Want to learn how to create those adorable baby headbands you see on newborns all over the place?

These make great gifts for your friends, co-workers, or anyone you think of who might have a little girl at home or one on the way.  They are relatively easy, cheap and fun to make, and if you have extra time and are inclined, think about making a whole bunch of them and selling them at flea markets, church or community events, or even your child’s school events.

Here’s a great step-by-step guide from the folks at e-how.com:

1.  Place stretchy ribbon about two to three inches wide around a babies head to measure the length.
2. Cut the ribbon to your desired length
3. Take two kinds of ribbon to use for decorative hair bows and, without cutting from the spool, loop at least three or four times.
4. After you have the ribbon looped to your desired lengths, cut it and sew it together in the middle to hold your bow together.
5. Sew the bow to the headband, either in the middle or on the side; both look cute!
6. Use a glue gun to attach a smaller bow, or a pre-made flower, or shape, perhaps, or a jeweled item, or a soft, fuzzy decorative animal, to the center of your ribbon bow.

That’s it.  You’re done.  You can also consider using these same steps to create a cool head band to go around a flower hat, or plain straw hat.  Just measure the length of the hat as your guide and, if you like, use silk flowers or other items instead of ribbons or bows.

Get really good at making these and you could just have a business on your hands: wholesale baby headbands are popular picks by many retailers and e-boutiques.

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Related Resources

Stationery Niche

The usage and marketing of personalized custom gifts and stationery is a niche industry that is increasingly threatened by electronic media. As stationery is intrinsically linked to paper and the process of written, personalized communication, many techniques of stationery manufacture are employed, of varying desirability and expense. The most familiar of these techniques are letterpress printing, embossing, engraving, and thermographic printing. Flat printing and offset printing are regularly used, particularly for low cost or informal needs. This niche also includes such things as unique invitations, nametags, address labels and custom bowls and plates as well as packaging materials.

Babysitters

Most parents do not have a problem finding a local teenager, usually the daughter of a neighbor, to watch their kids for a few hours in the evening while they go out. However, finding someone to watch their child or children 5 or more days a week while they are at work is a little more difficult. Most daycare centers do not consider themselves babysitters; they consider themselves teachers or caregivers for children. Finding childcare at the right price and in the right location can be difficult. Of course, you could always hire a nanny, which is more expensive than a daycare.

So your little prince or princess is about to turn 1 and you’ve decided to throw a birthday party.   Where to begin?

Check out 1st Wishes.com to get started.  This is a fantastic site offering a comprehensive and fun selection of ideas to help you throw a first birthday party that everyone will enjoy.

The site has links to more than 200 pages devoted to party themes, ranging from animals and insects to princesses and warriors and everything in between.  You can scroll over to “Party Basics” once you’ve established a theme and select matching items to go with your theme: apparel; balloons and decorations; party favors; toys; games; tableware and invitations.

OK: what if you aren’t a fan of themed-parties?  What if your heart says $500 Dora The Explorer backyard extravaganza, but your budget says pizza and a home-made cake. That’s fine.  There are so many ways to get creative, toss together a fun and lively party, and make a lasting first-birthday party memory for you and your family without going into financial overdrive.

Start with the Invitations: You can get really creative by turning your favorite photo of your baby and creating as set of artful and memorable 1st birthday photo invitations.  Most local drug stores, such as Rite Aid and CVS offer quick digital photo printing services.  Cut colorful note cards from heavy card stock, glue the photos on to one side of the card and put the details on the back.

Spice them up with sequins or shells.  Or, instead of a photo, what about making a customized hospital announcements that “recreate” that special day for everyone.  List the details of your child’s birth: time; weight; name given; birth location; maybe even include that first newborn photo.

These adorable little baby announcements as invitations not only communicate the who, what, why and where of your party on one side, but make it possible for you to hand out a beautiful keepsake to invitees who may not have the entire details about the birth of your baby.

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Other Resources

Childcare Expense

These three things in a family’s budget that can be a strain on the family finances are the mortgage/rent, car payment and daycare. A significant percentage of one salary will go to paying for childcare. Childcare costs range from $500-$1200 a month. In a two parent home, most of one paycheck will go towards childcare. In a single-parent home, you really do not have a choice unless you have a family member who will take care of your child. You should choose a daycare center carefully and make sure that the cost is not more than 15-20% of your gross income.

Applying Wall Decals

Applying details to your walls or even vinyl lettering is fairly simple. First you need to choose where you want to place them. Then using a ruler, draw a light line so that the lettering will be placed even on the wall. Before you peel off the back paper, burnish the surface of transfer tape with an old credit card or gift card to ensure that the quote or letter is adhered solidly to the transfer tape. Now carefully peel back the backing paper away from the letter or quote, which should remain on the transfer tape. Not using your drawn line, position the letter or quote correctly onto the surface.

The Twin Stroller

Twin strollers are handy for parents with multiple infants or young toddlers. Toddler strollers or double strollers may seat twins next to each other or in front of each other. Not only are there strollers for twins, but there are also triple strollers to transport additional children and many have cup holders and storage underneath. In looking at the top kids’ strollers for you, whether it may be lightweight strollers, jogging strollers, twin strollers, or other more suitable strollers for your needs, there are many brands to choose from. Among those brands are Perego, Kolcraft, Dream On Me, Mid Moda, and Instep.