It's amazing how fast babies grow during their first year. Of course, all this growth comes with a list of baby things that are quickly outgrown. Even if you aren't planning on having additional children and you don't have a friend who is expecting, there are still plenty of creative ways to give your baby's possessions a second life.
Save Cute Baby Shoes
Baby shoes are the basis of some of the easiest baby crafts to make.
For example, you can turn a baby shoe into a customized photo holder by using a hot glue gun to attach a few clothespins to a thin wooden dowel. Insert the dowel in a sock filled with dry beans or rice. Secure with a rubber band, then tuck into the shoe. Clip on the baby pictures of your choice.
If you need a doorstop or a paperweight, fill a sock with small rocks before tucking it inside the shoe. If desired, add a tag with your child's name and the date the shoe was worn.
Recycle Baby Clothes
Sew your favorite baby dress or pair of your son's overalls shut on the bottom and hang it from small decorative wooden clothes hanger. Use it to hold clothespins in your laundry room or extra plastic grocery bags in your kitchen.
Many parents like to use fabric scraps from baby's special outfits to make a quilt, but you can also recycle baby clothes by making customized stuffed animals. A teddy bear is an excellent choice, but you can make everything from stuffed bunnies to rag dolls. All Crafts has links to 50 free patterns for sewing stuffed animals.
Make Art From Baby Blankets and Bedding
When you're looking for ways to recycle baby items, keep in mind that you can use embroidery hoops to frame your favorite crib sheets or patterned blankets. Group several coordinating patterns together for a large, eye-catching display of affordable wall art.
Baby blankets and bedding can also be used to make photo mats for your favorite framed pictures. Martha Stewart offers a tutorial that explains this process in detail.
Turn Toys Into Baby Keepsakes
Old stuffed animals can be turned into bookends. Carefully rip one of the seams on the bottom of the animal. Remove the stuffing and fill with small marbles. Sew the animal back together and display him on a bookshelf along with some of your child's favorite stories.
Another great use for your child's outgrown stuffed animals is making scented air fresheners. Wax dipped teddy bears have no wick and are not meant to burn; they simply release a gentle fragrance while displayed on your shelf. Lone Star Candle Supply outlines the process for making these unique items.
Reuse the Baby Crib
The best way to get the most use out of your baby crib is to intentionally purchase a convertible crib. If this isn't a possibility, however, you can still get some extra use out of your crib by turning it into part of your landscaping. Separate the sides of the baby crib from each other, then use as fencing for your garden. If you don't want to dismantle the crib, try using the entire piece as a large decorative flower bed.