i'm back & on a craft high!

i have fallen off the blog wagon. it sucks cause these last 3 weeks have been insane. i have so much to share, but i guess i will have to get back on track one blog at a time. i need my laptop by my bed at night, because my thoughts come to me right before bed and its the perfect quiet time to type it all out! i am making a change and sticking with it dammit!!

I've been stressed with life lately and I've found that being crafty relieves the anxiety. since I'm no longer taking medicine to help me this seems to be the next best thing. target & Michael's are amazing stores that literally have everything you need to do any type of project. i cant leave these places without spending some $$. i have even gone back twice in one day. 

  

* DIAPER CAKES *

yesterday & today i had been working on a diaper cake for my longtime friend, Tiffany. she is expecting another baby girl this October. who doesn't like buying baby gifts?! i do. its been years since I've had a baby in my life! i wanted to do something different for her gift. only once before had i attempted a diaper cake so i wanted to try it again. diaper cakes are so easy to make! really!! its relaxing too. once the cake is made, the fun part is adding all the baby products, bibs, clothes etc. to it. each cake has its own unique look. the first one i made was for my sister in law, who wasn't finding out the sex of her baby [i was so against this, BUT i am so taking this route for my next baby!], so it was lots of greens & yellows. below is a picture of the finished cake. brings back memories... i thought i did a good job for the first time :)

My Sister In-Laws diaper cake 2009

Since i know this is a baby girl.. its all pinks & purples :)

i started with a package of diapers. usually i use newborn size, but i had size three on hand so i used them. it worked out fine. there are many ways to make a diaper cake. the way im about to explain seems to be the easiest for me. just know that diapers, rubber bands and an 8oz bottle are a must!

lots & lots of diapers

opened diaper

to start i unfold the diaper and begin rolling them into little burritos. i start with the back of the diaper first when im rolling. once its rolled tightly, i hold it together with a rubber band. i repeat this step until my whole pack of diapers are rolled. the number of diapers you use varies on the size of cake you want to make. how many tiers and how wide you want the cake. i decide as i go.

rolled diaper

how each diaper should look

the 8oz bottle in the middle is used as a support. a large rubber band is wrapped around this bottle and each diaper is placed inside the rubber band to form a circle around the bottle. the more you add the wider the cake. again, your preference. i believe i used about 3-4 layers on the bottom tier.

aerial view of bottom tier

 

repeat these steps for the upper tiers too. a diaper cake can be as tall as you want. sky's the limit :) well, hopefully you dont have to transport it too far. once the top tier is formed, i placed another bottle on top to add to the decorating part of it. plus its like the cake topper! i chose purple ribbon and pink with polka dots. i tied it around each tier, real tight and it hides the rubber bands nicely. the first cake i made, i used receiving blankets to wrap around each tier. this is also an option if you dont want the diapers to show. i opted to do the opposite this time. now the fun part... adding the goodies!

 here are a list of diaper cake add-on's but trust me, it is not just limited to these:

• rattles
• pacifiers
• socks
• bibs
• spoons
• rash ointment
• soaps
• shampoo
• teething rings
• medicine
• bottle brush
• bottles

a diaper cake can be placed on a cardboard platform to transport or made into a gift basket. i used a cellophane wrap to put the cake in.  it helped keep all the goodies from falling off and you could still see how cute the cake was. i topped it with a bow and TA-DA!! I'm really happy with how it came out... i cant wait for Tiffany to see it tomorrow :) baby makenna <3 we're waiting for you!!

the finished product :)




even though this may seem like a baby shower gift, you can actually make these for any age of a child still in diapers or the long stretch.. pull-ups. the items you place on the cake can vary from each age group. i think they turn out super cute!! it has my own personal touch to it. I'm putting this on my craft list permanently :) right next to knot blankets!