Surprises by Amy

2008-09-18T19:03:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Surprises by Amy!

Before I started blogging a year ago, I made and sold diaper cakes. I know it sounds weird, but it worked! I created this blog to teach you how to make them yourself, get advice from other diaper cake makers, and share tips on selling your creations.

On the Surprises by Amy blog, you will learn how to make diaper cakes, diaper cupcakes, diaper tool belts and more! I will also share tips I learned selling my custom baby gifts, including eBay tips.

Everyone makes diaper cakes differently and there is no official way to make one, but I will show you a system that has worked for me for many years. To the right you will see a list of categories. I suggest starting with "Your First Diaper Cake" (or click this link) and moving on from there. Once you learn the basic skills of making a diaper cake, everything else will come easy!

If you need help with subscribing or anything else on this blog, please email me and I will be glad to help you! Also, please feel free to leave comments on any of the posts!

I see this as a community blog, so I WANT to hear from you. Please email me your testimonials, ideas and images for our slideshow. Also feel free to leave a comment in any of our posts.

Have fun with each tutorial and please email me at sbagifts@gmail.com if you have ANY problems following the steps!

Your First Diaper Cake - Simple and Elegant

2008-09-17T18:51:00.000-07:00

In just ten easy steps, you will create the diaper cake above! It is simple, yet elegant. It consists mostly of diapers and ribbon. You can use a different color palette than what I have chosen; the rules will apply regardless.

Rules you will need to remember:

1. I will list an approximate number of diapers for each tier because it isn't always the same per cake or tier. Use whatever works for your cake! If the tier is full and round enough, don't worry about adding more and vice versa. Also, some diaper brands are thicker than others, so that may change the number.

2. Be careful not to get hot glue on the diapers as this may ruin them.

3. There are no rules! If you want to do these steps in a different order or way, go for it! It's laid back here and there is no official way to make a diaper cake-I'm only showing you my system. I have marked some items *optional because they are not necessary, but add embellishment. You can choose to do them or not your first time around.

4. You can click on each photo to enlarge.

5. Words in pink have links to more information.

6. This tutorial may look long because it is filled with a lot of information. I did not want to skip any important information your first time around. The other tutorials in this blog will list the steps in a much simpler format that will be great for your second time around and beyond. I have also provided a "Quick Steps" post that lists all tutorials in a very simple list.

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

The supplies you will need:

Approximately 60 size 1 diapers (you can use other sizes as well, but this size looks the most appealing--NOTE: You may need more or less diapers for cake if you use a different size) of any brand (some brands are thicker than others)
one 10" round cake board (can be found at any craft store or Wal-Mart in cake decorating section)
rubber bands (as many as diapers used, plus one extra if you wrap in cello bag)
hot glue gun
extra hot glue refills
one 14" dowel rod
one roll of packing/shipping tape (I like this tape because it isn't too sticky and it's wide)
one pair of tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device-I use old scissors to cut tape and sharp ones to cut ribbon)
one pair of ribbon cutting scissors (nice, sharp ones to cut clean lines and curl ribbon)
wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)
thin ribbon* (around .5" or so)
curling ribbon (as many as you'd like, in matching colors, the best deals I've seen are at Hobby Lobby and Dollar Tree)
one flower topper (I like big ones that have wire on bottom) or other topper
one 24" w x 30" h cellophane bag* (any color, I use clear in this tutorial)
one yard lace* (any kind you like, it is to skirt bottom of cake)

*optional

For more details and information on each supply, see Supply Notes.

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

Having your diapers rolled before starting will help the process move more smoothly. You will need all of your diapers and rubber bands.

Lay the diaper print side up, take the top end and roll like a burrito as shown:

Place a rubber band around the diaper when it is rolled up as shown:

You may need to wrap the rubber band twice if it isn't tight enough.

Now, continue until all the diapers are rolled. Maybe even hire your kids to help you out!

3. GLUE LACE TO CAKE BOARD*

This step is optional*

In this step you'll need your cake board, lace and hot glue gun. Hot glue the lace around the outside of cake board, being careful not to burn your fingers. Slightly bunch the lace together as you go around the board.

Cut the lace where the ends meet. Your board will look like this when done:

4. BUILD BOTTOM TIER

For this step you will need approximately 30 diapers, your dressed-up cake board (or plain board), curling ribbon (any color, it will be used to tie the tier together and will be hidden, if you are using a light-colored wide ribbon then use a light-colored curling ribbon so it won't show through) and ribbon cutting scissors.

Lay down your cake board and start standing your diapers up around the perimeter of the board. When your two ends meet, start filling in the middle as shown:

When your board is full, take your curling ribbon and tie VERY LOOSELY around the diapers. (you will be stuffing more diapers inside, so make it very loose)

Cut off the extra slack of ribbon.

Will look similar to this when tied (your ribbon may look looser, this is okay):

Now, start filling in the tier with the rest of the diapers (using a total of 30 give or take) until the tier is round, tight and full, being careful not to break the ribbon. (don't worry if this happens, just tie again and make looser next time) Tier will look like this when done:

5. ATTACH BOTTOM TIER TO CAKE BOARD

In this step you'll need your tape and tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device).

Remove the bottom tier from cake board and put to side. (it should be one entity now) Cut a 6" piece of tape, then make a loop out of it, sticky side up, as shown:

Repeat this two more times, then stick to cake board as shown:

Now, place and center your bottom tier onto the board. The tape will help anchor the piece without ruining the diapers. Try to line up where the lace is split (or ends) to the part of the curling tape that is tied. This will be considered the back of the cake.

6. ADD RIBBON TO TIER

For this step you will need your wide ribbon, thin ribbon*, tape, tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device), ribbon cutting scissors and hot glue gun.

*optional

Take your wide ribbon and cut three 1" pieces/squares (I will refer to them as squares) as shown:

Take one square (the others will go on the two other tiers) and tuck it behind or near the spot where the curling ribbon is tied (aka the back of the cake) as shown:

This square will give your wide ribbon something to hold on to without getting glue on the diapers. If the piece is too loose or falls out, then your curling ribbon is not tight enough.

Hot glue your wide ribbon to the square,

wrap around the tier,

then cut the end (make sure it is a nice, straight cut and meets up with the other end nicely) and hot glue the end.

Your ribbon should be right in the middle of the diapers all the way around. It should also fit snug, not too tight or too loose as shown:

As this point you can add your thin ribbon around the center of the wide ribbon using the same technique OR wait until all the tiers are done OR not add thin ribbon at all.

7. BUILD MIDDLE TIER

For this step you will need approximately 20 diapers, dowel rod, wide ribbon, thin ribbon*, curling ribbon (any color, will be hidden), tape, tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device), ribbon cutting scissors and hot glue gun.

*optional

Insert your dowel rod down the middle of the bottom tier as shown:

Make sure the dowel is standing straight and is centered. The dowel will give your cake support and keep the tiers attached.

Start building your middle tier like you did in STEP 4. The only difference will be building the tier from the inside out instead of outside in, as shown:

Keep middle tier centered on top of bottom tier. When second tier is finished, it will look something like this:

As you can see, I added my thin ribbon to both tiers.

8. BUILD TOP TIER

For this step you will need approximately 10 diapers, wide ribbon, thin ribbon*, curling ribbon, tape, tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device), ribbon cutting scissors and hot glue gun.

*optional

Start building your top tier like you did in STEP 7. When finished, all three tiers will look like this:

NOTE: Make sure the ends of ribbon for each tier are lined up in the back of the cake, this way it will look cleaner from the front.

9. ADD CURLING RIBBON & TOPPER

For this step you will need your curling ribbon, ribbon cutting scissors and flower.(or other topper)

Cut and curl short pieces of curling ribbon and tie to the top of the dowel rod, making sure they face towards the top back of the cake. The goal is to "cover up" the dowel rod when you look at it from behind, as shown: (the flower will cover the front)

Cut and curl long strands of curling ribbon and attach to the top of the dowel rod, making sure there are equal sides of curling ribbon hanging as shown:

Attach the flower, or other topper, to top of dowel rod. If you have a flower with wire on back, just tie around the dowel rod, making sure the flower faces the front of the cake as shown:

At this point you can stop here and hand it off to an expecting mommy or wrap in a cellophane bag. (the next step) I suggest wrapping the cake if you are giving as a gift or shipping as it will help keep the whole thing sturdy. You don't need to wrap if used for decoration or centerpiece.

10. WRAP IN CELLOPHANE BAG

For this step you will need your cellophane bag, curling ribbon, ribbon cutting scissors, one rubber band and tape.

Place cake in the center of cellophane bag, bring top together and rubber band as shown:

Take corners of cellophane bag and fold, then tuck under the cake board as shown:

Tape any extra slack around the bottom under the cake board. You may need to readjust the rubber band on top to center again.

Tie & curl long pieces of curling ribbon around rubber band at top of bag as shown:

Guess what? YOU'VE JUST MADE YOUR FIRST DIAPER CAKE! YOU ARE AWESOME!!

Now you can move on to a custom theme diaper cake or diaper cupcake! Master those and you can move on to a mega deluxe diaper cake and a twin diaper cake! Also see how to make a diaper tool belt!

Click here to see more Simple & Elegant Diaper Cake examples.

Interested in selling your custom baby creations? See my selling tips.

Custom Theme Diaper Cake

2008-09-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Now, that you're a pro at making simple and elegant diaper cakes, you are ready to build a custom theme diaper cake! This cake contains diapers and baby supplies. I am showing you a cowboy theme, but you can do any theme you'd like!

In case you forgot, here are the rules to remember.

NOTE: THIS TUTORIAL WILL MOVE FASTER AND HAVE LESS DETAILS THAN THE "YOUR FIRST DIAPER CAKE" TUTORIAL. I WILL TRY TO ADD LINKS ALONG THE WAY TO SERVE AS REMINDERS. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF LOST, PRACTICE AGAIN WITH THE "YOUR FIRST DIAPER CAKE" TUTORIAL.

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

The supplies you will need:

approximately 46 size 1 diapers
one 10" round cake board
rubber bands
hot glue gun
extra hot glue refills
one roll of packing/shipping tape
one pair of tape cutting scissors
one pair of ribbon cutting scissors
wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)
thin ribbon* (around .5" or so)
curling ribbon (as many as you'd like that match)
one topper (stuffed animals or toys are good)
one 24" w x 30" h cellophane bag*
one baby flannel receiving blanket
one bottle brush (it's easier to stuff a toy or stuffed animal on top with a bottle brush)
baby supplies (as many as you'd like)

*optional

For more details and information on each supply see, Supply Notes.

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

Roll and rubber band all of your diapers.

3. BUILD BOTTOM TIER

For this step you will need approximately 26 diapers, cake board, curling ribbon (any color, it will be used to tie the tier together and will be hidden, if you are using a light-colored wide ribbon then use a light-colored curling ribbon so it won't show through) and ribbon cutting scissors.

Lay down your cake board and start standing your diapers up around the perimeter of the board.

When your two ends meet, start filling in the middle. When your board is full, take your curling ribbon and tie VERY LOOSELY around the diapers. (you will be stuffing more diapers inside, so make it very loose) Cut off the extra slack of ribbon.

Now, start filling in the tier with the rest of the diapers (using a total of 26 give or take) until the tier is round, tight and full, being careful not to break the ribbon. (don't worry if this happens, just tie again and make looser next time) Tier will look like this when done:

4. WRAP BLANKET AROUND BOTTOM TIER

In this step you will need your bottom tier of diapers, cake board, flannel receiving blanket, tape and tape cutting scissors (or other cutting device).

First, you will need to fold the blanket. The rules are this: if you blanket will fold in half like a triangle, continue folding like this:

If it WILL NOT fold like a triangle, then fold long ways like this:

The blanket will be wrapped around and then tucked under the bottom tier, so you should make the height of the blanket a little taller than the bottom tier, approximately 5" tall or so for a size 1 diaper.(this will make more sense later)

Remove your bottom tier of diapers from the cake board and lay on it's side. Then, take the folded blanket and wrap around the tier, making the "clean fold" on the top-side of the diapers as shown:

Making sure the blanket is wrapped around snugly, cut a few pieces of 4"-6" tape and tape down the end of the blanket (taping horizontally), with the excess hanging on the bottom as shown:

top of tier:

bottom of tier:

Now, insert your cake board underneath your tier, where the blanket is hanging down by pulling and positioning the board like this:

Be careful not to separate the tape while doing this. Make sure the top of your tier is level to the top of the "clean fold" of the blanket. When everything looks smoothed out and level, take the extra slack of the blanket and fold and tape all the way around onto the board (may take several pieces of 2"-4" size tape) like this:

Tier will look like this when finished:

NOTE: MAKE SURE THE IMAGES ON YOUR BLANKET ARE FACING THE CORRECT DIRECTION AND AREN'T UPSIDE DOWN. IF THIS HAPPENS, READJUST YOUR BLANKET AND REPEAT THIS STEP.

5. BUILD MIDDLE TIER

For this step you will need approximately 14 diapers, bottle brush, wide ribbon, thin ribbon*, curling ribbon (any color, will be hidden), tape, tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device), ribbon cutting scissors and hot glue gun.

*optional

Insert your bottle brush down the middle of the bottom tier as shown:

Make sure the bottle brush is standing straight and is centered. The bottle brush will give your cake support and keep all tiers attached.

Build your middle tier as you did in the beginner's "Build Middle Tier" tutorial, then add your ribbon as you did in the beginner's "Add Ribbon to Tier" tutorial. Cake will look something like this when done:

6. BUILD TOP TIER

For this step you will need approximately 6 diapers, wide ribbon, thin ribbon*, curling ribbon, tape, tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device), ribbon cutting scissors and hot glue gun.

*optional

Start building your top tier as you just did in the last step. Add you ribbon as well. When you are done, your cake should look something like this:

7. ADD CURLING RIBBON, TOPPER AND BABY ITEMS

For this step you will need your curling ribbon, ribbon cutting scissors, topper (stuffed animal, toy, etc.) and your baby items.

Stuff your topper inside the top tier, making sure it is facing the front of your cake as shown:

Now, here's the fun part! Start stuffing your baby items in your cake. As many as you'd like! Here is an example of things I have stuffed inside:

(a wash cloth inside a diaper and a lotion sample between the blanket and tier)

Now, add your curling ribbon to your cake by tying it to your topper. In this example, I have tied the ribbon to the horse's tail as shown.

You can also add curling ribbon to your baby items. Cake should look something like this when done:

At this point you can stop here and hand it off to an expecting mommy or wrap in a cellophane bag . I suggest wrapping the cake if you are giving as a gift or shipping as it will help keep the whole thing sturdy. You don't need to wrap if used for decoration or centerpiece.

GOOD JOB! You just made your first custom theme diaper cake!!! Now, you can pretty much tackle anything! Try your hand at diaper cupcakes, mega deluxe diaper cakes, twin diaper cakes and diaper tool belts!

Click here to see more custom theme diaper cake ideas!

Diaper Cupcakes

2008-09-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

If you have already mastered a Simple & Elegant and Custom Theme Diaper Cake, then these cupcakes will be very easy for you! There are several ways you can make a diaper cupcake, so many of the supplies are marked optional*. I will provide a link that will show you several examples.(link is at end of page)

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

Supplies you will need are:

10-12 diapers
wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)
thin ribbon * (around .5" or so)
curling ribbon
flower buds*
packing/shipping tape
rubber bands
hot glue gun
ribbon cutting scissors
tape cutting scissors (or other cutting device)
baby supplies*
topper (toy or stuffed animal)*

*optional

For more details and information on each supply see Supply Notes.

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

Roll and rubber band all of your diapers.

3. BUILD TIER

A diaper cupcake is basically a single tier cake of 10-12 diapers. All you need to do is create a circle of diapers (by standing them up as in previous tutorials, except without a cake board) and fill them in. In this example I used 8 to make the outside of the circle and the other 3 to fill the middle. Then tied with curling ribbon.

4. ADD RIBBON TO TIER

Now, add your wide ribbon and thin ribbon.

5. ADD CURLING RIBBON, TOPPER, FLOWER & MORE

At this point you can decorate as you please! You can add curling ribbon, flowers, toppers and baby items. In this example I have added a white bear, pink rose buds and curling ribbon.

Click here for more Diaper Cupcake examples.

Twin Custom Theme Diaper Cake

2008-09-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

click to enlarge photos

These diaper cakes follow the regular Custom Theme Diaper Cake Tutorial, but the baby items and topper are doubled. You could also make twin diaper cakes from the Mega Deluxe Diaper Cake Tutorial.

Mega Deluxe Diaper Cake

2008-09-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

back of cake:

click on photos to enlarge

A Mega Deluxe Diaper Cake has four tiers and is a Simple & Elegant and Custom Theme Diaper Cake combination.

I usually make with approximately 30 diapers on bottom, 20 on second, 10 on third and 5 diapers on top. I usually combine a diaper brush AND a dowel in the center to keep it sturdy.

Click here for a full list of supplies needed.

To create a Mega Deluxe Diaper Cake, follow the steps in the Simple and Elegant Diaper Cake Tutorial, but add an extra tier on top. Use your dowel rod as you normally would, but when you get to the third tier, insert a bottle brush in the center (keep your dowel rod in place). This will attach the third tier to the top tier and give you a little dip on top to stuff a topper in. (as mentioned in the Custom Theme Diaper Cake Tutorial) When your tiers are built you can choose to add flower buds, baby items, and a topper.

I consider this cake the cream of the crop as far as diaper cakes go!

Diaper Tool Belt

2008-09-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

This "diaper tool belt" is a great gag gift to give to a new daddy, sister, brother or grandparent! This is always a hit at baby showers and parties!

Here is what you need to make one:

one canvas waist apron - I prefer the aprons with 3 pockets, I usually buy mine at Oriental Trading, but they also sell them at Hobby Lobby individually.

printable iron-on paper - I use Avery's T-shirt Transfers. You can buy these at Wal-Mart.

2 clothes pins - I buy at Wal-Mart.

one pair disposable latex gloves - I buy at Wal-Mart.

one pair construction goggles - It's cheapest to buy these at dollar stores if they have them, if not, then Wal-Mart.

one pack travel baby wipes - You can buy off brand wipes at a dollar store or name brand at Wal-Mart.

one pacifier

one face mask - It's cheapest at a dollar store (sold in packs), if not then Wal-Mart.

one disposable diaper pad - I buy at Wal-Mart. They sell Huggies brand or off brands.

three diapers (any size, size newborn & 1 fit best in pockets)

one sample-sized baby powder

NOTE: You can add or take away from any of these items. Again, no rules! Other items I've seen in these belts include anti-bacterial gel, tongs, baby lotions and diaper rash creams.

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

The first thing I do is heat up my iron.

The next thing I do is print my iron-ons. I create my images in Photoshop, but you can use any image software. I create two images, one with the "hazardous waste" image and the other "diaper tool belt" text, then I print it out on the transfer paper. I try to fit as many images on one page so I do not waste any precious space on the paper. REMEMBER TO WRITE ALL TEXT BACKWARDS.(MIRROR IMAGE)

After you print and cut out your iron-ons, it's time to iron them onto the apron! I iron out all of the wrinkles on the pockets before beginning and make sure the apron is cooled off before applying the iron-ons. Try to line up your iron-ons straight then press down firmly and start ironing.(follow iron-on directions) Don't be surprised if your first attempt fails. Mine surely did. You have to get used to doing this, especially since each iron is different. Wait until the iron-on is cool before you remove the backing-this will avoid any smearing of the ink.

When your iron-ons are cooled off and complete, it's time to stuff the apron! You can use any of the items I mentioned. You can replicate my tool belt if you'd like!

Quick Steps

2008-09-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Below are "quick steps" for each tutorial. They are listed in alphabetical order and I have provided links where available.

Custom Theme Diaper Cake

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

3. BUILD BOTTOM TIER

4. WRAP BLANKET AROUND BOTTOM TIER

5. BUILD MIDDLE TIER

6. ADD RIBBON TO TIER

6. BUILD TOP TIER (SAME AS MIDDLE TIER, APPROX. 5 DIAPERS)

7. ADD CURLING RIBBON, TOPPER AND BABY ITEMS

8. WRAP IN CELLOPHANE BAG

Diaper Cupcake

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

3. BUILD TIER (APPROX. 10 DIAPERS, NO CAKE BOARD)

4. ADD RIBBON TO TIER

5. ADD CURLING RIBBON, TOPPER, FLOWER & MORE

Diaper Tool Belt

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

2. IRON-ON TRANSFERS

3. FILL BELT WITH SUPPLIES

Mega Deluxe Diaper Cake

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

3. GLUE LACE TO CAKE BOARD

4. BUILD BOTTOM TIER (APPROX. 30 DIAPERS)

5. ATTACH BOTTOM TIER TO CAKE BOARD

6. ADD RIBBON TO TIER

7. BUILD SECOND TIER (APPROX. 20 DIAPERS)

8. BUILD THIRD TIER (AS SECOND TIER, APPROX. 10 DIAPERS)

9. BUILD TOP TIER (AS THIRD TIER, APPROX. 5 DIAPERS)

10. ADD CURLING RIBBON, TOPPER, FLOWER BUDS & BABY ITEMS

11. WRAP IN CELLOPHANE BAG

Simple & Elegant Diaper Cake

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

3. GLUE LACE TO BOARD

4. BUILD BOTTOM TIER

5. ATTACH BOTTOM TIER TO CAKE BOARD

6. ADD RIBBON TO TIER

7. BUILD MIDDLE TIER

8. BUILD TOP TIER (SAME AS MIDDLE TIER, APPROX. 10 DIAPERS)

9. ADD CURLING RIBBON AND TOPPER

10. WRAP IN CELLOPHANE BAG

Twin Custom Theme Diaper Cake

1. GATHER SUPPLIES

2. PREPARE DIAPERS

3. BUILD BOTTOM TIER

4. WRAP BLANKET AROUND BOTTOM TIER

5. BUILD MIDDLE TIER

6. ADD RIBBON TO TIER

6. BUILD TOP TIER (SAME AS MIDDLE TIER, APPROX. 5 DIAPERS)

7. ADD CURLING RIBBON, TOPPER AND BABY ITEMS

8. WRAP IN CELLOPHANE BAG

Rules to Remember

2008-09-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

2. Be careful not to get hot glue on the diapers as this may ruin them.

4. You can click on each photo to enlarge.

5. Words in pink have links to more information.

6. The first tutorial may look long because it is filled with a lot of information. I did not want to skip any important information your first time around. The other tutorials in this blog will list the steps in a much simpler format that will be great for your second time around and beyond. I have also provided a "Quick Steps" post that lists all tutorials in a very simple list.

Supplies Needed for a Simple and Elegant Diaper Cake

2008-09-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

approximately 60 size 1 diapers (you can use other sizes as well, but this size looks the most appealing) of any brand (some brands are thicker than others)
one 10" round cake board (can be found at any craft store or Wal-Mart in cake decorating section)
rubber bands (as many as diapers used)
hot glue gun
extra hot glue refills
one 14" dowel rod
one roll of packing/shipping tape (I like this tape because it isn't too sticky and it's wide)
one pair of tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device-I use old scissors to cut tape and sharp ones to cut ribbon)
one pair of ribbon cutting scissors (nice, sharp ones to cut clean lines and curl ribbon)
wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)
thin ribbon* (around .5" or so)
curling ribbon (as many as you'd like, in matching colors, the best deals I've seen are at Hobby Lobby and Dollar Tree)
one flower topper (I like big ones that have wire on bottom) or other topper
one 24" w x 30" h cellophane bag* (any color, I use clear in this tutorial)
one yard lace* (any kind you like, it is to skirt bottom of cake)

*optional

For more information and details on supplies, see Supply Notes.

Supplies Needed for a Custom Theme Diaper Cake

2008-09-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

The supplies you will need:

approximately 46 size 1 diapers
one 10" round cake board
rubber bands
hot glue gun
extra hot glue refills
one roll of packing/shipping tape
one pair of tape cutting scissors
one pair of ribbon cutting scissors
wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)
thin ribbon* (around .5" or so)
curling ribbon (as many as you'd like that match)
one topper (stuffed animals or toys are good)
one 24" w x 30" h cellophane bag*
one baby flannel receiving blanket
one bottle brush (it's easier to stuff a toy or stuffed animal on top with a bottle brush)
baby supplies (as many as you'd like)

*optional

For more details and information on each supply see Supply Notes.

Supplies Needed for a Diaper Cupcake

2008-09-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

Supplies you will need are:

10-12 diapers
wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)
thin ribbon * (around .5" or so)
curling ribbon
flower buds*
packing/shipping tape
rubber bands
hot glue gun
ribbon cutting scissors
tape cutting scissors (or other cutting device)
baby supplies*
topper (toy or stuffed animal)*

*optional

For more details and information on each supply see, Supply Notes.

Supplies for a Diaper Tool Belt

2008-09-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here is what you need to make one:

one canvas waist apron - I prefer the aprons with 3 pockets, I usually buy mine at Oriental Trading, but they also sell them at Hobby Lobby individually.

printable iron-on paper - I use Avery's T-shirt Transfers. You can buy these at Wal-Mart.

2 clothes pins - I buy at Wal-Mart.

one pair disposable latex gloves - I buy at Wal-Mart.

one pair construction goggles - It's cheapest to buy these at dollar stores if they have them, if not, then Wal-Mart.

one pack travel baby wipes - You can buy off brand wipes at a dollar store or name brand at Wal-Mart.

one pacifier

one face mask - It's cheapest at a dollar store (sold in packs), if not then Wal-Mart.

one disposable diaper pad - I buy at Wal-Mart. They sell Huggies brand or off brands.

three diapers (any size, size newborn & 1 fit best in pockets)

one sample-sized baby powder

NOTE: You can add or take away from any of these items. Again, no rules! Other items I've seen in these belts include anti-bacterial gel, tongs, baby lotions and diaper rash creams.

Supplies Needed for a Mega Deluxe Diaper Cake

2008-09-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

Supplies you'll need:

approximately 65 size 1 diapers

one 10" round cake board

rubber bands

hot glue gun

extra hot glue refills

one roll of packing/shipping tape

one pair of tape cutting scissors

one pair of ribbon cutting scissors

wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)

thin ribbon* (around .5" or so)

curling ribbon (as many as you'd like that match)

one topper (stuffed animals or toys are good)

one 24" w x 30" h cellophane bag*

one bottle brush

baby supplies (as many as you'd like)

one 14" dowel rod

one yard lace

flower buds

*optional

Supplies needed for a Twin Custom Theme Diaper Cake

2008-09-12T04:24:00.000-07:00

The supplies you will need:

approximately 46 size 1 diapers
one 10" round cake board
rubber bands
hot glue gun
extra hot glue refills
one roll of packing/shipping tape
one pair of tape cutting scissors
one pair of ribbon cutting scissors
wide ribbon (around 1.5" or so)
thin ribbon* (around .5" or so)
curling ribbon (as many as you'd like that match)
one topper (stuffed animals or toys are good)
one 24" w x 30" h cellophane bag*
one baby flannel receiving blanket
one bottle brush (it's easier to stuff a toy or stuffed animal on top with a bottle brush)
baby supplies (as many as you'd like, two each)

*optional

Prepare Diapers

2008-09-11T22:44:00.000-07:00

Having your diapers rolled before starting will help the process move more smoothly. You will need all of your diapers and rubber bands.

Lay the diaper print side up, take the top end and roll like a burrito as shown:

Place a rubber band around the diaper when it is rolled up as shown:

You may need to wrap the rubber band twice if it isn't tight enough.

Now, continue until all the diapers are rolled. Maybe even hire your kids to help you out!

Build Bottom Tier-Simple and Elegant Diaper Cake

2008-09-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Lay down your cake board and start standing your diapers up around the perimeter of the board. When your two ends meet, start filling in the middle as shown:

When your board is full, take your curling ribbon and tie VERY LOOSELY around the diapers. (you will be stuffing more diapers inside, so make it very loose)

Cut off the extra slack of ribbon.

Will look similar to this when tied (your ribbon may look looser, this is okay):

Build Bottom Tier-Custom Theme Diaper Cake

2008-09-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

For this step you will need approximately 26 diapers, your cake board, curling ribbon (any color, it will be used to tie the tier together and will be hidden, if you are using a light-colored wide ribbon then use a light-colored curling ribbon so it won't show through) and ribbon cutting scissors.

Lay down your cake board and start standing your diapers up around the perimeter of the board.

Add Ribbon to Tier

2008-09-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

For this step you will need your wide ribbon, thin ribbon*, tape, tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device), ribbon cutting scissors and hot glue gun.

*optional

Take your wide ribbon and cut one 1" pieces/squares (I will refer to them as squares) for cupcakes, two for custom theme cakes, three for elegant cakes or four for mega/deluxe cakes as shown:

Take one square (the others will go on the two other tiers) and tuck it behind or near the spot where the curling ribbon is tied (aka the back of the cake) as shown:

This square will give your wide ribbon something to hold on to without getting glue on the diapers. If the piece is too loose or falls out, then your curling ribbon is not tight enough.

Hot glue your wide ribbon to the square,

wrap around the tier,

then cut the end (make sure it is a nice, straight cut and meets up with the other end nicely) and hot glue the end.

Your ribbon should be right in the middle of the diapers all the way around. It should also fit snug, not too tight or too loose as shown:

As this point you can add your thin ribbon around the center of the wide ribbon using the same technique OR wait until all the tiers are done OR not add thin ribbon at all.

Wrap Blanket Around Bottom Tier

2008-09-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

In this step you will need your bottom tier of diapers, cake board, flannel receiving blanket, tape and tape cutting scissors (or other cutting device).

First, you will need to fold the blanket. The rules are this: if you blanket will fold in half like a triangle, continue folding like this:

If it WILL NOT fold like a triangle, then fold long ways like this:

Remove your bottom tier of diapers from the cake board and lay on it's side. Then, take the folded blanket and wrap around the tier, making the "clean fold" on the top-side of the diapers as shown:

Making sure the blanket is wrapped around snugly, cut a few pieces of 4"-6" tape and tape down the end of the blanket (taping horizontally), with the excess hanging on the bottom as shown:

top of tier:

bottom of tier:

Now, insert your cake board underneath your tier, where the blanket is hanging down by pulling and positioning the board like this:

Tier will look like this when finished:

NOTE: MAKE SURE THE IMAGES ON YOUR BLANKET ARE FACING THE CORRECT DIRECTION AND AREN'T UPSIDE DOWN. IF THIS HAPPENS, READJUST YOUR BLANKET AND REPEAT THIS STEP.

Build Middle Tier

2008-09-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

For this step you will need approximately 14 diapers for a custom theme cake or 20 diapers for a simple/elegant cake, dowel rod, wide ribbon, thin ribbon*,curling ribbon (any color, will be hidden), tape, tape cutting scissors (or other tape cutting device), ribbon cutting scissors and hot glue gun.

*optional

Make sure your dowel or bottle brush is standing straight and is centered. The dowel or bottle brush will give your cake support and keep the tiers attached.

Start building your middle tier from the inside out, as shown:

Keep middle tier centered on top of bottom tier. Fill in your middle tier like you did on the bottom tier.(bottom tier for simple/elegant - bottom tier for custom theme) When second tier is finished, it will look something like this:

Wrap in Cellophane Bag

2008-09-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

For this step you will need your cellophane bag, curling ribbon, ribbon cutting scissors, one rubber band and tape.

Place cake in the center of cellophane bag, bring top together and rubber band as shown:

Take corners of cellophane bag and fold, then tuck under the cake board as shown:

Supply Notes

2008-09-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of supplies for all of my custom baby gifts. Each supply has notes that include good and cheap places to buy these items, tips, etc. Some have links to help you further. I have listed each item in alphabetic order for your convenience.

NOTE--I did not want to link Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby a gazillion times, so that's why they are not linked beyond this point. ;)

Baby Items- I have broken down the items in the following list:

blankets - Sometimes you can get lucky and find cute receiving blankets at Dollar General or Dollar Tree (or other dollar store), and it's worth stopping by and looking once in a while, but most times I buy packs (usually sold in four packs) from Wal-Mart. Target is a little pricer, but they, by far, have the cutest blanket styles. If you are selling cakes, make sure you can use all of the blankets in the pack for future cakes before buying.

bottle brush - Some Wal-Marts have a brand for $.96 and Dollar Tree sells them for $1.00.

diapers - When I create or sell diaper cakes I use Luvs diapers. They are good diapers (I use them on my own baby) and cost effective. Some mothers don't care which diapers they receive in a gift, but some are very particular. I would sometimes receive requests for Huggies diapers only, and if I did, I would charge a little more to cover the extra cost. If you choose to use the store brand diapers, make sure you let the buyer know up front. Also, be careful not to call any low budget diapers "Premium Diapers" as I have seen before in eBay listings as this may be misleading. Remember that all brands and sizes are different thicknesses, so you may need to readjust your diaper count to compensate.

hair brush or comb - The best deals I've seen are brush/comb sets at Dollar General or Wal-Mart for $1.00. If you can't find this, the next best thing is another style at Wal-Mart. NOTE-It is really hard to find various colors in brushes and combs-the usual color available is blue.

hygiene items - Sample-sized baby lotions, shampoos, creams, etc. can be found in six packs at Wal-Mart in the baby bathing section. These are the perfect size to stuff into a diaper cake. Usually Wal-Mart has 5-6 boxes on the shelf at a time, so if you are selling, grab as many as you can when you get the chance. I have researched these packs online in bulk and it is still cheaper at Wal-Mart.

pacifiers - Cheapest at dollar stores if you can find them, but if not, Wal-Mart is the next best buy.

spoons/forks - I usually buy the packs of eight hard plastic disposable (but can be reused) spoons and forks from Wal-Mart.

stuffed animals/baby toys/toppers - A dollar store may work for some generalized toppers (i.e. frog, duck, etc.), but for special toppers (i.e. Elmo, Dora, etc.) you will need to buy at Wal-Mart, or even Toys R Us/Babies R Us.(shop wisely as you don't want to break your budget) Sometimes you can find cute animals at Oriental Trading's website, but keep in mind that they are usually smaller than they appear.

wash cloths - I always buy mine in packs at Dollar Tree because it is, by far, the cheapest place to buy them and the quality is nice. The next best place would be Wal-Mart.

Cake Boards - I buy mine at Wal-Mart in the cake decorating section. I believe the cost at Hobby Lobby is comparable.

Cellophane Bags & Wrap - I have always bought my bags from Creative Gift Packaging because it is VERY hard to find cellophane bags in bulk in a size big enough to hold a diaper cake. You can buy single bags at Hobby Lobby, but they are pricey. You can also use cellophane rolls instead of bags to wrap cakes in.(make sure roll is big enough) I often use cello rolls on my diaper cupcakes.

Dowel Rods - It is best to buy a pack of the same size, around 14" long. I buy mine at Wal-Mart in the craft section.

Flowers - This has changed over the years. A few years ago you could buy several types of fake flowers, small and big, in Wal-Mart's craft section, but now every Wal-Mart is different. Some, like my local store, has a very limited selection of flowers now. If this is your case as well, buy your flowers at a craft store like Hobby Lobby.(the prices aren't bad either) When using the big flower as a topper, it's nice to have a flower with wire on the back so you can attach it to the dowel rod. When using the little flower buds, it's nice that they, too, have a wire stem so you can stuff it into the diapers. The flower buds usually come in packs of twelve.

Hot Glue Gun & Refills - The best hot glue gun I have ever purchased was at Hobby Lobby for $1.99. I prefer the small, cheap kind because they are easy to handle, heat up fast and are CHEAP.(easy to replace, although I haven't had to yet) Refills can be bought at Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart's craft section for about the same price each.

Lace - A small selection of lace can be found in spools at Wal-Mart, but Hobby Lobby has a ton of choices. You DO have to take the time to get it cut at Hobby Lobby.

Party Favors - Little baby party favors are usually cheapest at Wal-Mart in their cake decorating section. There is a wider variety at Hobby Lobby, but they are pricey.

Ribbon - I almost always buy my satin/wide/thin/curling ribbon at Wal-Mart unless I need a special color, then I go to Hobby Lobby. I mostly do this as a matter of convenience because I can pick up everything at Wal-Mart and I don't have to get the ribbon cut in yards like Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby DOES have a much greater selection by far and they have their curling ribbon in large spools which is a WAY better deal than Wal-Mart.

Rubber Bands - It is best to buy a pack of rubber bands that are all the same size.

Scissors - I use cheap scissors to cut my tape. I usually buy pairs at Dollar Tree for $1.00. You can use cheap scissors to cut your ribbon as well, but it is helpful to have a nice, sharp pair.(your work will look cleaner too) You can buy nice scissors anywhere, I buy mine at Wal-Mart.

Tape - I use packing/shipping tape because it is strong enough to hold a blanket or diaper in place, but won't ruin either. I recommend using a name brand because the cheaper ones sometimes aren't very sticky.

For more information on diaper tool belt items, click here.

Baby Supply Examples

2008-09-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

Examples of baby supplies you can put in a custom baby gift:

bibs

brushes/combs

forks & spoons

nail clippers

pacifiers

sample-sized hygiene items

socks

stuffed animals

toys

wash cloths

For more information on baby supplies, see Supply Notes.

Example of a Flower Bud

2008-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

The flower bud has a wire stem that can be easily folded in half and stuffed into the opening of a diaper.

Lace Example

2008-09-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

This is an example of what I may use to skirt a Simple and Elegant Diaper Cake:

Ribbon Examples

2008-09-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of a wide (1.5"), thin (.5") and curling ribbon I may use in a diaper cake. The larger curling ribbon spool (pink) was purchased at Hobby Lobby for less than the little curling ribbon spool (black). The wide and thin ribbon were both purchased at Wal-Mart.

Simple and Elegant Diaper Cake Gallery

2008-09-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

These diaper cakes have bows on top made out of the same wide ribbon. They also have little flower buds in the diapers and rattle party favors on top.

Custom Theme Diaper Cake Gallery

2008-09-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

As you can see, some of the diaper cakes have bibs wrapped around the second or top tier. To do this, I wrapped the tier with wide & thin ribbon as normal, but added the bib on top of the ribbon, then taped bib (pulling each side tightly) to the ribbon. You can then stuff the top of bib into the diapers on top of the tier.

I also used a dowel rod inside the diaper cakes that show the bottle brush sticking out. If you do this you may need to trim the dowel rod. You can sew your stuffed animal's "paws" together to hold the bottle brush.

Sometimes I add ribbon to the bottom tier over the flannel blanket. This adds a little extra. I only use tape on the blanket. (be careful that the tape is sticky enough to hold ribbon)

Diaper Cupcake Gallery

2008-08-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

The cupcakes on top are just simply wrapped in wide and thin ribbon, then decorated with flower buds.

The lower cupcakes are wrapped with a flannel receiving blanket (similar to the Custom Theme Diaper Cake method), then decorated with baby items. The wash cloths are taped to the side of the cupcake using the packing/shipping tape.

Selling Tips

2008-08-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

There are several ways you can sell your custom baby gifts! In this post I will provide helpful hints and tips I have learned over the years.

WHERE TO SELL YOUR GIFTS

Craft Fairs & Shows - Usually craft fairs and shows are spread out throughout the year, so you only need to make a large supply in spurts. You can also take orders to fill after each show, which could keep you busy and paid for a while. The bigger shows draw A LOT of people, so use this to your advantage! Keep your eyes open for local craft shows & fairs by reading the newspaper and browsing online .

Craft Malls - Craft malls can be a hit or miss, depending on the traffic the store gets. I never had huge luck selling in craft malls, but I also didn't have many options in my area. Talk to the employees or manager about their sales and see if that venue is right for you.

Ebay - Ebay can make you VERY busy if you do it right. (I elaborate on this more below) This outlet gives you the most traffic (the entire world), but also the most competition.

Online Store - You can sell your gifts on a website or online store. To make this successful you would need to heavily advertise and network. This may be something that would work better after you've grown up your business a little.

Word of Mouth - You will be surprised how many people have never seen a diaper cake before, so when they see YOURS, they will start talking. You will also be surprised how many orders you'll get by bringing one to a friend's baby shower.

HOW TO MAKE MONEY

Budget - Make your gifts as cheaply as possible WITHOUT losing quality or appeal. One way to do this is to buy baby supplies, diapers, ribbon, etc. in large packs or bulk. (but only do this if you plan on using ALL the items in the pack) Remember, sometimes buying in bulk ISN'T the way to go, so always calculate each unit and compare it to the individual prices. I offer more information on where to buy items in the Supply Notes post.

Pricing - Know how to price your gifts. A standard rule in business is to mark up your product by 30%. Sometimes this works and sometimes not. A good way to set your prices is to research what other diaper cakes are selling for by looking at online stores or closed eBay auctions. Once you DO determine a price, you can tie down a firm budget for your costs.

Payment - Deciding which forms of payment to receive depends on your type of sale. For example, if you are selling at a craft fair or mall, checks and cash are perfectly acceptable. Ebay and other online stores, on the other hand, mostly use Paypal, a quick, safe, online way to send and receive money from your checking, savings or credit card. Paypal protects you from bad transactions, which happens in everyone's eBay career. I do not recommend receiving cash or check payments through the mail. Not only does this slow the transaction process WAY down, but it can get you in trouble if the check is fake or the cash gets stolen. On my eBay auctions, I only accept Paypal.