Baby Shower Crafts Are Really Baby Gifts in Disguise

Beyond the typical games and activities, everyone’s looking for ways to make their baby shower unique. Well…move over games. Here come the arts and crafts! Setting a new standard in fun, not only do these hands-on activities provide a great way to bond, fellowship and celebrate baby’s arrival, they’re also baby gifts in disguise. Sure, guests could spend the afternoon playing games with nothing to show for it but some laughs and smiles. But with arts and crafts activities, you’ll have a tangible reminder of the special time shared and a one-of-a-kind expression of love for your little one.

From Peas in a Pod to Noah’s Ark, there are plenty of baby shower themes to choose from. No matter what the theme of your shower, you can include activities that enhance it. And, if you’re really good, you can even coordinate the baby shower party favors to the craft activities, as well. Don’t worry. They won’t need to have a degree in art, just a few paint pens and a little creativity.

Let’s face it—babies are messy. At least this way, you can keep them clean and make them feel loved at the same time. Whether you provide the bibs or ask everyone to bring a blank one, decorating baby bibs is an easy way to stock up on something you’ll definitely use a lot of. Guests can draw pictures (stencils are helpful), write phrases or include whatever else they like using a palate of paint pens and their own expressive style. (Tip: Substitute onesies, shirts and other baby clothing to create an artistic wardrobe for baby. Get a variety of sizes, so your baby never outgrows the love.)

If you’re into quilting or you know someone who is, have guests decorate a pre-cut quilt square for the baby that will welcome and warm your newborn for years to come. Be sure to choose colors that will match the nursery or theme and have extras on hand just in case. Decorations can be as simple or elaborate as your guests desire. Here's an example of a darling quilt square with diaper accent. A standard baby quilt will have about 25 decorated 6” x 6” squares and 25 undecorated squares. Cotton or cotton/polyester blends work best. In the hands of a master quilter, these simple squares can be turned into a beautiful patchwork quilt that will become an instant heirloom for the family. Filled with well wishes, prayers, poems or pictures, it’s a personalized baby gift that’s truly one of a kind.

Decorating scrapbook pages is an easy way to get your guests involved in arts and crafts, and it's an excellent way to begin your baby shower fun. Simply provide the blank pages, stickers, markers, die-cut shapes and other embellishments, and let their creativity do the rest. Suggest some themes for the pages, like "Baby's First Photo," pages for specific months, and eagerly anticipated milestones, such as "Baby's First Step," "Baby's First Birthday," etc. Here are some examples of background page designs. Assembling the pages into the keepsake scrapbook, you’ll end up with some custom designs that will be the perfect place to showcase those first photos of your newborn.

If you’re looking for a craft activity that provides a gift for your guests instead of for baby, try creating sand art in clear baby bottles. For this super-easy activity, all guests have to do is pour. Layering the colors to create their own design and topping it off with the bottle top, they’ll have a unique souvenir to take home. It’s amazing what you can do with a few bottles (one per guest), funnels and sand in a variety of colors. Although optional, you can also have some ribbon and personalized labels on hand for the perfect finishing touch.

A final note:

With all of these activities, be sure to protect the work space with craft or newspaper. For the bibs, quilt squares and any other paint project, you’ll need to heat set the design. After the fabric paint has dried, place a napkin over the paint before applying heat. Use the medium heat setting while rotating the iron in a circular motion for about 3-4 minutes. It’s also a good idea to wash the bibs before baby wears them. Have fun!