A diaper cake is not only a decorative gift, but a useful one as well. Many are sent as gifts and others are used as a centerpiece for the baby shower.
Diaper cakes can be designed in various shapes and sizes, any color desired and personalized for the individual mother or baby. It can be decorated in blue for a boy or pink for a girl. If there is a theme to the shower or the baby’s room the cake can be decorated to match. A diaper cake can even be made with Dad in mind. It can be in the colors of a college or professional team. Each is a unique work of art.
Ingredients
- A base (round or square Styrofoam)
- Size 1 Diapers (approximately 55-70)
- Small rubber bands (one for each diaper)
- 2 bamboo skewer sticks (or thin dowel rods)
- Stickpins with beaded tops
- A roll of tulle netting
- Ribbon for decorating (wide and thin)
- Thin string or ribbon for tying
- Various items for decorations
- Clear tape
- Double-sided tape (optional)
How to Construct the Cake
- Roll the diapers. Most disposable diapers have cartoon characters on them. One must decide if the diaper is to be rolled with or without the characters showing. Depending on what is desired, roll the diapers accordingly. Keep it rolled tight and secure with a rubber band.
- When all diapers are rolled, stand them up in a circle until the desired size for the bottom layer has been achieved. With string or thin ribbon, tie the layer of diapers securely. Set it aside and begin the middle layer. Do the same thing but keep it a row of diapers smaller than the bottom layer. Finish up with an even smaller top layer of diapers.
- Attach the bottom layer to the base. Sit the bottom layer on the base. Stack the middle layer on top of it. Just to the right of the center of the layers stick a bamboo skewer between two of the diapers and through the bottom layer and into the Styrofoam to hold it in place. Do the same thing with the second skewer a little to the left of center. Take the smallest top layer and position it where the skewers hold it in place as well. (See the picture below)
- Cut a length of wide ribbon for each layer. Wrap it around the layers to hide the rubber bands and the string. Put small pieces of double-sided tape at various intervals to keep it securely in place and attach the ends in the back of the cake with clear tape.
- If desired, cut a length of thin ribbon of a different color for each layer. It can be put on top of the larger ribbon for a two-tone effect. Tape it as instructed in #4.
- Next attach whatever decorations are to be included on the cake. A baby bottle can be attached with a ribbon around one of the outer diapers and tied around the bottle. Smaller items can be stuck or pinned in-between diapers in a pleasing manner. Be sure to plan something special for the top of the cake.
- The finishing touch of the cake construction is to hide the Styrofoam edges of the base. This can be done with ribbon or tulle netting. (See pictures) The netting can be cut in strips of about 10 inches long. Fold it back and forth as you would to make a fan. Gather it in the middle and make a twist at the end. Attach it at that end with a stickpin to the base and open it to flower out.
Making a diaper cake is fun and creative. The individualism and personal decorations included on it make a very thoughtful gift; a memory the parents will treasure.
The copyright of the article A Unique Baby Shower Gift in Crafts is owned by Theresa D. Young. Permission to republish A Unique Baby Shower Gift in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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