What exactly is my "Baby Shower" idea?

Hmmm, I'd love to answer, a catered in event, possibly done in a classy, upscale restaurant with someone else footing the bill........ but I know in reality that isn't too likely to happen.

So, here is my ideas:

Preparations:

1. Let me finish organizing my studio supplies --- after all it is more important that I know where my art supplies are!
2. You {Amber and Nancy, Chris' mother} come over and assist cleaning, dusting, and vacauming it. Heck, I'll even leave it unlocked, ya'll can come over while I'm sleeping! {smiles}
3. Make up your guest list. Hand deliver those locally that you'll see and mail only those that need to go out of town.
4. Create a gift registry on www.BabyDepot.com, www.Target.com, and www.WalMart.com and/or include {what I feel is tacky} a list of things you are still needing. Leave off big ticketed items ---- I'm certain no-one desires to spend several hundred dollars on the crib of of your dreams. Maybe we can tuck "the list" into an smaller envelope guaranteed to fall out upon opening the invitation. {wink}
5. I often think "gift cards" are so impersonal, but I do believe for a Baby Shower they are a wonderful choice as they provide the proud parents to be with some funds for those larger purchases need and maybe not received! I'm wondering if a note "Gift Cards Graciously Accepted" can be added to the gift registry? I think this is an excellent idea as they can be used in the months after the baby's arrival when finances of the parent tighten up.
6. Let's use what we already have decorating the theme for the baby shower! {Hey, that's a great idea! Why didn't I think of it?}

So, since Amber is hell-bound the Baby Shower be held in my studio in March, I got to thinking about what is available on the retail end of things and dates on the calendar. Spring officially begins on March 20th and Easter is over the horizon. Meaning, I came up with a "Daisy, Tulip, and Butterfly" theme, perfect for the pastel color palette of not knowing the sex of the unborn babe.

I choose the "butterfly" theme for symbolic reasons as well. In many cultures, the butterfly is reminiscent of spiritual transformation, representing the butterfly's three steps of metamorphosis --- as a caterpillar, pupa, and the beautiful, yet fragil, winged insect. In images of the Garden of Eden, Adam's soul is symbolized by a butterfly, or drawn with butterfly wings. In paintings of Mary and her Child, the presence of butterflies stands for their care for human souls. The Gnostics depicted the Angel of Death by showing a winged foot stepping on a butterfly, symbolizing "rebirth after death." The butterfly is also a symbol of woman's delicacy. It can serve as a reminder to treat her with gentleness. In mythology and art, the caterpillar -- the larva (immature form) of a butterfly --- spins itself into a cocoon, where the mysterious transformation takes place during the time of "retreat" known as the pupation period, similarly to a fetus growing in the confined space of a mother's womb. And I even found an Irish blessing related to butterflies, that reflects back upon the Irish bloodlines of my own mother's heritage.

An Irish Blessing

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun, and find your shoulder to light on

To bring you luck, happiness and riches today, tomorrow and beyond.

Possibly an quote suitable for the front of our invitations, in the event that we hand create them. In the event that we purchase them, I did discovery a website that featured babies with angel wings surrounded by flowers and butterflies, created in soft pastels resembling a watercolor effect that are inexpensive to purchase! There are also inexpensive matching stickers to decorate the envelopes and to use on some of the other ideas I have.

So, we set the stage within the studio, using different pastel-colored plastic tablecloths in a color-blocked pattern since the table are already set up so that when I have company over to create art we can look across and see what one another are doing. This will enable us to accomodate a lot of guests and promote interaction with one another. I'm thinking the pink, blue, and yellow on these tables, will work well as it won't promote the typical "blue and pink" theme of a baby shower which is important since the expecting couple choose to be surprised.

For a centerpiece, a medium sized potted floral or a medium sized floral bouguet would work best placed in the center of the three tables. I'm thinking it would promote the theme without adding too much of a distraction or inhibit interaction between me hostessing and Amber's guests. Maybe add a pillar or a taper candle in for elegance. I have matching candlestick and a hurricane glass pillar that matches my Pfalgraph tableware already and somewhere around here is a daisy candle ring that may also work!

Additional decorations to match our theme: Daisies, Tulips, and Butterflies

Decorated Pencils for the games we'll play requiring them. Glue some silk daisies into the erasers and wrap and glue decorative papers around them, mixing and matching printed papers to our color scheme. Displayed in glass jars with clear marbles I have on hand approximately halfway from the centerpiece to the ends of the tables.

Decorate and chill about 12 bottles of water and using a 2"x 10" mixed colored pastel cardstocks and printed papers adding text, "Thank You for Coming!" Curling ribbon and a small tag, could be a circle or daisy, tulip, butterfly shape possibly with an "S" monogram for "Saunders" {Chris's last name}.

I already have in my back laundry room/guest bedroom, a large watering can filled with pastel wildflowers with daisies and various pastel colors that will promote the "Spring" time theme and the symbolism of rebirth. The food buffet: aka, my bookbinding area can be transformed using a light pastel green tablecloth and tableskirt to hide all the supplies hidden within the shelves beneath. Adorned with my watering can filled with silk wildflowers, my Pfaltzgraff Tea Rose stoneware for the buffet serving area we can quickly and inexpensively set the stage for refreshing refreshments.

Food ideas:

Removing the crust from breads, using white and wheat bread, and lightly toasting some of the white bread. Fill them with tuna and chicken salad to create "finger sized" sandwiches by cutting them in half diagonally.

Potatoe Salad & Chips

A vegetable tray: carrots, celery, brocolli, califlower, grape or cherry tomatoes with a Hidden Valley Ranch Dip

Refreshments:

Decorated bottled water, a Fruit Punch with some lemon, lime, orange slices, and Iced Tea

Desert: Cupcakes vs. a Cake iced in pastel colors with sugared images of daisies, tulips, and butterflies adorning the frosting.

Set Up a Baby Gift Center on my journaling table by covering it with a purple tablecloth and creating a Diaper Cake as a centerpiece. I'm thinking 2 tiered, not too big, possibly 8" base to allow plenty of room for gifts, gift bags, ect.

Purchases we'll have to make will be: 1 each pastel tablecloths in pink, blue, green, purple, and yellow color; and one green table skirt. To keep from having too much pastel colors, use the white stryofoam plates and cups, napkins, and clear fork, spoons, and knives, then on to..........

Party Favors!

I'm thinking tulle wrapped candles decorated with ribbon and/or raffia; a nice glass votive with candle, tulle wrapped candies: Jordan almonds, Hershey kissses, Pastel M&M's. Small yet effective without breaking the bank!

As a keepsake to Amber, I'm planning to create a Baby Shower Guest Book for guests to sign along with their well-wishes for the parents-to-be and baby Saunders. I'm thinking a stamped themed background with a sheet of vellum for the first pages, followed by a poem or quote as an introduction to signing in. A decorative matching acid-free pen with the daisies for an additional keepsake. This will be placed on one corner of the table just as we enter the stuio and will provide a space for guests to sign-in as we enter. I'm thinking the last couple of pages will be pre-printed with spaces to add each guests name, the gift they brought, and checklist for "Thank You's" to be sent after the baby shower is over. Also, I want to create a small label for guests to fill out with their name, street address, city, state, and zips for Amber to use for her to label her Thank You cards. This will save her from having to hand address each envelope later when she sends them. I'm certain she'll find this useful and time-saving as her final preparations for the baby comes, she's later in the pregnancy with more Dr's visits, and is focusing on her hospital and the baby's homecoming.

{Since we're having this in the studio, I'm thinking it will be best to greet the arriving guests in my home prior to moving into the studio once we're assure no-one else will be joining us. Maybe, I should mention to Amber, that as we're hand-delivering invitatioins, I can mention where the studio is located in the event of late arrivals or have Don and Chris hang out in the house. Just something else to consider..........}

As we enter the studio and guests are signing in the guest book, I'm desiring to add a small basket, flower pot, or other container filled with pink and blue plastic diaper pins for each guest to pick up. These will be used for our "Don't say, Baby!" game. When one guest catches another guest saying the word, "Baby", she collects the pin from the guest she caught. At the end of the game or the shower, the guest with the most diaper pins wins a door prize! I do want to have this prize be a little more elaborate than the party favors --- maybe a larger candle, bath & body lotions or bath salts --- something they can use to pamper themselves.

Game Ideas:

I'm thinking instead of purchasing games, I can use my computer to create them. Print up one page and have copies made at Office Depot. Amber, Nancy, Mom, and I can mat them onto printed paper and a cardstock base to match the various printed and pastel papers used in decorationing the studio. Anyways, here's my ideas:

As an icebreaker, "Guess Mommy's Waistline!" Have Amber "pose" front shot, sideways, and yes, the dreaded rearview. Pass around a roll of pastel streamer and have guests tear off a section that they think will fit around Amber's waistline. As the guest are passing around and tearing of the streamer, have guests introduce themselves and a bit about how they first met Amber. After all guests have torn their guess off, have each measure Amber's waistline with their streamer. The guest with the most correct guess WINS a cone-shaped party favor filled with candy or other party favor!

Next, is an Anagrams game were Amber and I will come up with 10 baby related words scrambled up and a blank line for guests to unscramble. We'll probably set a 5 minute time limit. The guest with the most correct answers wins a party favor. *1 or 2 party favors - in the event of a tie!

After the Anagrams games, guests will be teamed up 2 per team, to play "Baby A-Z" This a printed sheet of paper using 2 columns A-M, then N-Z, for guests to write down as many baby related items or words associated with baby. A time limit will be set, 5 to 10 minutes. Both guests on the team with the most words on their list, WINS a party favor!

As to not drag the Baby Shower out too long, allow guests to mingle, etc. I decided it is time to play, "Baby Bingo! with a Twist" Again, we'll create the game using printed paper and cardstock bases, with a 4" x 4" grid of 1" squares to have guests write in a "gift" they believe Amber might be unwrapping. Each square is a gift, after all Bingo cards are filled out, Amber will begin opening her gifts. As a gift that a guest has chosen on her Bingo card is opened, an "X" is placed in that square. The guest who gets a "Bingo" must hollar out "Baby Bingo!" or their party favor prize is forfeited to the next bingo winner who correctly hollars out, "Baby Bingo!" {that's the twist!}

Then, we can move on to mingling and eating!, saying, "Thank you's, and "Goodbyes".