Baby Shower!

My sister and brother-in-law recently welcomed a baby girl into their family. I finally got to meet her last weekend at her baby shower. She is a sweetheart!

You can't have a shower without a few games so we played the "Nursery Rhyme Quiz". There are several versions of this on line. I found one I liked and printed it out.

I had the guests bring baby pictures of themselves and we had a fun time figuring out who was who. It was a little tricky but everyone did a pretty good job at guessing!

We also played a baby version of pictionary. I wrapped up a bunch of baby/little girl things (socks, hair elastics, bubble bath, pants, shirt, shoes, sidewalk chalk, a couple toys, headbands, baby food, etc.) and then wrote what was in the present on a paper and taped it to the outside. The person drawing picked a present, read the paper and had to draw it. The rest had to guess and the one with the winning guess got to unwrap the present for my niece. It was a lot of fun! There are lots of talented ladies out there!

Naturally, I had to make a cake!

The fondant kind of faded on the drive there (a couple hours drive), which surprised me because it pretty over cast. I should have added more dye to it from the beginning to make the fondant brighter, but I thought I had already added a lot and it was getting really late so I called it good enough. I actually had my husband helping me out. He rolled the little balls and did an excellent job! And a rubber duck is the perfect topper for a baby shower cake!

I forgot to plan the punch, so the night before the shower, after I'd finished the cake, I was searching for a quick and easy punch recipe that was pink and I came across this recipe. Best punch ever! When I got to the city I had to stop for a few things - include the punch ingredients. I couldn't find cranberry ginger ale (they probably don't sell it in Canada!) or raspberry sherbet, so I bought 7-up and berry sherbet. It was so good. Probably the best punch I have ever had, and I've had some awesome punches! I am a huge ice cream person, (and chocolate person! Although, strangely, chocolate ice cream is not my favorite!) so this punch recipe was an amazing find for me! I really can't believe I'm only finding about about it now! And you can use a different kind of sherbet for every occasion! And it gets all foamy and like a bubble bath...

so, of course, I stuck another duck in it for my new niece!

Curtains and Dust Ruffle

First off, I'll answer the question you are all wanting to ask. Yes I finished cross stitching my daughters Christmas stocking! I still have to sew a back on it, but the time consuming part is done! She will be the first of my 3 children to have her stocking done for her first Christmas!

And speaking of my daughter, I finally made curtains out of the fabric my aunt found at a garage sale. They didn't take my very long, once I decided which fabric to use. In the bag my aunt gave me there were yards and yards of 6 different corresponding fabrics. It was a little overwhelming! I started sewing while the kids were having their "afternoon nap", and finish them late that night.

I also made a change table cover, which is basically just a pillow case.

And a dust ruffle.

With the left over fabric, and there is a lot, I'll make a bed spread...or two! But not until after Christmas, at least! Now to complete her room we just need to paint her room a pretty pink or purple!

Baby Accessories

I know you are probably tired of reading about baby stuff - this is the last one for a while...I think! :)

I wanted to get these things done before Victoria was born, but never had the chance until a couple weekends ago. The first project was a change pad for my purse.

I am not a fan of carrying a purse, and a diaper bag and a baby in a very heavy car seat, while trying to steer boys in the right direction. I just don't have that many arms. So for short trip, or running down town etc. I'll just throw everything I need in my purse. Pampers, wipes, receiving blanket, extra sleeper... I have a big purse. This is fine, except then I can never find anything! I decided the solution was a travel size change pad with a pocket so I could bundle everything all together.






I've used it many so many times already! It's so handy!

The other project was a car seat blanket. I saw this on Pinterest (directions here!) and thought it was a great idea. The blanket is attached to the car seat! One less thing to hold on to! I went down to my fabric stash and an hour later had this sewed up.






It is just perfect for this spring weather we are *finally* getting!

On a side note, I'm going to change the name of this blog to Jen's Crafts and Cakes...or Jen's Cakes and Crafts?  It seems more fitting since half my post are cakes! And if you don't have a google account etc. there is also an "anonymous" option for posting comments if you so desire!

It's A Baby Shower!

Lately I've been liking the idea of gift baskets. They are fun to put together, and when you are shopping for a baby there is no end to what you could put in it! Instead of using the typical basket, however, I bought this little box...

and painted it like so...

because what baby doesn't need a place to keep his or her's (in this case - his!) first toys? I then sewed up a double sided receiving blanket, and an extra one for a girl while I had the serger out. I've since come across a better way to make double sided receiving blankets, so I'll be making some more!

Did some shopping for a baby boy, that hasn't arrived yet - but will soon! And finished off my baby boy gift basket. It contains - a toy box, a receiving blanket, tiny rubber boots, a sleeper, 2 outfits, a rubber duck, teething rings, baby spoons, snack containers, linking rings for attaching toys to strollers etc, Q-Tips, and a bib.

I also helped my sister make a baby blanket. Normally I hand quilt these, but since I was also expecting my own baby and didn't think I'd have time to get it done, I tied it. It turned out just as cute! Who doesn't love Tigger?!