I've made many diaper cakes and every time, I'm asked how to
make one. It's super easy and makes such a great, practical gift
as well as added decor for the shower. Call the shower hostess
and ask about the theme and color scheme and tie yours in
with the feel of the shower.
Here's how to put it together:
1. You'll need one one package of diapers. I usually use size 2 or 3. New moms will get a lot of
packages of newborn diapers, but not many in larger sizes. It's nice to have some larger sizes already
at your house when the time comes when they need them. Of course, if you want a larger diaper cake, buy more diapers.
2. Cut a piece of cardboard in either a circular shape or square. (I've used a square base before with a circular cake only because I had planned on using the "cake" as part of the decoration by sitting it on a cake pedestal which was square.)
3. Cover your cardboard in a nice fabric or wrapping paper in the colors of the shower.
4. Take an empty paper towel cardboard roll and stand it up in the center of your cardboard base. Tape the roll to the base. This will serve as your anchor for the cake. You can just use scotch tape to take it down and it doesn't matter if the tape shows. Your diapers will cover it.
5. Next, roll up individual diapers. You'll want to roll the diapers in the direction they already curve. Don't go against the curve of the diaper. Usually the waist of the diaper has some type of graphic (cartoon character, etc.) I try to roll mine so that those don't show. More times than not, the diapers won't be all be rolled with the same tightness and the showing graphic won't match on them all. Very distracting to the design.
6. When you roll the diapers, tie each diaper up with ribbon. I use very narrow satin ribbon. It's usually around 50 cents a roll or cheaper at Walmart. Tie them as tight as you can and make sure the ribbon is in the middle of the diaper.
7. Next, time to build the cake. Start at the bottom and surround the paper towel roll with rolled diapers. Then go around again. Filling in empty spots. You should do 3 rows of diapers. Or less if your rolled diapers are bigger.
8. After you're finished with that layer, take a piece of wide ribbon and tie around the whole base (as in the photos above). You want to make sure you cover the individual ribbons you've used to tie each diaper. The wide ribbon is both decorative, but also hides how the individual diapers are kept tight and brings the base together and makes it solid. Tie the wide ribbon tightly.
9. Move on to the middle layer and continue the process. You should do two rows of diapers to make a graduated cake. Finish that layer with a wide ribbon.
10. For the top layer you should have one row of diapers. Sometimes you just have to play it by sight and see what is proportionate with the size of diapers you're using. Finish this layer off with a wide ribbon as well. I almost always tie a stuffed animal to the top of the cake and it's attached to the top layer. I run the wide ribbon around the animal and tie the ribbon in the front like the other layers.
Voila! Diaper cake!
Easy to make.. extremely practical and always impresses the guests!
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