Need unique baby shower gift ideas

[tinkerdoodle]

can you explain this?
for some reason I can't get the concept.
thanks!

The 1st time I used a pinata it was a baby wooden block design. Very simple to cut along the top & use as a gift box. Filled it with tons of bright colored tissue paper and the gifts stored inside. I gently put a piece of double sided tape to keep the lid closed until mom opened it.

The second time I took a little bit of a different route. I found a cute one that matched the theme somewhat, but was shaped like a character - lots of nooks & crevices. It was big enough to work with, though. So, I gently cut it all around at it's "shoulders" except for one side to still keep it attached (like a lid). I put a piece of box tape at that seam on the inside for a little reinforcement. I filled the bottom of the pinata with a few smaller items (baby socks, little toys, toothbrushes, rattles that attach to the wrist, etc... ) and topped it with a piece of cardboard wrapped in tissue paper. Yep, I had the mom pull the strings to get the "loot" after she open the top section! I did have to cut this door a little bigger. If you look closely enough at the bottom you can tell which string attaches & opens the bottom trap door. The reason for the cardboard on top of the small stuff was so I could fill the rest of the space with the real gifts with out it falling through. I filled the top section with things like 3 section formula holders, car seat strap holders, a few outfits (folded in a roll wrapped in ribbon, paci holders, and a bunch of other littler stuff she registered for.

This all required a bit of extra work, but it was for a close relative of mine and she was worth it. It really went over well and it still gets mentioned at showers since then.

 

[browneyes106]

can you explain this?
for some reason I can't get the concept.
thanks!

The 1st time I used a pinata it was a baby wooden block design. Very simple to cut along the top & use as a gift box. Filled it with tons of bright colored tissue paper and the gifts stored inside. I gently put a piece of double sided tape to keep the lid closed until mom opened it.

The second time I took a little bit of a different route. I found a cute one that matched the theme somewhat, but was shaped like a character - lots of nooks & crevices. It was big enough to work with, though. So, I gently cut it all around at it's "shoulders" except for one side to still keep it attached (like a lid). I put a piece of box tape at that seam on the inside for a little reinforcement. I filled the bottom of the pinata with a few smaller items (baby socks, little toys, toothbrushes, rattles that attach to the wrist, etc... ) and topped it with a piece of cardboard wrapped in tissue paper. Yep, I had the mom pull the strings to get the "loot" after she open the top section! I did have to cut this door a little bigger. If you look closely enough at the bottom you can tell which string attaches & opens the bottom trap door. The reason for the cardboard on top of the small stuff was so I could fill the rest of the space with the real gifts with out it falling through. I filled the top section with things like 3 section formula holders, car seat strap holders, a few outfits (folded in a roll wrapped in ribbon, paci holders, and a bunch of other littler stuff she registered for.

This all required a bit of extra work, but it was for a close relative of mine and she was worth it. It really went over well and it still gets mentioned at showers since then.

Your ideas are very creative.

 

[muffyn]

can you explain this?
for some reason I can't get the concept.
thanks!

The 1st time I used a pinata it was a baby wooden block design. Very simple to cut along the top & use as a gift box. Filled it with tons of bright colored tissue paper and the gifts stored inside. I gently put a piece of double sided tape to keep the lid closed until mom opened it.

The second time I took a little bit of a different route. I found a cute one that matched the theme somewhat, but was shaped like a character - lots of nooks & crevices. It was big enough to work with, though. So, I gently cut it all around at it's "shoulders" except for one side to still keep it attached (like a lid). I put a piece of box tape at that seam on the inside for a little reinforcement. I filled the bottom of the pinata with a few smaller items (baby socks, little toys, toothbrushes, rattles that attach to the wrist, etc... ) and topped it with a piece of cardboard wrapped in tissue paper. Yep, I had the mom pull the strings to get the "loot" after she open the top section! I did have to cut this door a little bigger. If you look closely enough at the bottom you can tell which string attaches & opens the bottom trap door. The reason for the cardboard on top of the small stuff was so I could fill the rest of the space with the real gifts with out it falling through. I filled the top section with things like 3 section formula holders, car seat strap holders, a few outfits (folded in a roll wrapped in ribbon, paci holders, and a bunch of other littler stuff she registered for.
.

so the string was attached to each gift? was the pinata opened from the top or bottom? ( I am missing a step here.)
did you post a picture I am not seeing?

the character pinata has given me an idea.. the 'father' of the baby just hates Barney. we gave him an b'day once with a barney pinata & the party ended with him tying helium ballons to it & shooting up with a shotgun. when he married my daughter we had a 'dead' Barney in their cake fountain & played a prank 1st dance song of the Barney theme.
anyway, they got divorced but we still keep him in the family & this will be his & his new wifes 1st child.
it will be an "IN" joke, but I think go over well, if I can figure out your instructions ( I already have a stuffed Barney for the baby)

 

[tinkerdoodle]

so the string was attached to each gift? was the pinata opened from the top or bottom? ( I am missing a step here.)
did you post a picture I am not seeing?


There is always one string you pull that opens the trap door to a pinata. The others are just glued on. You have to be careful when you cut a bigger opening (if needed) that you don't cut that string or the trap door doesn't pull open. HTH.

Cute ideas on the Barney thing!! What a riot!

 

[muffyn]

so the string was attached to each gift? was the pinata opened from the top or bottom? ( I am missing a step here.)
did you post a picture I am not seeing?


There is always one string you pull that opens the trap door to a pinata. The others are just glued on. You have to be careful when you cut a bigger opening (if needed) that you don't cut that string or the trap door doesn't pull open. HTH.
![/COLOR]

huh.
I never saw a string on a pinata, we always just bashed the things to heck with a bat
in fact I am looking at a horse pinata we had sitting here for another reason, & stuck a flashlight in it to search for a string. mmm I 'see' a paper bottom, & can feel it on the outside , where there is no cardboard, but still no string.. the loopy paper covering is just wrapped totally around the whole horse. when I hit the stores, I'll have to look at them more closely.
so you had her open the head & then she had to popopen the bottom to get the other gifts, like they fell out then?

 

[tinkerdoodle]

huh.
I never saw a string on a pinata, we always just bashed the things to heck with a bat
in fact I am looking at a horse pinata we had sitting here for another reason, & stuck a flashlight in it to search for a string. mmm I 'see' a paper bottom, & can feel it on the outside , where there is no cardboard, but still no string.. the loopy paper covering is just wrapped totally around the whole horse. when I hit the stores, I'll have to look at them more closely.

They were pull string pinatas - the strings hang from the bottom so kids don't have to beat the thing! They pull strings instead - one string out of maybe 20-25 opens the bottom.


so you had her open the head & then she had to popopen the bottom to get the other gifts, like they fell out then?

For the main gifts yes she opened the top. For the littler things, she had to pull the strings to find the one to open the bottom. Like I previously mentioned, I had a piece of cardboard wrapped in tissue paper on top of littler items so only those fell out from bottom. Items on top of cardboard she opened from the "head".

I wish I had taken pictures of it, but it was a few years ago and I never really thought of it then.

 

[mjkacmom]

I love getting these types of shoes for babies. Not only are they virtually weightless, they're soft for the baby to wear while napping.

Your location is not mentioned, but I like to get winter buntings as a gift too.

I'll buy medication; Tylenol, teething medicine, diaper rash creme, thermometer, baby wipes, teething tablets.

Also, is there a certain team that the new dad likes? Get a gift that will favor the dad and/or couple- Lakers Bunting perhaps, or a Steelers Christmas stocking.

I like giving unusual gifts as well, not only are they a little unexpected, but they're needed items as well.

As a mom of 5, I now give Robeez shoes - they're the best ever! They're cute, soft, and most importantly, don't fall off, and can be worn to sleep. I have also given baskets of baby meds - mylecon, droppers, tylenol, aspirator, thermometer, baby nail clippers, diaper cream... Stay away from baby lotion and washes - lots of babies can't use them.

 

[muffyn]

They were pull string pinatas - the strings hang from the bottom so kids don't have to beat the thing! They pull strings instead - one string out of maybe 20-25 opens the bottom.

.

ohhh
I never saw one of those.
but never really looked either
last couple years we have made the balloon paper/flour type.

now the hard part, to find some 'things' she won't get dozens of!

oh! is this some thing people still do, that you need an idea for .. stuff an outfit with other stuff to make a doll/baby? ( or has this been done to death?)

 

[pyrxtc]

I suggest buying a baby bath tub and a bunch of things that go along wiht it, Blue tissue paper for the water and create a baby out of blankets and dress them in a cute outfit and p[lace them in the water. You could make it look as if a real baby is in there if you do it just right. Don't forget the baby in the water should ahve on a towel over the clohes so they don't get the clothes wet.

 

[tinkerdoodle]

Thanks so much everyone for your ideas! Now I just have to figure out which one to use!!!! Great ideas!!!!!

 

[muffyn]

oh,
just found on oriental trading
a parents survival kit , complete with faux poo for practice

 

[sbell111]

My wife and I are expecting our little girl in November, so we have been thinking about what we need for the baby and working on our register. Since this thread kind of hits home for me, I've been thinking about it for the last few days. This afternoon, I spoke to Cathy about the issue. We are in agreement that we would just as soon people stick to the register. You see, we are registering for what we need for the baby. Anything that we aren't given, we'll have to buy. Therefore, when people try to be unique by choosing things that we haven't registered for, it will actually cost us money.

 

[waltsgirl]

I think all the ideas posted are unique, with that said I can't help but think, isn't the baby shower for the mother and baby and not for the person giving the gift. Should you really be trying to get the biggest ohh and ahh. Somehow it sounds like the shower turns in to being about the gift giver.

 

[tinkerdoodle]

My wife and I are expecting our little girl in November, so we have been thinking about what we need for the baby and working on our register. Since this thread kind of hits home for me, I've been thinking about it for the last few days. This afternoon, I spoke to Cathy about the issue. We are in agreement that we would just as soon people stick to the register. You see, we are registering for what we need for the baby. Anything that we aren't given, we'll have to buy. Therefore, when people try to be unique by choosing things that we haven't registered for, it will actually cost us money.

Thank you for your input. You're right, that's what registers are for. However, my family is very large (and very generous!) and the case is that usually there is never anything left on the registry by the time shower date arrives anyway.

 

[tinkerdoodle]

I think all the ideas posted are unique, with that said I can't help but think, isn't the baby shower for the mother and baby and not for the person giving the gift. Should you really be trying to get the biggest ohh and ahh. Somehow it sounds like the shower turns in to being about the gift giver.

I do understand your point. Yes, I do try to come up with unique ideas. And yes, it is always about the mom & new baby. But like I mentioned before my family is very large and after the 15th package of Pampers opened or the 12th package of onesies, it starts to become more about "when is it over?" for my older aunts & younger cousins. It brings a little fun to the event and I love to do it for my family. They mean the world to me and deserve to know that I (and the rest of my family) took the time to really think about them. For example for this same cousin's bridal shower I bought several items from her registry but I wrapped it in really cute pink Camo paper (she's a Captain in the Army). Nothing really exciting inside the wrap but she told me she loved it because I thought about HER.

And BTW, her registry is actually pretty small. She doesn't need alot of stuff she said because her SIL is giving her all her larger items she doesn't need anymore.

There's always one... well never mind. Sometimes comments are better left unsaid.

 

[sbell111]

There's always one... well never mind. Sometimes comments are better left unsaid.

What a strange comment. It read as if you were responding to an attack. However, no one attacked anyone.

Wierd.

 

[kimmar067]

....we purchase (or build it from scratch - well, my DH does) an unfinished-wood toy box, paint it in the color(s) of the baby's room, put a padded top to use it as a seat (using the top sheet of the pattern of the bedroom ensemble to make as the cover), and add the matching wallpaper (if available) along the top edge of the box....then I add a few books (2 or 3) and a stuffed animal inside....while the '"ooooh'n'ahhhh" factor is there, we like to give this kind of gift because the child can use it for a long time, and it's really something personal (we also put the date on the inside of the box)...

 

[tinkerdoodle]

What a strange comment. It read as if you were responding to an attack. However, no one attacked anyone.

Wierd.

Quote:
Originally Posted by waltsgirl
I think all the ideas posted are unique, with that said I can't help but think, isn't the baby shower for the mother and baby and not for the person giving the gift. Should you really be trying to get the biggest ohh and ahh. Somehow it sounds like the shower turns in to being about the gift giver.


I actually was responding to the underlined comment above. I in no way felt attacked, just felt it needed a response.