Custom Theme Diaper Cake

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!