Someone you know is going to have, or recently had, a baby girl. You would like to give your friend or loved one a beautiful gift that shows you put a lot of thought and effort into it. Giving homemade gifts is one of the best ways to show you care.
The following ideas are sure to impress:
Purchase a white baby shirt and a pair of tiny white socks. Sew layers of gorgeous lace around the edge of the shirtsleeves, the bottom of the shirt, and around the cuffs of the socks. Add delicate bows and satin flowers to the neckline of the shirt and the outside of each sock (the sewing can be done by hand). To make an extra nice set, also purchase shirts and socks in other colors and treat the same way. Try powder blue, mint green, yellow and of course pink. Purchase a large shirt box and line it with tissue paper then lay the shirts out in a row with the coordinating socks on top of each shirt.
Buy two receiving blankets (or similar sized pieces of fabric) in matching print. Sew ruffled lace around three edges of one blanket, leaving the top free of lace. Set aside. Make a bib pattern from paper or poster board and trace it onto the backside of the second blanket, four times. Cut out the bib shapes. Make sure the “good” sides of the fabric are facing each other and sew two pieces together around the sides and neckline. Leave a few inches open at the bottom. Turn the bib right side out and stitch the bottom closed. Sew lace around the sides and bottom of the bib to decorate it and to hide stitches. Sew a ribbon to each side near the neckline for ties. You’ll have a custom receiving blanket and two bibs for a nice matching set.
A no-sew fleece blanket makes a great gift. Choose thick, soft fleece that is 56-60 inches wide. You will need one and one half yards of fleece in two different colors (or two pieces that size in the same color). Pastels are nice for baby girls. If you know what color the nursery is, choose a color that will coordinate with the existing bedding and furnishings. Lay one piece of fleece on top of the other, with the “good” sides facing out. Cut fringe around each edge of the fleece. Each strip of the fringe should be about one inch wide and four inches long. Tie all the fringe strips together and knot them to attach one piece of fleece to the other. You will have a cuddly two-ply fleece blanket to give, that only took minutes to make.
Make a gift basket. Fill a basket with all the things baby girls need. Purchase bibs, bottles, bonnets, teething ring, rattle, brush and comb set, barrettes, pacifier, booties, washcloth and hooded towel, and a fuzzy teddy bear. All of these items should be pink. You might want to throw in a package of diapers and baby wipes as well. Wrap the basket in a pink receiving blanket and tie the ends together at the top of the basket with a huge pink bow. Add curled ribbon and decorate the blanket by adding diaper pins here and there.
Create a beautiful picture on your computer and print it out on cardstock. You can print the baby’s name and what her name means, or her name and vital statistics. You can simply use the print as is, or use it a pattern so you can paint it. Place it in a gorgeous picture frame, or buy a plain frame and decorate it to taste.
