Posted 12 Jul 2009 , 12:25pm
post #19 of 21

DON'T GIVE UP! These are adorable - your designs are lovely.

Even though there are lots of cupcake wrappers out there, I don't think the wrappers themselves are copyright-able (!).

I've been looking for interesting cupcake liners online and found Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/

It is all about handmade items - clothing, jewellry, etc. etc... Type in "cupcake wrappers" and there are several people selling their wrapper DESIGNS only...pdf files to print and cut..

Many people are not creative (meaning ME!) who would love to have unique pre-designed wrappers. If they are your artwork - right off the bat they are different from anything existing.

Maybe you could do something like this? You are so generous to offer them to your Cake Central pals, but they definitely have value. You could even offer custom designs...

Good luck!

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cylstrial Posted 12 Jul 2009 , 2:42pm
post #20 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by PattyT

DON'T GIVE UP! These are adorable - your designs are lovely.

Even though there are lots of cupcake wrappers out there, I don't think the wrappers themselves are copyright-able (!).

I've been looking for interesting cupcake liners online and found Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/

It is all about handmade items - clothing, jewellry, etc. etc... Type in "cupcake wrappers" and there are several people selling their wrapper DESIGNS only...pdf files to print and cut..

Many people are not creative (meaning ME!) who would love to have unique pre-designed wrappers. If they are your artwork - right off the bat they are different from anything existing.

Maybe you could do something like this? You are so generous to offer them to your Cake Central pals, but they definitely have value. You could even offer custom designs...

Good luck!




Definitely - start your own business selling wraps that you are willing to create for people. Good idea!

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JaimeAnn Posted 12 Jul 2009 , 8:40pm
post #21 of 21

I am on Etsy with my Apron shop and have never sold even 1 on there... I sell a lot through my website and at craft shows and farmers markets but not even 1 on Etsy!

I have a lot of fans on there, people are always adding my stuff to their favorites folders but I think a lot of people use Etsy to get ideas for stuff they can make themselves since most of the Etsy community are crafters. I am guilty of this myself.icon_wink.gif So not judging anyone who does that.

It is super cheap to list your items on there (I think it cost me $1.60 to list 8 items) so you aren't really out anything if they don't sell, Just don't get your hopes up...

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