My stepmother, cousin, and a friend are planning my baby shower for baby #2 and I am needing some ideas on hostess gifts for them. I have a very low budget for this as my fiance and I are down to just my income at the moment while he attends school but want to do something to show my appreciation to them. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.thedesignersden.com/
I was in the same situation. I love this web site for inexpensive gifts. They do stationary, gift cards, gift tages and many other things. I got my hostess each a set of monogrammed stationary. I think it's like $8. The lady that owns it is great to work with and always does rush orders for me at no extra cost.
How about you create a coupon for them called Lunch on Me and you can either take them to lunch or cook lunch for them and present them with like a nice candle. Just an idea. Hope this helps~
Hello KP,
You have received lots of great ideas! If you feel you would like to give them a gift I have but one more idea for you. I am an Arbonne International Independent Consultant and I have some Holiday product in small mini sizes that are wonderful. You could buy a small sea salt scrub and a small lotion in a gift bag for about $15 each. I could put tissue paper and ribbon on the bags to decorate it. Just an idea and would love to help you out if you are interested. Simple but something they would really enjoy and pamper themselves.
Good luck,
T.
Most grocery stores sell mixes for hot buns. For one of my baby showers I bought all of the hostesses a hot bun mix and an inexpensive pan to make them in, stuck the box in the pan, tied a pretty bow and stuck a note to it that said something like..."thank you for being so thoughtful....love James and J. and our little bun in the oven."
It was really cute....another shower I bought little bathroom tote baskets and filled them with a rag and handtowel and different soaps (this is more expensive). Any thoughtful gesture, no matter the cost is appreciated. Good luck!
J.
gliffik.com/J.
The suggestion for kitchen towels caught my attention! We all want fresh, clean looking towels (without fringe or tea stains) but rarely buy them for ourselves.
One of my favorite gifts is a set of dish towels that were carefully picked out to match my kitchen decor. You can purchase 2-3 or a set of 7 for the whole week. Just shop for colors and designs you know will go with the kitchen. Target and WalMart are excellant sources and reasonable prices. Don't get caught up in the more expensive stores. Of course, if they don't cook---better try something else.
Another idea--if they cook--is a decorated apron. My granddaughter wanted an apron that covered her clothes and I offered to make her one but she ended up buying one at a mall store and paid over $20 for it. Recently Tues Morning had plain one for $7! I grabbed one and painted " I'm still Grandma's Precious Darling" on the bib, some simple flowers on the pockets and then trimmed the bottom with bright colored ric-rack. I used craft paints and it turned out great.
Congratulations on your marriage and you new baby. You have a busy time ahead of you. God bless all.
D.
How about a little pot of flowers for each one. You could do it very inexpensively and beautifully this time of year. Your 3 gals really want the emphasis to be on you and to do you a service. As long as you have a small token of appreciation for their caring, you have done the right thing.
Best one I ever received were homemade vintage aprons that a lady at her church made. The kind that are waste down, kind of ruffly (maybe just wavy) and each one in different fabric combinations so each was different. I bet she only paid $15 or $20 each, but they were so unique. Just seach vintage apron on google, images. Should give you some ideas.
Candles are always a nice gift. Check out Scentsy and let me know if you need a dealer. I know several. Also BarcelonaBathand Body.com is a local company that has really nice candles and handmade soaps. The owner of the company lives in Colleyville.
Congratulations on your babies and upcoming wedding!
M.
"Our pediatrician misses us. So does the pharmacist."
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Hello, my daughter can order items out of a gift book at 50% off regular price. You would have to be willing to look at the book at her office. She works at a diamond co. in Dallas. Z&N Diamonds, her name is Angelica ###-###-####.
KP,
I have a good idea! Obviously this does not pertain to your stepmother, but if your cousin and friend have small children, you can give them a few "free babysitting coupons." My friend did that to me. On one coupon, she wrote, "This is good for babysitting on a Friday night for three hours," another one said during the day for two hours, and etc, etc, etc. This way, you won't have to spend one penny, and free babysitting is priceless! Regarding a gift for your stepmother - if she is into candles and other scented items, a nice bag of goodies from Bath & Body Works would be nice. Otherwise, you can give her a movie giftcard, Starbucks gift card, or Borders gift card. Have fun!
you could make coupons for each of them with something specific that you know they would each like. Maybe washing her car, or babysitting for an evening, cleaning a bathrom, or whatever you know each person would appriciate.
I love to give personalized gifts. Some of the gifts I’ve given include monogrammed kitchen towels, personalized tote bags, embroidered blankets.
My daughter calls her music-loving grandfather Gigi, so I had a sweatshirt embroidered for my father-in-law that says “World’s Best Gigi” surrounded by music notes. She calls her gardening grandmother Nonie, so I had a shirt embroidered with “World’s Best Nonie” embellished with daisies for my mother-in-law.
Sew Nice Embroidery offers embroidery on home décor, accessories, and apparel, including custom-made baby items. You can reach Sew Nice at ____@____.com for more hostess gift ideas.
get a snack basket from your local florist. inquire of the cheapest price for a snack basket. then tell them if you pay this much in cash, can you have a discount. never know until you inquire. good luck.
K P, here is idea that I have thought about using myself. Buy a gift card and put a coupon with that gift card, there are always coupons in the paper for eating out, especially in the Sunday Paper insert of coupons. I was in Hobby Lobby the other day and saw a lot of Spring and Summer items that were half off. Try making a small gift basket with items that you have picked up on sale. Bath and Body Works always has little bottles of different things that are great for traveling, since they are generally under 3 oz. Making a basket means that you thought about what they personally liked. You can always buy an inexpensive bag at dollar stores and Hobby Lobby, buy a role of inexpensive ribbon that is a couple inches thick and tie a bow to the handles. With Spring and Summer or a traveling them you could do a wide variety of themes depending on the person and what they might have coming up. For example, if some one is taking a trip to the beach; flip flops, sun glasses, sun screen etc... Do they like to garden? If that's the case; a small spade, work gloves, sun screen, a plant and or a gift certificate to a plant nursery, look for sales in the paper at the time of the shower and buy a gift card at that particular place. Another theme; Blockbuster gift card, microwave popcorn and a couple of cans of Coke and maybe a couple of candy bars. Set a limit of how much you can spend on each, use your imagination and go for it. For future reference Bath and Body Works always marks down there older stock twice a year. In January and June, a lot of stuff is half off. I stock up and then have things to give away all year. It is always nice to have a good smelling lotion on hand, no pun intended. Use your God given imagination and get out there, you can do it on a budget. Good Luck and I hope this has helped. If you are not good at arranging, buy the stuff and ask a friend that is good at it to arrange it for you. I love my friends, what they can't do, I can do and vis-a- vis. and congratulations on the upcoming birth.
J. W.
Hi KP, congrats on your new baby and engagement! I make soy candles and can personalize the labels with each of their initials. See a sample on my website: www.littlewhispercreations.com
I did these personalized candles for hostess gifts for another customer having a large baby shower and they went over really well.
I give these gift cards that allow the recipient to choose the gift they want. Some are as low as $25. They come in a really nice package with the gift card, an album of products and a nice envelope. They look like a lot more money is spent than actually is spent. There are different gift cards like pamper yourself, klutz, cuisinart, ghiradelli and then more general ones.
movie gift cards-they will remember you for a long time-everytime the movie they see is mentioned and you can buy them in several denominations.
Considering that you mentioned how tight your budget was, I'm going to give you a different answer: Actually, as the guest of honor, you are not obligated to buy gifts for your hostesses. My wife has thrown 3 showers in the past 5 years, and never received a hostess gift. And last month, when the shower was finally for her, the thought of giving hostess gifts never crossed her mind (but did send heart-felt notes of gratitude afterword). If you have made up your mind to do so, then by all means proceed. I just wanted to mention that you weren't obligated to.
With summer coming up, something I would love as a hostess would be some sunscreen and a beach towel, or some cheap flipflops to wear poolside. Put a nice ribbon around it and a pretty gift/enclosure card with a quick thank-you written inside.
Blooming plants make a nice inexpensive hostess gift. You could even decorate a pot for the flowers.
Trapp candle(s)! #10 Lemaongrass Veranda smells so good when you burn them! Not after you blow them out!! Sample House sells them and so does other places..but I'm not sure about your area. Depending on your budget on the size because the big ones are expensive. The volita is $3.50 and you could get a small holder ...
My company makes beautiful gifts and favors, invitations and more. We have adorable candy bar bouquets in adorable containors and more... our candy bar bouquets start at $10.00 ea in a mug and go up from there! very affordable.
also perfect for teacher appreciation week!
Give them each a card, and included in the card is an invitation for a get-together meal that you prepare for them. You can make anything from hot dogs and chips to lasagna and salad! Just getting together with them will show your appreciation.
It would also be fun to have homemade ice cream sundaes afterwards! Ice cream, cool whip, nuts, hot fudge, brownies... ummmmm! :)
i gave my hostesses a set of personalized cards and gift enclosures from w.e. giggle. my friend whitney owns this cute card company and you can see her products here http://wegiggle.com/store/default.asp
the gifts were super cute and very reasonibly priced. one of my friends said it was the best hostess gift she has ever received. whitney said that she is also going to have small notepads that can be personalized.
congrats and good luck :)
If you have a sonogram picture you can make copies of it and place it in a frame for them. You can decorate the frame or do a scrapbook type desing around the picture and place it in the frame. On the top of the frame or somewhere around the picture you could write or paint, "Grandma," "Cousin", "Aunt," etc. That's a quick one. You could go to Michael's and get beads and stuff to make them a personal necklace or keychain. If you want something super easy, check out the $1 bins at Michael's. They always have cute journals, notepads, pens, magnets, candles, etc. You could spend only $5/each and come up with something cute, simple, and nice.
You have already recieved some great gift suggestions. Mamasource is WONDERFUL ;). Just another idea... Scentsy Wickless Candles! Scentsy wickless candles are highly scented bars of wax called “Scentsy bars” that melt at a very low temperature over a 25 watt light bulb in exclusive electric warmers. Because they use no open flame like a standard scented candle, they pose no danger to children, pets or property when used properly. Scentsy candles are leadless, wickless, flameless and smokeless, and are available in over 80 exclusive scents. Contact me at ###-###-#### for more information or to receive a catalog of scents and warmers. You can also check out my website www.Got2HaveScents.com Have a SCENTsational day!
