Baby Gifts for BFF

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Baby, baby blanket, baby gift, baby gifts, baby shower, diaper bag, fleece blanket, Sewing, sewing project

I’ve recently heard from other moms that diaper bags are too frumpy, or they’re too small or that with the zipper you can’t easily open it and grab something when you’re on the way…

When my one BFF found out she was pregnant, I decided that I wanted to make her a cute diaper bag, bigger than most and with an easy access top. I decided to use faux leather to stitch together a diaper bag, that could double as a beach bag or something ex post (baby) facto. Overall, the bag’s shape turned out really well, the stitching is off in a few places, even using leather needles, the material was too tough for my lil’ sewing machine (ah, how I miss the machines at the costume shop). I used cute napkin rings to attach the straps to the bag. I think if I ever make one again, I’ll just sew the lining and use a strong bonding glue for the leather and maybe add a stiff insert between the lining and the exterior.

Finished Diaper Bag

Unfinished Pocketed Lining

I wanted to fill it with cute things for the baby; a Baby’s Memory Book, a cuddly teddy bear and I made a chocolate-brown changing pad and navy satin trimmed fleece blanket. I also filled it with a few diaper bag essentials, hand sanitizer and slim wipes case, diaper cream, alcohol wipes, diaper sacks and a grooming travel ring (with comb, brush, clippers and forehead temperature strips).

Diaper Bag Goodies

Since I had a lot to prepare for her shower, I didn’t get the diaper bag finished in time. I took it to her on Monday when I went to help her set up her nursery.

My BFF had her baby boy at 12:01am Wednesday morning. He is adorable and I’m thrilled for them. Congratulations Horst family!

What are your baby gift thoughts?

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My BFF’s Baby Shower

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appetizers on a stick, Baby, baby books, baby shower, baby shower theme, brownie bites, caprese kabob, Centerpieces, cupcake tree, cupcakes, hostess, hosting, lollipop bouquet, mini brownies, mini pizza, mini quiche, party appetizer, party food, shower food, skewer appetizer, strawberry rosebud bouquet, sweet and sour meatballs, teriyaki skewers

Don’t get confused, yes, I used a similar title for a earlier post. Same concept, my other best friend is the lucky mother-to-be this time. As soon as her pregnancy was confirmed, her sister and I began planning her baby shower (being the planners we were). We decided where to have it (church basement) and when (May). We both loved the build-a-library (look here for book suggestions) concept for the shower; every guest brings a baby book and writes a message for the baby inside, in lieu of a shower card. Her sister quickly selected invitations, decorations, plates and cutlery. We talked about the favors and food. We also made a pact not to play the gross poopy diaper game.

The main colors on the invitations were green and purple. Since my BFF is having a boy, I decided to incorporate the purple but play it down using more green and adding blue. I carried this color palette into the desserts and favors.

I thought it would be a good idea to serve tiny food to go along with the baby theme. Fingers food are always easy at showers and parties. I thought that sandwiches wouldn’t keep (if made ahead of time) or travel well. So I asked my BFF’s sister to order the sandwich trays for the shower and get the ice.

Menu

Desserts & Centerpieces
I immediately planned to make white chocolate lollipops in the form of baby carriages and baby bottles for the favors. My BFF is planning an

My BFF has an airplane theme for the nursery (her husband is a pilot) and I wanted to reflect that in the shower somehow. I found cute airplane candy molds and made airplane gummi candy in the shower colors.

I made chocolate topped pretzels (stolen idea from my other BFF’s sister) that continued the colors.

I planned to make chocolate covered strawberry rosebud bouquets for the table centerpieces. Having to travel further, I planned to make the chocolate dipped strawberries before the trip and wait to place them on skewers and arrange them until I got to the church. Then I dropped my vat of chocolate on the floor… I turned out to be plain strawberry rosebud bouquets instead.

Something I wanted to include, but didn’t have time to make was mini eclairs and mini cream puffs. They were store-bought and somehow didn’t disappear like the rest of my food.

Once again I got to pull out my cupcake tree and icing press, to make cupcakes that were just as appeasing to the eyes as they were to the palette.

Cute Cupcakes

I made brownie bites with cream cheese frosting (I believe the desserts are becoming my signature for baby showers).

Food & Snacks
I thought the vegetable tray would be very fun if it was stocked with baby veggies; baby carrots, baby corn, cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, baby and mini bell peppers. The veggies were served with my ranch dip which is way better than any store-bought dip and just as easy.

Baby Bell Peppers

The cheese tray included baby swiss, mini pepperoni, small crackers, baby goldfish.

I made grape and cheddar kabobs and served them with a honey lime yogurt dip (and idea stolen from my other BFF).

Caprese Kabobs were an easy was to turn the classic salad into a finger food.

Caprese Kabobs

I made mini Quiche ahead of time, as I could heat them quickly before serving. Some were turkey ham & cheddar, some were plain swiss.

The salmon puffs (one of my favorites) were a big hit and disappeared quickly.

Salmon Puffs

I served hot cocktail weenies in a sweet chilli sauce.

I prepped Teriyaki chicken skewers, marinated for 24 hours ahead of time. I grilled them before hand and heated them quickly before serving.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs were served, with three meatballs skewers on a stick.

I kept the hot food  warm using my buffet warming trays and chaffing dishes.

Tea sandwiches do not travel well, so I asked her sister to order a tray for the shower. I had baby gherkins and baby dill pickles to serve with them.

Beverages
I served lemonade and iced-tea in 3 gallon dispensers. I provided half pint water bottles and mini orange juice containers in an iced galvanized tub.

Several people asked me for my business card, many people asked for recipes and almost everyone complimented me on something they ate. The ultimate compliment I actually heard several times, “This is the nicest shower I’ve ever been to.” I so glad that my Bff’s sister and I were able to give that to the momma-to-be.

I’ll share some photos over the next few days.

Baby Blankets

Tags

Baby, baby afghan, baby blanket, baby gift, baby shower, baby shower gift, crib blanket, Crochet, crocheted blanket, fleece blanket, gift, gift giving, satin blanket binding, satin trim

I remember how much I loved the texture of my crocheted baby blanket against my skin as a child. I also remember the cold smooth satin trim on several of my other blankets. I remember tactile details throughout my life

Hubster’s cousin is having a baby boy in August and this afternoon (actually, now) is her baby shower. I made her two blankets, one crocheted, one fleece with satin trim. The main color in the nursery is between a spearmint green and light sage green, with lot’s of neutral tones.

For the crochet blanket, I used my size “I” crochet hook to double stitch 52 rows with 70 stitches.  I created a striped pattern with the spearmint, chocolate, cream and tan plush yarn (8 rows spearmint, 2 tan, 1 cream, 2 tan, 8 spearmint, 2 cream, 1 chocolate, 2 cream, 8 spearmint, 2 chocolate, 1 tan, 2 chocolate, 8 spearmint).

Conner's Crocheted Blanket

For the fleece blanket, I used a cream-colored fleece and chocolate satin blanket binding I used cream thread to create the contrast n the blanket binding.

Conner's Fleece Blanket w/Satin Trim

The blankets complement one another, so they can be used alone or apart. I also gave her two board books, my favorite children’s bedtime stories, Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. I folded the blankets, stacked the presents and tie them with a chocolate ribbon!

Looking forward to Connor’s arrival!

What do you remember from your early days? The smells? Tastes? Sounds? Or touches?

Monster Dolls 2

Tags

Baby, cute monsters, kid's dolls, Kids, monster doll, stuffed animal, toys

My nephew loved his monster dolls so much, that I decided to make fleece monster dolls for my friend’s twins’ first birthday Ayla & Zeki. I also wanted to make one for their older brother Aydin. Since Ayla is pretty much the only baby girl in my life, I had fun pulling out the pink fleece for one of her monster dolls. Other than the pink one, Pumpkin got to choose which monsters went to the kids.

Monster Horde

What do you think of my monster horde?

Monster Dolls

Tags

Baby, baby gift, children's dolls, children's toys, cute monsters, doll, felt dolls, fleece dolls, gift giving, gifts, kid's dolls, kid's toys, Kids, monster dolls, stuffed animal

It’ been a week since I last posted, we’re still trying to catch up for the wedding in NC last weekend. I have a few projects for the weekend, so hopefully I’ll post more.

I got the idea for these Monster Doll’s when I saw a cute onesie and bib at my BFF’s baby shower. My youngest nephew’s first birthday was the perfect opportunity to make him a cute monster doll (or two, or three…). His older brother just turned two in November and I decided to make enough for them to able to share. I thought it would be cute for them to have a small crowd of monsters.

After quickly sketching a few quick cute monsters, I cut their bodies out of fleece. I cut out their eyes, teeth and other features from fleece and felt, then stitched them on their faces with my sewing machine. Then placing wrong sides together I stitched together their bodies, leaving some room to stuff them. I trimmed the excess fabric, notched the curved edges, turned right side out, stuffed and stitched closed.