Can we eat it, Mom?
I had so much fun making this diaper cake for my sister's shower. So much fun that I'd open a diaper cake store if I thought it would get regular business (but really, how many diaper cakes does a person need to buy in their lifetime?) Besides, they're so much fun to make yourself. I did some searching online and found tons of sites with instructions and, in the end, just kinda winged it a bit. That usually backfires on me, but this time it worked pretty well.
I started with a silver cardboard cake base from the party store - just a couple of dollars.
Then I purchased an 88 pack of newborn-size Pampers Swaddlers (since they had the least amount of color/print on them).
Then I rolled each diaper from the top opening (widest end) to the bottom and then wrapped a rubber band around the very middle of each one. The thinnest ones worked best and I tried to make the rolls snug, without being too tight and bunching them in the middle. I think it's important to make each roll the same size/tightness.
I started by creating a circle of diaper rolls on the cake base (the outer edge). I left enough of the base to show and then I added more diaper rolls inside the base until the circle was full. Then I wrapped a very thin cream ribbon around the entire base section and tied it tight (with Tom's help). I was able to then sneak in a couple more rolls after they were tied together to make it nice and tight/secure.
I did the same thing with the middle and top layers and then stacked them. Then I covered the thin cream ribbon with some pink polka dot ribbon from Michaels (sold by the roll) and secured it with double-sided tape and a white tipped pin (make sure the "seams" are lined up in a row).
Next, I cut the head off of a silk flower as well as a couple of leaves from the stem and secured them to the top with double-sided tape. (Using tape is important so that you don't damage any of the diapers - cuz the mom-to-be will need them!) Then I got a nice wide piece of tulle and wrapped it around the cake and secured it with white tipped pins.
Some sites recommended putting dowel rods through the cake layers to secure it better, but since I transported it myself, I was careful with it. The tulle helped keep it in place as well.
And, yes, Kenzie did ask if she could eat it. Over and over and over again. LOL!
I have a bunch more pics to share from the shower, but I'm cranking on Valentine goodies and Quick Fills, so I better not stop the momentum! More later :)
so, i take it your sister is a having a little girl? the diaper cake is adorable. at my friend's shower, the host made a cute wreath with bibs, receiving blankets, washcloths, toys, pacifiers and spoons and then in a gift store i say bouquets made out of washcloths, bibs and onesies. they had them rolled so cute that they really looked like flowers. i love that kind of stuff!
Posted by: mel | January 30, 2008 at 09:40 AM
It's adorable! And there ARE sites out there that sell these... but yours is, of course, the cutest! You should totally sell them! :)
Posted by: Raven | January 30, 2008 at 09:50 AM
I was just going to ask if she was having a girl as well. So cute!
I need the momentum--especially the quick fills--please keep it up, hee hee! :)
Posted by: Emily | January 30, 2008 at 09:52 AM
Gorgeous! I have made these too and they are addicting! The only thing that I did differently was I used clear fishing line to gather them together, then added the ribbon around it. A second pair of hands comes in sooo handy!
Posted by: Angie | January 30, 2008 at 09:58 AM
what a work of {heart}, heather! :)
Posted by: sarah vrolyk | January 30, 2008 at 09:58 AM
OMG, that is CUUUUUUUUUTE!!! Now I'm sitting here trying to come up with a reason to host a baby shower ...
Posted by: Susan | January 30, 2008 at 10:22 AM
That is SO adorable! I can't wait to see more pics from the shower! :)
Posted by: Suzanne Blair | January 30, 2008 at 10:25 AM
so cute and you made it look easy, which it is not. Maybe I will give it another try for my sister (with your instructions)lol!
Posted by: gina h | January 30, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Hi Heather...you did a BEAUTIFUL job on that diaper cake! You really should go into business. Maybe one person only needs one at a time but think about *how many* individual people would have use for one or if they're the party-givers of their circles, they may need several in their life time! It all adds up. Maybe you could offer your services to a party-planning business or something. You never know... :)
Posted by: O | January 30, 2008 at 10:30 AM
just beautiful! my mom makes the kind that mel was describing, but its not as pretty as yours!!! i would hate to take it apart (but i am sure like all moms, she'll get over that fast! ROFL!)
Posted by: Bridget =) | January 30, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Super cute! You did a great job!
Make one for me. We are still waiting on this baby arrive. Any minute now...
Posted by: Jamie ~ Alabama | January 30, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Wow, that looks GORGEOUS!!! I want you to throw me a baby shower!!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 30, 2008 at 10:51 AM
That is by far one of the BEST diaper cakes I've seen!! So pretty!! :) I'll definitely be making one of these for my sister's shower in another 6 months- beautifully done!
Posted by: Teresa | January 30, 2008 at 11:06 AM
totally ADORABLE! Love it! :)
Posted by: Kris | January 30, 2008 at 11:14 AM
so, so cute! i did this for a bridal showers with white towels and little goodies they had registered for tucked inside. such a fun project. :)
Posted by: melanie | January 30, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I agree, so very cute. I was so excited to see the shower pictures, I knew it would be to die for. Can't wait to see the rest!
Posted by: Molly | January 30, 2008 at 11:51 AM
I like this design a lot better than the one from my baby shower. I'll have to remember this for next time I need to host one! I had a shower at my house for my cousin a couple of years ago and your decorations remind me of it. Like the simple elegance so much better than the normal chesse that come with baby showers! ;-)
Posted by: Brandi | January 30, 2008 at 11:55 AM
very pretty! i hear you need more than one set of hands to master that. i'm impressed. been prayin' for your daddy. have a great week!
Posted by: ashley | January 30, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Beautiful work! :)
Posted by: Holly T | January 30, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Dang girl!!!! You are wayyyyy creative!! Love that!!!
Love the new kit too - I'm taking client photos this weekend so hopefully I'll have some cute ones from that!!
Robin :-)
Posted by: Robin | January 30, 2008 at 01:15 PM
That is so elegant and pretty! You did an awesome job!
LOL at Kenzie...sounds like something my kiddo would say.
Posted by: Jenn | January 30, 2008 at 03:20 PM
I just knew the details would be perfect! what a fab idea...I've never seen one of these. Would LOVE to see more pics of the shower :)
Posted by: Rita Weiss | January 30, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Looks fantastic!!!!
Can't wait for the Valentine's cards!!!!!!!! :)
Posted by: Jessi | January 30, 2008 at 03:40 PM
This is so cute! Can't wait to see the rest of the shower pictures.
Posted by: Martha | January 30, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Too adorable! Love your creativity!!!
Posted by: Shelette | January 30, 2008 at 06:49 PM
oh heather i really love that its sooooo pretty !! I would of love one for my baby shower back in august your so talented!! oh ya don't you love this chicago weather ??
Posted by: ChellyBelly | January 31, 2008 at 06:52 AM
That is the prettiest diaper cake I've ever seen! When I first loaded the page, I thought it was a real wedding cake! The photo is gorgeous too. Love the lighting, composition, background...everything! You are becoming quite the photographer!
Posted by: Lacey McKay | January 31, 2008 at 01:03 PM
That is so adorable! I had never heard of a diaper cake before. It's so pretty! Thanks for sharing. I have a lot of friends who are having babies right now. This will be a fun one to put in my hat for showers.
Posted by: Sonesta | January 31, 2008 at 05:50 PM
That is the most beautiful diaper cake I have ever seen! You definitely have that designer's touch!
Posted by: Ferrill | February 05, 2008 at 10:26 AM
WOW, that is amazing!!
Posted by: Jan | February 09, 2008 at 07:29 AM
So pretty!
Posted by: Missy | February 13, 2008 at 09:46 AM