Easy-to-Make Burp Cloths

 

I think my favorite part of this project was choosing the fabric.  I had so much fun choosing, I had to buy two separate themes and ten different fabrics!  My sister's nursery theme is teddy bears for a baby boy, so I found some really cute fabrics at JoAnn's Fabric.

There are a lot of blogs and tutorials about this project out there, but I had trouble finding one that I loved.  I decided on this one at two plus four. 

For this project you'll need:
Fabric scraps or fat quarters or 1/4 yard of a few coordinating fabrics
cloth diapers


This is what I used.

Prewash the diapers because they may shrink. 

Choose different coordinating fabrics for each cloth.  Cut a 2 inch tall x the width of the cloth+1 inch and a 5 inch tall x the width of the cloth+1 inch.  Then sew those rectangles together, but putting right sides together.

Then fold and iron the edges and pin.  Then sew close to the edges and add a decorative straight stitch between the contrasting fabrics.

 

I was so excited about how each one turned out!

 

The other set I'm making (the colorful stick figure animals) will (eventually) be available on my Etsy shop, TheBurlapFlower - I'd love it if you'd check it out!  As a gift to my blog readers, use coupon code BLOG14 to get free shipping on anything in the store!



Baby Gift Basket

I love putting together a baby gift basket as a baby shower gift.  I think it looks fun and I like that instead of spending money on a bag, tissue paper and card that they will throw away, you can buy a basket or container that they can use.

Here's how to put one together.

1. Pick a theme for your basket.  My favorite is yellow/rubber duck/bath time, but I've also done a pink or blue theme.  If you know the nursery theme, you could choose that too.

2.  Pick a container that goes with your theme and could be useful to the recipient.  My containers have come from Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Target - home section, dollar section, craft section, garden section - you just have to keep your eyes open for unique possibilities and sales!

3. Find items to fill the basket with, related to the theme.  For the duck theme basket, I like to get towels, washcloths, Johnson's bath products and a rubber duck (they make ducks that will tell you if the water is too hot, so the duck is cute AND useful!).  Bathrobes, slippers and bath toys would also be fun to add.  For the pink or blue theme, you can choose receiving blankets, onesies and toys in that color.  My Etsy shop, TheBurlapFlower offers some really cute, handmade blankets that would be perfect in these baskets.  One other tip - fill two small bags with a favorite candy of each of the parents-to-be.  I've found this unexpected surprise is always very appreciated.

4. Arrange the items in the container.  Fill the bottom of the container with something (packing peanuts, crumbled newspaper, etc.).  Cover the filler with a sheet of tissue paper.  Then place the tallest item in back and the shortest items in front.

5.  Finally, place the container in a clear cello shrink wrap gift bag.  (You can find these at Hobby Lobby.)  Then tie the top with curling ribbon.  Then add a simple gift tag.  Then comes the fun part - get out your blow dryer and start from the bottom and the bag will shrink up around your gift.