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16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas

I recently had the opportunity to share 16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas over at Titi Crafty (thanks, Camila!).  Here they are for those who may have blinked and missed their mention in The Friday Five.

If you stopped by my blog this spring, you might have noticed that I’ve been a baby-gift-making machine.  (Note that I did not say “a baby-making machine.”  At least, not yet.)  It seems as though all of my friends got together and decided to have babies at the same time, so I’ve been a busy bee, flexing my creative muscles in the baby gift department.  It turns out that moms really do treasure those gifts that are handmade, and since I love making them, it’s a pretty ideal situation.

So, I thought it would be fun to create a round-up of some of my favorite d.i.y. baby shower gifts, some that I’ve made myself and others that I’ve pinned from blogland to bring you 16 incredible ideas total!

Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced sewist.  Most of the sewing creations are beginner level (for folks like me), and there are plenty projects that don’t require a sewing machine at all for those who prefer scissors and glue.  Cool?  Cool.  So, let’s round it up, shall we?

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet

This embroidery project by Rachel from Lines Across is just gorgeous; I love how she uses the negative space to highlight the name and utilizes the embroidery hoop itself as the permanent frame.

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Baby Name Embroidery | Lines Across

These DIY baby bibs with the fold-over pocket succeed at being both cute and practical.

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
DIY Baby Bib with Fold-Over Pocket | Observation Diary

Here’s one of my favorites of late, a cute rubber duckie applique onesie.  And never fear: the tutorial includes tips for first-time applique sewists!

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Fabric Applique Onesie Tutorial & Free Cut File | The Thinking Closet

And if heat-transfer vinyl is more your thing, check out these free cut files for some gender-neutral onesies:

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Gender Neutral Onesies & Free Cut Files | The Thinking Closet

This is such a creative idea for packaging onesies and socks.  Mmmm…makes me hungry!

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Cupcake Onesie Gift Idea | Club Chica Circle

This stretchy baby headband is oh so versatile; you can easily switch out the embellishment to match any occasion.

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Easy Stretchy Baby Headband Tutorial | Little Birdie Secrets

Here’s one that has been on my TO DO list ever since my friend Cindy first shared it with me when I was looking for a beginner project using knits.

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Knit Baby Blanket & Hats | Make It & Love It

One project that I have managed to accomplish, however, are these burp cloths.  It’s a great scrap-buster and can be easily done by a beginner sewist (I can attest!).

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Burp Cloth Tutorial for the Beginner Sewist | The Thinking Closet

As far as DIY nursing covers go, this tutorial by Prudent Baby gets a slew of positive reviews.

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
DIY Nursing Cover | Prudent Baby

I love the practicality of this all-in-one diaper & wipes holder that even has a third compartment for personal items like car keys!

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
All-in-One Diaper & Wipes Holder | To Sew With Love

Not so handy with a sewing machine?  No problem.  This felt butterfly mobile is no-sew!

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Felt Butterfly Mobile | Bugs & Fishes

A yarn-wrapped letter would not only make a great gift for the nursery, but could serve as shower decor, as well!

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Yarn-Wrapped Letter | Poofy Cheeks

If the parents have revealed the baby’s name, you could whip up some awesome framed artwork like this one by Jamie from C.R.A.F.T.

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Personalized Framed Artwork | C.R.A.F.T.

This little birdie wall art would be such a sweet addition to any nursery, and any excuse to use Mod Podge is A-OK in my book!

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Little Birdie Fabric Wall Hangings | Make It & Love It

For first time moms, a New Mommy Survival Kit might be in order, complete with gifts for baby and for Mommy!

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
New Mommy Survival Kit | The Thinking Closet

And the type A in me loves this very practical gift of an accordion file with pre-labeled tabs for important baby documents.

16 DIY Baby Shower Gift Ideas | The Thinking Closet
Baby Document Filing System | Unoriginal Mom

And there you have it!  16 creative ideas for baby shower gifts that you can make yourself.  As I always say, “The best things in life are free handmade,”  so skip the Babies “R” Us run next time you get a shower invitation and try your hand at a meaningful d.i.y. gift.  I dare say you might even have fun while working on it!

Happy gift-making.

P.S.  Dear reader, what have been your favorite handmade gifts to give to expectant mothers?  And for the moms out there, what have been the best baby shower gifts to receive?

{I like to link up.}

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64 Comments

  1. I love all of the ideas in this post! That yarn-wrapped letter is really cool. I think it’s better to give a baby bib together with the baby’s embroidered name or new mommy survival kit with baby document filing system for baby shower gift. Everything has a perfect combination. Great ideas!

  2. Awesome baby shower gift ideas you have shared.. Thanks for sharing wonderful gift ideas with us.. Waiting for your next post.. Keep writing..

    1. Thanks, Mike! I have a Onesie Round-Up in the works for next week, so stay tuned. Feel free to subscribe using the sidebar widget so you can stay in the loop, too, so as not to miss new content. You can even opt for weekly updates, so your inbox isn’t too overcrowded. Cheers!

  3. What a great list of personal DIY tutorials. I really do like the elephant onsie. You could mix it with a number of different animal prints, depending on what animals you like. I also like the burping cloths, they look super soft. Thank you for posting.

  4. I would combine the name embroidery and the mummy survival kit. That way I am satisfying the bay and the mummy at the same time. Thank you for posting these two great ideas it is sincerely appreciated.

  5. The cupcake idea is absolutely divine. You see so many cakes out there but”not “cupcakes”. I also think the mommy survival kit would go down a treat at a baby shower. At least that way she has everything she could possibly need for when bub comes along.

  6. I love the file for baby documents but, being of the grandmotherly age, I am unsure what documents are needed o file, other than the “birth certificate/social security card” in your picture. Could you give some ideas? Thank you.

  7. I love these gifts, I am partial to handmade gifts anyway ;). I do love the butterfly mobile and the little knit hats and blankets. Thanks for this list.

    1. You’re welcome, Momami! I’m so glad you found some inspiration in this round-up! Can’t beat a gift handmade with love….

    1. Ha ha! You’re right! Though knowing me and my sweet-tooth, opening that gift, I might be a bit disappointed they weren’t edible!

    1. Thanks, Raj! I appreciate you taking some time to explore The Thinking Closet! I’m off to visit Pink Chai Style. (Love your blog title, by the way.)

    1. Congrats on your little one in tow! How exciting! Some of these projects could be fun to work on in anticipation of your baby’s arrival…or you could “accidentally” email it to your friends attending the shower to give them some gift ideas. Tee hee. Thanks for stopping by, New Mama!

    1. You’re kind to take the time to comment AND pin, Jessi! Way to be a superstar linky hostess! (With really cute cats.)

  8. I would love for you to share and link up at my weekly TGIF Link Party if you haven’t already this week. Your favorite posts, most popular, recent or new! The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday’s at midnight. Followed by (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/. I would be honored if you join us! Have a wonderful week!

    Hugs, Cathy

    1. Of course, Lupin! It was such an awesome creation in the first place…well worth featuring! Thanks for stopping by.

    1. Sure thing! Thanks for hosting! Love it when I have something to link up at the Friday Baby Shower. It’s such a fun partay.

  9. Thanks again Lauren – you always rock it, no matter what the topic. I’ve concluded my flurry of burp cloths, even using animal prints for the safari themed nursery. So cute! Also made a looseleaf inspired by Meredith at UnoriginalMom.com; thanks for pointing us there. XOXO

    1. Nancy, you’re too kind! The burp cloths you made sound so cool, Brittany might not want to actually use them! Ha ha. And I love the idea of a safari-themed nursery, by the way. And how great that you used Meredith’s file folder idea! I’m SO doing that for my next baby shower gift…love those really practical gift ideas! Have a wonderful week.

    1. Aren’t they, though? I love the presentation! (Sometimes, the gift-wrapping is my favorite part of a gift.)

    1. I remember loving that embroidery project of yours before I even really “knew” you, Rachel…so it was fun to be able to showcase it now as your pal! Still savoring our conversation from breakfast this morning!

    1. Yay! I’m so glad to know this compilation proved inspirational for you. Have fun at the shower, Elizabeth! I’m sure that whatever you gift your friend, it will be treasured!

    1. Why thank you, Miki! I’m glad to know that you approve! (Especially considering your site title.) Happy weekend to you!

    1. From my correspondence with you, Linda, I can tell you are SUCH the loving mother and grandmother. I’m sure that you have created SO many creative, thoughtful, and practical gifts for your little ones over the years. Would love to see a round-up of just YOUR creations! (Apron Strings post idea, perhaps? Wink wink.)

      1. Thank you for the compliment, my dear. And for the nudge. I confess, most of my blog-worthy creations were given as gifts without photos taken. And I find it time consuming to do the photo-editing necessary to work up a post. You are inspiring me, though. I do have a few things in the works! And I’m grooming my tween-aged daughter to work up some of her projects. Stay tuned!

        1. Oh, I most definitely will stay tuned! (And yes, photo-editing is extremely time-consuming…I can get sucked in for hours at a time. It’s dangerous! Ha ha.)

    1. I know, isn’t that filing system T.D.F!? I don’t even have babies on the horizon, and I want to make some just because I’m type A and those things make me feel calm inside. Hope you’re enjoying your visit with Hannah, Gabby! Soak it up!

  10. This are great idea, thanks! I also like to give onesies cupcakes and nursing covers, but I think one of the best gifts is a diaper cake – it’s really useful and pretty. I actually posted a tutorial for one not long ago, you’re welcome to stop by and check it out if you want to 🙂

    Have a great weekend!

    1. Diaper cakes are fun, too! I’ve always been curious to know how they are made, so thanks for writing up such a detailed tutorial on it! And I agree: I love it when gifts are both practical AND pretty. The best of both worlds, right? Thanks for stopping by, and happy Saturday, Tal!

  11. Great ideas, I have a couple baby showers coming up and a unique handmade gift is really special.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Sarah
    creativeramblingsblog.com

    1. You’re welcome, Sarah! I’m sure you’ll come up with something meaningful to gift…especially considering you can whip out awesomeness like that burlap wreath! Holy awesome-sauce, Batman! (I’m in love.)

  12. Thanks for the shout-out, Lauren!;) Lots of lovely ideas. We had a drop in friends/family having babies but here lately, every week seems to bring another ‘expecting baby’ announcement.

    Some of the most treasured gifts I received at my baby showers were those that were handmade. Those are also the ones I’ve held on to in each child’s keepsake box.:)

    1. For sure, Cindy! And you are the QUEEN of handmade gifts, so it doesn’t surprise me that those are the gifts you most treasure. And I love that you have keepsake boxes for your kids. What a wonderful idea! You inspire me yet again, Cindy…even in your comments. 😉 Hope your summer is a rockin’ one thus far!

    1. Thanks, Emily! There are so many inspirational people out there (yourself included), so I’m sure you can imagine that it was really hard to stop at just 16!

    1. Thanks, Jamie! I really love your framed artwork and am looking forward to the opportunity of doing something similar for my next baby shower. Just waiting on the second round of babies to crop up (as they are apt to do). Ha ha.

  13. These are so cute. I pinned the roundup to one of my secret boards! 🙂

    Your projects are my favorite but in addition I liked the cupcake onsies and felt mobile.

    I had to LOL when you mentioned you’re not a baby-making machine…at least not yet! xxoo

    1. Happy to make you lol, Mama! I’ll do my best to keep the laughter coming. And I’m actually honored that you spilled the beans about your secret Pinterest board. Your secret is safe with me! 😉

  14. Love this round-up. There are babies galore in my life right now, and the baby showers are looming! I’m definitely going to refer to this when I start feeling crafty! 🙂

    1. Okay, because I think you of all people might appreciate this and not think it’s totally strange, here is the commercial I think of whenever anyone mentions “babies galore” or “babies left and right” or…in the words of the commercial, “babies everywhere.” Brace yourself. This was 10 years ago, after all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6rE0EakhG8

        1. Ha ha! I know. In college, my friends and I would always imitate her shoving things under her shirt to make a pregnant belly. Ah, the crazy college days. (Who am I kidding? I still do that.)

  15. I know I read this post on Camilla’s blog, but I somehow missed the AAAHHHHHH-mazing filing system! I kind of want one right now, because the type A in ME wants to have this ready for when [eventually at some point in life] a baby does arrive! HA! Great collection, Lauren!

    1. Oh my goodness…I must have subconsciously remembered your comment from when I first read it back in June because look at my response to Gabby’s comment. We are so twinning right now! (And let’s not forget our matching MacBook Pros.) Eek! Thanks for your sweet words, my friend, and apologies for my delayed response. #betterlatethannever

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