iLikeProjects - Diaper Cake

This blog clearly has no clear purpose
but it is too much to physically scrapbook photos and I like looking back and remembering what I did with my time. So the iLikeProjects series begins. Alice told me to start an idea journal. Such a great idea! I have too many journals to keep track of, at least I categorize things here.

I was thinking of making a video.
Maybe one day...


iLikeProjects 1 . Diaper Cake
Estimated Cost: $50 for 2 cakes  
(mostly dependent on # of diapers used)
Estimated Time: ~1 hour



Super easy and fun.

A great gift and centerpiece. 

It makes me sad to see beautiful handcrafted decorations get tossed in the trash after the party is over. This is functional and nice to look at. Score!

Note on iLikeProjects: I created an Amazon Associates store for my project supplies.
If you purchase through the store I think I get a little something extra.
Amazon has a great deal on diapers right now. But I think everything else is cheaper at craft stores.

Supplies

Cake Ingredients for 3-tier (prices I paid):
Diapers .................... Costco ~$30 for 216

Ribbon ..................... Michaels/Costco ~$2-4/each (go for solid color, not baby stuff so you can use it for other occasions)

Adhesive/Safety Pins to secure Ribbon ....... Walmart tacky glue ~$1 (I used safety pins)

16 in. Cake Circles ............. Joanns $6.99/6pk, use a coupon at Michaels?

Decorations ............. I used diaper wipes ~$2 and artificial flowers ~$2/each

(e.g. blanket, bottle, pacifier, toys, etc.)

Other Supplies:

Scissors

Something round (can)

Plastic Bag (optional) $1 at Michaels

Step 1: Calculations

How many diapers per tier?

Ratios for 2-tier: 1:2

Ratios for 3-tier: 1:2:3

Ratios for 4-tier: 1:2:3:4

and so on...

If I have 108 diapers and I am making a 3-tier cake,

 here are my tiers

top tier: 18 diapers

middle tier: 36 diapers

bottom tier: 54 diapers

How many diapers in inner and outer layer?

I used around a 5:1 or 6:1 ratio.

So if my tier has 54 diapers in it and I use a 5:1 ratio, 

my inner layer is 9 diapers and outer layer is 45 diapers.

Step 2: Start the Swirl

Put the round object in the middle of the cake round.

I decided to have the bottom of the diaper on the outside.

Stagger stack a few diapers in your hand. 

Prop them against the round object.

Keep adding outer layer diapers to go all the way around.

Step 3: Finish Outer Layer

Loosely wrap ribbon around diaper circle.

Move diapers around to make them evenly spaced.

Remove can. 

Step 4: Insert Inner Layer

Stagger stack inner layer diapers in hand.

Wrap tightly and insert into middle space.

Tighten ribbon around both layers so it fits on the cake round.

Step 5: Use Final Ribbon

Wrap final ribbon (1 inch ribbon) around the tier. 

Secure with adhesive or safety pin.

If you use two fabric ribbons on top of each other, best to glue them together first so they don't shift. I used curling ribbon on a fatter fabric ribbon.

Step 6: Repeat with other tiers.

Step 7: Stack and Decorate 

Stack the tiers.

Stick decorations into the ribbon or on top.

Note: Do not use anything liquid or anything with scents, diapers are very absorbent.

I just stuck an artificial flower through the middle.

A cool idea is to take a baby blanket, string it through the middle of the tiers so it comes out of the top. Put a stuffed animal on top so it looks like its holding the blanket.

I think plastic makes most things look rather professional.

Wrap in a jumbo plastic blag and tie with ribbon/tulle/bow.

iLikeProjects #1 . Diaper Cake 

Complete

Steals and Deals

Summer Steals and Deals
Since lent is over and I allowed myself to start signing up for email newsletters again, I'm getting promotions up the wazoo. Last night I went to Walgreens to pick up some expo washable markers and the cashier was shocked that all the coupons and promos could be stacked. His eyes were like O_O and he called me a super saver. I don't see the point in paying full price for most things if you can stock up when it's on sale so figured I'd share some things going on right now.

Note: If you use coupons on something, you will still be charge tax based on the pre-coupon price.
Note*2: Images are from amazon because its convenient. They will link to amazon, click the item link to go to the website.

Beauty/Clothes
Bliss Beauty - 20% off and free shipping (FS) on most items. Ends July 31, 2010. Use Code: AUG20I am a fan of the triple oxygen instant energizing face mask.  I can't tell which is more "energizing", this one or korres wild rose mask. The korres rose one smells good. But this bliss mask has foam that appears and disappears and just feels fun.

Hanes - 20% off and FS on orders $55 or more. Discount applied at checkout.
Turns out 20% off site wide is a pretty common occurrence here. I like their cushy ankle socks and guys always need underwear and undershirts. Walmart tends to have undershirts for pretty cheap ~$8. So if you don't plan on stocking up on a lot and don't qualify for FS, this might not be worth it.

Smashbox - Lets do lunch tuesday and thursdays 9-2pm deals still going on. Free full size something with each purchase. Just pick something out of curtain call clearance. Free shipping and jumbo samples.

School is starting up soon and that means Back to School Sales!
I don't really need crayons or markers (although I saw a lot of really great deals) so I stocked up on pens. Pens tend to disappear out of my purse. Sitting in class or service with an open notebook, brain brimming with things you want to remember, but no pen is a painful experience. Stock up!

Target
Bic cristal 10 pack pens on sale for $0.60. Purchase 2 and use $1 off 2 ($1/2) coupon. 20 pens for $0.20.

Office Depot- $10 off $25 in-store purchase coupon.
Lots of pens on sale. I found a lot of Avery label sheets in the back clearance bin for $3. That's a good deal since the removable ones were originally $13. 3M and Post-it has a $10 rebate off $20 (not through OD) which is great because there are a couple of B1G1 free items. Too bad they are all out of stock around here. If you want something less than $25, fill your purchase with their free-after-rebate items. Including Purell hand sanitizer ($5.99), Nano stapler, and expo pens. Note: Max of five mail-in savings per household and all qualified items must be on one receipt. So you can't go on two different trips and to try to milk it.


Entertainment
Livenation.com - $10 tickets
Do you like American Idol or the Jonas Brothers or Demi Lovato? They are coming to Shoreline.

Next Project:

Someone mentioned it would be a great time to start stocking up on Operation Christmas Child items. What a great idea! My next project is to see how far I can stretch $20 with all these back to school deals.

Birthday Month Ends

I once commented to my stepdad that there sure were a lot of summer birthdays.
His response was, "we get cold".

The past 1.5 months have been a string of birthdays.

Happy to see old faces. Fun to make new memories.

But oh so tiring and stressful to plan, prep and/or just be there.

Glimpses of these party months.

Red carpet treatment for this one-year old's first birthday. An actual red carpet, balloons, live band, board games, musical instrument-making station, full bar, yum buffet, raffle, etc.
What is happening for number two?

I said I'll drop off the presents and leave.
Just eat a little bit. Okay, just one plate and I'll leave.

Just play one game. Okay, one game and I'm off.

Time for pictures. 

I met a woman expecting her 4th baby, attending her first baby shower.

I'm glad I stayed.

Why are naked lobster rolls so good?

Why are they naked?

Do lobsters really hold claws?

Jbear says if I ever have a baby
it would come out blue with crazy looking eyes because I would have a little cookie monster.

Did you hear about Sesame Street giving the character a healthy makeover because of Mrs. Obama's push for child nutrition?

Costco has 5lb tubs of nestle tollhouse cookie dough for less than $8. How can I resist? Ice cream sandwich time!

Jack guessed there would be a pinata and pulled the winning string. 

FYI: If it were raining dumdums, being pelted by the shower of hard candies would not deter kids from a hoarding frenzy.

Am I the only one who things silly bandz are pretty cool?

 Jayden finally got his bakugan he's been asking for for years.

10 cent fish may be smarter than turtles.

Left: spinach bread bowl dip; 5-layer bean dip.

Middle: coconut milk dessert; corn dogs (foster farms); salmon with crab (sprouts)

 Right: zucchini with chicken apple sausage; lumpia

Can you believe I'm missing pictures from my own birthday?

Let's just say its to be uploaded.

chomp.

i am in the sourest of moods today.

i don't want to do anything but chomp someone's head off.

perhaps a gummy bear.

one that is smiling.
le sigh.

stay away,
my misery may be contagious.

 

poor bears. the heads are always first to go.

lately,

my devotionals 

have been mentioning

one word in particular,

PRAISE.

how can i think of THAT in a time like THIS?!?

i can think of about a million things to complain about right now

why are bulk sprinkles so hard to find? why are gift bags just as expensive as my gifts? why does my computer keep freezing? how can i be out of memory again? why are the lines at costco so long? why is nothing open when i need a bathroom? why does coffee have to stain teeth and starbucks taste so good? why is it so cold in the mornings when i get dressed and hot when i leave the house? why am i so tired in the mornings?
(probably because i'm having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. except not really.)


BUT!
Alas, lessons
I am reminded of lately

Praise God as a Sacrifice: Hebrews 13:15
(from: When Praise Becomes a Sacrifice by Greg Laurie)
The bible mentioned giving thanks to the Lord so many times! But its not conditional (such as only give thanks when you feel like it). Rather, give thanks because God is good. At moments like this, it's only out of obedience that I force myself look towards the sky and try to think of someone other than myself. Once you can see past that rain cloud and remember God made the entire sky and the sun that allows you to see the sky, or just light in general, and all the other awesome things He has done, it's rather easy for your emotions to follow. How obedient am I in times like these?

Sing Even if You Can't
(from: Sing and Give Thanks by Nancy Leigh DeMoss)
The bible mentions singing quite a bit. Rejoice. Sing. Dance. All that good stuff.
Uninhibited by your abilities and what others may think, how can you be sad/discouraged when belting out a hopeful hymn. If you are discouraged/depressed 1) Are you memorizing Scripture? 2) Are you singing to God? Music is a powerful vehicle of our gratitude. My go to song is You Are My Refuge. Too bad nobody recorded the ucb gospel choir when we sang it. Here's another group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ5L-Xh70_I
 

Strive for Higher Levels of Thankfulness

(from: School of Gratitude by James MacDonald)Tier 3: Thanksgiving is a sacrifice. (Heb 13:15) Sound familiar? Be thankful on command.
Down? Can you think of some random things for which you are thankful?
Example: sunshine, lollipops and rainbows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2sKH8yjVsM

Tier 2: In everything, give thanks. (1 Thess 5:18)
Deliberate but selective gratitude.
Example: I am not thankful for bees, but I am thankful for the honey they make.

Tier 1: Giving thanks to God at all times for all things. (Eph 5:20)
No matter what, God is in control and there is some purpose beyond what I can imagine.
"Thank You God for this. You are good!"


Anyways, I'm feeling much better.
 
Tonight I made my first diaper cake!
(with inspiration from Jane)


It's currently a work in progress
but I hope whoever receives it
will turn to God and give thanks.

Weird oddities

WEIRD

is an weird word.

Remember the "i" before "e" except after "c" rule?

I guess it doesn't apply in this case.

Random observation.

Anyways. More random thoughts.

 1) I'm excited for Rihanna (i like her accent) + Ke$ha + Travis McCoy tonight.

$10 tickets. I can't say no.

2) French President Nicolas Sarkozy is getting a lot of bad press lately.

The Bettencourt scandal sounds like a soap opera or tv drama, except it's real.

Crazy to think people can throw around over $60k a week on daily life.

3) The FDA website is terribly confusing to navigate now that they are trying to make it more consumer friendly.

4) Church Mom's ministry is teaming up with Heritage Home to throw a baby shower for new or soon-to-be mothers. What a great idea! There are so many people in desperate need RIGHT NOW. I don't really want to think about myself right now. If I cut back on Starbucks it translates into diapers and diaper bags. I should go back to my coupon phase. I'm a bit sad I missed the 30% off diapers deal on Amazon. I signed up for the pampers website. If I won a years worth of diapers, do you think they'd give it to me when I don't have even have diaper-wearing progeny? Hmmm, when am I expecting? In five years maybe?

5) What am I going to do with my 5lb tub of nestle tollhouse cookie dough?

Choices. Choices. The possibilities are endless.

6) Boundaries are a good thing. 

It's okay to say "NO" sometimes.

Back to the books!