If you are looking for a very, very last minute gift idea, how about making a sock cake? This is very similar to those cute diaper cakes that everyone makes for baby showers, but utilizes something that everyone seems to need, especially during the winter! My wonderful friend Jenn told me about this awesome gift that she’s made before, and I just had to run with it. Hubby’s grandmothers is ALWAYS cold and in need of warm clothing and socks, so this was the perfect gift to put together for her. Let’s go through the steps I did so you can see how I got to the lovely “cake” up there:
1. Decide on a center. The easiest thing would be something hard and round, like the person’s favorite can of coffee, a big candle, or a nice round bottle of foot lotion. I decided to use one of the Old Navy sweatshirts I got at a great price last weekend. I rolled it from one end and from the other end, and had the rolls meet in the middle. As you can see, it kind of looks like a heart. I placed a rubber band around the sweatshirt and then a few skewers down the middle to keep it steady on the cake board.
2. Build around the center. I placed the sweatshirt in the center of the cake board. Then, I folded the socks in thirds to make them full but the same height of the sweatshrit. I kept the wrapping on the socks because it helped to keep them upright, but once you fold them in thirds, all you need to do is place a rubber band around each folded sock. Place them all around the center until you make sections of the “cake.” You can make a fuller cake by making another row of socks, but I was going for a smaller cake here.
3. Tie the “cake” together. I used a small green ribbon and tied everything together very tightly. Then, I fluffed the tops of the socks a bit to make the cake look full and even on top. If you used the rubber bands to keep the socks together, you may want to place the ribbon over the rubber bands to hide them.
4. Place the cake back on the cake board, and then in a cake box. At this time, you can take the skewers out of the middle, if you used a soft middle. Place a few pieces of tape around the cake board to secure it to the box and then fold that baby up. Once the box is all folded up, you can use some of the ribbon you used to hold the “cake” together to wrap up the box. How fun and funny will it be when you give this cake box to your friend or family member and they open it up to see what’s REALLY inside?
NOTES TO REMEMBER:
- Pay attention to height. You want everthing to be around the same height so the cake will look “even” on top. This was part of the reason I folded the sweatshirt the way I did. If you use something with a flat top, that will help the sitations a bit. But, If you do end up using something that will be taller than the socks in the long run, grab a cheap Christmas hat and cover it with that. It will look like a little ornament the middle of the cake! Just make sure that the box will be able to close.
-Different colored socks are great for presentation, but plain old Hanes white socks still make a great cake. This is one of reasons I love this idea. You can run to Target or Walmart, get a big bag of socks, grab a store brand bottle of lotion and you’re on to a great start. Run by a party or craft store for the cake board and cake box, and your adorable, inexpensive gift is ready to be put together!
-Don’t just think of Christmas! Since this originated from the cute diaper cakes for baby showers, why not think of other times to use it? A bridal shower would be a great time to make this cake. Instead of using socks, try using tea towels, pot holders and aprons. You can even use a wooden spoon holder as the center and fill that baby up with wooden and plastic cooking utensils.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank You! This a fantastic idea.
Well thank you! Now I know how I’m going to present the underwear I’m giving my sister this year!
it looks like a great idea!! thanks for sharing
This is such a great idea! I think I’ll keep my eye out at the January sales and do this for my Mom on Mother’s day!
Cute!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my ..This is so cute.
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Amiyrah I hope you have a great Holiday and a blessed New Year. I have enjoyed getting to know you and love our crazy times together. I am glad to be bringing the New Year in with you and wish you nothing but the best in life and a healthy pregnancy.
٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶ ٩(- ̮̮̃-̃)۶٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶
Angie
PS: I only have 2 marshmellows left
Great idea! I have to keep this in mind for next year.