Last week I shared a new favorite obsession gift idea for expectant or new moms, Handmade Burp Cloths. Another favorite gift idea is making a diaper cake. I’m sure you’ve seen them before! The beautiful thing about making and giving a diaper cake is that they first of all look so darn cute. Another thing I love about them is that you can include small (yet VERY useful) items as well.
I like to make three-tier cakes. To make one for yourself, you’ll need:
2 bags of diapers (I used newborn diapers and size 1…use any size or combo of sizes you’d like)
clear hair elastics (the teeny tiny plastic ones)
a cake round (this will be the base of your cake)
small baby items to include w/ your cake
decorative ribbon
flower stems
wooden letter
jute twine
Some of the actual gift items I included in the cake are travel-size bottles of baby shampoo and body wash, pacifiers, a classical music cd, a few of those single use packs of wipes that you get with diaper samples or when you register, a rubber duck, and a super cute little romper. You could easily include theme items on your cake, for example, bath items, feeding items, clothes, etc…
Begin by opening your diaper packs and rolling, rolling, rolling! Secure each diaper by attaching the clear elastic around them. (Tip…tell mama that when she takes the cake apart to just snip each elastic. It’s much easier than trying to take it off by hand).
Once you’ve rolled all the diapers, you can start to work on the bottom layer. Set the diapers up, vertically on the cake round. After you’ve got most of them in place, tie a (temporary) string around it to help keep the form.
Stick as many diapers as you can into any holes that you see. Once it’s as full as it can get, cover the temporary string you tied with some pretty ribbon. To connect the ribbon, you could either use hot glue on the end or safety pin it.
Now that you’ve got the first layer, simply build the next layer on top of the first. Make it slightly smaller in diameter. Secure it with ribbon once again and begin on the third and final layer. After each layer is added, you can start adding your other gifts to it.
I added a few of my Handmade Burp Cloths to the bottom layer, wrapped in curling ribbon. I also included some silk sunflower stems throughout the cake.
On the front of the cake I wrapped a wooden letter in jute twine for the baby’s first name and attached it with a dab of hot glue.
Be careful when you transport the cake and get ready for all the compliments that will come your way! New moms love these and they are a huge hit with shower guests. If you’re throwing a shower for the mom-to-be you could even make one or two for centerpieces…a gift and cute decor in one!
Please leave a comment, I LOVE to hear from YOU!
Enjoy!
I’ll be linking up at these fun parties!
Meredith, this is seriously so cute.
Thanks! So glad you stopped by and that you like it! 🙂
Cute! I’ve made these before – darling ducky!
He is sweet, isn’t he?! Thanks for your kind words!
Cute cute!! You did a great job. I like that you added something other than just diapers.
Thanks Kadie! Adding the other stuff was the best part 🙂
Love this! I have a few baby showers coming up and this will be super helpful thanks for sharing!
Thanks! So glad you stopped by to say hello :o) The nice thing about making one is that you can use colors and a theme that are totally different from shower to shower!
You are so welcome! Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
Yep it’s true, I absolutely LOVE this cake!
Thanks Jess! So glad we found each other’s blogs today 🙂
Adorable! I love all the little things you included…what a great gift for a mommy-to-be! Love how you put the monogram on there too!
Thanks Amy! The monogram is my favorite part too 🙂
I seriously love this cake. How adorable. I received one when I had my youngest little guy it was so great! Not only did I have diapers forever but there were so many fun little things included! What an awesome gift.
I got one too and used it for a while. Adding the extra gifts makes it even more exciting to take apart, don’t you thinK?!
Happy Hour sent me over. I love these diaper cakes at showers, always a great centerpiece and of course something useful for the mommy to be to take home! So glad to meet you.
I love Happy Hour…such a great blog 🙂
Thanks for your sweet comment!
I love these, they are so cute, and I like that it is actually useful.
Thanks sue! So glad you liked the diaper cake 🙂
Love your version and the monogram really makes it personal.
Thank you Terry!
Super adorable!!! 🙂 Found you from Happy Hour!
So glad you stopped over from Happy Hour! Have a nice weekend 🙂
Very very cute! Glad you shared!
Thank you Christina! 🙂
Your diaper cake turned out so cute!! I especially love the monogram, it adds so much!
Keep up the great work 🙂
Thank you Lindsay! I really liked the monogram too 🙂
What a great cake! You and I need to be friends because I have a sneaking suspicion that you give great gifts. 🙂 Love that you took all the time for your friend. These kind of gifts are the best to receive.
Have a happy weekend!
Tausha
sassystyleredesign.com
Thanks Tausha! I hope people think I give good gifts. I always try to give gifts that I would like to receive 🙂
This is not only adorable, it is such a great and practical gift to give any expectant mom! I am sorry you went through being abused on another blog, but please know that your project is wonderful! I would proudly use it as the centerpiece at any shower I threw and I know any my friends would be thrilled to have it (well not now because we are all past childbearing age, but you know what I mean. . . lol!). Please don’t let a few bad apples spoil the bunch and know that lots of people out here are supporting you and think you make AWESOME stuff!
Hugs,
Maureen
Thanks for your kind words and support Maureen! I’m so glad you liked my diaper cake :o)
I love the concept of diaper cakes, or as we call them in Australia, nappy cakes. Your diaper cake looks awesome!!!
Haha! Nappy cakes sounds way cooler 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
What a great diaper cake!! I love the twine wrapped initial!! I made one of these for a friend’s shower earlier this year and it was no where near this cute. I would have totally used this idea if I had seen it!! Have a great weekend!!
Thanks Rebecca! I love the twine wrapped letter monogram too 🙂
This is just too cute and clever and your right, you can add all the little things for super cute decorations! I remember seeing these way back when I was having babies (remember my kiddos are all grown up and have babies) but they make them with cloth diapers. Great idea and the momma to be has so much fun with it.
FRIENDS ROCK!!
Thanks Evelyn! So glad you liked the cake 🙂
Cute diaper cacke! They are always such a big hit at baby showers. I tried to make one once, not as easy as it looks. I think I was doing it wrong, the base wasn’t sturdy. I like your tutorial. Going to give another try:)
Saw you on Happy Hour Projects and Create, Craft, Love. Love you blog…I’m a new follower:D
Sewwithaloha.blogspot.com
Thanks for stopping by! I love Adrianne and Jill…they are two very talented gals 🙂
Headed over to say hi on your blog now!
OOOOHhhh super cute! I can’t wait for the next baby shower invite to arrive! I LOVE how you added flowers, ducky & K. I’ve seen this type of “cake” before, but NOT as cute as this one! Great job!
Thanks so much! Glad you liked my version 🙂
Really cute!!!
Thanks so much (and for stopping by!)
Such a beautiful diaper cake!! It makes a beautiful centrepiece!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!
This is too cute for words! Maybe my favorite diaper cake EVER! I love the wrapped letter.
Thanks Emily! So glad you liked it! 🙂
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Your diaper cake is soooo cute! Love the bright yellow ribbon with polka dots! We appreciate you linking up to our Strut Your Stuff Saturday link party! Please come back again soon! -The Sisters
Absolutely! Thanks 🙂
I love this! I really like the big K!
Thanks! So glad you liked it 🙂
such a gorgeous nappy cakes