How To: Make a diaper "cake"

No baby shower is complete without a diaper cake, a gift that can also serve as a beautiful centerpiece. Here's how to make yours extra memorable.

Step 1: Roll up diapers
Begin rolling diapers, two at a time, holding them together in the center with a rubber band.

Step 2: Encircle the champagne bottle
Place the champagne bottle in the center of the serving tray and surround it with nine sets of rolled-up diapers. Secure this first circle with an extra-large rubber band. Then, repeat the process with 15 more pairs of diapers to form an outer ring.

Step 3: Cover with tissue paper
Take two sheets of tissue paper, layer them, and fold them twice into a square. At the center corner, cut a series of slits that are about the radius of your bottle.

Step 4: Unfold the tissue paper
Carefully unfold the tissue paper and slip it over the neck of the bottle. Smooth the tissue paper down around the sides of the diapers. Secure with an extra-large rubber band.

Step 5: Build the second layer
Build the second layer of your cake, using nine pairs of diapers. Make this layer smaller than the bottom one because you are creating a tiered cake. Secure the layer with an extra-large rubber band, cover it with tissue paper, and tie with another extra-large band.

Step 6: Repeat
Repeat the process for the third and final layer of the cake. For this top layer, do not snip the tissue paper; you want the top of the cake to remain smooth.

Step 7: Wrap the sides
Now wrap each layer of the cake with a piece of white ribbon. Secure with clear tape.

Step 8: Tie the ribbon
Wrap decorative ribbon around each layer, securing it by twisting the wire or by tying a bow.

Step 9: Add a bow
Make a bow out of the remaining decorative ribbon for the top of the cake, leaving long tails to hang down the sides. Voila! Your diaper cake is ready to be served!

Fact: Babies use about 3,500 diapers by the time they turn one year old.