Bridal Shower Gift on the Cheap?

[mandica]

My sister's shower is coming up in a couple weeks. I thought she would have a registry but she doesnt. So I'm left with little time and little money to get her something nice.

I won't be attending her wedding as it is in Panama and we can't afford to go. So I would like to give her something special to let her know I am happy for her and very much support her coming marriage.

Problem is I don't know her very well, to be honest.

I sew a little so I thought I could make her an apron/dish towel set. Is that too cheapy? Her social circle is generally sort of uppity and I'm afraid of looking poor and feeling embarrassed.

Any other ideas? I can afford to spend about $50... MAYBE $100. Most of the ideas I see online run about $200-$500+

[Tradd]

I ALWAYS give this book as a shower gift. It's FAB. No one has ever turned a nose up at it and love it.

Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson.

http://www.amazon.com/Home-Comforts-...4077957&sr=8-1

It's a large home reference book. It tells you how to do everything from how to fold a fitted sheet (complete with diagrams) to food safety and how to clean anything and everything. It's not telling someone, "You're a crappy housekeeper." It's "Here's a wonderful book I love and have found wonderfully useful."

I've had brides-to-be talk with me at the shower for ANOTHER bride, see the book, and then turn to me and ask me to get it for them!

Will cost no more than $20.

[bluebunny]

Do you have any special family recipes? At one bridal shower I went to, the hostess asked all the guests to bring a recipe for the bride. I thought it was such a neat idea.

You could collect recipes from various family members, or compile 10 or so of your family favorites and start a "cookbook" for the bride. Another suggestion is to give her your favorite family recipe with the cooking/baking item to make it (e.g. crockpot, brownie pan, bundt pan, etc.).

I think the homemade apron would be awesome, too!

[momct]

I make theme gifts and make a special effort with the packaging.For a bride who enjoyed baking I got a pretty glass cake stand at Marshall's,a crystal handled cake knife and server set and a book with cake decorating ideas from Barnes and Noble bargain section.I bought a large floral hatbox, also at Marshall's,put colored tissue in it and arranged the gifts inside with the lid propped up behind the box.I then wrapped it all with pale colored tulle from the fabric store tied in a big poufy bow at the top.Everyone oohed and ahhed over it .I used the same packaging idea with a table cloth from a different bride's registry and added crystal candlesticks and two tapered candles to fill out the gift. If I don't know a person's taste I choose simple serving items in glass or white ceramic or wine glasses.Then I add color and personality in the packaging or some small items to round out the gift.Both those gifts were about $50.00 each, but looked like more because of the unity with color and theme.

[fyrwmn]

i usually end up making toasting glasses as a gift. buy 2 wine glasses (a 4 pack at walmart i sless than $5. then i use etching cream to do the bride and groom's names as well as the wedding date on the glasses. if you buy letter stickers at the craft store (about $1.50 for a package) it makes it go much quicker and you don't have to worry about what the letters look like. you just cut out the letter, stick it on the glass, and peel the actual letter sticker off using tweezers so that you'll have the actual letter and not the outline left on the glass. then i use ribbon in the wedding colors wrapped around the stem. lightly coat the ribbon with super glue to hold it and also protect it when the glass is washed (just don't submerge the glass stems). and that's it...maybe $20 when you add in the initial purchase of etching cream, and it takes maybe 30 minutes.

[lolar2]

I think the apron/ dish towel idea is awesome and you should do that.