Baby Shower Ideas

[MISSINDI]

We're throwing my sister a baby shower in September - it's her first baby, and a girl. Any fun ideas for decorating, favors and such? She hates being the center of attention (and knows when the shower will be), so we won't be doing games of any sort, so more looking for everything else ... food, decorating, favors, theme, etc.

[mom2garret]

On another note, when are you due? Hope your feeling well!
Jodi

[MISSINDI]

On another note, when are you due? Hope your feeling well!
Jodi

Due Valentine's Day. So far, so good, but I'm going to be anxious until I pass the 12 week mark (2 more to go). I'm convinced it's a girl - can't wait to find out. Thanks for asking. :D

[Robyn1007]

The baby shower I went to last week had favors that were little terra cotta flower pots potted with blooming violets. For games we really just did a "how well do you know the mom to be" quiz and everyone wrote down their favorite name choices for boy and girl (we don't know what it will be). They did typical summer grill food with kabobs, fruit salad, chicken salad, chips, dip etc. When is your sister due?

[dixie]

One of my favorite ideas for a baby shower, and I'm not a themey type person, I just like the party to be nice and pretty, not necessarily all pastel, etc...is to make a delicious chocolate mousse for dessert and serve it in washed out baby food jars...it has just the right amount of "cute" to me, and still use your good silver for dessert spoons. You just have to know someone who is in the baby food stage and get them to rinse the jars good then store them for you, then you have to carefully wash them out with hot soapy water without disuturbing the label.. sounds like a lot of trouble when I read it, but really it isn't, its very fun and I haven't seen it done but a couple of times.

[LaraW]

What about getting one of those diaper cakes for a centerpiece? I saw one at a shower, and it was cute, as well as being practical too.

[MISSINDI]

What about getting one of those diaper cakes for a centerpiece? I saw one at a shower, and it was cute, as well as being practical too.

My mom printed out a picture of one of those, as well as a diaper wreath, so they've both made the list. A friend went to a baby shower awhile back and I saw a picture of an adorable "cake" (you can see it here (http://bp3.blogger.com/_WIGv0dkWsmw/Rez05I-B7_I/AAAAAAAAAxs/uNcxoKZXsa8/s1600-h/table2.jpg)) that I need to work on.

[Dennis91]

I have been to several baby showers where the centerpieces of flowers were actually the favors. At one shower there were small vases with sunflowers, and each guest took one home. Another shower had small terracotta pots with potted flowers. It helps save on the cost.

The "sunflower" themed shower had sugar cookies decorated as sunflowers, which I thought were cute. I think the idea came from the Martha Stewart web-site...they have all sorts of shower ideas you might find helpful.

I have hosted several showers for friends that too hated to be the center of attention. I found one way to help, is to place all the guests names in a pretty decorated bag (to match your "theme"). As the friend is opening her gifts, I would ask her to pick a name out. We did this 6 times, and each name got a small gift (candle, notecards, gift card). This way it gave the friend a few minutes to relax while opening presents and other guests had some fun too and got a small "prize"...without all those games!

When I sent the shower invites out I also typically add in a pretty note card and ask each guest to bring the card back with the best piece of advice they have ever heard or wish to give and sign their name...be it a baby shower or wedding shower. I collect at the shower and present in a pretty album as a keepsake for the bride-to-be, mom-to-be.

Best wishes with all of your planning!

[cangoss]

My cousin hates being the center of attention and didn't want to open her gifts and have everyone watch her. We found a compromise by having an assembly line for the gifts. Her sister pulled the card off, undid the ribbon and got things almost unwrapped, then my cousin announced who it was from and finished unwrapping, and I whisked the gifts away to a pile of opened gifts. It worked very well and I liked it a lot better than the kind of shower where everyone has to ooh and aahh at every gift and it takes forever and a day to open them.

[misskitty100]

My mom printed out a picture of one of those, as well as a diaper wreath, so they've both made the list. A friend went to a baby shower awhile back and I saw a picture of an adorable "cake" (you can see it here (http://bp3.blogger.com/_WIGv0dkWsmw/Rez05I-B7_I/AAAAAAAAAxs/uNcxoKZXsa8/s1600-h/table2.jpg)) that I need to work on.

My MIL did a wreath for my first baby shower and had it up on the front door. I think she used a grapevine wreath and just covered it with baby items and blue ribbon since we were having a boy. Everyone thought it was pretty neat.

I rec'd flower bulbs at a recent baby shower packaged in a gossamer type bag and I thought that was a nice favor.

[IndyKF]

I remember this thread from a while back for a shower that Lisas3535 hosted: http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=95867&highlight=baby+shower

There are some pics on the thead, including the diaper cake. Everthing was too cute!

Is this shower going to be her only shower and/or main shower? I haven't hosted one in a while, but the last two I did were more geared towards the mommy. One was for a friend who is from Memphis and loves Southern food, so that was our theme.

I also have seen a really cute decoration: take a long piece of rope or twine and string it from one end of the room to the other. Hang onesies by clothespins to the line. The guests can personalize the onesies with fabric paint/markers for mom to keep.

[BeachBum]

I just have a diaper cake making tip. I think this may be an original idea as I didn't see it posted anywhere where I was trying to figure out what to do. When you roll up each diaper, secure it with one of those tiny clear rubber bands. They are with the hair accessories and advertised as "ouchless". It is so much easier than tie-ing them and the clear hides easily.
We just put our 3 tier cake on a cake stand, tied each layer with wide ribbon and decorated with fresh flowers. It made for an elegant presentation.

[MISSINDI]

This will be her only shower.

Love the idea of the hanging onesies for people to decorate and the flower bulb as a favor - perfect!

Thanks for the tip on the clear hairbands - gotcha.

Off to check out Lisa's thread.

Keep the ideas comin'!

[Cookin4Love]

At one of the baby showers I hosted, I used pink curling ribbon (it was a girl) to hang pacifies, rattles, bibs, booties, etc. from the ceiling. The entire room was festive with cute baby things suspended above the guests' heads.