The DSC family is growing!  In case you didn’t hear, our fearless leader Heather recently had a baby!  That makes a total of four boys – and one very busy mommy.  To celebrate, we surprised her with a whole week of baby-related crafts, throwing a virtual baby shower here on the blog.  Did you miss it?  No worries!  Here is a recap of the week: ten fabulous projects for expectant mothers and their tiny new people!

[DIY Ruffled Belly Band by See Kate Sew]

[DIY Cloud Decor by A Nest For All]

[DIY All-Natural Baby Wipes by Evermine Blog]

[Retro Pac Man Baby Blanket by Morena]

[Glittered Pacifiers by Bombshell Bling]

[Baby Footprint Heart Art by Crazy About My Baybah]

[DIY Hanging Soft Toys by Rhonda]

[DIY Sock Monkey by Craft Passion]

[Mustache Pacifiers by Creative Green Living]

[Baby Neckties from Fabric Scraps by The DIY Mommy]

The post 10 Crafts for Babies and Expectant Mothers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you have been pregnant any time in the last five years or so, you are probably well aware of the miracle that is the belly band. If you haven’t been pregnant that recently, let me tell you: it’s awesome! It helps hold up your pants (both maternity and pre-maternity) as well as gives your belly some extra coverage from shirts that are too short to cover. Plain belly bands will cost you upward of $10 each but if you follow the tutorial on See Kate Sew, you can make your own for just a few dollars (or even for free if you use an old t-shirt!). [how to make a ruffled pregnancy belly band]

Project estimate:

• 1/2 yard stretchy knit fabric OR a stretchy t-shirt, on hand or $3 and up
• Sewing machine, on hand

Total: Free and up!

The post Make a Ruffled Pregnancy Belly Band from a T-shirt appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Becoming a mother has been one of the craziest, and most important things that has ever happened to me. Today I’m sharing an essay about my experience having a C-section, for ABC News and the UN Foundation’s Million Moms Challenge. Here’s a sneak peek at the essay:

When I became pregnant, I quickly learned that pregnancy can be a social minefield. Every parent has different opinions about how to prepare for the birth, what an expectant mother should (and shouldn’t) eat, how the spouse should be involved in the pregnancy, and even HOW babies should be brought into the world. It’s overwhelming if you try to listen to everyone, and discouraging because opinions vary wildly.

In the vocal cadre of opinion-sharing mommies, “C-section” can be a dirty word.

Go to Million Moms Challenge to read my essay, and to share your own birth stories. You can enter to win an exclusive Million Moms Challenge Gift Pack, which includes an all expenses paid trip to a conference on mothers hosted by the UN Foundation in DC (Jan/Feb 2012), an iPad2, a custom-made Million Moms Challenge pendant and $50 donation in your name to Global Giving.

The post Million Moms Challenge: My C-Section appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Are you sporting a baby bump this Halloween?  Ashley from Make It and Love It was preggers last year, so she made a costume that highlighted her bump.  Using a freezer paper stencil, she made a skeleton costume complete with a bony little fetus!  It makes for the cutest skeleton costume I’ve ever seen.  She also made a matching costume for her hubby, with a fast food meal in his tummy instead of a baby, which totally made me laugh!  [how to make a pregnant skeleton costume]

Project estimate:

• Black sweatsuit, on hand or about $5 and up
• Freezer paper, on hand
• White paint, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Pregnant Skeleton Costume appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Becoming a mother has been one of the craziest, and most important things that has ever happened to me. Today I’m sharing an essay about the most difficult moment of my first son’s birth for ABC News and the UN Foundation’s Million Moms Challenge. Here’s a sneak peek at the essay:

But the worst moments of my pregnancy were when I was close to giving birth. I was in the “pushing” stage. There was a monitor attached to my son’s scalp so they could make sure his heart kept beating during the labor process. As I would push, his heartbeat would stop. As soon as the doctor noticed that the baby’s heart kept stopping, she told me that they had no other recommendation but to rush me to surgery and give me a c-section. The umbilical cord was wrapped around my son’s neck.

Go to Million Moms Challenge to read my essay, and to share your own birth stories. You can enter to win an exclusive Million Moms Challenge Gift Pack, which includes an all expenses paid trip to a conference on mothers hosted by the UN Foundation in DC (Jan/Feb 2012), an iPad2, a custom-made Million Moms Challenge pendant and $50 donation in your name to Global Giving.

Read my essay

The post Creative Baby Shower Ideas + My Birth Story appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.