Baby Shower Gifts : Taggie Blanket & Photo Cube

Okay, if you think I’ve gone a little overboard on the baby gifts, you might be right… BUT… I’ve been itching to sew for a while and making more diapers for my kids is great, but making fun stuff is even better!

FIRST:  The Tag Blanket Tutorial on Bits of Everything  is what I used for the blanket that I made.  I didn’t have an empty wipes bag to use inside for the crinkling – until 2 diapers after it was completed, of course… but it still turned out cute.  And crinkly toys are great… except when a baby is snuggled up and asleep… so I think it’ll be a hit regardless.

And THEN… I couldn’t stop there… The Soft Photo Cube tutorial on In Between Laundry was just irresistible!

I know that my photo isn’t very impressive, what with the photos blurred out and whatnot… But here is why… By doing what my husband can only describe as “being creepy,” and snooping through our good friends’ Facebook photos and choosing four adorable family shots to put on the cube, I was able to make a very personalized baby gift.  And it rocked!  I mean, I am almost tempted to make some for MY kids.  BUT… since they aren’t MY family photos… and the family hasn’t even seen it yet… I’m not going to show you their shots.  Get it?

If you can manage to look beyond the blurs… the cube is SUPER cute!

I learned a few things through these two projects… For one thing… those big plastic zippered bags that comforters and the like come in… they are totally useful!  The plastic can be cut and used for things like photo windows.  I never thought about it that way.  And.. in my wet bag project, I learned that zippers can be repurposed as well!

Also… the fact that the wet wipe refill bags can be wiped off and used inside of baby toys to be “crinklies” is awesome!  Never thought about that either.  So… I’m learning!  And I seriously can’t wait to see the looks on the faces of mom and dad (who I DID warn that I went through their photos for a gift…) when they see the block!