A baby announcement arrives. You are overjoyed and ready to participate. Do you have the perfect gift, already in your mind? How about the time and money factors? You need to come up with the best gift; the right gift. You can’t go wrong with a personalized present. Personalizing a baby shower gift, tells the hostess how much you support them and are willing to help with the new arrival. Roll up your sleeves, turn on your creativity, and start organizing the little details. We are in this together, no need to fret, tackling this task will be fun and easy.
Visit and Browse.
The first task is visiting the hostess. If you know them real well; skip this step. For those of us who do not pay close attention to detail, we are going to spend some time observing and chatting. While at the expectant mother’s home, make notes of some vital information: colors in the baby’s room, themes, what items you enjoyed seeing, any items you thought might be missing, and who it is that is having the baby. These details will be put together with other information and help determine how to personalize your gift.
Registration Station Search.
With every invitation, a store is chosen for the registration. The new parents search through the store and choose the necessary items. The parents usually focus on the child’s needs and possible wants; not their own. This search is to gather the data we need to continue with our project. Be vigilant. Make notes of gifts you liked and ideas you get; while looking. Try to browse as many of the chosen items as possible; this will help during the brainstorming session. Details, my friends, are the important part of personalizing; ensure you are keeping track of them.
Organizing and Brainstorming.
Now that the leg work is nearly complete, set up a schedule. Give yourself a day and time to put all the findings together. The less interruptions; the better. We find it difficult to focus on a certain task when others pop up. Try to leave yourself ample time to organize, prepare, and brainstorm. Brainstorming is fun and energizing. You need to tap into your creative side and find your imagination. Not too creative? Haven’t used your imagination in some time? No need to worry, buddy, I am here to help. I can give you a few examples to help guide you to a successful completion. Roll up your sleeves, gather your notes, and get ready to have some fun. If you know other attendees, call one to join in on the fun. Brainstorming is always entertaining; especially with two heads.
Putting It All Together.
Find a good workstation. Lay out your notes and ideas; keep any detailed information handy. Open up your imagination and start utilizing your creativity. Glance across the resources and begin jotting down your ideas. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you brainstorm, the better detailed ideas you will conceive. Be patient and let it all flow out. Use at least one detail from each step and combine them to get the most personalized gift. What colors did you see? What gifts did you like? What does the mother enjoy? Can you find items to join this together? Here is an example of a baby shower gift I recently finished. The mother loves chocolate ice cream. The baby’s room is lavender. The gift the couple chose, that most appealed to me, was a warm blanket. I went shopping and found several items to cover each of these details: a lavender towel and rag, an ice cream themed warm blanket, and a fluffy lavender rug. I wrapped all the items in ice cream cone paper with lavender ribbons. The card included four gift certificates for free ice cream; one for each week until the baby’s due date.
Wrapping It Up.
Keep in mind, babies are big responsibilities. The newest family members receive tons of attention and lots of hugs, but the parents…well they need some too. If you lack all the creativeness desired, try to personalize cards. Cater to the adults too. People tend to slowly fade as the baby’s newness disappears. Ensure that you stay in the loop and on the active call list. How? Easy as pie; give the gift of you. Write letters, emails, or postcards inviting the parents to partake in activities. What is better than a future promise? Buy a calender and fill in a few dates or jot down a few sentences each month showing your availability and intentions. Need a few examples? You could start with weekly breakfast-chat sessions, monthly walking dates, daily venting calls, or even a weekend shopping party six months away. The possibilities are endless. The best way to personalize is to focus on details. The greatest gifts are always personalized. The gift should let the new parents know that you support, care, and understand their needs. That is all there is to it. Personalized gifts say it all, so say it loud. Have fun and make your shopping worth every penny with thought and expression.
