When decorating for a party or special occasion, sometimes ideas run dry. When this happens to me, I try to think "outside the box". I did just that for my daughter-in-law's baby shower. I live in Florida where coconuts are in abundance and decided to make some babies with them for the main table.
I set the coconut in a tube base made with cardboard to enable it to stand up and tied a bib around the neck. I cut the rubber insert off of a pacifier and glued it to the mouth area. I also glued on some black thread for eyelashes and some wiggle eyes. Slip on a hat and paint some pink on the cheeks. Even if you don't live in a coconut state, you can purchase them at grocery stores. Everyone enjoyed the coconut babies!
By Mary from Palm Coast, FL
This page contains the following solutions.
Decorating the 2 chairs for the Mommy and Daddy to be. Unlike most decorations that are crepe paper and bows that get thrown away after a shower, Why not decorate with new and usable Baby items!
Instead of the traditional "decorate the mommy to be's chair," I decided to decorate a whole table for the Mommy and Daddy to be. First, we made a balloon archway above the table.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I'm expecting my 1st grandchild in March and I am planning to give my daughter a baby shower. Can anyone suggest some decorating ideas, games to play, and food to serve? Any help is greatly appreciated.
One game that is kind of gross but fun that I have played. Get different kinds of chocolate bars one with peanuts one with crips, snikers etc. Then take a baby diaper and melt a small amount of one of the candy bars in the diaper. This makes it look like a messy diaper. Number the diapers and keep track of what candy bar is on it.
I threw a baby shower for my sister not so long ago and it was a rubber ducky in a bathtub theme. I had over 100 clear balloons all over the house as the bubbles and put cotton and little rubber duckies on all the hard surfaces I could find. The punch was in a baby bathtub (which was lined with clear plastic so it was useable after) with rubber duckies in floating in it. The favors were these little rubber ducky key chains that I found at liquidation world.
Baby showers are so much fun and you can do so much with them..
Hi,
We created balloon centerpieces at reasonable prices..many can be personalized for your event. The following is a link to one of our newest baby shower centerpieces Ducky Day. The picture shown is for a boy centerpiece and we can made it for a girl as well. There are plenty others for you to choose from as well.
celebratedsensations.com/
The centerpieces are fully assembled, we ship them to you and you just put them on the table, very easy.
Hope that helps with your centerpiece ideas.
Katie
At my friend's shower, we had a bottle race. Whoever volunteered had a bottle of juice. Whoever drank their bottle first won. It was a lot of fun.
I GAVE MY DAUGHTER A BABY SHOWER FOR HER FIRST CHILD AND HAD NEVER GIVEN A SHOWER BEFORE. I WENT TO OUR LOCAL LIBRARY AND THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF BOOKS WITH CHEAP, SIMPLE IDEAS IN THEM AND THATS WHAT HELPED ME MAKE HER SHOWER A SUCCESS.
Hi~~at my daughter's babyshower we played a few games~~baby bingo, put paper plates on top of head & had to draw picture of baby on it without lifting pencil (some of the pictures they drew :0) ) also if you know the baby's name~you can make a word scramble out of it. We also bought a plain white towel and had people sign it with best wishes or advice for the new mom which she got to keep also filled a baby bottle up with candy and had to guess the amt. Hope this helps. Enjoy!!
Babyfood tasting competitions are fun. Cover up (or take off) the labels and re-label the jars with just A, B, C, etc. Don't forget to record what A, B, and C really are! Then have the guests taste the baby food and guess what flavors they are supposed to be.
Last spring my SIL had a baby. My gift to her also doubled as a centerpiece at both of her baby showers. I made her a diaper cake. Which looks like a multi tiered edible cake but made out of rolled up cloth or disposable diapers and decorated with receiving blankets, onesies, bibs, toys, pacifiers, baby bottles, etc.
Here's the link for the instructions I used.
entertaining.about.com/
To save money, I just tied the diapers that were under the blankets and onesies with dental floss instead of ribbon. The base of my cake was cardboard I had covered in foil.
I only spent about 25 dollars on the "ingredients" for my cake, and everyone loved it. Don't try to buy one premade over the internet, they are so expensive. A little time consuming to make, but the "wow" factor is so worth it, plus everything can be used by the new mom.
I'm going to make one for every shower I get invited to now. :) Have fun and good luck.
I had more fun than ever decorating for a mother to be shower. I went to the thrift stores and bought baby bottles and filled with gumballs in baby colors from sams club. I also purchesed single and pairs of used baby shoes and polished them and used for centerpiece. got pink , blue, mint green crepe parer for decorating also.
Does your daughter have a theme for the nursery? If not a cute centerpiece is two jars or vases with a string between them with baby socks clipped with mini clothes pins.
These are all great ideas! Thank you so much for your help.
Everyone will LOVE this.....plus it's easy and you can make it ahead!!!
CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESE BALL
Soften and mix together:
8 oz cream cheese
1 stick of butter (not margarine)
Blend into mixture:
&frac; C powdered sugar
2 T brown sugar
1 C miniature chocolate chips
Form mixture into a ball and chill for 2 hrs. Roll in crushed pecans or Oreos and serve with graham cracker sticks.
I'll be giving my sister in-law a baby shower in three weeks. I've given a few in the past but never to someone as "picky" as she is. I can give her a nice shower but I would like it to be extra special since we've had to talk her into the whole baby shower thing in the first place.
If any of you fine readers have some upscale ideas for food (shower will be at 3PM on a Saturday), please post. And any unusual decoration ideas would be welcomed as well. Thank you in advance!If you know what the theme of the nursery is you can decorate the shower accordingly. The decorations can be things she can later use in the nursery for decor, etc. There are also many other themes you can do such as a basket theme. Everyone brings a themed basket filled accordingly. Example bath time basket with all the soaps, shampoos, diaper cream, towels, wash cloths, bath toys, etc. I dont really have any ideas for food though. You can always make different sypes of sandwiches and use baby themed cookie cutters to cut the sandwiches in baby shapes. Hope some of these helped.
The cutest baby shower is the rubber duck shower. I am also giving a baby shower in May. Rubber Ducks floating in the punch.
Using yellow tulle is very elegant. The shower cake several different options: try a quilt background with baby colors and stick a flat plastic rubber duck in the middle, have a duck put on top of the cake w/ icing, or (we are going way out) take a 1/2 sheet rectangle pan (usually takes 2-3 cake mixes) make twice to stack one on top of the other- layer it-then dig a little out of the middle buy the stand up duck cake pan (available at walmart or hobby lobby) bake decorate and put in side the double white cakes to look like a duck in a tub. Buy the blue gel icing to look like water. If you do this your self remember that you have to put columns under the duck into the other cakes and then a plastic cake holder (like used to stack wedding cakes) to hold up the heavy duck cake so it doesnt sink.
Next, if you cant find duck paperware just use yellow, but be sure you have pretty white table cloth and fabric skirting(NO PLASTIC) this will make it look soft. For the guest tables center pieces use little galvanized silver tubs and fill halfway w/water and put ducks floating in them. or if you are worried someone will knock them over use those glass bowls they use at weddings or for floating candles.
Get a duck dish for the mints and place at the sign in table with a yellow table cloth. Remember fabric makes everything soft. Have the guest of honor sit in a rocking chair with yellow fabric tied around the top and a bow on the back or even better if she can use in the home or nursery get a cushion or back made out of duck fabric.
As far as food goes-we always end up doing the same food soI myself am trying to do something different. But definitely use some touches of yellow like deviled eggs, and chicken salad sandwiches. Depending on your budget- but those two are fairly inexpensive. Cute foods are: tortillas lined w/a thin line of cream cheese some green onions and ham rolled up and cut into pinwheels, (I'm not sure where you are from-but we are from Louisiana and my favorite) boudin dip- take the rice mixture out of the middle of boudin and mix w/ sour cream and serve w/fritos, and of course spinach dip (buy the pack of knorrs spring veg. soup mix- recipe on back) serve inside a hawain king bread bowl (this sweet bread is great with the dip) use the middle that you cut out and cut into cubes serve around the bread bowl very close to the bread then serve ritz crackers (I use the cheaper brand of everything so try HEB brand or even dollar store kind) around bread bowl. To save money skip the bread bowl and just serve in a glass bowl w/ritz. Also I use the HEB brand corn chips and the HEB brand tortilla chips for everything they are both very good. Instead of making an expensive fruit tray- just buy the fruit that is on sale and rinse and serve in a pretty bowl. A friend serves strawberries (they were 1.50 a lb.) mixed w/bananas and strawberry glaze or if you need low sugar desert use sugar free strawberry gelatin and dont let it chill all the way. mix w/ the strawberry and bananas just like the glaze. Just remember color is pretty. Something refreshing.
Try pound cake or angel food cake in a pretty tall glass dish like a triffle dish- layer cake cut into tiny squares, strawberries (fresh or frozen) mixed w/ glaze, vanilla pudding, blueberries (fresh or frozen) w/juice and then top w/ cool whip (excellent) or just serve banana pudding in a pretty dish. Just remember the yellow tulle laid lightly around the table w/ baby's breathe will be pretty with a lot of color! If you have any other questions just write back.
I hope this has been helpful!!
Thanks for the Rubber Duck themes for a baby shower. Don't know if the person who asked will use your ideas but I will. I'm having a shower for a niece in July and now I can go ahead and get things together. I submitted an article on baby showers not long ago with one for my Daughter-in-law. It had some ideas for things I did to fill her a keepsake box and a little bonnet with a poem. Maybe it's still on there. Incidently, the bonnet idea was done for my niece who's now in her 30's. I LOVE keepsakes.
WOW! Great ideas! I have lots of things to think about in the next few days before making the big decisions!
Again, thanks!!!!!
I am doing a Carriage theme for my best friend. She is having a Girl and the colors are going to be a bit unusual. I picked out my plates design first. I choose Debbie Mumm and I bought if off Ebay (saved a ton!) You can get a carriage cake design to do for a larger shower off of the internet. use 3 circles cakes! So cute! I also did my ribbons myself and am using curling ribbon with baby pacifiers and small favors hanging off the light fixture over the table with tulle in pink. SO CUTE! Good luck.
Melissa C.
Madison,MS
(southern hospitality!)
I helped throw a baby shower for my husband's aunt and she is very particular (I am too which helped). We set up a nice italian buffet w/ a cherub water fountain in the middle. Since they didnt want to know what the sex was, we put teddy bears up w/ diff colored ribbons and braclets. We used the white opalescent colored tulle as filler. We just used the square mirrors w/ small pot w/ fake white flowers and different colored ribbons weaved into them as centerpieces and then sprinkled the baby confetti around it and down the center of the tables. We found that if you take a napkin, wrap the utensils (disposable or not), & tie w/ ribbon it will make it seem a little more "upscale". Just remember to make it about her if she is a very particular person and good luck!
I am giving my daughter-in-law a rubber duck baby shower in may, my thing is I need ideas on centerpieces, first I'd bought a bunch of plain baskets and then I put paper curlie things in them to kinda fill it up more, then I added things like diaper bag size baby powder, lotion, oil, wipes, a wipe holder, thermoeter, teether, thing for nose suction, ear section, finger nail clippers and baby file, medican spoon, med. droper, and such as that, but today I decided they didn't look that pretty so I'm looking for ideas on centerpieces, also any crafts we can do I've already made book markers, a framed poem each for mom and dad, I bought candy bar wrappers, if anyone knows of anything else please e-mail me at hickreenut@bledsoe.net, I would love to do lots of things but when you live off of less than $600.00 a month and I'm doing this all by myself I have to watch my budget, I also need cheap food ideas. Oh I also have a 3 layer diaper cake full of goodies in them as well.
Thanks,
nana_of_3
I am having a baby shower it 2 weeks and I need some food ideas.
I am looking for creative simple baby shower decorations, favors, games, centerpieces and wearables (like magnets, t-shirts, etc.) that I can either print download or copy - preferably "free sites" if possible but will consider all.
Here are some ideas that were used at a shower for my daughter:
1) Fill small babyfood jars with butterscotch candy. Cover the top with a small swatch of Winnie-th-Pooh cloth or one of the solid colors associated with Pooh, and tie it with thin ribbon. On the side of the jar write in yellow paint pen, "HUNNY". Of course, one of the "N"'s will be written backwards just like Pooh would write it.
2) An easy decoration is a clothesline strung across the room with new clothes for the baby. Each hostess can bring one outfit or shirt or bib or whatever for this.
3) Consider using something that you would give to the new mom as the centerpiece. For instance, my daughter's theme was Pooh, so they just used the lamp that they were giving her for the centerpiece.
4) The favor that we gave out was a small votive candle wrapped in net and tied with thin ribbon (from the same roll of ribbon that we had for the Hunny pots). We attached a plastic diaper pin and a small note that read,
Here is a candle for you to light
Once the stork has made its flight.
The flame will glow to celebrate
Baby Jones' arrival date.
They were placed in a basket near the door and passed out as the guests left. The basket could even be used as your centerpiece.
Hope some of this helps. Good luck and have fun!
I have used the FREE graphics on these sites for quite some time. I import them to my Hallmark software and I am able to do many things. They are some of the cutest I've ever seen. There is a large variety and lots of baby stuff. Have fun!!!
check out this site
www.alenkasprintables.com
went to www.alenkasprintables.com and loved it.
thanks
This isn't free but I thought it was a cute game. Take about five diapers and five different candy bars. Melt a bit of each candy bar in seperate diapers and have party guest guess what kind of candy bar is in the diaper. Give them slips of paper to write their answers on. Winners who guess all correct get a small prize.
I am having a baby shower for my daughter-in-law outside in the back yard.
For a decorative idea, I went to the dollar store and bought some $1.00
assorted baby stuff: socks, diapers, bibs, all in assorted colours and styles. I am putting up a clothes line from tree to tree and hanging the items with clothes pegs.I think this is a cute idea. If you get more ideas, please let me know.
Regards, Janet (jsimp52 AT yahoo.com)
Try www.bluemountain.com
I have used this site for years. For only 19.99 a year, print cards for any reason, and many other projects. I recommend this site 100%.
I was wondering if anyone could please help me with some decorating, games, and food ideas? It will be a baby shower on a budget. This is a first for me and I'm lost.
I have used all 3 of these sites in the past. Most games just require pen and paper. And a lot of the favors can be made with cheaper versions and homemade.
www.babyzone.com/
Dear Ruth:
I posted for the same advice not one month ago, and everyone was so helpful. Just go to:
www.thriftyfun.com/
Good luck.
Anjeena
Ruth,
Here's a link to a site with some cute ideas: www.mybambino.com/
Congratulations & Best of Luck.
Marla
http://www.forgetmenotaromas.com - Our fragrances leave lasting impressions.
For food I would just keep it simple. The cake with maybe some chips and nuts. Generally showers are given after meals so you don't have to actually feed people a meal. If you want to go with something more, make some finger sandwiches using egg salad or tuna salad. Both items are not that expensive. Decorate with things that the mother can acutally use. Like a pretty basket with different colored baby bottles or baby care products. A few ballons are always nice. Try to get these from your local supermarket. They are usually cheaper than a florist. Same thing if you decorate with any type of flowers.
One baby shower I went to the hostesses passed around a bowl of clothespins, asking everyone to see how many they could grasp and hold in 1 hand only. The guest that could hold the most, won the prize.
Also, you could have the honoree, come in and mingle with the guests, after a while have the honoree leave the room. Have the guests write down what all she had on? (earrings, barrette, bracelet, necklace, blouse, dress, skirt, rings, etc.) The guest that got the most answers correct, wins the prize.
I've been to some showers where the prizes are baby related & the guests have the decision to keep the prize or give it to the honoree. But the prizes don't have to be baby related.
Finger sandwiches, mixed nuts &/or dinner mints, fruit salad if you didn't want to serve cake.
It's best to give the shower with several friends or family members, this way the whole expense doesn't get put on your shoulders. It could get costly.
Best of luck!!
WE ARE HAVING A "BIRTH" DAY PARTY FOR MY DAUGHTER'S SHOWER WITH A BIRTHDAY CAKE AND PUNCH AND GOODIE BAGS FOR ALL THE GUESTS. THE THEME IS CURIOUS GEORGE!
you can play the string game where you pass around a string and guess how big the mothers stomach is
I have lots of time to shop and do crafts, but I can't think of anything. Any ideas?
By whitney from NY
I am having a baby shower and my invitation has a little boy playing with blocks. Don't know what to do for centerpieces. I was thinking of using blocks. Any ideas?
You could use letter blocks as a centerpiece, spelling out "congratulations Mommy!" or the guest of honor's name. You could use small blocks as place tags spelling out your guest's names.
