I'm Getting Married!!!

YAY! Jimmy and I will be getting married on September 12 of this year, I am sooo excited! Brooke-Lynn is going to be our flower girl and Bruce is going to be our ring bearer, they will be so cute!

And the winner is.......

I used random.org to generate a random number between 1 and 7 (the number of entries) and it generated the number 4!! So congratulations Roxy, please come comment on this post within 3 days to claim your prize and then email me at diapercakesbywendy@yahoo.com with your mailing address and the gender of the baby!

For all non winners, you will receive 10% off everything on my site! For those who provided email addresses I will be emailing you with the details, for those who didn't please reply here as well or email me so I can give you details!

Thank you and keep looking for more giveaways to come!

Opinions Please

This is my newest diaper cake, it is going to a maternity boutique tomorrow but I will be making one just like it for the craft show (sorry this is a show only cake special). It is a 3 tiered boutique spiral style cake made with about 70 size 1 Luvs diapers. I have not decided what to charge for it yet, but it is definitely going to be under $50. I would love opinions on the cake itself and what you would pay for it. Thanks!

Trying Again - FREE Washcloth Lollipop and Washcloth Candy!!

The last one didn't really go so well but I did have one person sign up so I am happy someone did get the freebies! So, trying this blog candy again - if you win, you will get a free lollipop and candy in the gender of your choice. In case you don't know what they look like I have added pictures this time.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your first name and last initial, and also please tell me how you found my blog! I would appreciate linkbacks, diggs, tweets, and votes for my site (links to the right) but it is not required at all. You do not have to be a Blogger member to enter, you can comment without signing up as well. This one will end in a week, so next Wednesday at 6pm EST I will be using a random number generator to determine the winner. You will then have 3 days to come claim your prize by commenting on the winner post and then email me your mailing address. Once you receive your prize I would love to hear back from you again, on my blog of course!

To all who enter, good luck!

Congratulations Paula H!!

Since you were the only one to sign up for the giveaway, the free washcloth lollipop and washcloth candy is all yours! Please comment here within 3 days to claim your prize, and then you can email me at diapercakesbywendy@yahoo.com with your mailing address and gender preference for the items. Thank you!

Free Blog Candy Giveaway Almost Over!

And nobody has signed up...... The original post is from about a week ago, the sign up deadline is tomorrow night, so if you want to enter just post a comment here. There are no rules except that you have to live in the US. You do not have to be a Blogger member to comment on these posts, so just post a comment with your first name and last initial to sign up for a free washcloth candy and washcloth lollipop! Winner will be announced tomorrow night, if anyone enters!!

Got a lot done yesterday!

Well, kinda LOL! Linda came over and we spent the entire day making stuff, up until about 3:30am! I did get a diaper cake made (I hadn't planned on making any yet, but I wanted to see this particular one), two diaper wreaths, a whole bunch of butterfly bodies (will add wings later), and some cupcakes. Not too much for the entire day, but I had to get some orders out too, that's just all I did for the craft show. I should be making stuff now, August 22 is going to come quickly, but I will start for today in a little bit.

Now for my whining for the day. Why the hell can't people come up with their OWN ideas?? Why does everyone have to steal yours?? Mini diaper cakes, yeah they are super popular now, but when I started making them, I was the ONLY one doing it, now I understand sellers coming along and wanting to do it, but must you do it the exact same way as me??? Washcloth lollipops with pom poms - MY idea, now everyone does it. Single diaper butterflies - I started that too, now they are everywhere. I hate people who steal. Please if you have no creativity then you have no business making baby gifts for a living. Now I see washcloth baby dolls on eBay, they are UGLY but yeah they took that idea from me too.

Betcha can't do it like me, NO!

How to Sell Diaper Cakes

I've noticed a lot of people come here trying to learn how to sell diaper cakes, how to market diaper cakes, and about selling diaper cakes on eBay versus selling on your own website. So I thought I would make a post to help you out and tell you how to sell diaper cakes. I wish I had done it in this order but I learned the hard way not to just jump into craft shows, to try to get known FIRST! First, it is a good idea to sell on eBay first. There are millions of people on eBay that you will not have access to anywhere else. Come up with a business name, print up some business cards, and send a business card with every order you send out. Keep a record of all the mailing addresses you get orders from for future use. Figure out what people like, if your diaper cakes are not selling at all after a few months, give them a makeover. It took me MONTHS of trying until I even sold one cake! But I didn't give up. I will post a before and after picture of what my cakes used to look like and what they look like now at the end of this post.

Just keep one thing in mind, that is do not give up and have patience. This is not something that happens overnight. Take it slow, selling on eBay and free or inexpensive marketplaces at first. Try Etsy, Ecrater, Bonanzle, and Shop Handmade just to name a few. Once you have gotten your name out there and started selling at a good pace, it is a good time to make a website. If you are impatient and want one sooner, making a website that is inexpensive will be a good idea at first. This way you can monitor how many visitors you actually get before upgrading to an ecommerce site. A good company to do this with is VistaPrint. There is a link for them to the right of my blog, you can get a basic website for $4.99 just to see what the response is. When you upgrade to a site to sell on, VistaPrint has a $19.99 a month plan that is wonderful! Now is when those mailing addresses you have from all those orders will come in handy. VistaPrint also has tons of marketing items, and one of them is postcards to match your website. Order some postcards and send them out to all your past customers to let them know you now have a website.

Once you are getting orders at a good rate no matter where you sell, you know you are doing good, and making what the customer wants, it may be time for you to start selling your diaper cakes at craft shows. Craft shows are very fun and very addictive as well! Be sure you order plenty of business cards and a banner with your business name and website address on it as well, also all available from VistaPrint.

Another way to sell your cakes is by selling wholesale to stores such as baby and maternity boutiques. Make sure you dress nice, act professional and are prepared to answer any questions the owner may have for you when you go.

Lastly, good luck and have fun!! Resource links below!

How to Prepare for an Arts & Crafts Show

Being Successful at an Arts & Crafts Show

Well I just got done searching my computer for a picture of one of my first cakes, I can't find any! I may have to do some more digging before I find them, hopefully I didn't erase them all!! Anyway, my first cakes didn't sell at all, they were the rolled candle type and i now make the boutique spiral type cakes, which get a much better response! The ladybug cake is one of the recent ones I have made, hope you like it!

Getting ready for the Summerfest craft show!

Little washcloth bunnies - too cute! I have 70 of these made so far.


Diaper cupcakes - I made a bunch of these for the last craft show I did but I had them packaged in 6-packs, I got the idea from Marisol (thank you!) to do them individually! I only have 12 made so far, but doing more!


Boo boo bunnies - Mine come complete with reusable ice cubes! I have 36 of these made so far!


Boxes of washcloth lollipops and spoon washcloth lollipops!


Washcloth lollipops again!


Mini diaper cakes - I only have 8 of these so far, but making more!


Naked boo boo bunnies hehe - they are done now though!


More washcloth lollipops - I have a couple hundred made, but making much more!


My room is a mess!! Unfinished butterflies, washcloth lollipops, and all my junk!


My messy room again! I am moving into my bedroom soon and putting Brooke-Lynn in her room, then I will have a lot more room YAY!

I have actually been getting stuff done, I am so proud of myself and surprised, I thought I would be putting this off longer than I have! YAY! I am ordering some tulle and ribbon tomorrow, when it comes I can finish my washcloth butterflies, make a bunch of washcloth candies, and everything else that need tulle. If you are wondering why I don't have any diaper cakes made yet, don't worry I will! I will be making some 2 tier and some 3 tier diaper cakes at the hotel room the day before the Summerfest, that way I won't have to carry them far, as we are driving a few hours to get there. I am SOOOO excited!

Be sure to check out Diaper Cakes by Wendy and Linda's Hair Candy at the York, SC Summerfest 2009 from 9am until 5pm.

Many of these things I have for the craft show are not yet on my website, if you are interested in anything (as some things are never going to be on there) feel free to contact me, or comment here and I will be happy to help! Thanks!

How to Make a Boo Boo Bunny!

Introducing my newest eHow article, How to Make a Boo Boo Bunny! A boo boo bunny is an adorable ice pack made from a washcloth used for children's boo boos. Not only is it functional, but it makes them smile as well! FREE step by step instructions on how to make one can be found here:

How to Make a Boo Boo Bunny

Also, how would you like a free washcloth lollipop or washcloth candy? Check out the next post down to enter for free! Offered by Diaper Cakes by Wendy.

FREE Washcloth Lollipop and Candy Baby Shower Favors Giveaway!

Blog candy? YES! Diaper Cakes by Wendy is holding it's first giveaway, which consists of one washcloth lollipop and one washcloth candy baby shower favor in your choice of boy, girl, or neutral colors! You pay nothing, I am offering this 100% free to help get the word out about me and what I do! This also gives you an opportunity to see the items I make!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on THIS post, in the comment leave your first name and last initial. I will continue editing this post to add a list of the people who have entered for the giveaway and in exactly a week, I will use a random number generator to choose the winner! This means the contest ends on Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 8pm EST.

This contest is open to all US residents! At the end of the contest, I will announce the winner and you will have 3 days to come claim your prize, I will post an email address for you to email me your mailing address, and that's it! :) So keep checking back and good luck!

This is the first of many giveaways, and I will be doing raffles as well for bigger prizes (think diaper cakes!) so check back often for chances to win big!!

Please, while you are here, also consider Digging me and voting for Diaper Cakes by Wendy, all links are found on the right of my blog! Sponsor visits are greatly appreciated as well (Google ads)!

Love deep discounts and free shipping?

Well then you should stop by my website!! Diaper Cakes by Wendy

Love even better discounts and not having to worry about shipping? Well then, come check out Diaper Cakes by Wendy and Linda's Hair Candy at the York SC 2009 Summerfest! I will not only have items you will not find anywhere online, but my prices will also be lower than they are online, with show-only deals and specials! I will be offering boutique style diaper cakes, boo boo bunnies, baby washcloth bunnies, bouquets, washcloth lollipops, candies, and MUCH more!!

Plus, the Summerfest itself will be LOADS of fun, with a huge car show, yummy food, entertainment, kid fun and more!

I hope to see you there! Tell me you read my blog and receive a FREE gift with any purchase!

We Got Accepted!!

Linda and I both got postcards the other day from the Summerfest people and we both got accepted! I am planning on finishing up my eBay orders today and starting on festival stuff tomorrow or tonight, the only bad thing is I am broke and need some supplies lol. I guess right now is a slow time on eBay, I am not getting any orders, it's bad because I need the money for all my Summerfest stuff but it's good because I need the time to make my Summerfest stuff lol!

Want to See Something Funny?

If you have FireFox, go to your address bar and type in about:robots and read what comes up, it is absolutely hilarious!!

I'm So Nervous

Like I said, I sent in the application for me and Linda to go to the York SC Summerfest and now I know I am going to be sooo impatient waiting for some kind of reply from them. I really hope we both get in but what I hope even more is that we can be directly next to each other. I was reading more about it last night ( Click Here To Read About It! ) as they have updated their website with more info since I last checked. I didn't realize the craft show was the main attraction of the festival, so that makes me more nervous! This festival attracts people from all over SC, NSC and more, bringing in what they expect to be over 50,000 attendees this year!! Holy cow! So, with Linda and I, we are going to have a 20 foot wide, 10 foot deep tent and have it set up like a store where people can come in and have different things to look at, instead of just boring tables lol. So, I figure, a lot of people will probably at least stop by. Say only half the people who attend even walk by our tent, that would be 25,000 walking by, and then say just half of those actually stopped and looked at our stuff, that would be 12,500. Ok, now say just a quarter of those people bought ONE thing, that is still 3,125 things we would have sold!! Are these the kind of numbers I should be thinking of? Both of our stuff starts at $1 so it is very affordable. I have only done the Iris Festival and There wasn't many people there but I still had pretty good sales, though I didn't make back what I spent. The attendance for that was SUPPOSED to be a couple thousand, but I only feel like I saw some hundreds. Then again it was rainy all weekend and Sumter is a small town, near nothing too important. From what I read, thousands of people come from Charlotte, NC alone to attend the Summerfest. If anyone has been to one that would be great, let me know what to expect! So, I am thinking I really need to start making stuff NOW, but first I have to get all my eBay orders out and at least get a little stuff made for the other flea market this Sunday. But between Sunday and August, I will be doing nothing other than making extra stuff for this festival. What are your thoughts on the number of pieces I should take with me? Also, I don;t know how many to take of what item, as I don;t really know what will be most popular!! Ahhhh what to do?!?! Oh, and then I have a friend who is most likely going to let us borrow a portable CC machine, so that will be even more sales for us!!!

I Already Know

What a complete bit** I seem like, but I honestly don't care. I am so tired of people trying to steal from me, making me look bad, and if the words I use are harsh or the names I call those thieves are too harsh, I apologize. Not to them, but to you, if you are offended. To them, I could care less what they think or how they feel.


Glad I got that off my chest! LOL

How To Make Washcloth Lollipops

I always look at my website activity and have noticed A LOT of people search for how to make washcloth lollipops and washcloth lollipop instructions. I have an article online showing you for free! The pictures are definitely not the best, but if you need any help just let me know! Enjoy! I also have how to make a diaper butterfly for those interested!

How to Make a Washcloth Lollipop

How to Make a Diaper Butterfly

CaSeraSera Baby Gifts

I have found this WONDERFUL website which has the most adorable baby gifts and also has all natural, non toxic baby care, breast care, and Mommy care products! That means no phlalates, parabens, SLS, artificial preservatives, fragrances or dyes. She uses the highest quality oils and QAI certified organic herbs, are cruelty-free, certified vegan, and kosher. She carries baby products by Kaloo, Carter's and more! Check it out today! :)
CaSeraSera Baby Gifts

My Very First Craft Show Pictures!

It was SO awesome and so much fun, I see this as a HIGHLY addictive thing, I already have 4 more lined up this year I want to do. This could definitely be my ticket away from being poor lol! I didn't make nearly as much as I spent, but I really want to get my name out there and for people to know who I am, and I think I got off to a great start! Most of the people who came by had never seen anything like what I had, so that was awesome seeing their reactions!! Then of course there were those who came by and said to themselves "Oh I can make this". Wow, how rude, and anyway they have NO idea what is in store for them if they were to try. It took a lot of work, stress, and headaches for me to get where I am now! This one I had a pretty boring setup, with a very expensive rented tent. I learned my lesson, I am buying a tent and will save loads of money over renting. Anyway, here are my pictures, I was able to borrow my Mom's new camera so the pictures actually look good, I REALLY need to get a good camera like that!

Getting Nervous!

So, the Iris Festival starts this Friday and I am getting so nervous! I don't have any diaper cakes made yet but I do have 24 boo boo bunnies made, 22 candles, a few burpcloth candies, a bunch of washcloth candies, and now I am working on the lollipops. I bought a lollipop tree for the festival, it is over 4 feet tall and holds 250 lollipops, though it is made for real lollipops so I plan on putting about half of that on there so they can be seen easier. I was thinking of getting 2 tables but I am not sure yet, I think I may take my small shelves instead to put stuff on. I don't just want to have two tables with stuff laying on them, just seems boring and I am not good at making displays look nice lol. Well, I really need to get to making stuff, I JUST got Brooke-Lynn in the bed, now I just hope she stays there so I can get something done!

ChaCha vs. kgb_

So, I just saw a commercial for kgb_ on the TV and just wanted to let you all know about ChaCha. We do not advertise on the TV because there is no need to. With millions of users solely from word of mouth, ChaCha is by far the best answering service out there! Also, kgb_ charges .99 PER TEXT! While ChaCha is 100% FREE! Also, you will get better answers with ChaCha anyways. :)

Best Bridal Prices - Beautiful!

~*~ Are you getting married soon? How about going to the prom? If so, you must check out bestbridalprices.com! They have many designer dresses, gowns, and accessories to choose from, and very affordable prices, the best I've seen! They are a Better Business Bureau accredited business. Be sure to check out the bottom of the home page for the Promotion of the Week and get great deals and specials! They even have maternity gowns, and they are beautiful! Be sure to order your gown early and allow time for alterations so you are not rushed as your big day nears! This is a one stop shop, use them for your dress, your bridemaids', flower girl, your Mother, and everyone else in the wedding party. Also get your shoes, headpieces and accessories here. best bridal prices ~*~

Are You Freaking Kidding Me???

Take a look at this news story and then come back and see what I have to say about it. Also, I really want to know what you have to say about it as well.

The Not So Rich

Soooo, yeah. It is going to take A LOT out of me to avoid using curse words in this post. These people are unbelievable. They think that just because they have run up more debt than they can handle, spent more money than they had, and have too many material things, that people should feel sorry for them. RIGHT! This makes me sick to my stomach. $250,000 a year?????? I would LOVE to see these spoiled people living on $20,000 a year, like we do, and we are a family of 4! They ONLY have $1,400 a month left after paying for everything? OH MY GOSH we only have $1,100 a month ON A GOOD MONTH to live off of, period. Why do you think I work my ass off to make these baby shower favors? Why do you think I started a blog to beg people to buy from me? It's because I CANNOT afford advertising. It's because some months I have to choose between paying rent and feeding my children. It's because most days I do not even eat until around 2pm so I am able to feed the kids. It's because the car is always on empty because we cannot afford gas. It's because our light bill is ALWAYS a month late. These people need to grow up and get a life. They need to be put in our shoes for a month. Middle class? PUH-LEASE!!! They make me want to puke.

How To Get Rid of Stretch Marks

I have 2 children. I was 100lbs when I started and got to 150lbs both times and had some awful stretch marks. I tried the Mederma, the Avon, and everything else out there, none of it works. It is a waste of time and money, I promise you. Read on.

First you need to understand what stretch marks are. They are beneath the skin. Creams will never get rid of them. They are very expensive and could contain many dangerous chemicals, which can be absorbed into your bloodstream through your skin. The answer is so simple you will be pleasantly surprised!

All you need to do is get some body scrub. Yes, it is just that easy. But, you will need to find some that had any extremely high amount of grit. This grit can be sugar, salt, mud, it does not matter as long as it is very thick. Preferably so thick that if you hold the jar upside down it will not pour out. Also, it should come in a jar. If it comes in a squeeze bottle it is not 'scrubby' enough.

Another alternative to the scrubby soap is a microdermabrasion cloth. These cloths are microfiber cloths like you use on your car or in your home, but you cannot just get any cloth, you must get a dermal grade one, or else you can badly injure your skin. These cloths may feel soft to the touch, but do not be fooled, they are like very fine sandpaper. They remove the top layer of skin. They work miracles when used correctly and you can find them online, I suggest eBay, as they have good prices. Please look around before deciding, some people try to pass off car detailing cloths as dermal grade when they are not, so be careful.

Now let me tell you how this works. Every day when you shower, just scrub your stretch marks. By doing this, you are sloughing off dead skin cells and revealing new skin. By doing this daily you will exfoliate to the point where you reach the level your stretch marks are at. Now your stretch marks will be more visible than ever. Don't worry, this means it is working. Now keep doing it daily. After a while, the skin layer the stretch marks were in will be GONE. Not masked, not hidden, but gone. At this point you can stop scrubbing and never have to worry about them coming back. But scrubbing is really good for your skin anyway and keeps you looking younger (ever wonder why men get wrinkles on their face later than women? It is because they shave, which exfoliates!), so you can continue.

If you found this article helpful, please consider checking out my other articles, which I have on eHow. I have many articles on many subjects. Rate them with the stars while you're there (you don;t have to sign in or anything just click on the stars). Thank you! :) Click here to check out my articles!

How did you find me?

I am just curious to know where the people who visit my blog come from. So, if you don't mind, leave a comment letting me know how you found me. Don't worry, you don't have to have an account here to leave a comment, you can leave an anonymous one if you would like! Also, what were you hoping to find when you came here, and did you find it? I know I post about a lot of different things and maybe what you were looking for got pushed down beneath other posts, if you let me know, I can repost anything you want! Thank you so much!

Allergies

I think they are allergies anyway, I don't know, maybe I am just sick. Anyway it really sucks. I cannot breathe, my eyes water like crazy, I feel like I have to sneeze 24/7, and I just plain feel like crap. I have never had a problem with allergies or even knew what they felt like until I got pregnant with Brooke-Lynn. I refuse to take medication for it, I would rather find a natural way to ease them. I was thinking drinking tons of water would probably help, but I hate water and never drink it, so I am trying to drink lots of juice. It's better than what I normally live on, and that's Mountain Dew. Anyone have any other suggestions for helping ease allergies? It makes it hard to work because even working with the washcloths, the cotton balls, and the tulle makes me feel bad from the little particles that come off them when I am messing with them. :(

What am I doing wrong here??

I wash my face in the morning and at night, I have started eating better, I change my pillowcase every couple of days, and I avoid touching my face, could someone please tell me what I am doing wrong here? My face looks worse than ever. I will continue using this Murad crap for a little while longer, I doubt it will do any good, but it won't hurt to try.

Day #24 - Murad Acne Complex

Well, needless to say I am only 4 days away from four full weeks of using Murad Acne Complex, and I am not impressed. I will not say for sure until maybe the end of the fifth week, because thankfully they do offer a 60 day guarantee, so I will give it a week extra past the fourth week and see what happens. I know everyone is different, so I don't know...... But I do have a microdermabrasion cloth I got off eBay, it offers the same exact results as a microdermabrasion without the high cost. I cannot use it with Murad because you have to be gentle to your skin when you use it, no soaps or chemicals, but if Murad doesn't work, I will send it back and start using the microdermabrasion cloth. I know it works as far as removing dead skin, so maybe it will do my face some good. It also gets rid of stretch marks for good, so it is wonderful. Because stretch marks are under the skin, the only way to truly get rid of them is to get rid of the skin on top of them and then pretty much scrub them away. the cloth is grea, I recommend it to anyone with stretch marks, dry skin, rough skin, eczema, and many other skin problems. Look them up on eBay, buy from 'thankyoustan'. Great customer service and authentic items! :)

Almost Ready To Give Up

On Murad that is. I would think if it was going to work for me, it would have by now. I am still going to give it the full four weeks like I am supposed to, but I just don't know if it's going to work or not. Of course, at the beginning I said I wouldn't get my hopes too high but I am still disappointed anyway. :(

Stupid

So, I stay up late every night. I am either making baby favors, working on ChaCha, or just being happy with the peace around me LOL! Anyway, I always have the TV on and always on FOX. I absolutely HATE those stupid 'adult' chat commercials that come on, with the slutty looking women just promising to have phone sex with you if you call. Right, like the girls you would talk to really look like that, I think not! Plus they try to hard and look stupid, not to mention how degrading to REAL women they are. Ok, done ranting for now. :)