I am hoping some of you ladies can help me gather some ideas for a baby shower I am throwing for my sister in a few weeks. What I am looking for are ideas for a keepsake or something special that I can present her on that day. For example, generally my group of friends does what we call a blessing box for the person of honor, where we ask everyone at the shower (either wedding or baby) to write down a blessing, wish, or a word of advice on a little card and then it is placed in the box for the couple to read later and keep as a momento. It is a wonderful thing that we do, but what I would like to do is something a little different. I already did the blessing box for my sister when she got married, so I want to change it up. Does anyone have any ideas? She doesn't want games at her shower, so I thought I would do something like the blessing box to get everyone involved in place of the games. I would love it if you could give me ideas!
This is a lot of work and requires sewing, but have you considered a quilt? We did this for a friend, and each person made a square and then they were all sewn together. The squares were all cut from matching fabric, and there were guildelines (a theme), but basically everyone did it the way they wanted (embroydered, fabric paint, etc) and the finished product was very personal and unique. She loved it!
I don't know how talented everyone may or may not be in terms of knitting or crochet, but a new idea in baby showers I read about is buying yarn in various "baby" colors and providing knitting needles or crochet hooks in the appropriate size and have the guests knit or crochet a small block to piece together a baby blanket for the new arrival. If you get a slightly chunky weight yarn to be used with larger needles, a small block in garter stitch(say no more than 15 stitches across or so, knitting-wise, or a small granny square if people crochet) would be doable in a short amount of time even for novice knitters. Then you (or someone that is familiar with piecing a blanket, in case you are not)would put it together for the new mom and it would be a really special keepsake for her. Just an idea I read about that sounded really fun if you all happen to be a crafty bunch!
At the last baby shower I attended, the host gave us each a disposable diaper and a sharpie pen. We were asked to write the expectant parents a piece of child-rearing advice (ha ha- a pun) on the outside of diaper. I think I wrote something like "Take turns (mom one night, dad the next) getting up with the baby for feedings, etc. That way one parent gets a good night's sleep every other day". Instead of diapers, you could use paper like your blessing box or something else. The diapers got pretty bulky as we placed them in a basket. They could use the diapers though, but then the advice would disappear! I like the book idea. Maybe guests could write their advice and blessing in the book (as I think someone suggested).
What if you had everyone bring their favorite children's book to give to her. Then they could all tell why they love the book and she would have a great start to her collection for the baby? You could even type up what they say and glue it into the front of the book. For my last baby, they had a quilt ready for the guests to help tie and now when I look at that I remember the friends and family that helped with that.
J. SAHM of 6
I love the idea of the blessing box! How cool! What about doing it with easy to prepare recipes for after baby comes? Or helpful household hints that may not be common knowledge? Both would take prior preparations on the part of the guest, but you could mention it will be a surprise in the invitation. Maybe you could find some fun recipe cards or something for the recipes to be written on. Have fun. Sounds like it'll be a great shower!
I love the book idea - you can always use books! One thing that I have done for several showers is get some plain burp cloths and bibs and some fabric paint and let everyone decorate them for the baby. It is always fun to have something that is "made" esp for the baby and it is a neat keepsake.
I made my sister promise NOT to do any games at my baby shower. lol. So instead she cut out pieces of material and had fabric markers on hand and had everyone draw or write something and their name on a square. She then sewed it together with some colorful squares and my daughter has a quilt with the love of everyone who was at the shower. I love that blanket--it is really special to me as well.
My sisters-in-law bought a bunch of onesies in varying sizes and had guests paint with fabric paint. It was fun, and a great keepsake. My son (we did not know the sex at the time) has not worn any - I am going to make them into a blanket. It was AWESOME!
