New Gift Concept for Easter or Whenever

With Easter only a week away, I was again inspired to create a holiday baby gift. Ok, technically, I made it several weeks ago, but now, you get the inside scoop on my latest creation. Over the past couple of months I've created unique holiday inspired mini diaper cakes that brought to diaper cakes new ideas for themes. This month, I turned to the next major holiday: Easter. While I originally intended to create an Easter inspired diaper cake, I decided to go in a different direction. After all, an Easter basket is much more iconic.

You may be familiar with one basket I made in the past for a friend who was expecting a baby girl. The basket was intended as a centerpiece for her shower and given that the new baby was to be given the name Rose, I felt it was especially appropriate to create a Baby Bouquet for her. This was no ordinary bouquet, however, and I developed a diaper basket to hold the bouquet. (Check out the inside scoop here) The basket was created with ribbon woven into hand-rolled diapers and gave an awesome effect.

So, incorporating this idea to a certain extent and adding in Easter as a theme, I created a new option for baby gifts: the Easter Basket. This basket, similar to the first one I made, was formed of completely usable baby items - no actually basket was included. This basket was started as a spiral diaper cake with diapers creating the base of the basket. A burp cloth was used to wrap and decorate the outside of the basket and a handle was formed with a coordinating burp cloth making the basket cohesive. The basket was then filled with crinkle paper (rather than plastic grass). A stuffed bunny and wash cloth roses were then included to fill the basket with usable baby items and complete the effect.

Of course, the most exciting thing about this gift is that it's not limited to an Easter theme. This basket can be filled with a baby bouquet as it is here, or it can be filled with Baby Candy (baby items rolled and wrapped to resemble candy) or other baby items. The size is also variable, although larger size baskets may require structural adjustments. I'm excited about this newest addition to my product line, although, because of the versatility pricing may be a bit difficult to figure. The most exciting part of this project is that while many of the gifts that I make are available in similar forms from other boutiques and diaper cake producers, I have never seen a basket similar to this one, making it an incredibly unique option for a gift.

Versatility of Baby Buggies

Recently, a friend contacted me seeking a baby gift for a friend of hers. She wanted a buggy and while she started out saying anything was fine, after some discussion about specifics, we turned to looking at the expectant mom's registry. This really is my preferred method for developing baby gifts. I do have some ready-made inventory in stock which is great for last minute gifts, give-aways, auctions, moms who are unsure what they need or want, etc.; however, I feel customized gifts are more personal and take into account items that the mom wants (assuming she knows, of course). I never was particular about coordinating blankets with my little one's nursery, but many people are and by using registry items as a guideline, even if specific items can't be incorporated in the gift, a diaper cake, buggy, bouquet, or other gift can be made to coordinate and is sure to be a gift the expectant mom enjoys. Of course, ideally, registry items would be able to be used. This, luckily was the case for my friend's friend, though it did take me out of the box a bit and I incorporated registry items in new ways.

As I mentioned, my friend requested a buggy which are a very popular item since they are less commonly seen and tend to be more compact (and lower in cost) than a diaper cake but carry a lot of the same impact. I began "construction" with hand rolled diapers. The registry contained burp cloths which I felt could be incorporated beautifully where I traditionally use a blanket around the main structure of the buggy. A baby duck printed hat was used for the "blanket" in the buggy and matching baby mittens decorated the front. The hat and the mittens were both on the registry.

Aside from the use of the burp cloths and hat which were fun alternatives to my regular "components" I like that this gender neutral buggy stood out from the commonly seen green in gender neutral items. Yellow is, of course, also commonly used, but the beaks on the ducks printed on the hat and mittens really called for the use of orange on the buggy hood which really makes this buggy stand out. The printed hat allowed for the use of solid colors around the buggy and pulled it together quite well.

I also updated the packaging for the buggy in a small way. Buggies are presented to the mom-to-be (unless otherwise requested) on a cake board and shrink-wrapped. The wrapping is tied with curling ribbon and a tag is attached to let the recipient know what items are included in the gift. For this buggy, I included crinkle paper on the base to give it a more professional look. The effect turned out just as I had hoped and gave a great final presentation.  My friend seemed pleased with the buggy and I hope the expectant mom also enjoyed this adorable presentation of items she selected as well as a few extras.

Celebrating the holidays...

In thinking about new ideas for diaper cakes, I reflected on the display cake I had created for Christmas. One of the things I thought about is that diaper cakes often fall into the same patterns of being all dedicated to gender themes. Occasionally, they are decorated in the theme of the nursery or the shower. I wanted to step out of the box for a bit, so I created a few more of the mini cakes for the holidays. After all, babies are born at all times of the year and showers can alway incorporate non-baby themes like holidays. The bonus? Most holidays insight a plethora of baby novelties, especially in the form of bibs, socks, and clothing making the addition of holiday specific baby items easy. If nothing else, basic holiday colors and decorations can be used for the diaper cake.

Right now, Easter is the next upcoming holiday, but I wanted to create a couple of display cakes to demonstrate the options that are possible. Perhaps I'll keep up with future holidays, assuming I don't forget. Two of the holidays that have passed since the Christmas cake that I made are Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day. I thought these would make good themes for cakes. Similar to the Christmas cake, I used materials I already had, so they are more focused on the colors of the holidays than baby items declaring "Baby's First" but those can always be incorporated into cakes that are made for gifts.

The Valentine's cake I made first. It included hand rolled diapers to create two mini tiers. A white burp cloth and red wash cloth were added to the tiers. White sock roses added to the overall theme. A pink pacifier and pink heart shaped teether added decorations which primarily makes this cake a girl cake, however, other less gender specific items can be used in a similar cake for a boy. The cake was then topped with a Valentine's stuffed dog. One new addition was the inclusion of paper shreds. I've seen this on many diaper cakes and wanted to add it to see how the effect worked. Initially, I thought it would be messy, but it turned out to be and easier addition than I thought and as long as it's used moderately, the mess is limited.

I then built the St. Patrick's Day cake. Again for this cake, since I used items I already had, it too lacked the "Baby's First" charm, but I was still able to incorporate items that tied it to the holiday theme. Again, the mini tiers were built with the hand rolled diapers. Wash cloths and a burp cloth were used to cover the tiers. White socks, green teethers, and a green pacifier provided extra decoration. To add a little St. Patrick's day flair, leprechaun hat decals were added to the ribbon on the bottom tier and a Shamrock cut-out was added as a topper. Again, for this cake I added the paper shreds.

These cakes were made solely as examples of the options available and were taken apart soon after the pictures were taken. They were essentially practice cakes for me. I also tried something new for the pictures. Starting with the spiral cake I made not too long ago, I continued the same idea with these cakes to create a solid background that would give a more professional look in the photographs.

These cakes provided not only some great pictures for anyone looking for a new idea for a diaper cake, but also gave me some great insight for new concepts and decoration options I can incorporate in the future. It's just one more step into growing and improving. I'm looking forward to future cakes as well, and if I stay on top of things, I'll be presenting an Easter themed cake soon as well.

Choosing a diaper cake...

I recently read a list of recommendations on ehow.com written up by another maker of diaper cakes listing how to choose the right diaper cake. Most of her suggestions, of course, lead a consumer to purchase diaper cakes from her which makes perfect sense, but she does have some really good recommendations if you don't know what you are looking at.

First, she recommends examining the style of cake - rolled or spiral cake. She lists the pros of spiral cakes that I described in my last blog post about ease for the new mom. Increased stability of the rolled diaper cakes is not discussed, but since she doesn't make that variety, she may be unaware of this benefit. This benefit of the spiral cakes, however, may be one of the main reasons they are growing in popularity.

Second, the author recommends checking out the brand of diapers. She recommends diaper cakes made with quality brand name diapers. I have to say, I agree whole-heartedly. When giving a gift, most people wouldn't want to give a store brand pack of diapers so it makes sense to select a diaper cake with brand name diapers. I typically will use Luvs which are very popular, however, since diaper cakes can be customized and personalized, I can and have made cakes with other brands if the expectant mom has chosen or prefers another brand. Typically, I'll check out the registry to see if she has a preference and make the cake with that type, otherwise, I'll use Luvs which is still a quality brand.

The third recommendation is to consider the size of the diaper in the cake. The author prefers size 1 diapers for the cakes and in my experience, this is typically what you find. Size 1 is a great size for most babies and almost all babies will be able to use them. Newborn diapers, like newborn clothes, aren't always needed and may go unused by a new mom if the baby is on the larger side. Larger size diapers are also typically usable, but I will most likely reserve these for gifts given after the baby is born or for sip 'n' see parties. Again, since the cakes can be customized, if the shower or baby welcome party (sip 'n' see) is held for an older baby rather than a newborn, larger diapers are preferred.

Fourth on the list of recommendations is to examine the number of diapers on the cake. This can vary widely from cake to cake and while it should be considered, in my opinion, it should be not be the major deciding factor of the diaper cake. More importantly, the number of diapers compared to the overall cost/value of the diaper cake should be considered. In general, while diapers build the structure of the cake, they may not make up to main cost of the cake. Make sure you know what you are paying for. If one cake has say, 50 diapers on it, but you also get several blankets or baby items, it may be more worth it than a diaper cake at the same price that has more diapers but no additional usable baby items. 20 diapers may equal the cost of a single blanket.

The final recommendation on this site mentioned the use of additional baby items. The author does not use baby items on her cakes and lists the reasoning that the gift giver may not know if the baby items will be used by the mom or if the items are of good quality - they may not get used and therefore become a waste of money. She makes a very good point for purchasers to be aware of. I personally like the value of the additional baby items and if the price is comparable, it is a better value than a cake with just diapers and decorations. Also, since diaper cakes are so customizable, items can be selected directly from the registry so the new mom is sure to get items that she picked out for her new baby. If I have a cake that is not specific to the person, I try to use items that are of good quality and BPA free. To me, it goes back to the diaper brand issue - most gift givers do not want to give store brand or generic gifts.

One recommendation I would add to her list would be to consider the overall value. Some diaper cakes take more time to put together - rolled cakes take much more time and care than spiral cakes. Ribbon, appliques, flowers, cake boards, wrappings, and other decorations can add cost to the cake so be aware that you aren't paying just for the diapers. Brand name, licensed, or hand made baby items incorporated into the cake will also add to the overall cost, so consider the value. If your cake is made up of 50 diapers and a few strips of ribbon, it probably isn't worth $60, but don't think it's reasonable to pay only $10 for it, that may just cover the cost for the diapers themselves and not the decorations, not to mention additional time and care of the person who made it.

Happy hunting! =)

Taking a new design for a spin

In my constant search to improve my products, I've decided to try a new style of diaper cake. The "spiral" cake, often referred to as the "boutique style" diaper cake is quickly becoming the norm for diaper cakes. There are many ways to build them up, but the idea is that the diapers have a spiraled appearance which provides a number of benefits as a baby gift, the most obvious of which is an attractive appearance.

I decided to try my hand at this style cake and see how it worked out. For the most part, I'd consider it a success. Because I was simply trying to see how it would come together, I didn't decorate the cake, I simply assembled and stacked the tiers to get the basic idea. While I was at it, I decided to experiment with my photography to see if I could give a more professional appearance to my pictures.

So, here is a picture of the bare cake. I identified a few pros and cons when comparing this style of cake to the traditional rolled cakes I've made in the past. Obvious benefits of this cake include the overall look. While most the cakes I make are covered with blankets or similar baby items and the tiers aren't seen, this option is the likely choice for cakes that are made without the blankets if the customer chooses. Another wonderful benefit is the time it takes to build the cake. Because the diapers aren't individually rolled, building the layers is a bit less time consuming. The biggest positive difference between this cake and my traditional ones is the ease for the expectant mom. Because the diapers aren't rolled and individually secured, disassembling the cake is much quicker for the recipient. Both styles allow for complete function of all the diapers, so that is one benefit that both cakes have. There are also some negative aspects of this style cake. The overall cake appears smaller than others that I have made with the same number of diapers. This, of course refers mainly to the diameter of the tiers, but that may very well be related to the absence of decorations which slightly widen the cake. Rolled diapers create support for various baby items added to the cake. They can be attached to the tops of the layers or tucked into the diapers with little difficulty. Other baby items, if they are small bottles or similar in structure to the rolled diapers can be traded for diapers on the outside of the layers as well. These decoration choices are not possible with this style cake and other means would need to be employed. Another con I observed was the overall stability of the cake. The individual diapers do not have the firm structure that they possess when they are rolled. The layers are also less dense than when the diapers are rolled. This adds complications when it comes to assembling the tiers in a secure structure, as well as lessening confidence that the tiers can support the added decorations. Another concern is how well the cake will travel with the decreased stability.

While the cons seem a bit daunting, I'm leaning towards switching to building this style of cakes more frequently in the future. The popularity of this style diaper cake seems to be increasing and the overall look is more professional. The stability of the structure seems to be the largest hurdle to overcome, but hopefully in time and with additional practice, I can improve on that. Only time will tell. Please continue to check back for more updates and developments of our products!

Getting smaller

While most people are looking for increased growth, I took a moment to shrink down. Although, in shrinking, I'm growing. What does that mean? I've developed a smaller version of one of my most popular items - the Baby Buggy - and in doing so, I've created an additional option to compliment my other products.

In the early stages, on of my sisters-in-law asked me, "Why would you want to make a smaller one? Isn't the buggy small enough?" The answer? There is a place for it. The standard sized baby buggy is a great alternative if you don't want a gift as large as a diaper cake. Like the diaper cake, it can be used as a centerpiece for tables at showers and welcome baby events, weather you have just a gift table, hors d'oeuvre table, or tables for guests to sit and eat. As demonstrated in the past, the buggy is also the ideal size for a topper on a sheet cake. Of course using the buggy as a modest gift on it's own is always an option as well, because though smaller than a cake, it still provides plenty of baby items for the mom to be.

So, considering the versatility provided by the standard buggy, what uses are there for the Mini Baby Buggy? Plenty! Many of them coincide with the uses of the standard size but add dimension. In decorating for a shower or baby welcoming celebration (also known as a sip 'n' see), using multiple mini buggies around the gathering area(s) will add a little flair (and become useful instead of waste like a lot of decorations). These are especially useful if space is limited and requires smaller decorations. Standard and mini buggies can be made to coordinate or match a theme and be used in various places depending on the space available. For example, a standard buggy placed as centerpieces on tables for eating and mini buggies placed on the end back corners of your food table can make adorable, cohesive, and useful decorations for your event. Mini Baby Buggies can also be used as cake toppers for standard sized cakes (especially 2-tier cakes which have a slightly wider top tier than larger cakes). Two mini buggies can be used together as toppers for a sheet cake which is especially adorable if the mom is expecting twins! Of course, don't feel limited by my suggestions, these mini buggies can be used in any other creative way you choose!

Now that we've discussed their versatility, what goes into a Mini Baby Buggy? Well, like the other diaper gifts I have, the mini buggies start out with hand rolled diapers that form the main structure. With the prototype, I used two wash cloths for the base of the carriage, however, alternately, a burp rag can be used and will likely be used more frequently in this application. Wash cloths are then used for the other buggy components. Finally, the buggy is decorated with ribbon. Additional baby items may be added such as pacifiers or other small baby items, however the selection of these extra decorations is limited due to the size of the buggy.

How does the Mini Baby Buggy compare in size to the standard Baby Buggy? It is smaller, of course, but not too small that it doesn't provide a good variety of baby items for the new mom. As you can see in the picture, it is slightly bigger than half the size of a standard sized buggy.

I haven't worked out all the details of packaging and presentation for these Mini Baby Buggies yet. The standard size is presented in much the same way as the diaper cake. It is placed on a cake board, wrapped in shrink wrap, then tied with decorative ribbon. The presentation for the Mini Baby Buggy may be the same in cases where the buggy will be presented as a stand alone gift, and of course, when used as a cake topper as it will be wrapped on the cake. When used as decorations for a shower or party, the buggy may be wrapped or not depending on the preferences of the person who ordered them.

As you can see, they are still slightly in the development process, however, I feel confident in filling orders at this time. I am excited to add this item to my product line and ready to incorporate it with other gifts I make.

New sweets and treats!

I'm always looking for new ideas, trying to develop new products, and brainstorming how to execute them. After some recent inspiration, I decided to try out a new item: Baby Cupcakes.

Similar to the diaper cake concept, Baby Cupcakes use common baby items that are formed to resemble cupcakes. The effect is further supported by the display. Just as diaper cakes are stacked to resemble a tiered cake (at least in most cases), cupcakes are placed in cupcake wrappers and for a finished effect, placed in bakery boxes. I've worked on two ideas thus far for display purposes. The first, a twin-pack with two cupcakes placed in a treat box and the second, a four-pack - for which I was able to obtain a windowed box that really amps up the display. These particular cupcakes incorporate baby wash cloths. I'm currently working on developing different types of cupcakes that utilize other baby items. I am also conceptualizing improved presentation ideas to give these cupcakes a really put together and professional look.

The future is looking bright, I have a few other cupcake concepts as well as ideas for other "treats" that I hope to present soon. I also have some additional ideas for diaper cakes and other gifts, some of which involve the mini cakes that I introduced last month. With any luck, I'll have new pictures and blog posts coming up in the near future!