Rules 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. 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

• 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

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.

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!

Build Bottom Tier-Simple and Elegant Diaper Cake

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:

Build Bottom Tier-Custom Theme Diaper Cake

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. 

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:

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 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

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.

Build Middle Tier

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

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: