Homemade Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Last Saturday I hosted a baby shower for my friend Katelyn and her son Luca. Before Henry was born she crocheted an afghan for him - this was a true act of love as she is NOT a crafter let alone and crocheter. I decided I wanted to make a few special items for her, as well.

The above picture is a Memory Jar, given to me by Henry's Great Aunt (although she's only a few years older then me - I thought you'd appreciate me mentioning that Angela :)). I keep it in the living room and whenever Henry gets to that next milestone, does something cute or memorable, or I have a story/moment that I want to remember I jot it down on a note and place it in this jar. Then, when I have some time, I can easily fill in his baby album with the important information and dates.

This was an easy and extremely useful gift for a new mom. I bought the jar from Ikea and used scrapbook stickers and card stock paper for the notes. I attached a label similar to the one shown on which is written:

Baby books are great ideas,
but sometimes you’re too busy.
Living with a little one
can put you in a tizzy.
Milestones pass too fast at times
to find the proper page.
So, jot a note of each event
with date and baby’s age
(like “took 3 steps on March 1st or
teething-5th of December),
then drop it in this memory jar
to help you remember.

Above is a photo of the receiving blankets I made for Katelyn (as well as some other gifts). Receiving blankets are also a super easy gift to make and look pretty as gift wrap!

I simply purchased some cute flannelette's and using the blind hem foot (MY FAVOURITE!) on my sewing machine hemmed the fabric. I like to make my receiving blankets about a metre squared. This is larger then most receiving blankets, but the extra length and width is very practical. Anybody with a sewing machine, or a needle and thread, can do this.