Just Pick a Theme!

Got the baby gift and need to package it? How about a gift bag that is inexpensive, quick and unique? Let’s get started!

Here’s what you will need: a plain white gift bag  ( dollar store or craft store), curling ribbon, scissors, a glue stick or craft glue, oversized stickers from the dollar store or a roll of wallpaper border from the dollar store or home improvement center and plain white index cards for the gift tag . (The size of the index card will depend upon the width and length of the wallpaper border you’ve chosen.) Note: If you get wallpaper borders, choose the samples! Those are the basics. You can embellish the bag with buttons, crepe paper, Sizzix die cuts (craft store), scrapbooking embellishments (craft store), Wallies (home improvement store), stencils, felt stickers (craft store), novelty ribbon (images or wording), hem tape or rickrack (fabric  or craft store). Get creative and have fun! 

Gift Bags Featured Below:

• Fun Floral: Fill with girlie baby items.
• Counting Sheep: Fill with sleepytime gifts.
• Go, Go Cars: Fill with baby boy transportation themed items.

Matching Gift Cards!

Details: Fun Floral has large button centers. The blue borders on Counting Sheep were created with strips of crepe paper. Just had a fun thought! On Go, Go Cars rickrack borders would have inspired winding roadways.

Oh! Another thought! Use letter stickers (craft or office supply store) to create words to capture attention. For Go, Go Cars I could have added zoom, zoom, zoom at the bottom of the bag or for Counting Sheep, I could have added baaa, baaa. Lettering sets come in various colors, fonts and sizes. Click on “letter stickers” above to see a sampling. If you want phrases instead of a few words, try sticker phrases , rub-ons or rubber stamps. All three can be found in the scrapbooking aisle of your favorite craft store.

Now it’s time to Imagine That!

 Note: The links within the article are posted only for imaging purposes to give you an idea of what an item is and possible themes.

Themed Baby Announcement

I rediscovered some pressed flowersthat I’d put aside (some years ago).  To my credit, I did actually use some of the flowers on thank-you  cards way back when. Now, I was faced with the decision to keep them and use them or throw them away. I have a new mantra, “Use it or lose it.” So, I decided to photograph them and then toss the flowers. It was great fun placing the flowers into artful arrangements! If you do this, handle the flowers very carefully. They are quite fragile.  The leaves will be especially brittle.

What to do with the preserved images? Can I create a baby item from dried floral images? You bet!! 

I used Paint Shop Pro 7 to create these cards but you could use any graphics program to achieve similar results. To create your own pressed flower baby announcements, follow these steps.

• Pick flowers from your yard. Include weeds and wildflowers, too!
• Press the flowers. You can use old newspapers and a heavy book to weight the pages down or you can purchase a flower pressing kit.
• Be patient. It will take several days for the flowers to dry. The denser the flower, the longer it will take. Some flowers press better than others.
• After the flowers have dried, carefully lift them onto a sheet of white paper and arrange them to your satisfaction.
• Photograph each arrangement and download the photos onto your computer.
• Open your graphics program (CorelDraw, Paint Shop Pro, PhotoShop, The Gimp) and begin the fun!
• Select a pressed flower image. Add text, clipart, borders and perhaps some special effects. The results are limited only to your image resources, your graphics program capabilities and your imagination.

Pressed Flower Baby Announcement

I’d love to see your pressed flower creations! Post them here with a link.

If you’re wondering if you could use photos of living flowers or floral clipart, yes, you can, but the effect will be different.

Fingertip Inspiration

• Personalized Seed Packet Baby Shower Favors
• A Gallery of Handmade Gifts by Martha Stewart
• Pinwheel Hair Bow Tutorial
• Baby Blocks to Sew
• Boo Boo Buddy

Note: Reference Happy Accident 3.01.10

Here is the completed 3 paneled baby afghan. It was indeed a happy accident!

3 Paneled Baby Afghan