Giving a unique baby shower gift, especially on a budget can be hard to do. Of course, if you get creative, it can be fun and add life to the baby shower. There are lots of creative things you can do with items all new mom’s need, such as diapers, wash clothes, socks, and more. Many of these ideas let you choose how much money you are going to spend and allow you to control the budget while still providing an excellent and unique gift. If you want to go all out, see if you can do it with a friend. Then each of you can have fun decorating the gift and you can control the cost by splitting it!
Wash Clothes
Wash clothes are something we all need. Lets face it, before we had kids, we never knew that a baby could use so many in a single day. Now that they are here, we have to do laundry just for them, and it often includes lots of wash clothes. These ideas can be used alone and given or used as decorations on a larger gift. As always you can control how much or how little you spend and still give a great gift!
Wash Cloth Roses
The first item that you can consider making are wash cloth roses. If you make these as decorations you can add them to diaper cakes, diaper wreathes, or you can even use this as a great decoration on a package if you want to add just a touch of creativity or if you don’t have the time. These can be given by themselves as a bouquet. For the bouquet project you will need a bunch of silk flowers with very strong stems and a nice vase. You don’t have to worry about whether the silk flowers are pretty or not, after all you are going to pull the flowers off and add the wash cloth roses on the stems. For this project you can use either baby wash clothes or thin adult ones. You don’t want ones that are too heavy or they won’t be able to stay on the stems. If you are decorating with the roses you can use an wash clothes you want to give.
Lay your wash clothe flat. Fold in half and then in half again length wise so that you have a narrow, long wash cloth. Roll it on a slight angle to form the rose bud or flower (the bigger the angle the more flowering there will be, but watch it to figure out how you want it to look). Hold the roll in place and roll the bottom edges upward. This will make the last edge of your rose and hold your rose in place. These can be attached to the package or item being decorated or can be attached to the stems of the silk flower bunch by gently inserting the stem into the bottom center of the wash cloth rose. The bunch can be placed in the vase and you can choose to decorate the vase or leave it plain.
Wash Cloth Lollipops
Wash cloth lollipops can also be used to decorate other large items or even to decorate packages. For this project you can use any wash cloth. You are going to simply roll the wash cloth tightly. Once you have a wash cloth roll you will coil it into a lollipop shape. You can secure it with thread, double sided tape, glue dots, or safety pins. I like safety pins for gifts because tape and glue dots can pull the fibers or the wash cloth and sewing it together makes it hard for an unsuspecting mother. Once you lollipop has shape it is now time to add a craft or Popsicle stick. This can be tricky if you are worried about the wash cloth. Double sided tape is one option. I like to wrap my lollipop top and then tape the stick to the wrapper. It isn’t easy though. Either way your lollipop wrap can be colored cellophane or even colored saran wrap. Then you can tie a bow or ribbon around the base to finish it off. These can be used to make a lollipop bouquet or to fill a pot or planter.
Wash Cloth Bunnies
These can be filled and given as gifts or used to decorate. They are very cute. You can use any type of washcloth but baby wash clothes with decorative edges can be particularly appealing. For the bunny lay your wash cloth flat and fold diagonally. Then roll it up and bend it into a U. You will need to pick the wash cloth up and hold it two inches from the loose floppy ends. The U will be the back end of the bunny. Gently fold the front end up and use a clear rubber band to place over the front of the bunny. This should leave the ears pointed up and floppy and a clear visible “head”. You can decorate it with eyes and a nose, or colored pins for these items. Or leave it and add curling ribbon or a bow. At this point you can add goodies to the “body” of the bunny. This could be candies for the mom or it could be little gifts for the baby to come!
Diapers
Wash clothes aren’t the only really useful thing that can be used to make a creative gift. Diapers can also be used to add fun and interest. Additionally, what mom doesn’t need diapers? Even the mom that decides to go with cloth diapers can use disposables in a pinch or on the run! My two favorite diaper creations are the diaper cake, which has gotten really popular in recent times, and the diaper wreath. If you are on a budget the diaper wreath is definitely an inexpensive way to go.
The Diaper Cake
As I said, these have gotten very popular in recent times and can be purchased for fifty dollars or more, and that is for a very little cake. Or you can make your own and control your cost, the look, and the items used. You can make a diaper cake with one, two, or three layers. Your first decision is to figure out how many layers you want to have in your cake. Then you will need a board to work on. This can be something you cut out of a large box, you can try and hunt down something special, or you can see if a bakery will give you the base to a cake. You can even use a platter! If there is some that sticks out from under the cake this will give you more to decorate. You can wrap it with tissue paper or with wrapping paper to dress it up a little. Next you will roll all the diapers needed for your cake. Sometimes you have to do a little guess work since it all depends on how big of a cake you want and how many layers. Secure each diaper roll with a clear rubber band or curling ribbon. Next arrange them in a circle and tie with tight with ribbon. If doing a multi-layer cake it isn’t a bad idea to have a core, I like to use a baby bottle. Then add additional rows of diaper rolls around the first and tie each one tight. If doing a three layer cake you want two or three rows of diapers (depending on whether or not you have a core). The next layer is made the same way, but smaller, and placed on top of the layer below it. At this point you can decide to cover your rolled diapers with wash clothes, unrolled diapers, or receiving blankets, or you can leave the scalloped edge of the rolled diapers. You can decorate with the ribbon you used to tie the diapers. Or you can add small items such as toys, rattles, or even wash cloth roses, lollipops, or bunnies (or sock roses). There should be a cake topper, something that sets it all off. You can use any number of things, flowers, toys, or some of the other ideas mentioned above. This should take up the top of the cake and draw the eye to it. The cake is yours to decorate and to decide how much or how little goes into it (financially!).
The Diaper Wreath
A diaper wreath is just as attractive but can be much cheaper. You will need a styrofoam wreath base. Then you will open the diaper and wrap it around the wreath base. You can either tie or rubber band them at the top. This will give the wreath a ruffled look. Then add ribbon, toys, pacifiers, socks, and booties, or other small items to decorate your wreath.
Baby Sock Roses
Another special item that you can make is baby sock roses. These can be used for a bouquet or to decorate other items. Here you lay the sock flat and roll from the toe of the sock to the open end. Pay attention as the rose bud or flower appears and you can control the look you want. Hold it tight and fold up the bottom edges. These will form the last edge of the rose and hold the sock together. At this time you can either use them to decorate or you can make them into a bouquet. To do that you will add silk flower wire to the center of the flower. Push it as far into the rose as possible without damaging the sock. Then stretch out your floral tape and cut a piece about two feet long. Start at the middle of the sock and wrap the tape around it and down the wire. This has become your rose. You will then add it to a vase with other roses, and silk leaves for the finished touch. Adding ribbon to the vase gives it that perfect touch.
A Towel Cake
Instead of a diaper cake, you can do a towel cake in much the same way, only providing towels! Take two regular towels. They will be folded in half lengthwise and then in half again (lengthwise), so you have a long narrow strip of towel to work with. You are going to repeat this with the second towel only lay it end to end with the first. Roll the towel as tight as you can and keep going when you reach the second towel. Wrap it with ribbon and tie it tight. The second layer of the cake will be made with two hand towels and done in the same manner. Then the third cake will be made with two wash clothes. Your cake will need a base so you can assemble your layers onto it. Then you can decorate it how you see fit!
Baskets
Baskets can be made up with a variety of items. You can do a themed basket. The great thing about this type of gift is that you can also include items for the mom. If you do a bath theme you can add a rubber ducky, body wash and shampoo for the baby, bubble bath and bath salts for the mom. You can decorate your basket as you desire even adding wash cloth or sock roses, bunnies, or lollipops.
Getting Really Creative
You can also use baskets to get really creative. You can make a baby carriage full of useful items. This can with two large baskets, one with a handle and the second just smaller then the first. You are going to glue the smaller basket into the larger one so that it is a canopy on the basket of the carriage. Cover the basket with receiving blankets, and or clothing. You can fill the basket with a nice plush blanket. The wheels of the carriage can be made from round types of items rolled in receiving blankets, examples would be baby powder or bottles or a mix. The ends can be tied with ribbon. All blankets, clothing, wash clothes, bibs, and or booties that you use can be held in place with safety pins. In the basket you can place a doll or stuffed animal.
Each of these gifts can be given as is, or can be wrapped in cellophane. You can add bows, ribbons, and even balloons to make your package extra fun. The most important about making your own and creative gifts is to have fun, so don’t forget to do just that. Enjoy making the gift and giving it!
