Fall Baby Shower Part 2 of 3: The Diaper Cake

Another baby shower crafty gift I wanted to make was the Diaper Cake. Not to be confused with an edible cake, this cake is in fact, made entirely with rolled (unused) diapers. My experienced friend helped me out with my first cake, but there are plenty of How-To's online.

The "ingredients" needed include:
-A package of diapers (We used the newborn size so the parents could use the diapers after the shower almost immediately when the baby was born, but a bigger size diaper would have allowed us to use less in the cake by creating bigger rolls. Of course any sized diaper will be used by the parents, so it's a decision that's win-win.)
-LOTS of rubber bands
-A piece of cardboard (I used a pizza box lid)
-Sturdy support items (to help connect all layers; I used straws)
-Various baby items (the other half of all the baby items used in the wreath)
-Ribbon
-Themed decoration (in my case, pumpkins and cutesey Halloween items)

Essentialy, roll and rubber band diapers, then start arranging layers. Rubber band all layers together, weasel the straws into the layers for keeping all layers together, then cut cardboard to fit bottom layer and magically get this below base layer. (Yes, this is what we did, or you could start with cutting a cardboard circle and build the layers by size according to this. But let's be honest, does anyone actually follow logical steps?)

The decorating the cake was the most fun! Arranging items to fit and cover the rubber bands and any odd areas becomes a skill. I think my first cake turned out pretty well. Transporting the cake was a bit of a....process. But if anything fell off in the transporting it was super easy to re-decorate upon reaching its final baby shower decorative destination.

In all, this took one evening to do, maybe 2-3 hours? But we probably spent more time talking and laughing. The rolling of the diapers took the longest time for sure! Incorporating the fall theme into the diaper cake by using the same decorative items as I used in the wreath really helped tie the shower decorations together.  Also, I learned to keep this item away from the dog, so he could not help with chewing, I mean, decorating with the pumpkins.

                                         ~RR

"If you're not practicing a dream, you don't really have one."

Craftroom Creations

While I'm still working on making the craftroom usable (the other day I unloaded 3 boxes into the drawers/shelves/closet) and redoing some chairs for the craftroom, I'd like to share my first craft in the house: a door wreath!

I "cheated" by doing my first wreath with a wreath that already had yellow balls/flower formations. This helped blend in the other flowers! And as the summer draws to an end at craft stores (Hobby Lobby has Christmas decor out already-it scares me 2012 is more than halfway over, but excites me that Christmas is coming!), spring and summer decor goes on sale! So, this wreath was a great find! With the addition of some of my wedding flowers and a maroon R, my wreath turned out pretty well! I've already bought another wreath to begin fall or Christmas decor-I'll take awhile to decide though...there's too many ideas on Pinterest!!

Anyone else create something exciting lately?! I love seeing the creative juices flow!!

~RR