Diaper Cakes

Materials:
One baby bottle
6 cloth diapers (or you can use disposables)
Rubber bands
Various baby items
(i.e., samples of shampoo, lotion, etc., rattles, teethers, etc.)
Receiving blanket
Diaper pins

Instructions:

Variation #1

Take the one diaper and fold in thirds length wise (or to height you want), wrap around the bottom of the baby bottle (you can fill with M&M's, Q-Tips or whatever you wish), secure with rubber band.  Take another diaper and do same (wrap around first diaper).  Do this with the rest of the diapers.  Then take receiving blanket and fold to match height of diapers.  Wrap around the outside of diapers and secure with diaper pins.  Stuff the various items in the top of the cake "folds" (so they stick out).  You can pin some lace around the cake and add some curling ribbon.

Variation #2

For either cake, make a base from heavy cardboard 1-inch wider than cake.  I found it easier to buy a real plate from a dollar store.

Materials:
1 dz. padded cloth diapers
1 toilet paper tube
(29) 1/2 x 10" piece poly. fabric
6 pr. infants/child's pastel crew socks
1 pr. child's knee socks
Plastic or icing cake letters (BABY),
2 yds. knitting worsted (I didn't use),
(3) 3/8" pompoms
1 pr. plastic pants
Small toys to tack to cake (rattle, pacifier, etc.)
Diaper pins
Small plastic or silk flowers
Finished cake was approx. 6" high and 10" around

1. Fold diapers into thirds lengthwise and roll around the tube.  You can slightly overlap them or butt them against one another and tape.

2. Wrap fabric snuggly around to mark for seams.  Stitch or use fabric glue.  Slide over diapers gathering to look like frosting.  Tuck top and bottom edges inside.  Tuck plastic pants and diaper pins in the tube.  (I didn't use this. I left the cake white.)

3. For edging, stretch knee socks as far as possible.  Roll into a thin tube pinning to scrap cardboard.  Tie tightly with yarn at 1" intervals.  Remove from cardboard and place around bottom of cake.  Pin in place. (There will be a gap)

4. For sock leaves (I used silk) tie off 1" of heal and toe of 2 socks with yarn. Pull ends into points.  Stuff excess sock into center tube in cake. Pin points of leaves to center of cake.

5. Sock roses...make 7...Fold sock in half lengthwise.  Grasp between thumb and forefinger and roll tightly forming a bud.  Pull edges down as you roll. Hand tack through all layers.  Pin as desired to cake. (I made more than they suggest.

6. Flat sock flowers...make 3... fold sock in 1/2 lengthwise.  Baste along fold.  Gather tightly into flower and knot.  Glue pompom into center. Pin to cake.  Pin other silk flowers to cake.  Glue letters to fabric and pin to top of cake (I used toy blocks with "boy" "girl" "baby" or the child's name...if I knew it).

Kitty Litter Cake

Kitty Litter Cake
A real recipe! Guaranteed to make your next party remembered!

Ingredients & Supplies:

• 1 spice or German chocolate cake mix (and ingredients listed on mix)
• 1 white cake mix (and ingredients listed on mix)
• 1 pkg. white sandwich cookies
• 1 large pkg. vanilla instant pudding mix (and ingredients listed on mix)
• green food coloring
• 12 small Tootsie Rolls
• 1 new kitty litter box (please! Not a used one!)
• 1 new kitty litter box liner
• 1 new pooper scooper

Directions:

1. Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans).
2. Prepare pudding mix according to package directions and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in blender, they tend to stick, so scrape often.  Set aside all but about 1/4-cup.  To the 1/4-cup of cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix using a fork or shake in jar.
3. When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl.  Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding.  You probably won't need all of the pudding.  Mix it with the cake and feel it; you don't want it soggy, just moist.  Gently combine.
4. Line new, clean kitty litter box.  Put mixture into litter box.
5. Put three unwrapped Tootsie Rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable.  Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly.  Repeat with 3 more Tootsie Rolls and bury in mixture.
6. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter green cookie crumbs lightly over the top, this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.
7. Heat remaining Tootsie Rolls, 3 at a time in the microwave until almost melted.  Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with cookie crumbs.  Or, only spread 5 of the remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top. Take one and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs.
8. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around.  Serve with a new pooper scooper.