Onesie Fun

The weekend before Gracie was born Jack and I worked on a project to welcome her. I wanted him to help make something for her that he would see her use every day. And I wanted him to start to get a sense of how small she would actually be when she arrived. So I decided we would make hand-painted onesies.

First I cut stencils out of freezer paper using an exacto knife.

Then I ironed the stencils onto the onesies. (You iron the freezer paper, shiny side down for about 20-30 seconds and it sticks to the cotton.)

Then I called Jack in to help with the painting. We used Jacquard fabric paint that I bought at Michaels. I put the colors in an old mini muffin tin for easy dipping, mixing, and stirring.

  

When they were thoroughly painted we hung them to dry overnight.

  

The next morning we peeled off the freezer paper and heat-set the paint with an iron. I'll update with a picture of Gracie modelling her custom clothing as soon as I have one.

Are there any other great ideas for helping a sibling welcome baby home that I should know about? Please share!

Comments

[amy @ let's explore]

Those onesies are so precious -- I really need to do some of that freezer paper stenciling! :) When I had daughter #2, her big sister, who was 2 at the time, and I worked on a big sister/little sister scrapbook together. She loved glueing photos of the baby and ones of them together, then decorating. We kept the pages in sheet protectors in a binder. Easy and sweet to look back on now! :) Hope you are adjusting well to life with 2 little ones!

[Zarlacht]

Hi! I just came across your blog - just wanted to say that I love your onesies! What a wonderful idea/project for little/big siblings ;) We have a niece on the way and may have to do this with our kids to welcome her! Thanks!!

Sibling idea: My daughter was 16mo old when my son came home, and she welcomed him home by being supportive. Like getting his burp cloth, bottle, diaper, blanket - first. So I setup a basket for her on the floor filled with these things. When Noah would finish a bottle in my arms while in the rocking chair, she'd run to the basket and get a burp cloth before I'd even ask. ;)
It made her feel proud/excited to be able to help so much. Congratulations on your growing family!

[Shayla]

These are beautiful! What a great idea!

[Deanna]

I love your freezer paper onesies! Another welcome sibling idea is to have the sibling write/draw a "welcome home" book for the new baby. My nephew was about 4 when he started "writing" stories for the family. He actually wrote several for my daughter (his cousin).

[cara]

Awesome idea! My daughter is 2 and we are expected baby girl #2 at the end of Oct. I think that this is something that Arin and I will have to do together to welcome home baby Ella!

[Colleen Allison]

When we would welcome a new baby we would make matching t-shirts for the sibs and the new baby and they would wear them on the birthday.

[orient expressed]

What a great idea. Those onesies are simply adorable...

[Animal Onesie]

So creative! I love it. I'm thinking making one myself, just haven't found a plain onesie to paint on.

[adult onesies australia]

So much fun to be had in these little onesies. They are simple, yet they still find a way to impress people in so many ways. It's just adorable, that is why I keep buying them for my little ones.

[kate]

I love this! Is there any way for you to send me the files you used for the stencils? I want to print these out for a shower this weekend! Thanks! Kate