How to make a Diaper Cake

[terri01p]

Sorry for the off topic but I was wondering if anyone has made a diaper cake before, I know there was a thread about it a couple months back but I can't get the search to work for me today to find it.
I have seen many website on making a diaper cake but I just don't understand how to get the diapers to stay on the cardboard base and how do I get the second layer to hook to the first layer and the third tier to stay on top without falling, I seen where it said to use wooden dowels but how does that make it sturdy, even if you slide the dowels though the diapers it will still slide off the base ?
I don't want to give a gift at a baby shower that falls apart on the table.
Thanks alot for any help.

 

[gibsontrio]

HI, I made a diaper cake for my sister's shower. I rolled the diapers tightly and tyed with ribbon, then when it was as thick as the cardboard base I took a thick ribbon and tyed a bow around the diapers. I did the same thing with the next tier except I made it smaller. It was heavy enough that it didnt really move when I stacked them . I guess you could use a dowel but I dont think you have to.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I have made several, and these are the instructions I use:

http://entertaining.about.com/cs/showers/a/diapercake.htm

I don't use tape and have never used a dowel. I tie the tiers together with ribbon (tying to the inside part of the rolled diapers so it doesn't show). I use a narrow ribbon to tie each diaper and to tie the tiers together, then a wider ribbon (like a 2 inch gingham) to go around each tier to hide where the diapers have been tied. I stick small toys and travel-sized toiletires in the larger ribbon, and I use a bottle in the middle of the top tier and tie a small stuffed animal to it for the top.

One tip is to have someone help you when you are rolling the diapers. I always roll them them have DH tie the ribbon around the diaper as I hold it tightly rolled. He also helps to thread the ribbon betwwen the tiers and pull it tightly. It is much easier to make a sturdy cake with tightly rolled diapers, but you will use more diapers in the end than if you roll them more loosely. Rolling and tying the diapers is the more time-consuming part.

Good luck! It really is not hard, and people have always told me I should make them and sell them (not worth my time, though - I just do it for friends and family ).

 

[tiggger1]

My sister makes them and instead of tying the diapers she uses elastics. She rolls them and puts 1 elastic on 1 diaper after she has all the diapers done she starts working on the base. she starts with 1 for the center and builds out ( using larger elastics) until it is the diameter she wants. She then used a wider ribbon to cover the elastic. she repeats with for the next tiers until she has it the height she wants. She hides small things like toenail clippers and other tiny stuff inside the cake and uses dowels to keep the cake together

 

[Minniemouse07]

If you are intending to have the mom to be actually USE the diapers ...I wouldn't do a cake.

1. The diapers will most probably become damaged in the construction or just being part of the cake (someone told me this weekend how punch was spilled all over hers).

2. There is no way to know what brand of diapers will work best for the baby. Unopened packages are able to be brought to the store and exchanged, but opened packages will be useless if the diapers don't fit the baby well. Each child is different so even though Mom A swore by Pampers doesn't mean that the new baby will be able to use them (FWIW, dd could only wear Huggies, ds could only wear Pampers!).

If you are doing the cake for decorative purposes only...get some no frills ones and toss the whole thing afterwards!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

If you are intending to have the mom to be actually USE the diapers ...I wouldn't do a cake.

I used the diapers from my cake, lol. As PP said, my friend used elastics around them. It only took one pack of dipes- I'd have had to buy that to try them anyway.

That said though, I made one for my cousin using cloth dipes. (The oldfashioned prefold ones.) Not the best thing to actually diaper with, but you can never have too many for spit up and other accidents.

I think I used 2 packs (of 12? They were from WM or BRU, whatever the packs are.) Rolled them concentrically and used bigger elastics as I went. Then a pretty ribbon tied around the outside and pacis, etc stuck on the side to decorate. (IIRC, I pinned them to the outside- advantage of cloth!) I also rolled baby socks to look like roses to put on top.

I actually mailed mine so I did just dowel them together. I think my friend brought the layers separately to my shower and stacked/doweled them there. (Eg weren't ever attached to the plate.)

 

[terri01p]

Thanks everyone for your replies, so basically what everyone is saying is the cardboard base IS NOT attached to the cake itself, it's just more or less for it to have something to sit on.
I have already rolled the diapers and tied with a rubber band and placed a bow around the rubber band so you can't see that part and I have ribbon to tie all the diapers together to form a layer of the cake but how does the second tiers stay stacked onto the first without falling ? TIA

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

heres a pic of the one i make

 

[terri01p]

Oh my goodness how cute is that ...you did a great job.
I just read the instructions in StitchandPooh'sMom post and I now get that you tape the diapers together to form the tiers, that's where I was having a problem...ok you could spend a mint on making one of these things but it sure is fun. Thanks for all your help and I love, love, love the picture of the cake...hehe

 

[jessica52877]

I don't use tape or dowels. I just stick them together in the middle with more diapers. Center stacked up is off a bit from the others, as in the first center is up about 2 inches, only the very middle of the cake. I do have a rubberband around the very outsides of them all. I have never had any issues and ship them.

I also have more or less a whole layette on them and wrap them, most keep them wrapped at the showers. I love shopping for baby stuff, so making them and selling them handles my baby fix! It is also a great way for the parents to find out what brands types they like or dislike or make great diaper bag items. I hated keeping a regular everyday bottle in the diaper bag for emergencies, same witih silverware, etc.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Oh my goodness how cute is that ...you did a great job.
I just read the instructions in StitchandPooh'sMom post and I now get that you tape the diapers together to form the tiers, that's where I was having a problem...ok you could spend a mint on making one of these things but it sure is fun. Thanks for all your help and I love, love, love the picture of the cake...hehe

I don't use tape. I use ribbon to tie the diapers together to make a tier, then ribbon to tie the layers together (tie from the inside of one layer to the inside of the next). If you use tape, it is harder for the mom to use the diapers and more work for her to get the cake apart.