Diaper cake: basic nuances and manufacturing rules
As the name suggests, the main component of the gift is baby diapers. However, before making a present, you need to stock up on other equipment, carefully study the size of the baby and the technique of creating the cake. Let's talk about the most important nuances and rules:
Sizes and number of diapers
Diapers are an item that requires careful selection. Before creating a magnificent diaper cake, experts advise paying attention to the size and required quantity of these baby hygiene products.
Newborn babies should purchase products of the first or second size, since babies grow up very quickly. It is better not to buy size zero diapers, since when the package is opened (and this will be required), their sterility may be compromised.
Create a combined gift from diapers of different sizes to please the baby's mother. In addition, before purchasing hygiene products, it is better to check with your parents which brand of products they prefer to use.
After this, you should decide what the diaper cake will be like. If the product design consists of one tier, then no more than 22 diapers will be required. If the cake consists of two tiers, you need to buy at least 50 diapers. The largest products consist of 100 hygiene devices.
Required "ingredients"
In addition to the diapers themselves, to make the cake you will also need other important materials and devices that will help assemble and hold the entire structure together.
So, purchase the following attributes in advance:
- a thick cardboard circle or a light tray (for the base);
- a roll of paper towels for the central part (as an option - a large bottle of baby shampoo or a tightly rolled diaper);
- rubber bands and clothespins for giving diapers a certain shape;
- double sided tape;
- safety pins for fastening tiers;
- wrapping paper or fabric cuts to decorate the tiers (sometimes diapers or towels are used instead of these elements);
- additional items, for example, pacifiers, socks, diapers, bottles, rattles, sliders, rubber ducks, powders, etc.;
- decorative elements, which may include bows, satin ribbons, flowers, beads, plush toys, etc.
Before purchasing the necessary attributes, create a cake project. This will allow you to purchase really necessary things that will be at hand during the making of the gift.
Useful tips
To make a cake from diapers for a newborn with your own hands, you need to follow certain rules, which, first of all, relate to hygiene standards:
- Pre-treat the work surface thoroughly using detergents that are safe for children's skin.
- Wash your hands or use disposable, sterile gloves.
- Do not under any circumstances turn the diapers with the absorbent part outward, otherwise the sterility and integrity of the protective layer will be compromised.
- If the cake is decorated with fabric elements, vests and towels must be ironed.
- Are you going to decorate a gift with plastic bottles, pacifiers or rattles? Be sure to treat them with safe antiseptics.
- Pins and elastic bands should also be disinfected by treating them with steam or an antiseptic solution.
- If you have a furry pet in the house, remove it from the room and vacuum the room to avoid getting fur on the diapers.
- Make sure that the elastic bands do not tighten the diapers too much, otherwise they will look sloppy. However, hygiene products should not dangle either.
In order for the diaper cake to survive transportation, it must be packaged correctly. The cover will not only prevent loss of shape, but will also prevent the gift from getting dirty and dusty. In addition, beautiful packaging will emphasize the solemnity of the moment and create a festive mood.
The safest packaging materials are film used in flower shops or wrapping paper. The finished cake is placed in a double layer of film, tied with a ribbon, and decorated with a bow. It turns out very attractive and hygienic.
To the young navigator
Diapers are a fertile material for making a variety of gifts for newborns.
Thus, needlewomen create cute snails, trains and even ships.
Related article: DIY home decor from scrap materials: master class with photos and videos
To make a boat, diapers should be folded into the shape of a toy ship and tied with a wide satin braid.
A frame is formed from wooden skewers, onto which sails made of thin transparent material are attached. To make the sails look more realistic, the fabric is attached not under tension, but with a slight allowance.
The free ends of the wooden skewers are decorated with satin flags, harmonizing in color with the overall composition. The craft is complemented by a soft toy and small decorative elements.
If the composition is intended for a girl, it is appropriate to add small artificial flowers and make the product in pink tones.
For a boy, blue and deep blue decor is more suitable.
A variety of compositions using diapers are presented in the corresponding video. You just need to choose the idea you like and bring it to life.
Diaper cakes for girls and boys
Creating a gift largely depends on who it will be addressed to. Of course, a “girl’s” cake will differ from a “men’s” cake in its color scheme, additional accessories and general idea. But the shape itself is usually the same - a one-, two- or three-tier structure, reminiscent of a birthday cake.
Gift for girls
According to tradition, gifts for girls are distinguished by more delicate colors, feminine accessories and the presence of numerous cute details. But more about everything.
Usually for little princesses they use ribbons, diapers and other decorative elements in bright or, on the contrary, delicate shades: beige, pink, lilac, fawn, yellow, etc.
- touching details will be all kinds of frills, frills, bows. Such elements not only signal the child’s gender, but also give the diaper cake a resemblance to a real confectionery product;
- In addition, the gift can be decorated with typically girly accessories such as butterflies, flowers, ribbons, and beads. Butterflies and flowers will also highlight the season in which the newborn baby was born;
- Another type of jewelry that is suitable for little beauties is all kinds of plush bunnies and bears, babies and dolls. You can also place tiny socks or booties on the cake.
In general, you can decorate a diaper cake for girls in completely different ways. Floral, doll details, various ribbons and bows are welcome.
Present for boys
Designs made from diapers for young gentlemen differ from gifts for girls, first of all, in their laconicism and a certain “seriousness”. All kinds of ruffles, bows and frills are excluded. How to decorate men's cakes?
It is best to use “brutal shades”: blue, light blue, green. Usually, if a child is born in the autumn-winter period, then the color is chosen lighter and more dim.
- Traditionally boyish play equipment becomes decorative elements: cars, locomotives, ships, balls, airplanes. Some craftsmen even make cakes in the shape of cars or boats;
- Additionally, you can decorate the gift with clothes (socks, hats, diapers, rompers), hygiene products (creams, shampoos, powders) and other baby equipment.
Thus, the differences are observed only in the decor of the gift; a single or multi-tiered design is usually taken as the basis. However, if you really want to impress the young gentleman's mother, then try making a train out of diapers. Of course, this will require more time and skill, but delight and gratitude are guaranteed.
Beauty and benefits
Before you start making a souvenir, you should prepare:
- diapers for 3-6 kg (104 pcs.);
- hygiene products for the baby (or toys);
- decorative elements;
- rubber bands for money;
- scissors;
- thick cardboard;
- plastic tubes (for the frame);
- crepe paper;
- glue;
- stapler
Since diapers are a thing that comes into contact with the baby’s skin, you need to work on a clean surface and with clean hands. It is strictly forbidden to turn diapers inside out for hygiene purposes.
Each diaper needs to be rolled into a tube and secured with an elastic band for money.
A similar procedure is repeated with all other diapers. The cake will consist of three tiers.
One diaper is taken, around which a dense layer of others is created. The design is fixed with a thin satin ribbon, as shown in the photo.
The next diapers are located around the first row. The workpiece is again secured with tape.
So you need to create several similar rows. You just have to take into account that the work is being done on the bottom tier of the cake, so the circumference should be large enough to accommodate the two remaining tiers.
If desired, you can carefully remove the first knitted piece from the center of the diaper tier and insert anything you like there: from baby shampoos, powders and creams, to a bottle of champagne.
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The second tier is located on top. In this case, the diapers are first placed around the “filling”, and the gaps between the tubes and bubbles are filled, after which the outer row is formed.
For strength, the row is tied with braid. The second tier should be a row smaller than the previous one.
All that remains is to work on the top of the cake - the third tier. It is made entirely from diapers in order to cover the “filling”.
The process also goes step by step for each row: first, a frame is created for one diaper, which is fixed with tape. Then the existing workpiece is turned around and everything is tied again for strength.
To ensure that the cake holds its shape, it is recommended to insert a plastic pipe into the center of the composition.
If there are doubts about the strength of the structure, you can supplement the strengthening of the tiers with additional tubes.
This cake can fall apart without a stand. Therefore, a circle is cut out of thick cardboard with a diameter larger than the lower tier.
This master class includes a craft for a girl, so the cardboard is covered with pink crepe paper.
The stand is edged with lace braid. At this stage, it is more convenient to use a stapler.
After the decoration above the stand is completed, the cake itself is placed on it.
The places where the ribbon used to tie the layers is visible are decorated with wide satin braid to match the color of the stand.
If desired, you can add a decorative ribbon with a pattern.
A small plush toy is placed on top of the cake. It is attached to the central plastic tube.
It is appropriate to add bright rattles to your work.
All that remains is to add a little girly decor in the form of flowers to the cake.
The heads of artificial flowers are attached to cocktail sticks, after which the blanks are inserted into the overall composition.
Flowers can be supplemented with artificial greenery.
The craft is ready.
Single tier diaper cake
Seeing a newborn on the nose? You can make the simplest version of a diaper cake, consisting of a minimum number of main and additional parts. Naturally, do not forget to decorate the product to emphasize your positive attitude towards mother and baby.
To create a “masterpiece” you need to prepare the following materials:
- diapers (size “1” or “2”) – 11 pieces;
- bright colored diaper;
- wide satin ribbon;
- narrow ribbon (the kind they use in flower shops);
- scissors;
- tray or thick cardboard;
- various decorative elements to suit your taste;
- bright natural fabric.
Making a single-layer cake from diapers is very simple. One diaper is rolled up, tied with a ribbon and placed in the center of the cardboard. This is the basis from which a circle of other hygiene devices will come.
The diapers are placed around this central element so that the “sun” comes out. The diapers are installed edge-on, with one side going onto the first roll. Outwardly, it resembles a kind of sun rays.
Using very careful movements, you need to pull all the diapers together with a narrow ribbon to make a cake, with their tips pointing in one direction. It is important to ensure that when tightening the cake is fixed and does not fall apart.
The last stage is wrapping the structure in a diaper and securing it with a wide tape. For decoration, you can use any beautiful natural fabric - cotton or linen. This will prevent allergic reactions in children.
Step-by-step master class
Regardless of the number of tiers of the finished product, as a rule, 40-45 pieces are used for the bottom layer.
You can take various items for decoration:
- Toys
- Rattles
- Socks
- Hygiene items (cream, wipes, shampoo, ear sticks, etc.)
- Pacifiers
- Bottles
To wrap the cake layer you can use: a diaper, a towel, a vest, a blouse.
It is important that all components are approximately the same shade, then your gift will be the most attractive. https://www.youtube.com/embed/85xsBMOLXMY
Single-tier cake: master class
Materials:
- Diapers
- Wide satin ribbon (minimum 5 cm)
- Bright fabric
- Floral ribbon
- Hot-melt adhesive and hot-melt gun
- Decorations
- Scissors
Step by step steps:
- We take the chosen base, you can use a cardboard cake stand, which is sold in a candy store.
- The base for the tier will be a diaper rolled into a tube, which will need to be tied with ribbon. Place the resulting roller in the center of the base.
- We place the rest of the diapers around it. You can overlap it, you can roll each diaper in the form of a roller.
- We wrap the resulting tier with tape for better fixation and tighten it.
- We tie the edges of the tape, thereby securing the diapers.
- The cake can be wrapped in a bright diaper and a wide ribbon on top; the edges of the ribbon are secured with a heat gun.
- We decorate the finished cake with the selected accessories using floral ribbon.
You can sew braid or lace on top of a thick ribbon, this will add more chic. Accessories can also be attached with decorative plastic clothespins in color; do not forget to disinfect them.
Photos of diaper cakes
Two tier cake
For a two-tier cake you will need more diapers, 2/3 of the amount taken for the bottom layer.
For each tier, take ribbons of different widths. For the lowest one – the widest one and so on in descending order.
To make the top of the cake, you need to roll 6 tubes around one and tie them with a ribbon or elastic band. Take the diaper and roll it up so that it becomes equal to the height of the circle of diapers. We wrap it in a diaper and secure it with a pin. We make the bottom similarly to the master class of a single-tier cake.
Three tier diaper cake
This is a classic version of a three-tiered diaper design, which, like the previous version, is very simple to prepare. The main thing is to follow the sequence of actions and properly fasten each layer.
It is necessary to prepare the following “ingredients” in advance:
- diapers (different or the same size) – 80 pieces;
- tray or thick cardboard;
- stationery erasers - 80 pieces;
- feeding bottle or shampoo;
- a bottle of powder;
- satin ribbons;
- toys, rattles, children's clothing for decoration;
- sticks or pins for fastening the “floors”.
The first cake is prepared in a standard way: 37 diapers are placed vertically on a cardboard or tray, rolled into rolls and secured with rubber bands. A bottle for milk or shampoo is inserted into the center. The entire structure is held together with a ribbon or rubber band.
Then the second layer is prepared, which will consist of 27 diapers. Rolls from them are formed in exactly the same way as for the previous cake. You also need to insert some kind of jar into the central part - with powder or baby cream.
The next stage is making the last layer. For it, 16 diapers are taken, which are placed on the second cake layer and tightened with an elastic band. You can fasten the tiers with safety pins to prevent the structure from falling apart.
Then they start decorating the cake. Depending on the gender of the child, you can use blue or pink satin ribbons. A card with wishes of health and successful development and small necessary things are inserted under the ribbon.
The top of the structure can be crowned with a beautiful doll or plush toy; rattles and other plastic hygiene items are laid out on the sides. It will turn out very beautiful, elegant and useful for the whole family.
Cake made from diapers with “cream”
In appearance, this pyramidal structure really resembles a confectionery product with cream. This effect is created by wrapping each layer in bright and attractive swaddling clothes. It turns out very aesthetically pleasing.
To make the structure you need to take the following materials:
- diapers (sizes “1” or “2”) – 90 pieces;
- bright ribbons - narrow and wide;
- small rubber bands - 90 pieces;
- Double-sided tape;
- needles;
- diapers;
- blanket or towel;
- various decorations: toys, hygiene products, bottles, etc.
To make the bottom layer, 40 diaper rolls are laid in a circle in the form of a spiral, fastening the initial and final diapers with tailor's needles. Place a tightly rolled blanket or towel in the center. The entire structure is fastened with an elastic band to be sure.
Then you need to decorate the resulting diaper cake with “cream”. To do this, the film is folded across the width of the diapers, wrapped around the layer and secured with needles. This must be done carefully so that the structure looks aesthetically pleasing.
The next layer is made from 30 diapers, laid out in rolls around a bottle of baby powder. Diapers are secured with tailor's needles and an elastic band. The outer side of the cake is decorated with “cream” from the diaper.
The topmost layer consists of 20 diapers. It is made similarly to the two previous cakes. The main difference is the number of hygiene devices used.
To decorate the cake, rattles and small toys are used and placed on the “steps”. Parents will also find hygiene items such as pacifiers, cotton swabs, milk or water bottles, and jars of cream or powder useful. You can put booties on top of the structure.
Diaper cake with towels
In addition to diapers, small towels can also be used to make similar structures. They are rolled up in exactly the same way - into peculiar cylinders. Naturally, before “installing” the diaper cake, you need to wash your hands and prepare all the necessary materials.
To make this type of diaper cake you need to take:
- diapers (second size) – 90 pieces;
- small face towels – 10 pieces;
- small elastic bands - 100 pieces;
- wide elastic bands - 3 pieces;
- roll of paper towels;
- satin ribbons – 2 pieces;
- Double-sided tape;
- cardboards;
- decorative devices;
- sticks for attaching tiers.
There will be a roll of paper towels in the center of the structure. Around him, diapers rolled into cylinders and tied with rubber bands are lined up in three rows. This entire structure must be tightly tied with a wide and thick elastic band.
The next layer is prepared from the remaining diapers, which are placed again around a roll of paper towels in two rows. The resulting cake is secured with an elastic band, making sure that the structure is not too tight.
The top layer is made from towels, which are rolled up similarly to diapers. It is best to take colored accessories so that you can alternate them. Between the layers you need to insert several sticks to secure the structure.
All tiers are wrapped in bright satin ribbons, the ends of which are secured with tape. A teddy bear or doll is placed on the top of the product, and pacifiers, baby clothes or various toys are placed on the “steps”.
Instructions on how to assemble a diaper cake with your own hands
Before you begin the creative process, you need to choose a sketch and an idea for a finished gift for your baby; simple instructions on how to make a craft from diapers suggest following the following steps:
- prepare a sketch and purchase all the necessary materials and diapers;
- make thematic decor and prepare materials for attaching the tiers;
- build a base from a cardboard circle and a cylinder installed in the center;
- assemble the first tier of the cake and subsequent ones, securing them with ribbons or tape;
- decorate the cake with crafts, toys and accessories selected in advance.
Diapers are hygiene products, they must be stored in packaging, so before attending the party you need to pack the finished cake in cellophane or polyethylene; it is better to use a large and beautiful bow to decorate the packaging.
Having carefully studied the instructions, which describe step-by-step production with a description for beginners, you can begin to work; the finished cake will become a bright and original surprise, or will complement the main gift, but will definitely please your parents and surprise your holiday guests.
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How much do ready-made diaper cakes cost?
The wedding of a newborn child is a serious event, so many people prefer not to take risks and rely on their own imagination, but to use the services of experienced professional needlewomen.
Today, diaper cake making services offer many models of similar designs. Such inedible products are made both according to a standard template and according to the customer’s individual design.
The components for making a diaper cake can either be from the manufacturer, or purchased and brought by you personally. In the latter case, the price will be lower, and you will know for sure that all materials are of high quality.
How much will you have to pay for a ready-made diaper cake? Its cost will depend on the following factors:
- price of materials;
- product size;
- cake design;
- urgency of making a gift.
In general, you can order and purchase such a design made from diapers for 1800 - 4800 rubles. The most expensive options consist of five tiers, decorated not just with ribbons and bows, but with strollers, steering wheels and cars made from diapers. Such an original gift will be remembered for a long time by parents and the hero of the occasion.