How to Make a Bassinet Diaper Cake

A diaper cake is cute alternative to cupcakes or other pastries at a baby shower. The cake is not meant to be eaten -- rather it consists of an array of toys, blankets and diapers to give as a give to the new baby and mommy. These instructions are for a "diaper cake" designed to look like a baby bassinet complete with toy dolls resting in the bed of the bassinet. You will even make a hood to cover the sleeping dolls' heads.

Things You'll Need

• Shoebox
• Plain white paper
• Tape
• Polystyrene board, 20 inches longer and wider than the shoebox
• Glue gun
• Teddy bears or other dolls
• Baby blanket
• Package of disposable diapers
• Clear rubber band
• Large heavy-duty rubber band
• Wide ribbon
• Thin dowels
• Wired ribbon
• Voile
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Cover a shoebox with plain white paper, taping the seams closed along the underside of the box. Cover the polystyrene board with the same paper.

2. Set the shoebox on top of the board so it is centered and glue it in place with a glue gun. Set the teddy bears or other dolls on the box as if they were lying down in bed.

3. Drape the baby blanket over the dolls like they are tucked into bed and pull the edges of the blanket down so the bed looks made.

4. Lay a diaper facing up on the table in front of you and start rolling down from the top edge. You should roll the diaper towards you until you get to the folded edge at the bottom of the diaper.

5. Secure the rolled diaper with a clear rubber band and roll the entire package of diaper sin the same way. Depending on the size of your box, you may need more or fewer rolled diapers.

6. Stand the rolled up diapers vertically in a single layer around the shoebox "bed". Stretch a large heavy-duty rubber band around the layer of rolled diapers to hold them in place against the shoebox.

7. Make another layer of vertical rolled diapers all around the first layer and secure this layer to the first and the shoebox with another rubber band.

8. Tie a piece of wide ribbon around the rolled up diapers to cover up the rubber band. Use blue or pink ribbon depending on whether you are making the cake for a boy or a girl.

9. Arrange a row of rolled up diapers in a semicircle around the head of the shoebox bed and stick a thin dowel vertically through each one to secure them to the diapers below them. This will form the structure of the bassinet hood.

10. Bend a piece of sturdy wired ribbon into a half moon shape and stand it up in front of either side of the hood diapers. The curve of the ribbon should be above the heads of the dolls. You can stick the ends of the ribbon in between the rolled diapers to hold it in place.

11. Drape a piece of voile so one edge of the fabric is lying on top of the bent ribbon. Apply a bead of glue along the edge of the voile and move it underneath the ribbon, pressing it place to create the bassinet hood.

12. Pull the rest of the voile behind the hood so it drapes down the back of the rolled diapers and tie it back with a pretty ribbon. Trim the voile so it is not any longer the polystyrene board.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add embellishments like lace, rattles or any other ideas you have to make it more unique.

• Don't forget gender-neutral colors or themes.

• Don't leave the diaper in a place where children might be tempted to touch it .

References

• Coolest Birthday Cakes: Coolest Diaper Cakes
• YouTube: How to Make a Diaper Cake
• Flickr: Diaper Bassinet
• Diaper Cakes by Melissa: Diaper Cakes by Melissa

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish