Creative Diaper Turtle: Easy Steps To Make One

Diaper cakes are a popular gift for new parents, but what if the parents-to-be are turtle enthusiasts? This was the dilemma facing one crafty gift-giver, who decided to make a turtle-shaped diaper cake for her husband's cousin's baby shower. She wanted to create something that was not only cute but also practical, so she set about designing a turtle diaper cake that didn't require any glue and could be taken apart and used by the new parents. In this tutorial, she shares her step-by-step process for creating the upper shell, lower shell, head, tail, and feet of the turtle using only diapers, rubber bands, a paper plate, a styrofoam ball, baby washcloths, baby socks, and some craft supplies.

Roll and secure seven diapers in a circle for the upper shell

To make the upper shell of your diaper turtle, start by opening up one end of a diaper and rolling it up. Secure the rolled diaper with a rubber band. Repeat this process until you have seven diapers rolled up and secured. Arrange the seven rolled diapers in a circle, with one in the middle and the other six around it. Secure the circle with another rubber band.

Next, take another diaper and open it up flat. Place it on top of the circle of rolled diapers and secure it with a rubber band. This will create the top of the upper shell.

To give the shell some depth, take four more diapers and fully open them. Roll them lengthwise and layer them around the bottom of the shell piece, securing them with a large rubber band.

To complete the upper shell, take six more folded diapers and feed them up to the crease under the rubber band that is stretched around the top of the central shell piece. With the rubber band securing the crease, fold the rest of the diapers back down.

Add another layer of four folded diapers (folded lengthwise) on top of the original ring to add extra padding and make the shell protrude slightly more at the bottom than at the top. Working in a counter-clockwise direction, use the tabs on the diapers to secure them to the central piece.

Secure four more diapers around the bottom of the shell for depth

To make the turtle diaper cake, you will need to secure four more diapers around the bottom of the shell for depth. This is an important step as it gives the turtle diaper cake a more three-dimensional look and makes it look more like a turtle.

To do this, take four diapers and fully open them. Then, roll them lengthwise. Layer and wrap them around the bottom of the rolled diaper shell piece and secure them with a large rubber band. This will create a base for the turtle's shell and make it look more realistic.

You can adjust the number of diapers you use depending on the size and thickness of the diapers you have. Make sure to use enough diapers to create a sturdy base that can support the weight of the rest of the turtle structure.

Once you have secured the four diapers, you can move on to the next step of creating the turtle's lower shell, including the head, tail, and feet. This will involve using a paper plate and some additional diapers to create the desired shape.

Pad the bottom of the shell with folded diapers

To pad the bottom of the shell, start by folding six diapers lengthwise. Then, layer and wrap them around the bottom of the rolled diaper shell piece, securing them with a large rubber band. This will add depth to the shell and make it protrude slightly more at the bottom than at the top.

Next, open and fold six more diapers, feeding them up to the crease under a rubber band stretched around the top of the central shell piece. With the rubber band securing the crease, fold the rest of the diaper back down.

Add another four diapers (folded lengthwise) on top of the original ring of folded diapers. This will further pad the very bottom of the shell and ensure that it protrudes. Working in a counter-clockwise direction, use the tabs on the diapers to secure them to the central piece.

This completes the upper shell of the diaper turtle. You can now move on to creating the lower shell, including the head, tail, and feet.

Create the head with a styrofoam ball and washcloth

To create the head of the diaper turtle, you will need a styrofoam ball and a baby washcloth. First, take the styrofoam ball and wrap the baby washcloth around it. You can use straight pins to secure the washcloth to the ball. This will form the turtle's head. Make sure the washcloth is wrapped smoothly and securely. You can adjust the washcloth to create the desired shape and size for the head.

Once the washcloth is securely wrapped around the styrofoam ball, you can attach the head to the body of the turtle. This can be done by safety-pinning the head to the paper plate that forms the base of the lower shell. Position the head at the front of the turtle, creating a large arch with one of the diapers, as mentioned in the previous step. This will allow you to attach the head securely.

The styrofoam ball and washcloth combination will give the turtle a cute and rounded head shape. You can adjust the positioning of the washcloth to create different expressions for the turtle's face. This is a fun step to get creative and give your diaper turtle a unique personality.

If you want to add more detail to the head, you can consider using additional craft supplies. For example, you could use small pieces of felt or fabric to create eyes and a smile for the turtle. You could also add a small baby hat or a bow to accessorize the head, giving it an even more adorable look.

By following these steps and using a styrofoam ball and a washcloth, you can create a charming and expressive head for your diaper turtle. This will bring your creation to life and make it even more delightful for a baby shower or nursery decoration.

Secure the feet with baby socks and embroidery floss

To secure the feet of your diaper turtle, you will need four baby socks and embroidery floss. Stuff the socks with plastic from other baby socks or with other baby socks. You can also use other materials such as tissue paper or cotton wool. Once you have four stuffed socks, secure them to the paper plate base of your turtle with the embroidery floss. You can do this by tying the floss tightly around the plate and the socks, making sure the knots are at the bottom so they are not visible. You can also use glue to secure the knots if you wish. Once the feet are attached, you can adjust the socks so they look how you want them to. You can also add toes to the feet by pinching and tying off sections of the socks with more embroidery floss.

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