Gift Baskets For Babies - Welcome The Most Precious Gift Of Nature

When it comes to buying gift baskets for babies, there are virtually endless choices available to you. A gift basket allows you to give several gifts. This way, you can be sure that one of the gifts you placed inside the basket will surprise and excite the parents-to-be. For example, some of the things that you can include in a gift basket are blankets, undergarments, changing pads, teething toy, soft toys, hats, sleeping gowns, cuddly bears and more.

Useful Content

Whatever type of gift baskets for babies you choose, make sure that the content is useful to the parents-to-be when the new arrival joins their family. There are two ways you can choose from. First, you can make the gift baskets yourself, and second, you can get this prepared by a professional who is fully aware of the needs of mother and the baby. The best person that can help you in this regard is the mother itself. After all, a baby shower is just another pregnancy celebration during pregnancy period, and she knows what is best to help her when raising the baby.

Themes And Styles

You can make the gift baskets for babies a wonderful gift if you prepare the same keeping in mind the theme of the baby shower party. For example, you can choose the bath time goody baskets filled with towels, comb, hairbrush, baby soaps and talcum powder. Another good option is to go for the beddy bye creel laden with hanging mobiles, cuddly toys, bedding, and fairy tale books.

Colors

If you are aware that the baby is a boy, it is always good to select items for the gift baskets for babies that are blue in color. Likewise, if the baby is a girl, you can choose items that are pink in color. On the other hand, if you do not know the sex of the baby, the best idea for you is to opt for white or lemon because this way you can not go wrong.

Cost

You should always keep ion mind that when it comes to choosing wonderful gift baskets for babies, the cost of the gifts does not matter much. It is the quality that matters. Therefore, make sure that whether items you include in the basket those are useful for both the baby and the parents-to-be. This way, the parents of the baby will certainly be very appreciative of you.

Last, but not the least, do not forget to place a card inside with a personal greeting from you to mother and baby wishing them both well. Overall, gifts baskets for babies are a wonderful present to bestow. 

Baby Cakes – A Great Centerpiece

Planning a baby shower can be a lot of fun, and choosing the snacks and decorations are a large part of the experience. Most baby showers include cakes or desserts of some sort, and while edible cakes are traditional, cupcakes are becoming increasingly more popular. Another popular choice is to choose a diaper cake, which works as both a centerpiece and a gift.

When you choose an edible cake for your centerpiece, try to choose something that compliments the theme you’ve chosen for your shower. For example, if your theme is rubber ducks, you can have a cake frosted with light blue and white swirls to resemble water, topped with a mom and several baby rubber ducks. Square cakes decorated like building blocks are another classic design.

You might also want to order a cake with little footprints on it, or rattles, teddy bears and other baby toys or accessories. A cake that has a picture of a stork carrying a baby is another popular design. Animal designs are also becoming increasingly popular choices, from jungle animals to Noah's Ark. Whatever theme you’ve chosen for the shower and decorations, you can find a cake decoration style that will complement it wonderfully. You’re limited only by your own imagination and your bakery's skill.

As an alternative, consider cupcakes, which are becoming an increasingly popular dessert option for baby showers. Choosing cupcakes instead of one large cake gives you the option of having individual servings for everyone, which is great if time is at a premium and you don't want to have to wait to cut and serve cake. An attractive tower of cupcakes can make a wonderful centerpiece for your event. You can also have a larger cake and cupcakes as well, if you want the convenience of cupcakes and the tradition of a larger cake.

Wording on baby shower cakes usually comes in the form of “Welcome Baby!” or “Congratulations!” although the baby's name is sometimes included if the parents have already decided on a name. Monograms are a good choice for cupcakes, as is using several cupcakes to spell a single word.

Another popular choice for a baby shower centerpiece is a diaper cake. This is a cake made from rolled up disposable diapers, tied into round “tiers,” and stacked together. The diaper cake is decorated with ribbons and with flowers made from baby socks or other baby items. This is a nice way to turn a gift of diapers – something the new mom will definitely appreciate – from an ordinary ho-hum gift into something really special.

Finally, if you’re planning an edible cake or dessert, check with the mother to find out if she has any special dietary restrictions. In fact, it’s a good idea to check with her about any of the refreshments – pregnant women often have aversions to particular foods or may have special dietary requirements because of their pregnancies. It’s also a good idea to have some healthy foods on hand, like fruits and vegetables, and beverages that are refreshing and low in sugar. Also, have some beverages on hand that don’t contain artificial sweeteners, as many women avoid these while pregnant. 

Baby Shower Catering – Order Out or Do it Yourself?

So you've decided to host a baby shower for a friend or loved one. As the hostess, you'll have lots of decisions to make – when and where to hold the shower, what kind of theme to use, what kinds of foods to serve, which games to play and more. When it comes to the foods to serve, you may be wondering whether or not you should prepare the food yourself or hire a caterer. Here's what to think about while making your decision.

One crucial thing to consider is how accomplished you are as a cook. If you’re a good cook, you’ll obviously feel more comfortable doing the cooking yourself. Just a beginner? Then you'll be happier and more confident either choosing simple foods you can make easily, purchasing prepared foods or using a caterer.

Next, consider how many people you’ll be feeding and where the ceremony will be held. If you're having a small group of friends at your home, that's a do-it-yourself scale job. On the other hand, if you're hosting 50 people at an off-site location, you should definitely consider getting help of some sort unless you’re a very accomplished hostess.

Also, how much energy and capability do you have physically? Cooking and serving a large number of people can be physically tiring. If you have physical limitations, it may be better to hire help.

And how large is your budget? If money is tight, you can usually save money by making things yourself and sticking to a simple menu. If you have plenty of money in your budget, then food is certainly a wonderful place to spend it.

Think about the kinds of foods you’re planning. Food choices for a shower can be very simple – from finger sandwiches and snacks – to a high tea or a full sit-down meal. The complexity of the food you want to serve is another consideration in whether or not you should bring in outside assistance.

Finally, do you have all of the serving equipment and pieces you’ll need for the food you want to serve? For example, if you're planning to offer something that needs to be served warm, you may need a chafing dish. And unless you do a lot of entertaining, you may not have one of these on hand. Of course, there are a number of party supply businesses that will rent you the additional equipment you need, although you’ll generally need to pay a deposit, arrange for pickup, cleaning and delivery, and pay a fee for rental. On the other hand, a caterer will usually supply these materials and services as a part of their services.

If you still can’t decide, why not compromise? You can have some parts of the foods catered and do some yourself. For example, you might be comfortable handling the snacks and beverages, but you might want to hire a bakery to make and deliver the cake. You can also consider doing a potluck style event where each guest prepares and brings a certain dish to pass.

There’s no single right or wrong decision when it comes to the foods and beverages for your baby shower. Just consider all of your options and make the decision that works best for you.

Attending a Christian Baby Shower – Perfect Gift Ideas

If you’re attending a baby shower, you have the opportunity to shower the new mother with gifts for the newest member to her family. If you’re going to a baby shower with a Christian theme, you may be wondering if you have to buy a specific type of gift. The good news is that Christian or not, babies need many of the same things, including diapers, blankets, socks and sleepers. In general, you’ll want to choose prints that aren’t offensive to the values of the expectant couple. But there are some baby shower gifts with a decidedly Christian theme that you might want to consider as a part of your gift.

A Christian child usually receives a Bible at his or her christening or baptism, usually a white bible to commemorate the occasion. So instead of choosing a traditional baptism Bible, consider giving a children's story Bible – perhaps one designed to be read aloud. There are also a number of beginner and children's Bibles you can choose from. Many religious bookstores also sell CDs of Christian lullabies and Christian music for children that also make wonderful shower gifts.

Religious jewelry may also be appropriate, from a cross necklace or bracelet or, if the expectant mom is Catholic, a rosary. Also consider a charm for a charm bracelet. Guardian angels are a popular theme for Christian baby shower gifts. You can also purchase guardian angel prints, blankets or other decorative elements. Jewelry or keepsake boxes are often decorated with religious symbols and make great baby shower gifts. You might also purchase a cross or other religious themed artwork to adorn the nursery wall. Consider also other symbols of the Christian faith, including the shamrock, doves, crowns, lambs and grapes.

If you knit, crochet, embroider, quilt or sew, you might also consider making a prayer blanket for the new baby. These prayer blankets – cousins of the popular prayer shawls – are made by people who are actively praying for the recipient during the making of the item. According to the belief, the finished product carries with it their prayers and good wishes. You can include charms that further show your hopes for the child – just be sure they’re removable so the blanket can be washed and so that it doesn’t present a choking hazard.

Or, if you’re handy with scrapbooking or drawing, you might want to prepare a religious-themed baby book for the parents-to-be or give them a picture frame with a Christian-themed mat you’ve decorated. If you know calligraphy, you could also have a memorable Bible verse written on the frame.

In addition, there are vendors who sell Christian birth certificates. If the baby shower is held before the baby's birth when detailed information isn’t available, consider giving the expectant couple information about the certificate with a note that it will be delivered after the baby's birth.

And when it comes to toys, you’ll find that there are a number of different toys with Christian themes. For example, there are Noah's Ark toys, toy lambs and toy angels. There are a number of toys that even recite prayers for the child to learn.

Finally, another meaningful gift for a Christian baby shower is to make a gift in the baby's honor to the parents' church or in support of one of their favorite charities. They’ll certainly appreciate the thought that went into your contribution.

How To Choose Fun And Engaging Baby Shower Activities

If you’re hosting a baby shower, you'll need to plan some activities that give your guests an opportunity to interact with each other and with the expectant mom. These games and activities can be quite elaborate or very simple, depending on your particular tastes and interests.

For the average baby shower, you’ll probably want to plan about three to four games. You want the guests to be engaged in the activities and get to know one another – but overdo it with too many games, and the fun of the games becomes a chore.

One popular game is to give each guest a diaper pin to pin on her top, along with the instructions that she isn’t to say the word “baby.” If she says the word “baby,” and another guest catches her, that guest has the right to demand her diaper pin. The guest with the most pins wins a prize when the gifts are being opened. This is a classic game because it allows the guests to interact with each other, creates some friendly competition and makes it very amusing to hear the lengths people will go to to avoid saying the word “baby” at a “baby” shower!

Another fun game is to give each guest a length of string or yarn. Have the expectant mom stand in the center of the circle and model her “baby bump.” Then have each guest cut their string or yarn to the length they think will fit exactly around the expectant mom's middle. When everyone is ready, have the guests try their string. It’s usually very entertaining to see just how wrong some of the guesses are! The guest with the closest estimation wins a small gift – perhaps something made from yarn or a really nice apron for the winner to tie around her own middle.

Another game that’s very engaging requires some plates, spoons and several jars of baby food. In this case, baby food with similar colors – like peaches, apples, squash and carrots – works well. Out of sight of the guests, prepare several plates with samples of several different baby foods, all in the same order. All of the guests will need to sample the baby foods and guess what each of them is. You’ll find that it can be surprisingly difficult to tell what the various foods are.

Or, if you're daring enough, you can put samples of different baby foods into disposable diapers and pass the diapers around for guests to smell to see if they can determine what food the diaper contains! Whichever version of the game you choose, give a prize to the person who correctly identifies the most foods. You might want to have a tie breaker food or more than one prize in the event of a tie. A nice prize for this kind of game would be a small basket of fruit or a basket featuring all the ingredients used to prepare a recipe featuring one of the ingredients you’ve tasted.

What to Expect at Your Baby Shower

Congratulations! You're having a baby and some of your friends or family members are hosting a baby shower in your honor. Every baby shower is a little different, but the following information will give you a general idea of what you can expect to be included in your baby shower.

First, expect to be treated like the honored guest you are! Most of the time, the hostess or hostesses will provide you with a corsage or a special button, recognizing you as the guest of honor. Make sure someone takes a picture of you wearing it – you'll want to include this in your scrapbook or baby book.

Speaking of photographs, expect to have your photograph taken many, many times throughout the event, so be sure to wear some translucent powder to avoid a shiny face and add a bit of lip gloss so you'll look lovely in your photographs. Also, try to ask everyone to send you copies of the photographs for your scrapbook or upload them to a photo sharing site so everyone can see them. Better yet, give your camera to a guest and ask her to take pictures of you throughout the event.

You can also expect to play some baby shower games. One classic baby shower game is seeing who can cut a piece of string that’s exactly the right length to go around your tummy. Others include being able to name various flavors of baby food or to identify your adult guests from their baby pictures. At many showers, each guest will be given a diaper pin to wear when she arrives – anyone who catches her saying the word “baby” can take away her pin. The person who gathers the largest number of diaper pins wins a door prize.

And don’t forget about the food! Most baby showers include cake in some form – whether traditional cake, cupcakes or petit fours. Most events also include punch. Other edibles will be determined by the hostesses and the time of day the shower is being held. You might be having afternoon tea, hors d'oeuvres and snacks, or a full meal. If you have any special dietary requirements because of your pregnancy, be sure to let your hostesses know well in advance of the event.

Of course, one of the highlights of every baby shower is opening the gifts. Someone – usually the hostess or a friend – will help you keep up with each gift giver's identity and gift, usually by making a written list. In most cases, everyone will sit in a circle while the gifts are opened one at a time. Always be gracious and appreciative, thanking each giver when you open their gift –whether you like it or not. When you're finished opening all the gifts, give everyone a collective thank you again and be sure to thank your hostesses as well.

When the party is over, the hostesses will usually help you get all of your gifts into your car. Sometimes, they’ll give you some cake to take home with you as well. This is a good time for you to give the hostesses the gifts you purchased in advance for them to thank them for the shower, if you haven't already done so.

After the party is finished, get started on your written thank you notes right away. Ideally, you should finish and mail all of your thank you notes within two weeks – and you’ll definitely want to get them done before your delivery. You might want to take an afternoon to sit down and do them all at once, or you may prefer to write a handful each day. However you choose, try to get them all sent out as quickly as possible, before your bundle of joy arrives.

Decorating Baby Shower - Add Colors And Fun To The Joyful Celebration

Sometimes it seems like hardly a week goes by without someone you know having a baby shower. To keep your baby shower from getting lost among all the others and help it stand out, pick a color palette that’s not only pleasing to the eye, but fun and playful as well.

Of course, the knee jerk response is to do the entire party in pastels. If you're going to do pastels, do pastels. Ask all the guests to dress in white and consider using white wrapping paper to help set off your pastel accents. Choose white and pastel colored decorations and foods – for example, pair pale pink or blue streamers with matching icing on a white frosted cake. You might even let the white and pastel color choice inspire you to turn the shower into a refined and elegant tea party.

By the same token, if you know the gender of the baby, you can choose to go pink or blue with your shower decorations. Again, go all out. If the shower is going to be pink, let it be pink – from the pink cake with white frosting to the pink lemonade punch. Or, if the shower is going to be blue, let it be blue – from the blueberry dessert to the blue raspberry punch.

Or, are the expectant couple fans of any particular sports team? Do they have a special fondness for their college days? Then why not choose their team or school colors as your decorating theme. There's nothing wrong with a Fighting Irish or Hook ‘em Horns color theme for a baby shower.

Does the expectant couple have a favorite hobby or activity? If they like sailing or other water sports, why not break out the nautical flags and use sailing inspired colors? Are they fans of Western movies? How about cow prints and red bandannas for your decoration inspirations. Let the couple inspire you, even if it’s only to discover their favorite colors or the colors they’ve chosen for their nursery and incorporate these into the big event.

Bright colors have also become increasingly popular. Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland themes have become popular for parties and weddings and are usually decorated with vibrant, colorful banners and displays. Don’t be afraid to consider these bright and playful colors for your baby shower.

“A star is born” is another popular baby shower theme these days. But instead of just choosing midnight blue, go all out with a disco ball or a special light that shines constellations on the ceiling.

Jungle themed showers are also very popular. But instead of choosing jungle green as your primary color, consider going upscale with fun faux leopard print materials. This will bring an unexpected sense of playfulness to the celebration that your guests are sure to remember.

Or maybe you want to take your inspiration from the entire rainbow. And why not? This is the perfect time to fill your house a wide variety of color, with colorful throws on the back of the couch and rainbow-inspired refreshments.

Baby Shower Gift Ideas – Practical and Useful for the Parents-to-Be

If you've ever been to a baby shower, you know that the mother-to-be will get a number of beautiful and expensive outfits for her baby. But if she's lucky, the baby might get to wear them once. These kinds of gifts are lovely, but there are so many more practical things that a baby needs. In these cases, the mother may welcome more practical gifts instead.

If you've never had a baby, you might think practical gifts are boring. But ask any mother – the best gifts she received were likely the things that allowed her to care for her baby and the things she used on a frequent basis.

But fear not – gifts that are practical and useful don’t necessarily have to look utilitarian. For example, every new baby will need receiving blankets. These are available in a variety of colors, sizes and materials that are both stylish and functional. The same goes for practical sleepers and baby socks. Even a pack of stylish baby bibs can serve as a practical and fun baby shower gift.

One particularly useful gift is a pair of lingerie bags. Small baby items like socks have a way of getting lost in loads of laundry. Give the soon-to-be mom two lingerie bags – one can corral dirty socks while the other is in the wash. Include a note letting mom know why she's getting a lingerie bag and she'll think you're terribly clever.

Another useful and practical gift idea is to purchase clothing and supplies for the baby not as a newborn, but as a baby of a few months older. Many people will give mom newborn-size things, but as any mom will tell you, most babies outgrow newborn sizes very quickly – if they even fit at all! Think about what the season will be like six months after baby's arrival and buy some gifts targeted toward that age and size. The new mom will certainly enjoy having some new things for her baby then. You might also think ahead to the time when baby will begin eating baby food and provide the new parents with a baby food cookbook or equipment needed to make their own baby food.

In addition, new parents take lots and lots of pictures of their new baby and family. If the couple doesn't already own a digital camera, consider purchasing one for them. If they do own one, consider purchasing them a gift card to an online photograph printing site, like Snapfish. This will allow the new parents to do a little giving of their own – they’re sure to appreciate this thoughtful gift.

Another practical gift is a u-shaped pillow, which are often marketed as pillows for breastfeeding. Even if the mom to be isn’t planning to breastfeed, she and dad will find that the pillow provides wonderful support for them as they hold the baby for feeding. Later on, the baby can use the pillow when lying on the floor and learning to sit up.

Some Wonderful Ways to Honor the Memory of Baby's Baptism

If you are looking for great baptism or christening keepsakes that could create lifetime memories for the baby, there are several things that you need to take into your careful consideration. Everybody knows the popular items that make treasured keepsakes, but at the same time, there are many other ideas that might get overlooked. Following are some of those overlooked items that can make wonderful keepsakes.

Gown Or Outfit

When it comes to baptism or christening keepsakes, make sure that you choose heirloom quality fabric and take the proper storage measures. It will eventually help preserve the gown or outfit for future generations or just for a lasting remembrance.

Other Accessories

There are several accessories that can help you make great baptism keepsakes. These accessories can include shoes, socks, bib, blanket, bonnet, towel, headband, and boutonniere. All these items add an extra special touch to the gown or outfit and make great mementos.

Favors

When it comes to baptism ceremony, you should carefully choose the favors that are perfect for showing appreciation to guests and giving them a take-home token. It is much better if you get these favors personalized.

Certificate

If you are looking for a way to create a written record of the baptism or christening, certificate can be a great idea. The good thing is that you can also frame or display the same.

Bracelet

Baptism is the big day for the new arrival as well as for the mother, who after the long months of pregnancy is now happy to hold the most precious gift of nature in her arms. Therefore, nothing can be more precious and beautiful than a baby bracelet adorning the infant on this special day.

Personalized Gifts

It is not just baptism, but no matter whatever is the occasion, personalized gifts are always important and are appreciated by the receiver. After all, it is the best way to show how much you care. A personalized gift can be anything, such as photo album, photo frame, Bible, cross plaque, doll, prayer bear, or candle.

Share Of Stock With Framed Certificate

This can be a wonderful gift that will not only educate and grow with the child throughout their life, but the personalized frame will also commemorate the date of their baptism or christening.

Always remember that baptism is the beginning of the spiritual life of the baby. Therefore, do everything so that it should always be remembered. Overall, Keepsakes are a wonderful way to honor the memory of a baby's christening or baptism through the years as they grow, both physically and spiritually. 

Planning the Essential Baby Shower Supplies

If you’re hosting a baby shower, the time you spend planning will ensure that everything at the shower goes smoothly and that everyone has a good time at the event. Check out the following list of supplies you’ll need that are essential for a baby shower.

The first thing you’ll need is a planning checklist. This will help ensure that you can keep track of everything you need. Invitations are the first essential supply. These can be simple fill-in-the-blank invitations you purchase at your local mass market retailer or custom invitations you order from the printer – or anything in between. Along with the invitations, you’ll need envelopes, stamps, addresses and a way to track RSVPs.

You’ll also need supplies for decorating. This can be as simple or elaborate as you choose. At a minimum, you’ll probably want something to mark your home or front door to let guests know they’re at the right place. In most cases, this simply involves tying a group of balloons at the end of your driveway. You may also want to purchase streamers and other baby shower related decorations. If you’re on a budget, there may be items in your house you can re-purpose as decorations. Either way, note those items on your planning checklist, along with a deadline by which they need to be obtained.

And don’t forget about a centerpiece for the table where the food will be served. You can choose to have a cake or other special dessert as your centerpiece or you can use something else, such as flowers, a diaper cake or another type of centerpiece. While it isn’t necessary to purchase special plates, cups, napkins or table coverings to match your theme, these – along with serving pieces – are still supplies you’ll need. Refreshments are essential as well. At a minimum, you’ll need beverages and a dessert for your guests to enjoy. Light appetizers are also a good choice – especially if you’re on a budget. It’s also helpful to have some disposable plates and plastic wrap or some inexpensive storage containers on hand, so that you can give the mother-to-be some cake to take home with her.

You’ll also need to arrange for seating for all of your guests. This may involve rearranging your own furniture, or borrowing or renting additional chairs.

You’ll need to arrange a place for the presents to be placed as the guests arrive. This can be a bare table, but it will certainly add to the ambiance of the event to choose an attractive table cloth or some other form of decoration. Include these decorating items on your planning checklist.

And while it’s far from essential, it’s a good idea to provide the guest of honor with something to indicate her favored status. Many hostesses choose a corsage, button or sash for this purpose.

You’ll also want to have a pad of paper and a pen on hand to make notes of the gifts the mom receives along with the name of the giver. This information will be essential later on to the mother-to-be when she’s writing her thank you notes.

Finally, it’s a good idea to have some form of entertainment for your event. This can be as simple as having some music playing in the background or as complicated as arranging a number of fun baby shower games. If you do decide to play games, don’t forget to buy any necessary gifts and door prizes ahead of time.

Affordable Baby Shower Decorations

When you’re hosting a baby shower, expenses can quickly get out of hand if you aren’t careful! However, you don't want to skimp on creating an attractive setting for the baby shower. That's okay – with a little imagination and creativity, you can have a number of affordable baby shower decorations.

If you haven't already, you might want to think about a theme for the party. This will help you choose your colors and decorations. Some popular baby shower themes include umbrellas, ducks, teddy bears, peas in a pod – which is especially popular for multiples – or just babies in general. Let your theme help you choose a couple of signature colors.

You'll need a primary centerpiece for the main table. At most showers, this is the cake – whether it’s an edible cake or a diaper cake. Most bakeries can incorporate your theme into the cake design. You can also choose a non-edible centerpiece. Following with the theme ideas above, how about using a small upside-down umbrella filled with empty boxes wrapped in pastel shades as a centerpiece. Or, fill a baby bath tub, or even a large bowl, with water and float a few rubber duckies in it. You can also gather a group of baby toys, place them in a classic red wagon or doll cradle, and use that as your centerpiece. Of course, you don’t need to choose a theme that’s baby specific. Think about something that will be special for the mom-to-be and see if that gives you some inspiration.

To get ideas for your shower decorations, spend some time browsing online and at your local baby stores. Of course, you can also go to a party store for ideas, but if you're trying to save money, you may find that the things there are more expensive.

When it comes to plates, cups, and flatware, using your own reusable supplies is certainly less expensive than buying disposables. However, if you do plan to use disposables, remember that not everything has to match. Once the food is on the plate, the plate really doesn't show. In a similar fashion, the table cloth is mostly covered as well. Napkins and cups are more noticeable, so try to make sure that these items – at least – match your theme.

Balloons are a popular and inexpensive decoration. Consider tying them to the party favors and let them do double duty. You can also let other decorations double up as shower favors. For example, in the duck theme above, scatter enough about for each of the guests and invite them each to take one home.

In addition, banners made from baby socks or other baby items clipped to a ribbon are popular decorations that can also serve as a gift for the expectant mom. You can also get a cheap, personalized banner printed at Kinkos or any other printing company.

Finally, start shopping for decorations as early as you can. This will give you an opportunity to shop closeout sales and clearance items, and keep an eye on your local dollar stores. With a little imagination and patience, you can put together some wonderful baby shower decorations without spending lots of money.

Creating an Attractive and Appealing Baby Shower Invitation

When you send a baby shower invitation, you’re doing more than just giving information about the date, time and place of the shower. You're also giving guests a sense of what to expect, whether the event will be formal or casual, and what kind of theme they can expect. Fortunately, there are many ways to create attractive and appealing baby shower invitations.

You can, of course, purchase baby shower invitations at your local stationery store or mega mart. But why be limited? These days, you find so many designs and options online that you no longer need to be limited by what your local merchants offer.

When it comes to invitations, you have essentially four options:

•     You can order printed invitations.
•     You can purchase invitations that you fill out.
•     You can purchase do-it-yourself invitations and print them yourself.
•     You can do something entirely creative.

Ordering printed invitations is a great way to save time. When you’re searching for invitations, don't limit yourself just to baby shower invitation categories. There are a number of attractive birthday and wedding designs that would work just as well for a baby shower. For example, a wedding invitation with a damask background would work just as well as for a formal baby shower invitation. Choose some creative wording, a complementary ink color and you're ready to go.

In addition, most stationery stores and mega marts offer packages of baby shower invitations that come with blank spaces for you to fill out. This category probably represents the largest market share. If you take your time to choose an attractive design, these invitations can be very cute – and very easy to put together. Use a complementary ink color when filling out the invitations, and make sure your handwriting is legible. You might also add some extra oomph to the invitation by including a hand written note or by tossing in some baby shower themed confetti.

If you’re creative or know someone who is, you can purchase do-it-yourself invitation kits. These usually include blank invitations and matching envelopes. You just come up with your wording – samples are usually provided – and print the invitations using your laser printer. As you’ll soon see, there are a variety of different kits available to suit your shower theme.

Or, if you want invitations that are attractive and appealing, choose to do something original. For example, you might print an invitation and stuff it inside a plastic baby bottle, along with some baby shower themed confetti or other small decorative items, like plastic diaper pins. Tie a ribbon around the bottle and slip it in a mailing tube. You can bet that any guest that receives that invitation will clear space on her calendar!

If you know that the other guests coming to the baby shower are also creative, try sending them a solid color onesie along with their invitation and ask them to decorate it in some fashion and bring it along with their gift. You'll be giving the mother to be a wonderful gift and all of the guests show up just to see how the different onesies turned out!

Baby Blankets – Warm, Cozy and Durable

Baby blankets aren’t just an appropriate gift, but a wonderful addition to the arsenal of comfort for a newborn. And you have more choices than ever as to what and even how you’re going to provide a blanket for the little one.

To begin with, think about the babies themselves. A blanket that they can wrap up in tightly will offer a sense of security – think Linus from the old Peanut’s cartoon. That’s the standard to keep in mind as you buy the baby blanket.

Ask around and see if the newborn has any allergies that may preclude one type of blanket – for example, wool allergies may limit the type of blanket that will work for the newborn. The new parents will be glad to tell you or, if you can’t get a hold of them, consider playing it safe with a hypoallergenic blanket.

Fleece is a common choice that comes in a range of prices, styles and colors. It’s soft and durable and is a good basic choice for newborns. There are even fleece kits that will allow crafty baby shower guests to create their own blankets. And even though they’re known for their softness, the modern blend of fibers in fleece blankets makes them hardy and washable.

But let’s say that you want something a bit more special – perhaps even a bit exotic – that’s more eco-friendly. How about bamboo? Don’t worry – it isn’t at all woody or harsh. The fibers are treated, both mechanically and chemically, to soften them and allow them to be woven into a fabric that’s soft, durable and environmentally friendly.

There’s also cotton, another renewable resource and a fine option for baby blankets. Also, if you go with an organically-grown cotton, you’ll be as green as you are with the harder-to-find bamboo. And there’s nothing that breathes as well as cotton.

These natural fibers are going to breathe and be comfortable for the baby and the mother, so they should be a first choice. However, if you want to increase the durability and lower the price a bit, look at the many blends that are out there. Blanket manufacturers today choose from a variety of compositions and materials – each of which bring different characteristics. For example, a cotton and wool blend would be an excellent choice. There are some more exotic blends, too – there’s even an online supplier for a bamboo and wool blend if you’re feeling adventurous.

If durability is a primary concern – and with the demands of a new baby, it is a real concern – look for a label that says “machine washable.” The new parents will thank you for it.

Finally – here’s a special tip that will endear you to the new parents. Purchase two identical blankets. Favorite blankets get dirty and need frequent washing. If there are two identical blankets, then baby has one while the other one is in the wash. Trauma averted – and you look like a hero. Rotating the two blankets also means that if – heaven forbid – one is lost, there's one that looks the same that can take its place. Try to replace a well loved, often washed blanket with a new one, and you'll be very unsuccessful. Just tell the parents why you’re giving them two identical blankets and they'll think you are the wisest person on the planet.

Shower Gifts: Affordable Gift Ideas

If you are looking for affordable ideas for shower gifts, you have come to the right place. The following suggestions will certainly help you choose the gift that is perfect for the occasion and at the same time does not put much burden on your pocket. These suggestions can be much more helpful when you realize the fact that how many baby shower events you have to attend in a single year.

The Gift Of Time

One of the best and most inexpensive ideas for the shower gifts is to give the gift of time. For example, if you love spending time with the baby, you can give the expectant mother a coupon book that she can redeem for hours of childcare. After all, baby shower is just another name for pregnancy celebration.

Going To Baby Sales

Going to baby sales make another great idea if you are looking for some shower gifts that are perfect for the occasion yet come easily within your budget. You must remember that most department stores have really good sales two or three times a year. Therefore, if you are looking for something that holds quality yet inexpensive, this can be the best time to shop for your shopping for the baby gifts.

If You Do Not Know The Sex Of The Baby

If you are aware of the fact whether the baby is a boy or a girl, it becomes much easier for you to choose the gifts. Then, for a baby boy, you can choose something in blue, while in case of a baby girl, you can have something in pink. But, things become a little difficult when you do not know the sex of the baby. In such case, it is always prudent have something in white or yellow.

Making Shower Gifts Yourself

If you are a little crafty type, you can save some good bucks by making the shower gifts yourself. All you need to do is just put in a little creativity. This is always a good idea because this way, you can add a personal touch to the gift. A personalized gift is always great and is memorable for long. For example, you can offer to make the baby shower invitations and thank-you notes as your gifts. Other creative yet affordable ideas for gifts include making nursery painting or decorating, making the christening outfit, or designing a scrapbook for the new baby.

Overall, if you keep in mind the above things, you will certainly end up with shower gifts that are perfect for the occasion yet very inexpensive for you. 

Planning A Baby Shower

If someone close to you is expecting a baby, you may want to help celebrate this occasion by throwing a baby shower. Planning a baby shower isn’t difficult, but there are a number of details you'll need to consider.

First, talk with the expectant mom and tell her you’d like to give her a baby shower. Generally, she’ll be excited and accept your offer. There may be rare instances, however, when a shower is inappropriate or can only be held under special circumstances. For example, Jewish tradition says you don’t give gifts to the baby until after it is born. For a Jewish friend, you might want to postpone the baby shower until after the baby is born or plan a different kind of event for Mom.

Once you get the go ahead, you'll need to ask the guest of honor to start putting together a list of the people she’d like you to invite. If there’s a limit to the number of guests you can accommodate, be sure to let the guest of honor know that before she starts putting her list together. Only you know how large a party you can throw, both in terms of finances and physical location. For this reason, it’s common for several friends to come together to throw a baby shower, which lightens the work load and lessens the expense for each individual.

While the guest of honor is putting together her invitation information, you'll need to choose a date. Make sure the date is acceptable to the guest of honor and, if you’re reserving a space to hold the shower, that it’s available. Saturdays are popular days for showers – prime locations may book months in advance. You should hold the shower at least one month before the baby's due date, as many expectant mothers become very tired during their last month of pregnancy and will want some time to get the baby's nursery ready with all the wonderful things they receive.

Now is also good time to decide on a theme for the party – if you plan to use one. “Two peas in a pod,” for example, is a popular theme for a shower celebrating twins. You might also want to use an umbrella theme or a rubber duck theme – a look at invitations and party decorations will give you lots of inspiration. Decide on and purchase any decorations or other supplies you’ll need no later than one week before the shower.

Plan to send out the invitations about three weeks before the shower. This will give attendees plenty of time to clear their schedules and shop. Hopefully, the expectant mom will have registered at several stores – make sure you have this information to pass along to attendees.

You'll also need to plan refreshments to serve at the shower. Some form of cake is traditional, along with punch or other beverages. You might choose to serve appetizers and snacks or have an afternoon tea. And of course, it's a good idea to check with the expectant mom to see if she has any dietary considerations, such as an allergy or an aversion to particular types of foods.

And don’t forget to plan some entertainment for the shower. A few baby shower games are usually a good idea and you can get plenty of ideas from other women who have been to baby showers or by searching the Internet for baby shower games.

On the day of the shower, you'll need to decorate the shower space, prepare any foods and beverages and assemble any game supplies. Greet the guests as they arrive and show them where to place their gifts. At many showers, snacks are served while the guests are arriving. Games are then played, gifts are opened and then the cake is served. When the guest of honor is opening her gifts, someone should help her to write down the name of the gift and the person who gave it – she’ll need this information later to write her thank you notes.

How to Write Baby Shower Thank You Cards

When you’re the guest of honor at a baby shower, you may become so overwhelmed by people's generosity that you find yourself speechless. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to find yourself speechless when it comes time to write your think you cards, and that just won't do. The following is a simple formula that can help you write your baby shower thank you cards after your big event.

First of all, remember that all thank you cards should be written by hand – this is one time when you just can't use email. You can purchase packages of thank you cards at many locations, including stationery stores and large mega marts. You needn't use formal stationery for baby shower thank you cards – this is a great opportunity to choose one of the many fanciful and whimsical baby oriented designs. Make your thank you note writing experience really fun by choosing an ink pen in a coordinating color.

Before you get ready to write your notes, you'll need information on the gift, the gift giver and the address of the gift giver. You should have much of this information available from a list compiled at your baby shower; and your hostess will have everyone’s addresses from sending out the invitations.

Each thank you note should begin with a salutation. Address the gift giver the same way you would when talking to them in person. Therefore, if you call them by their first name in person, then address them by their first name in your thank you card.

After the salutation, thank the giver for the gift. Be specific as to the gift and be complimentary. For example, instead of, “Thank you for the gift,” say “Thank you for the lovely blue fleece baby blanket.” The only exception is if you were given a monetary gift. In this case, it isn’t necessary to mention the amount specifically – just thank the giver for her generosity.

Next, mention something you like about the gift or how you see yourself using the gift. For example, “This shade of blue perfectly matches the baby's car seat and will look wonderful keeping him warm on chilly mornings.”

At this point, you can add a personal comment to the thank you card. For example, you might say, “I am so excited this little one will be here soon and can't wait for you to meet him.” Or, you might say, “Seeing you at the shower was really wonderful; I'm so glad you were able to come and celebrate with me.”

In closing, you can thank the giver again and choose a closing based on your level of intimacy with the giver. “Sincerely” is very formal and impersonal, while “Love” is very personal. Closings such as “Best wishes,” “Thanks again,” and “Fondly,” are less formal and friendly choices. Place the thank you note in an addressed envelope; add a stamp, and this thank you note is ready to go! Keep a list of who needs to receive thank you notes and mark off each note as you complete it.

In addition to these thank you cards, be sure to send a special note of thanks to those who hosted the shower and tell them how much you appreciated their thoughtfulness and hard work. You can include this with a thank you note for their gift if they also gave you a gift.

Finally, plan to complete your thank you notes within a week after your baby shower. If you need help, ask your partner to help you complete the thank you notes and get them in the mail. Try to have all of the thank you notes taken care of before your baby is born – you certainly won’t have time once your bundle of joy arrives!

Save Money on Baby Shower Cards

When you’re hosting a baby shower, you can keep your expenses in check by choosing to make your own baby shower cards. Depending on your level of crafting skill, you can purchase preprinted cards to fill in or even make your own cards. Another option is to personalize your cards through your choice of postage.

The most expensive card option is to order custom printed cards. However, with the advent of modern color printers, you can reproduce the look of custom printed cards in your own home using simple graphics programs. You can use software specifically made for card designing or just get creative with the colors and fonts in your word processing software. In addition, there are a number of sites online that will allow you to design free baby shower cards and invitations. Choose quality paper for best results and allow the ink plenty of time to dry before mailing your cards. If you don't have a color printer, check with your local Kinko's or photocopying store. Most have computers you can use for a fee, as well as printers and color photocopiers to create your cards.

Another option is to create your own cards through an established service. For example, Hallmark – well known for its cards – allows you to personalize cards directly on their site. You can even upload photographs for a truly personal touch. When you’re finished, you can have the cards shipped to you for mailing or they’ll mail them out for you for no additional charge above postage.

You can also buy preprinted baby shower cards to fill in. These are inexpensive and available in a variety of designs and themes. Check with your local party store – they’re often available in styles that will coordinate with your shower theme.

You could also choose a simple, solid color baby shower card and let your postage be your accent. You have to pay for postage anyway, so why not pay a small bit more and choose personalized postage? You can choose from a variety of stock designs or upload your own photograph through a website like Stamps.com. A custom postage stamp on even a plain white postcard will certainly make for a memorable card.

Speaking of postage, don’t forget that you can save money on invitations by emailing them instead of sending them via traditional mail.

But for a truly one-of-a-kind card, allow your own creativity to flow. You can purchase simple, blank cards from a variety of sources and decorate them using rubber stamps, ribbon, paint, appliques, embroidery or any number of craft items. If you’re skilled at handwriting, you might try your hand at calligraphy. Even a pre-printed card can be upgraded and given a personal touch with the addition of ribbons, stickers or other inexpensive accents.

Whatever kind of baby shower card you use, remember to set aside a few for the guest of honor to use in her baby book. In addition, if you’re creating custom cards, you might consider creating companion thank you cards as a gift for the mom. After all, she’ll soon be writing lots and lots of thank you notes!

Stimulating Baby Toys

For a baby, play is about more than just passing the time in a pleasant manner. Play is how babies learn about the world around them and develop their mental, physical and intellectual skills. By choosing stimulating baby toys, you can help your baby do all this and still have fun at the same time.

When your baby is born, her visual acuity is limited. Consequently, you’ll see a number of toys for very young infants that are red, black, and white in color, because these colors provide high contrast and are easy for young, developing eyes to focus on.

As your baby begins to learn that she can control her movements, toys that she can interact with provide a beginning lesson in cause and effect. Babies love rattles, and eventually learn that when they move the rattle, it produces sound. There are also toys that are designed so you’re your baby can lie under them and interact with them by moving her hands or feet – these toys are often called play gyms or baby gyms. Not only do these help your baby grow intellectually, they encourage her to move more, developing physical skills and coordination.

Teething toys in a variety of textures are also a popular choice, and for good reason – in an infant, the neural pathways leading from the mouth to the brain are more developed than the neural pathways leading from the eyes to the brain. Because of this, a baby can more easily recognize an object by chewing on it than she can by seeing it. However, interesting textures aren’t only stimulating to the brain – they also help provide comfort to swollen and irritated gums. This is another lesson in cause and effect, because your baby learns – even if only at a subconscious level at this point – that she has some control over how she feels.

Texture is important in other toys as well. Babies love the silken feel of smooth wood, the rubbery texture of toys made of silicone, and the furry texture of blankets and stuffed animals. Babies also love to see things that change – think of the classic jack-in-the-box – and enjoy hearing toys that have sound or make music.

As your baby gets older and is able to sit up in the bath, you’ll find that she especially enjoys having some bath toys. Water is an entirely different medium for children to explore and they certainly enjoy doing so. From foam letters and numbers that stick to the wall, to rubber ducks that float and squirt, to different containers for dumping out water, your child will enjoy playing in the bath – with the right toys, she may even hate to get out!

Of course, one stimulating toy you must not overlook amongst all the flashing lights and moving parts is the most amazing toy your child will ever discover – her imagination. Be sure to choose toys that allow your child to use her imagination in new and creative ways. Building an effective imagination will help your child not only enjoy her play time more, but will help her as she grows and develops into a child and an adult.

Baby Toy - Choosing The Most Suitable Toy For Your Baby

One of the great things about having babies in our lives – whether they’re our own or those of family members and friends – is that we get to buy toys for them. Sometimes it’s really tempting to buy the toys that we like best, but when it comes to buying a toy for a baby, suitability has to be a primary consideration.

Most toys come with a recommended age range marked right on the package or tag. Lest you think that a toy is fine for your younger child – who’s clearly more brilliant than all the other children her age – you should realize that those recommended age ranges also indicate the ages for which a toy is safe. Children under three, for example, tend to put things in their mouth without thinking. Many toys aren’t suitable for the “under three” age group because they present potential choking hazards. Older children are less likely to put items in their mouths, and because they’re physically larger, small toys are less likely to lead to choking.

Fine motor skills should be another consideration. If you choose a toy for the wrong age group, the child may not enjoy it either because she can’t operate it properly or because it’s too simple and doesn’t provide any challenge. Choose a toy that helps the child develop the skills that are appropriate for her age group.

Suitable toys should also be made of suitable materials. These days, we’re learning more and more about certain plastics that have the potential to be dangerous. Always check toy labels to find out what the toys are made from. Wooden toys are a popular choice, but you’ll want to choose toys that are finished with wood-grade wax or non-toxic paints.

Hand me down toys are also popular, but must be evaluated with a critical eye. Could the toy be made of materials that are no longer safe, either because we know more now or because the materials are showing signs of wear? Are there pieces or parts of the toy that could become detached and present a choking hazard? Is the toy itself a choking hazard? You might find it helpful to use the Internet to do a search on the toy to make sure it hasn’t been the subject of a recall since it was purchased.

Other considerations also apply to new toys. For example, is the toy well-made or are there edges that could be dangerous? If there’s stitching on the toy, it is tight and secure? Even loose threads can prove dangerous in children’s tiny fingers. If the toy makes sound, is there a way to control the volume? Many toys can be surprisingly loud for little ears.

More than anything else, a suitable toy is one that will engage your baby and help her develop the skills she’ll need as she grows. The best toys provide a variety of textures and colors for your child to feel, see and explore as she grows and develops. 

Creative Baby Gifts You Can Make at Home

One of the many advantages of giving a handmade gift is that you can be pretty much certain that your gift will be a one-of-a-kind gift that will be treasured by the mom-to-be! Whatever your level of talent, there are a number of creative baby gifts you can make at home.

These days, many parents know the gender of their baby before it arrives. This makes it easier to choose colors when you’re making your own shower gifts. In addition, the parents-to-be may have already decided on a theme for the baby's nursery – you can consider this as well when you’re planning your gift.

First, consider the skills you have. For example, many people who knit, crochet, sew or quilt often choose to make baby blankets or other items of clothing. Personalized birth samplers or other decorative items are a favorite of those who do needlework, including cross stitch, needlepoint or embroidery. If you have any of these types of skills – and even if you don't – it can be easy to personalize and customize ready-made items. For example, you may decide to add ribbons or an appliqué to a purchased baby blanket.

Or, perhaps your talents lean more towards scrapbooking. If this is the case, you can make a custom baby book that only needs to be updated with dates and photographs. You could also wait until after the baby is born to prepare a special “welcome baby” page and have it attractively framed as your gift. You could also put together a special scrapbook or photo album of the parents and their courtship as a memento of their changing family.

If you have the ability to draw, you can make a variety of different gifts. For example, you might want to customize several “onesies” for the baby using fabric paint. Or perhaps you’d like to draw a special piece of art inspired by the meaning of the baby's name.

On the other hand, if cooking is your passion, think about making some meals for the happy couple to enjoy during those hectic days right after baby's birth. Any mother-to-be will feel good knowing that there’s healthy, delicious food in her freezer.

Another much appreciated baby gift is a collection of baby toiletries, which you can place in an attractive container and decorate any way you like. For example, you could put together a lovely basket full of baby bath, baby lotion, baby oil, baby shampoo, baby powder and more. You could also put together a first aid kit especially designed with babies in mind. For this, include things like a thermometer, infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen drops, anti-gas drops, cotton swabs, teething tablets, small nail clippers and infant electrolyte solution. A collection of nursing supplies is also a good idea, although whether the mom-to-be is planning to breastfeed or use formula will obviously change the contents of that gift. And finally, don't forget mom either – many moms can use some special pampering during this time, so consider some bubble bath, scented lotion and a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure!

Clearly, the number of creative baby gifts you can make is unlimited. Spend some time looking at shops and websites that sell things for babies and you’ll soon find that the most difficult thing is choosing what to make!

Making Your Baby Gift Memorable

When a mother-to-be attends her baby shower, she’s usually pleasantly overwhelmed at the outpouring of gifts she receives. But if you want your gift to be one that she remembers above all the rest, check out the following ideas you can try.

First, try giving her exactly what she wants. Chances are she spent a lot of time deciding what to put on her registry. If you know the mom-to-be, you can probably look at the things on her registry and see something that strikes you as being a quintessential example of her personality or taste. That's the gift to buy – she'll likely be thrilled to get the thing she was secretly hoping someone would give her.

In the same vein, be careful not to give her things she doesn't want. For example, if she’s planning to breastfeed, she may not want any bottles or may only want a specific type. And while a few disposable diapers can come in handy for moms who plan to use cloth diapers, a new mom may not know that and can – in her increased hormonal state – think your gift of disposable diapers is somehow a negative comment on her choice.

In addition, personalized gifts are always memorable. However, if you choose to go this route, make very sure that you get the spelling of the baby's name correct. For example, is it Cathleen or Kathleen? Is it Landon or Landyn? You don't want to be remembered as the one who gave the new mom a misspelled present!

On the other hand, the most memorable gifts sometimes come after the baby is born. In a household with a new baby, there’s always work to be done, including laundry, dishes, sweeping, changing bed linens, buying groceries and running errands. Everyone offers to help, but few people actually show up with a hot meal, or come with a basket of laundry supplies and insist on doing several loads of laundry while the new mom enjoys spending time with her baby.

However, when you do come to help, spend your time helping with the housework and let mom enjoy her baby – unless she specifically asks you to watch the baby while she naps. Everyone wants to babysit and leave the hard work to mom, so doing the hard work for her and letting her enjoy her baby will really make your gift memorable.

Finally, one of the best ways to make your gift memorable is to make it unique – something only you could give. For example, you might want to knit, crochet or sew a one-of-a-kind baby blanket. Or, if your talent lends itself more to drawing, how about a picture for the baby's nursery? Scrap-bookers can make baby books or welcome announcements for framing. Those handy in the kitchen can prepare meals for after the baby's arrival. Even if you aren't very creative, you can write a letter to the baby, telling them about how you met their parents and sharing a memorable anecdote. That’s a gift that’s sure to be treasured!

Saving Big on Baby Clothes

Who are you really buying baby clothes for? That may seem like a simple question, but the answer may surprise you. The funny thing is, your baby doesn’t actually care what she looks like – she wants comfort above all else. So is that one hundred dollar romper really necessary?

Of course, I’m not suggesting dressing your baby in sack cloth. Your notions of style and cuteness should still hold sway in your clothing decisions. But functionality and comfort should be a more important guideline now than at any other time in a person’s life. If you use that to drive the clothing decisions you make for your baby, you should be able to strike a balance between cost, comfort and style.

A good place to begin is by calling around among your friends and relatives and claiming some of those old baby clothes that they might have lying around. These outgrown clothes will still have a lot of life left in them and you’ll probably get them as a gift – a price you definitely can’t beat.

The next best thing is to try is the thrift stores – not just one, but several. Also, go to thrift stores in different parts of town. They’ll have a different selection and may give you a wider choice of clothing. Especially seek out the ones associated with larger, more established churches or places of worship, as well as those in the more affluent neighborhoods. You’ll be surprised at the deals you can get on really high quality baby clothes. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find a $50 romper from last year on sale for about a tenth of that price in these stores.

Also, find out if the larger churches in your area hold consignment sales. Many do, and this is a great way to save money and have it go toward a good cause.

In addition, in most regions of the country, you can find outlet malls. They have overstocked and discontinued lines from the major manufacturers and this often includes baby clothes. Brand new, name brand clothes are on sale here for a fraction of the retail cost. It’s a good idea to seek out such places – even if it is a bit of a drive, the savings will be worth it.

If driving long distances to spend a day comparing bargains isn’t your thing, there’s also the option of Internet auction sites. The range of items that are offered there is truly staggering. And as for baby clothes, there are as many options as there are bidders. Just be well acquainted with the rules of the site and know that you’re buying the clothes “as is.” The major sites allow buyers to rate the sellers, so sticking with a highly rated seller should offer you some protection against a bad deal. In addition, most sellers are happy to display photographs and let you know if there are any flaws in used items. You may even be able to buy new items at these auction sites as well.

The great thing about the auction sites is that they allow you set a price and not spend a penny more. The danger, though, is that you can succumb to the excitement of an auction and spend more than you intended – or more than that seriously cute top is really worth. A bit of judgment and restraint will go a long way, as will taking careful notice of the buyer’s shipping costs before you bid.

Economical Baby Shower Invitations – Money Saving Tips

When you add up the invitations, decorations, food, beverages and gifts, baby showers can be expensive – why not save money where you can? Even if you’re working with a tight budget or have a lot of guests to consider, you can still plan a wonderful event without spending a fortune. You can save money on baby shower invitations in particular by taking advantage of these money saving tips.

One of the ways you can save money is to use electronic baby shower invitations instead of mailed cards. In this day and age, most people have at least one email address they check regularly, although if you do have guests to invite who don’t have email access, you can send them invitations or call them by telephone to invite them. Emailed invitations can be as simple as a text message with the pertinent details or as complicated as an HTML and graphics based announcement.

You can even avail yourself of a number of party planning sites that will allow your guests to RSVP online; this is great for the party-planning hostess on the move. You may even be able to check your RSVP list using your cell phone, which can really save time and money when you’re out and about. If you’re feeling creative, you can send animated invitations or invitations featuring music or video. You can even send IM or text message reminders to those folks who haven't yet responded.

With just a little Internet searching, you’ll also find a number of websites that offer free baby shower invitations that you can customize and print out at home. This is a great way to create custom invitations at a fraction of the cost. You can download “fill in the blank” style invitations or just art and templates that allow you to use your own wording and design style. You can save the invitations and send them to the guests electronically or you can print them out at home using your own printer and paper.

If you don’t have a printer or want a slightly more professional option, you can save them to a flash drive and print them off at your local office supply or printing store. Many printing stores will also help you with the folding and trimming at no cost. You might consider using a border punch or edging scissors (check out the scrapbooking section at your local craft store) to add another design element. You can also upload the completed invitation to a photo site like Snapfish or Walgreens and order prints of the invitation at very reasonable prices.

As another option, ask the mother-to-be where she’s registered for baby shower gifts. Some stores provide baby shower invitations free of charge to mothers-to-be who register at their stores. Using these will certainly save you some money!

Or, if you’re crafty, you can create your own invitations at home using scrapbooking supplies, rubber stamps, or any number of crafting styles and ideas. Plain paper or card stock decorated with ribbon is simple and inexpensive, yet can be a very striking invitation.

If you want something unique, consider visiting your local thrift stores for baby t-shirts, bibs or onesies. You can often find these very inexpensively – usually several items for a dollar. Using a permanent marker like a Sharpie, write the shower invitation on the baby clothing and mail them to your guests. They’re sure to be one-of-a-kind invitations your guests won’t soon forget.

Finally, while mass market retailers often have multipacks of invitations that are available inexpensively, don’t overlook specialty stationery stores. They often have clearance aisles where you can save some serious money on your baby shower invitations. 

Diaper Cake: A Fun And Useful Gift For The Expectant Mother

A diaper cake has become increasingly popular atpregnancy celebration parties. You can create a beautiful centerpiece for your baby shower or an unforgettable gift for the new mom to be. All it requires is your little time and effort and you will end up with a gift that is memorable not only for the baby shower party but also for the mom-to-be.

A diaper cake does not only make a fantastic centerpiece for any baby shower party, but it is also a very nice gift that the new mom will find useful. If you are looking for a great gift for a new mom, it is always a good idea to present this cake. However, you must be aware of the basics if you want to make this cake yourself. Let me give you an insight into the same.

Size

The first thing that you have to decide is the size of the cake. It is the eventually the size of the cake that will determine the number of diapers you require. As per the general guidelines, for top tier, you require five to six diapers, for the second tier, you require at least 15 diapers, and for the third tier, thirty.

Making The Bottom Layer

Once you know the number of diapers you require for the diaper cake, the next step is to roll the diapers vertically into cylinders. You can use scotch tape or rubber bands to hold the shape. Use safety pins or tape and attach the diapers together to make the bottom tiers. This way, the cylinder you form will represent the bottom layers of the cake. You can also attach the tiers to each other with adhesive or pins.

The Top Tier

Make sure that the top tier of the diaper cake contains a special item, such as a baby bottle keepsake or teddy bear. You can also pin stuffed animals to the top layer of the cake.

Decoration

You can use many other items to decorate the cake. For example, pacifiers, ribbons, and colored paper are some of the best decorative items. However, the final touch depends upon your creativity. So, do not hesitate blending your creativity with the cake. Using your creativity, you can also attach many other useful items or fun decorations to the cake.

Such a cake is a terrific centerpiece for baby showers. The reason why baby shower cakes are also known as diaper cakes is just because diapers are the main ingredients. Guests always laugh when they see a diaper cake and the expectant mom is thrilled to receive a very useful gift. 

Unique and Fabulous Baby Shower Invitations

When it comes to baby shower invitations these days, the sky is the limit. All you need to know is how many invitations you need and how much money you have to spend – from there, you can choose from a huge assortment of unique and fabulous baby shower invitations.

If you want your invitations to be unique, you aren't going to want to go to your local mega mart and pick up a package of “fill in the blank” invitations. However, if you look a little more at the mega mart, you may be surprised to find plenty of do it yourself invitation kits. You can choose from a variety of different styles that you can use in your home computer printer – they’ll look professionally-done, but without the cost associated with hiring a graphic designer for the work.

Of course, you can also choose to design the entire invitation online. There are a number of do it yourself invitation software packages to choose from, whether you need help with every step of the project or just need a place to get started. In fact, modern laser printers produce such wonderful quality materials that it really doesn't make sense to pay to have invitations printed any other way!

When you’re in your local craft store, be sure to check out all of the papers and stickers in the scrapbooking aisle – you’ll be amazed at the wide variety of supplies you’ll find there. You can use paper punches to decorate simple papers or add a decorative edge or you can use special stamps to give store bought invitations a personal touch. You really are limited only by your imagination and budget – if you need help with the former, there are plenty of online websites and magazines that can inspire you and provide step-by-step instructions on how to get started.

One really interesting idea for unique baby shower invitations involves those ubiquitous one piece baby garments known as onesies. You might want to print an invitation on paper, use a diaper pin to attach it to the onesie and mail the entire package to your guests. Or, if you're handy with a silk screen, you could silk screen the invitation directly onto the onesie. Another idea would be to include a onesie in each invitation and ask the guest to bring the decorated onesie to the shower as a gift for mom – your guests will have fun seeing all of the different designs people come up with. The onesies will make great additions to baby's wardrobe or even provide decoration for the baby's room!

If the weather is amenable, consider printing invitations to a “sweet shower” for the mom-to-be on a label you can wrap around a chocolate bar. Now there's an invitation your guests are sure to remember! However, if it’s too hot out, think again – no guest wants to find a dripping puddle of melting chocolate in the mailbox!

Whatever your level of crafting skill, you can find or make an invitation that will clearly express the joy you all share in celebrating the new arrival – you just need to think outside the box!

Baby Shower Favor Ideas – The Key to a Successful Baby Shower

When guests receive an invitation to your baby shower, they spend a lot of time shopping for just the right gift. They look forward to the shower itself with great anticipation. They enjoy showering the happy mother to be with their gifts and sharing with her the joy that having a baby brings. They’ll play games, laugh, eat delicious foods and have a wonderful time. You can make sure they leave the baby shower with more than just wonderful memories by choosing a memorable party favor.

A favor is a tangible remembrance of a shared event, such as a baby or wedding shower, a wedding or a special party. Favors can be a variety of items, from something as simple as a few cookies or a bottle of bubble soap, to a chrome bottle stopper or a crystal paper weight. The only limits you’ll face are your budget and imagination.

If you’re stuck for ideas, consider using your shower theme as an inspiration for the baby shower favor. Nesting and hatching are popular themes, and there are commercial favors available that play up these themes. “About to hatch” chickens are a popular design element for timers, whisks, salt and pepper shakers and other favors. Kitchen timers are also a popular choice for baby shower favors, playing on the waiting aspect of your pregnancy.

The season of the year can also inspire your baby shower favors. Spring and summer favors should be light, bright and colorful, while fall or winter favors can be richer in color and texture. Pots of fresh flowers or flower seeds would make good favors for a spring baby shower, while scarves or holiday themed keepsakes would be fitting for a winter shower.

In general, the favor should be something that the guest will really enjoy receiving. This is one reason why edible favors, such as cookies, candies or chocolates are such a perennial favorite. Shower favors that are useful are also a big hit. In general, the type of favors that are least enjoyed are decorative items. Everyone's decorating taste is different, so it can be hard to think of a decorative accent that will work with the decor of every guest's home. On the other hand, something like a luggage tag, picture frame, bottle stopper, coaster, measuring cup or kitchen timer will always find a useful role and will bring back fond memories when it’s used.

When you’re shopping for baby shower favors, look beyond the party section, although there are hundreds of wonderful ideas to be found there. You can find favor ideas almost anywhere in the store if you have a creative eye. For example, check out your local department store or craft fair – even the dollar store can be a source for great baby shower favors.

Finally, be sure to purchase extra favors so that you'll have a favor to keep for yourself and a few extras on hand for unexpected guests.

Baby Shower Gift Baskets - Welcome The New Arrival

When you’re choosing a baby shower gift, you’ll want to choose something that will both delight the mother-to-be and be useful in the days to come. A perfect choice is a baby shower gift basket. You can be creative with both the container and its contents and put together a gift that will be much appreciated by the mom-to-be.

The classic baby shower gift basket is just that – a basket filled with small gifts. But there’s no rule that says the container has to be an actual basket – there are plenty of other exciting options available today. The following are just a few ideas to help get your creative juices flowing.

The bath basket – Instead of a basket, choose a baby bath tub as your container. For contents, consider a baby towel, baby wash cloths, baby body wash, baby shampoo, baby lotion, baby oil, baby powder, cotton swabs, nail clippers, cotton balls and other toiletries. Be sure to include a bath toy or two for when baby is older. Other items to include might be faucet covers, no-slip tub mats, baby seats or a thermometer that helps mom and dad know when the bath water is just the right temperature.

The diaper basket – Whether the mom-to-be is planning to use cloth diapers or disposables, any new mom will welcome a diaper basket filled with diapering essentials. Diapering essentials could include a changing pad, a traveling changing pad, travel wipes, baby wipes for home use, diaper rash creams and ointments, baby powder, hand sanitizer and – of course – diaper pins. If you know what kind of diapers the mom will be using, include some diapers – these will be in short supply soon enough! The ideal container for these is any container you can wrap in white cloth – maybe a white receiving blanket – to resemble a diaper itself.

The toy basket – If you want to give the new baby something to play with, consider stashing a few toys inside a trash basket that will coordinate with baby's nursery. To help fill up the deep basket, consider placing a package of disposable diapers or baby wipes at the bottom. Another wonderful container for baby toys is a miniature red wagon. Any toy that can contain other toys can be used for a toy basket gift.

The health and safety basket – You can also put together a baby-oriented first aid kit. For a container, use a clear plastic container with a lid so that the items will be easy for the mom to see. Contents could include a digital thermometer, alcohol wipes for cleaning the thermometer, gauze, hand sanitizer, antiseptic spray, adhesive bandages, infant fever reducing drops, infant gas reducing drops, electrolyte replacement beverages designed especially for young children or teething tablets. This is the kind of gift that looks simple, but will definitely come in handy for the new mother. And because the container is simple, you have plenty of opportunities to decorate and embellish to your heart's content. 

Baby Shower Invitation Ideas - Set The Mood For The Party

Don’t be stuck with boring baby shower invitations – there are a wide variety of baby shower invitation ideas out there just waiting to be discovered. Remember, the invitation sets the tone for the entire shower and gives guests clues about what kind of event to expect, so take your time and be sure to choose something that’s truly memorable.

Now, the first thing you should do is keep in mind what kind of event you’re planning and what your budget is. If your finances will allow it, you can hire a professional party planner and let her guide you through the steps. But since these parties are usually marked by a personal touch, most people opt to do the invitations themselves. The following are some ideas that you can use as you put your personal touch on the party

Baby Bassinet Invitations

For these, shape the invitation like a baby bassinet with baby inside. You can follow tradition, using blue for boys and pink for girls, or you can experiment with fun colors that match the shower’s theme. In the case of twins, you can outline two bassinets on your invitation.

Baby Bib Invitations

Make the invitation shaped like a bib. Or, if you’re really creative, you can use special printer paper to transfer the party details to an actual bib. The invitations work regardless of the baby’s gender and are a real classic that goes with anything.

Baby Block Invitations

This is another idea that’s gender neutral. On this kind of invitation, the decorations are made from letter blocks and number blocks – whether these motifs are printed on the paper or actually cut out of paper.

Baby Bottle Invitations

Instead of a traditional envelope, the party guests would receive a baby bottle with party confetti and a rolled note, like a letter from the sea. It’s a new, innovative twist that guests are sure to remember.

Stork Invitations

Storks have long symbolized new birth, and carrying on this tradition makes stork invitations a unique and memorable baby shower invitation idea. There are several ways to incorporate this idea, from finding cards with a stork motif to the other extreme of sending a stuffed stork carrying the invitation to the guests. Don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild!

Cute Animals

Never underestimate the “cute factor” of a furry teddy bear or butterflies on your baby shower invitations. You can’t go wrong with using a cute baby animal as a invitation decoration, whether they’re just animal stamp patterns or actual mini stuffed animals that are mailed with the invitation.

Baby Item Invitations

If you feel that invitation cards are a bit passé, get creative with some craft pens and write on a bib and send that as an invitation. But the possibilities here are limited only by your imagination. How about a note attached to a toy? Or a rattle with the baby’s name painted on it? You could even decorate a baby onesie with the invitation details.

Photo Invitations

It’s never been easier to add personalized photographs to your baby shower invitations. But even if you don’t have any skill with a computer program like Photoshop, there are many places that will let you print copies of digital photos for pennies a piece. Print up some photos of the new mother and put them on your traditional invitation or go all out and create your own photo-filled invitations.