Sophisticated Baby!

I don't know what it is about 2011 but it must be the year to have a baby! I joke and say I am only drinking bottled or filtered water from now on because something has got to be in the water!!! 


Even though there isn't a child in my future any time soon, I enjoy looking at all the cute baby stuff out there on Pinterest and one day I will be able to put all this inspiration to use! But for now- I get to make baby gifts!! 


My cousin's son just turned one about a month ago. I went looking for a fun toy for his birthday gift. All I could find were toys that made an awful lot of noise or toys made for 3+ year olds. So I decided to make something.

via

I found this on none other than Pinterest from a cute shop on Etsy named Mosie Posies 
that has all sorts of cute baby gift ideas!  I thought this was adorable and DIY-able. So I got to work. 

I created this in about 15 minutes on Microsoft Word using WordArt and filling it with colors that matched his bedroom! I then framed it in a simple white frame with a white mat and it turned out (almost) identical to the cute ones from Etsy! I know that this is not a typical gift for a one-year old but I thought his parents would enjoy it more than a super loud toy! 

Update: I have had quite a few questions on how to create this birth announcement. I have tried my best to simply explain the process! Open Microsoft Word and go to the insert tab. Insert- Picture- Word Art. Type in the text you would like for the first line. To stretch it to be taller and wider, just click on the word, click and hold one of the black corner squares and then drag to the right until it is the size you want. On the second line with the middle and last name, do the same thing as above but just insert a separate word art for each but on the same line. The dotted line is just a row of periods stretched and made short to fit across the page. The next few lines are the same as the first. Just insert and then stretch to make it the size you would like. You can copy and paste the dotted line. The bottom line with the date and time- same as the middle and last name line with separate word art on the same line. To stack the city and state, type in the city and then hit enter and then type the state to stack below. Then insert. To change the color- click on the word art. In the word art tool bar, click the paint bucket and brush. The choose your color from the drop down menu for both the fill color and line color.  

Thanks to Marcella, she has explained how to create this word art in more recent versions of Word:  Go to Insert > Word Art > Choose a Color of font > Under the "Text Effects" Drop Down, Choose "Transform" and then choose the first item under "Warp."  This will allow you to stretch the words as you wish.  From there you can alter the text any way you wish. 

Sorry I do not have a template available for download! 


Like I said earlier, we have quite a few friends that are having little ones soon! I found the most adorable pacifiers and bibs that I thought would make great gifts for Baby McKenzie and Baby Kirksey! 

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

The prices weren't bad but I thought I could also easily make these too! The stitches may not be as straight and perfect and the mustache may sit the tiniest bit crooked but it was handmade and I always like a handmade gift from a friend! Makes it a little more personal!! 


So first step- 

I first found a mustache shape I liked from the internet and printed it off. I cut it out and traced it on to a piece of craft foam that I purchased from Hobby Lobby.

I then added a little hot glue to the top middle of the pacifier and centered the mustache in place.

I absolutely L.O.V.E these! I will be making these again for many baby gifts to come! They were SO EASY!


For the bibs I bought a pack from Target and three (1/4 yards) of fabric and iron on backing from Hobby Lobby. I found a picture of a tie and a bow tie on the internet and printed them off to the size that I needed. 

I traced the pattern on but cut out a rectangle with each bow tie and tie (I didn't want to cut out the shape yet because it would make it harder to iron on the backing). 

This stuff is easy to use. There is a dull side and a side that has shiny dots of "glue" (there might be a fancier sewing name for this but for now, I will just call it glue). Put the wrong side (back side) of the fabric to the shiny side of the backing. That way when you iron the "glue" will stick to the back of the fabric. The "glue" can stick to the iron if you don't have a fabric on top so that is why I cut out rectangles at first. I would be hard to iron the ties and bow ties down and not touch the backing. (NOTE: I just learned last night about Wonder Under- I think this would be a better option and can't wait to try it out!)


I then cut out the ties (I would suggest going over the ties again with the iron to make sure all the edges are really stuck together. Mine came up a little when I was sewing). 

I placed the ties and bow ties on the bibs and pinned them down. 

And then I started sewing.

I know it might have had something to do with the sew-ee but my machine gave me fits on a couple of bibs.It worked perfect on some and then went bizerk on others- for no reason at all. It may have been the fact that it was "vintage". 

 Ok, Ok I am making up excuses... so I do admit a couple of the bibs came out a little rough. 


 In the end I love the cute bibs and pacifiers I made! I think Baby McKenzie and Baby Kirksey will be some of the most sophisticated new kids on the block!! 

P.S- The bibs and pacifier were a hit last night at the shower! I already have orders to make more!! I'm so excited! 




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