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Crafts to Make for a New Baby
by Emily Brown King
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Overview
Finding the perfect gift for a special baby doesn't have to mean spending tons of money. There are plenty of options for making your own gift by hand. A handmade gift can be so much more meaningful than one that is bought off a registry or from a department store. A creative and personalized gift may end up becoming a treasured keepsake for years to come.
Learn how to crochet a baby blanket
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Name Wall Hanging
If you know the decor style of the new little one's nursery, this project is a snap, and inexpensive to boot. Everything you need can be bought at your local discount crafts store. Head to the wood craft section and hunt down some carved wooden letters. Most craft stores have a pretty impressive collection of different sizes and styles of letters. Pick out which letters you will need. You can do the baby's full name if you are feeling ambitious, or choose to just do a first name or even initials. Another idea is to do a monogram, choosing the two outer letters of the monogram to be smaller. Then head over to the scrapbook section of the store. Making scrapbooks has become such a popular craft that you're bound to find some really beautiful papers. Pick out some high quality paper to cover the front of the letters. You can choose to use the same paper for all the letters or coordinating patterns to make each letter different. Paint the wooden letters if you don't prefer the natural wood look. Then place the letters upside down on the back of the decorative paper and trace the outline. When you cut the patterns out, they will fit perfectly on the surface of the top of the letter. Paint a thin layer of PVC glue on the surface of the letter and adhere the paper to the letter. Once it dries, you can cover the letter with any kind of lacquer or seal to make it more durable. You can also drill holes in the letters and attach them with decorative ribbon or twine to hang.
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Personalized Onesies
It seems like every new mother gets dozens of Onesies at their baby shower, and it's not surprise. These simple cotton body suits are perfect for newborns and make diaper changing much more convenient. In fact, the frilly, expensive outfits that look great on the hanger may not get much use on the baby. You can give a new mother the convenience of these essential outfits without resorting to the boring white or generic patterns that you find in the store. All you need is a package of basic newborn Onesies and some creativity. Craft stores sell a variety of fabric paints, stencils and foam stamps that can be used to paint the Onesie. If you aren't too confident of your freehand skills, you can also buy printable T-shirt transfers that can be ironed on to the fabric. Then you can create a personalized design on a computer graphics program and transfer it to the outfit.
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Handmade Baby Blanket
A handmade baby blanket will be treasured for years to come. You don't need to be an expert seamstress to learn how to make a beautiful crocheted baby blanket. You can learn how to make a basic crochet stitch on many different websites or from books. Luckily, a square or rectangle is the easiest project to start with. Make the blanket special by choosing a luxurious and soft yarn.
