Scrapbooking: The Baby Gift with Heart by Lisa A. Koosis
Diaper bags. Engraved silver picture frames. Cute little outfits covered in teddy bears and puppies. These are the tried-and-true classics when it comes to gifts for welcoming a baby into the world, the things every Mom-To-Be needs or wants, and no baby shower would be complete without them.
Still, there are times when you just want to give a gift that's a little bit different, something that will enable you to add your own personal touch. So if you're looking for a creative idea for a baby gift, you might not have to look further than your local crafts store.
The craft of scrapbooking has become a popular pastime over the past few years, a way to commemorate special events in your own personal way. For exactly that reason, scrapbooks make wonderful gifts for many occasions -- and what better occasion to give a gift of memory-safekeeping than the birth of a child?
When it comes to gift-giving, the great thing about scrapbooks is the sheer variety of supplies and choices. For those who are completely unfamiliar with the world of crafts, and who might find giving such a gift daunting, there are pre-made kits that include everything you need to start. Often those kits are geared specifically to certain occasions, such as a new baby and can even come in pink and blue.
For those looking to go the custom path, however, a scrapbooking gift is rich in possibilities. Most major craft stores have a minimum of one entire aisle and often more than one aisle dedicated to scrapbook supplies and other assorted paper crafts.
If you've decided to purchase a scrapbook as a baby gift, you'll want to make a trip to your local craft store. Although scrapbooks are available for purchase at major greeting card retailers, photo shops and even department stores, for selection, your best bet will be a craft store or a retail store that has a reasonable selection of craft products.
Scrapbooks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from pocket-size to others the size and shape of larger, coffee-table books, with a corresponding price range, so the amount you've decided to spend on your gift will potentially be a factor. Beyond that, the possibilities are still numerous -- color, texture, binding style, personalization, etcetera.
Once you've chosen the scrapbook, then it's time to accessorize. Accessories for scrapbooking are nearly limitless these days with some creative thinking. There are standard accessories available in the scrapbook and paper craft aisle of the store.
Essentials include the actual paper that will form the pages of the scrapbook, and these days even choosing the paper can be an adventure. Multi-colored packages of paper are available in varying sizes. Some scrapbooks don't actually come with pages included, so make sure, if your chosen scrapbook doesn't, to match the size of the paper to the size of your album so that the recipient will have pages to set directly into the scrapbook.
You can also purchase packages of assorted smaller sizes and shapes that make nice backgrounds and mats for individual photographs and keepsakes. Many craft stores also sell specialty papers that you can purchase by the sheet, mixing and matching as you see fit. Many of the papers are unique and beautiful and they vary in price.
Other essentials for the intended scrapbooker include stickers, rubber stamps and stamp pads, and photo-safe markers. There are also hole-punches in assorted shapes such as hearts and stars, glitter pens, specialty scissors that create artistic edges on paper, and assorted baubles for decoration, including specialty trims and item tags. Of course, you won't want to forget the basics such as glue, double-stick tape, and photo corners to keep the photos in place without ruining them. And why not include a few rolls of film, a disposable digital camera, or a gift certificate to the local photo-processing lab?
There are also other possibilities for those wanting to spend a little more money, such as software for designing scrapbook pages on the home computer, and even digital cameras and photo printers. The possibilities really are endless.
Finally, you'll want a basket, or a beautiful gift bag to make the presentation of your gift as pleasing as the gift itself.
This is also something that would make a wonderful gift for the sibling of a new baby, something interactive and fun, to encourage their involvement in the preservation of precious memories.
More than anything, this is a gift that's fun and functional and shows that a whole lot of thought went into it. And isn't that what gift-giving is really all about?
About the Author
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower
Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower by Susan Anderson
A baby shower can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer a new parent. Baby showers are a lot of fun, and can be a good first memory for the new parents. And of course, the obvious plus to the parents to be is all the great baby loot they get as well. Well planned baby showers can help save new parents a ton of money on baby necessities, often taking a lot of financial stress and worry away from them. There is nothing like finding out you are expecting, then your next thought being how can we provide everything a new baby will need.
As with planning any event or party, one of the most important things is organization. Having a clear plan and sticking to it will help ensure things go well, and that you, the host, can enjoy the baby shower along with the guests and new parents. You should also enlist all the help you can get, including any willing family members, friends, or co-workers that would like to help with hosting the shower. Having plenty of help will help take a lot of the stress off one person, and will also make it easier on everyone's wallet by all chipping in together.
Once you have decided to host a baby shower, and have enlisted all the help you think you will need, the first thing you should all do is sit down together and plan out a budget. Since all the hosts usually share the expense of the shower, they should all be included in the budget meeting. One of the first things to keep in mind when planning the budget is how many people are expected to attend. The more guests you have, the more party favors, food, utensils, etc. that you will need, thus making expenses rise. You should also decide where the shower will be located at, someone's home, a local restaurant, or favorite place. Some hosts will actually rent out a space for the shower, which isn't very cost effective, but can be good if you are expecting a large crowd. At this time you should also start to think about what type of food will be served, what type of games and party favors you will have, and they type of decorations you would like. Many baby shower hosts will go with a theme just to make things easier on the planning end of things, but keep in mind the parents needs and preferences when selecting one.
After the budget meeting, you should probably begin thinking about the guest list, as you will need to know an estimate of how many people to expect before any real planning can begin. Include the parents family into the planning of the guest list to ensure no one is left out on either side. Accidentally leaving someone off the invitation list can cause a lot of hurt feelings, and detract from the fun for the parents to be. Unless you are planning a surprise shower, it may even be a good idea to ask the prospective parents who they would like invited to the shower just to be absolutely certain you do not miss anyone.
Invitations should be sent out about a month before the date of the shower, to give everyone ample time to RSVP, and allow plenty of time for them to adjust work schedules to attend, purchase gifts, etc. Depending on your theme and budget, you can either purchase invitations, or make them yourself. There are lots of resources available online that can help you with making and printing off your own shower invitations, and many of these end up being more personal and nicer than the invitations available for purchase. It all depends on how much time and resources you have available to invest. Along with the shower invitation, you may want to include a list of items that the parents need, or a note telling guests where the parents have registered. This helps ensure that the parents get items they need and want, which is the whole intent of a shower after all. You may also want to purchase or make thank you cards for the mom at this time, as she will probably be too busy or not feel like doing this herself.
You should try to tailor the menu choices to suit the number of guests you expect, and maybe a little extra just in case. Depending on the time of day the shower is to be held, you may decide to do a full meal, or just snacks and finger-foods. Depending on the number of guests expected, you may come out better budget wise to have the shower catered, or have it at a local restaurant so you have someone to do the hard work for you. Either way, you should put a lot of effort into planning the menu, as it is a big part of a good baby shower.
Plan your decorations and games according to the baby shower theme if you have one. If you are on a tight budget, you can make a lot of your decorations yourself, using either clipart that you can find online, or just printing out some things that match your theme. There are many ideas for baby shower games online, but it is important to keep your guests in mind when deciding on the games to be played. Not everyone enjoys that type of thing, or being in the limelight.
The baby shower is a good time to welcome the new baby, and also make the parents to be feel loved and special as well. Few parents forget their baby shower, as it is often one of the first times they get together with family and friends to talk about and share information about their new little one. Make sure you take lots of pictures, to help preserve these memories for years to come.
About the Author
Susan Anderson enjoys writing articles for families and consumers which are informative and adds value to their lives. With a simple and down to earth writing style, these articles are suited for all audiences. BabyShowerFreebies.com
A baby shower can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer a new parent. Baby showers are a lot of fun, and can be a good first memory for the new parents. And of course, the obvious plus to the parents to be is all the great baby loot they get as well. Well planned baby showers can help save new parents a ton of money on baby necessities, often taking a lot of financial stress and worry away from them. There is nothing like finding out you are expecting, then your next thought being how can we provide everything a new baby will need.
As with planning any event or party, one of the most important things is organization. Having a clear plan and sticking to it will help ensure things go well, and that you, the host, can enjoy the baby shower along with the guests and new parents. You should also enlist all the help you can get, including any willing family members, friends, or co-workers that would like to help with hosting the shower. Having plenty of help will help take a lot of the stress off one person, and will also make it easier on everyone's wallet by all chipping in together.
Once you have decided to host a baby shower, and have enlisted all the help you think you will need, the first thing you should all do is sit down together and plan out a budget. Since all the hosts usually share the expense of the shower, they should all be included in the budget meeting. One of the first things to keep in mind when planning the budget is how many people are expected to attend. The more guests you have, the more party favors, food, utensils, etc. that you will need, thus making expenses rise. You should also decide where the shower will be located at, someone's home, a local restaurant, or favorite place. Some hosts will actually rent out a space for the shower, which isn't very cost effective, but can be good if you are expecting a large crowd. At this time you should also start to think about what type of food will be served, what type of games and party favors you will have, and they type of decorations you would like. Many baby shower hosts will go with a theme just to make things easier on the planning end of things, but keep in mind the parents needs and preferences when selecting one.
After the budget meeting, you should probably begin thinking about the guest list, as you will need to know an estimate of how many people to expect before any real planning can begin. Include the parents family into the planning of the guest list to ensure no one is left out on either side. Accidentally leaving someone off the invitation list can cause a lot of hurt feelings, and detract from the fun for the parents to be. Unless you are planning a surprise shower, it may even be a good idea to ask the prospective parents who they would like invited to the shower just to be absolutely certain you do not miss anyone.
Invitations should be sent out about a month before the date of the shower, to give everyone ample time to RSVP, and allow plenty of time for them to adjust work schedules to attend, purchase gifts, etc. Depending on your theme and budget, you can either purchase invitations, or make them yourself. There are lots of resources available online that can help you with making and printing off your own shower invitations, and many of these end up being more personal and nicer than the invitations available for purchase. It all depends on how much time and resources you have available to invest. Along with the shower invitation, you may want to include a list of items that the parents need, or a note telling guests where the parents have registered. This helps ensure that the parents get items they need and want, which is the whole intent of a shower after all. You may also want to purchase or make thank you cards for the mom at this time, as she will probably be too busy or not feel like doing this herself.
You should try to tailor the menu choices to suit the number of guests you expect, and maybe a little extra just in case. Depending on the time of day the shower is to be held, you may decide to do a full meal, or just snacks and finger-foods. Depending on the number of guests expected, you may come out better budget wise to have the shower catered, or have it at a local restaurant so you have someone to do the hard work for you. Either way, you should put a lot of effort into planning the menu, as it is a big part of a good baby shower.
Plan your decorations and games according to the baby shower theme if you have one. If you are on a tight budget, you can make a lot of your decorations yourself, using either clipart that you can find online, or just printing out some things that match your theme. There are many ideas for baby shower games online, but it is important to keep your guests in mind when deciding on the games to be played. Not everyone enjoys that type of thing, or being in the limelight.
The baby shower is a good time to welcome the new baby, and also make the parents to be feel loved and special as well. Few parents forget their baby shower, as it is often one of the first times they get together with family and friends to talk about and share information about their new little one. Make sure you take lots of pictures, to help preserve these memories for years to come.
About the Author
Susan Anderson enjoys writing articles for families and consumers which are informative and adds value to their lives. With a simple and down to earth writing style, these articles are suited for all audiences. BabyShowerFreebies.com
Sunday, August 06, 2006
10 Baby Shower Etiquette Questions Answered
10 Baby Shower Etiquette Questions Answered by Christina Cermak
A common worry about hosting a baby shower, as with any party, is to avoid any faux pas. Many people fail to realize that times change and what once was a no-no, is now the norm.
Who Should Host a Baby Shower?
At one time etiquette stated that mothers and sisters of the mom to be should not host a baby shower. The reason was that it looked as if the family was asking for gifts. That is not the case today. Anyone who is close to mom, or even dad to be, may host a baby shower.
Is It Acceptable to Host a Baby Shower for Second, Third or Fourth Child?
Yes. However, the guest list should be limited to the closest of family & friends, or guests who have not attended previous showers.
Who Should Be Invited?
Anyone who is close to mom or dad to be should be invited. Refrain from inviting every family member for fear of insulting someone. It is also acceptable to host a coed baby shower. This means that men and women, family and friends may be invited as long as they are close with the parents to be.
When Should a Baby Shower Take Place?
The baby shower should be held 1-2 months before the due date. This allows time for the parents to purchase necessary baby items before the baby is born.
Should I Have a Baby Shower Theme?
A baby shower theme is not necessary. However, having a theme ties the shower together nicely. Your theme can be as simple as colors (i.e., Pink or Blue We Welcome You), teddy bears, Noah's Ark, etc. Use the theme in decorations, favors or even the food.
When to Send Invitations?
You should send invitations by mail 3-4 weeks before the shower. Include an RSVP date of at least one week before the baby shower. This gives you a head count so you know how much food and beverages you need to purchase. It is also acceptable to phone or email invitations. If you send your invitations via email, be aware that some guests may not check their email often or the invitation may be caught in a spam filter.
Should I Include Gift Registry Information in the Invitation?
In my opinion, it is no longer a faux pas to provide guests with gift registry information if it is available. It has been my experience that guests are not offended by this information and that they find it helpful in choosing a gift. A gift registry helps to eliminate duplicate gifts. If you are hesitant about including gift registry information on the invitation don't stress about it. Just spread the information by word of mouth.
Do I Need Baby Shower Games?
Baby Showers last from 2-4 hours. You need some type of activity to fill up some time between eating and opening gifts. Baby Shower games and activities are also great ice breakers for guests who don't know each other. If you feel that your guests won't enjoy playing traditional baby shower games have them participate in another activity, such as, filling out baby advice cards for mom to be.
Should I Send Thank You Cards?
As host of the baby shower you do not need to send thank you cards to the guests for coming. You do need to thank guests for attending as they leave the shower.
Mom to be definitely needs to send thank you cards for any gifts she receives. It is important as host to have a volunteer write down what the gift is and the person who gave the gift. This will allow mom to be to personalize the thank you cards as she writes them.
A helpful hint is to print out address labels for your guests using a word processing program. Purchase thank you cards which coordinate with the baby shower theme. This will save mom to be time when she writes out her thank you cards.
Should I Invite Someone Who Has Recently Miscarried?
Do not exclude a guest because of a miscarriage. However, be sensitive to her needs. Let her know that she is invited but you understand if she chooses not to attend. If your guest has accepted the invitation but backs out at the last minute be understanding. She has been through a lot.
About the Author
Christina Cermak is owner of Baby Shower Depot. Baby Shower Depot offers baby shower games, baby diaper cakes, baby shower party supplies, baby shower favors, blog and more.
A common worry about hosting a baby shower, as with any party, is to avoid any faux pas. Many people fail to realize that times change and what once was a no-no, is now the norm.
Who Should Host a Baby Shower?
At one time etiquette stated that mothers and sisters of the mom to be should not host a baby shower. The reason was that it looked as if the family was asking for gifts. That is not the case today. Anyone who is close to mom, or even dad to be, may host a baby shower.
Is It Acceptable to Host a Baby Shower for Second, Third or Fourth Child?
Yes. However, the guest list should be limited to the closest of family & friends, or guests who have not attended previous showers.
Who Should Be Invited?
Anyone who is close to mom or dad to be should be invited. Refrain from inviting every family member for fear of insulting someone. It is also acceptable to host a coed baby shower. This means that men and women, family and friends may be invited as long as they are close with the parents to be.
When Should a Baby Shower Take Place?
The baby shower should be held 1-2 months before the due date. This allows time for the parents to purchase necessary baby items before the baby is born.
Should I Have a Baby Shower Theme?
A baby shower theme is not necessary. However, having a theme ties the shower together nicely. Your theme can be as simple as colors (i.e., Pink or Blue We Welcome You), teddy bears, Noah's Ark, etc. Use the theme in decorations, favors or even the food.
When to Send Invitations?
You should send invitations by mail 3-4 weeks before the shower. Include an RSVP date of at least one week before the baby shower. This gives you a head count so you know how much food and beverages you need to purchase. It is also acceptable to phone or email invitations. If you send your invitations via email, be aware that some guests may not check their email often or the invitation may be caught in a spam filter.
Should I Include Gift Registry Information in the Invitation?
In my opinion, it is no longer a faux pas to provide guests with gift registry information if it is available. It has been my experience that guests are not offended by this information and that they find it helpful in choosing a gift. A gift registry helps to eliminate duplicate gifts. If you are hesitant about including gift registry information on the invitation don't stress about it. Just spread the information by word of mouth.
Do I Need Baby Shower Games?
Baby Showers last from 2-4 hours. You need some type of activity to fill up some time between eating and opening gifts. Baby Shower games and activities are also great ice breakers for guests who don't know each other. If you feel that your guests won't enjoy playing traditional baby shower games have them participate in another activity, such as, filling out baby advice cards for mom to be.
Should I Send Thank You Cards?
As host of the baby shower you do not need to send thank you cards to the guests for coming. You do need to thank guests for attending as they leave the shower.
Mom to be definitely needs to send thank you cards for any gifts she receives. It is important as host to have a volunteer write down what the gift is and the person who gave the gift. This will allow mom to be to personalize the thank you cards as she writes them.
A helpful hint is to print out address labels for your guests using a word processing program. Purchase thank you cards which coordinate with the baby shower theme. This will save mom to be time when she writes out her thank you cards.
Should I Invite Someone Who Has Recently Miscarried?
Do not exclude a guest because of a miscarriage. However, be sensitive to her needs. Let her know that she is invited but you understand if she chooses not to attend. If your guest has accepted the invitation but backs out at the last minute be understanding. She has been through a lot.
About the Author
Christina Cermak is owner of Baby Shower Depot. Baby Shower Depot offers baby shower games, baby diaper cakes, baby shower party supplies, baby shower favors, blog and more.
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