When you hear that your close friend, sister or sister in law is expecting a baby, you are almost as excited with the news as the parents.  Then of course there is the thought of a Baby Shower.   The hardest part in helping or hosting a Baby Shower is coming up with favors to crafts. games and decorations.  This page will hopefully help you host a very memorable as well as fun party.    Check out the New Baby Gift Basket with printable baby announcements and other craft ideas that will surely make any new mother to be happy to receive such a thoughtful gift. 

There are also links at the bottom of the page to other sites on the internet that offer ideas for hosting Baby Showers.  So, make sure to check them out if you still need more ideas.

Items marked with an have recipes or instructions.  Click on the name of the project to get the directions.

Invitations

Graphics Coming Soon!

Baby Bottle Invitations
Take clear baby bottles and paint each guests name on the outside with a paint pen. Take the invitations and roll them up like a scroll, tie with a ribbon and place them in the bottles. Fill the bottle with any colored confetti (crinkle) paper or jelly beans, screw top back on and tie wire ribbons that say "Baby Shower" (you can purchase these at most hobby stores) around the top of the bottle. You can also fill the top nipple part with confetti.

Easy homemade baby shower thank you card you make to attach to party favors. 

You need a square of white paper, pen and a diaper pin. 

1.  Take the square white paper and fold the top left corner to the bottom right corner making a triangle.

2.  With the flat side facing away from you, write your Thank You sentiments and the name of the expectant mother in the center of the triangle.

3.  Fold the left point and right point to the center overlapping the points slightly.

4.  Fold the bottom up to the middle overlapping other points slightly.

5.  Secure all points with a diaper pin.  Now you have a diaper.

6.  Write "Thank You" on the diaper.
 

Games

Have everyone bring or send a baby picture of themselves and everyone guesses who's who.

Fill a baby bottle up with jelly beans and let everyone guess how many are in the bottle.  No one can pick the same amount.

Pins in Rice Bowl - Fill a bowl with rice and safety pins. Blindfold each person and with one hand, have them get out as many safety pins as they can in one minute.  The one who finds the most wins.

"Well I never . . . ." purchase a piggy bank and have everyone bring coins.  There are a variety of coins that can be used, but to make it fair and more beneficial to the Mom To Be, tell everyone to bring a roll of nickels, dimes or quarters.  You choose the denomination.  Everyone will get a turn saying "Well I never . . ." and finish the sentence with something that they've never had, done, etc. . .  Each guest who has done, had, etc. . . what the person has just mentioned, needs to put a coin into the piggy bank.  This is really fun and a great way to get to know each other.  The piggy bank of course will go to the mother to be as a gift.

Baby Item Scrabble - Make a list of Baby items.  On another sheet of paper, unscramble each item.  Then pass one out to each guest.  Give each one one minute to unscramble the items. 

What's in the Bag? - Purchase brown paper bags and fill each one with a household item.  Make sure that each item fits nicely in the bag.  Then staple the bags close.  Put them all on a table and number each bag.  Give each guest a sheet of paper and pencil.  Have each one guess what's in each bag, by feeling the item through the bag.  They will write down what they think is in the bag.  The one who guess the most correct items wins!

Memory Game - Place a bunch of baby items on a platter.  Give each guess a piece of paper to write on.  Then tell everyone to remember what is on the tray.  Take the tray away and have them write down what was on it. 

Game submitted by Jenn - Read of a list of items and each attendee tries to find it in her purse. You can assign a number of points for each item (the more unusual the item, the higher number of points). The person with the most points wins.

Hints: Best for an all woman shower, especially when most are moms!

Ideas for items are:

Something that rattles (besides keys and loose change)

Something that a child could write on

Something that is pink

Something that bounces

Something that is blue

Something that squeaks

A crayon

Something that is soft and pliable

A baby picture

A napkin or wet wipe

A picture of children

A piece of candy

At least a dollar in change

A non-sweet snack

A toy

A safety pin

Decorations

Instructions:

Lay the sock out flat in front of you toe pointed toward you, heel pointed to your left and cuff open fully and pointing away from you. Begin at the toe rolling it tightly along the right edge of the sock until you are directly opposite the heel. Continue to roll the sock allowing the heel to flare slightly as you turn. The roll will not be as tight as you roll up the cuff to approximately an inch of the edging. Holding the rolled edge pick it up and reach into the cuff to grasp the rolled edge, turn the cuff inside out so the lace edge circles the rolled up sock. Wrap the rolled edge over the cuff with the chenille stem or wire to anchor your sock roll (you want the wire wrapped tightly around the roll to hold it) from just above the wire on the sock wrap to the end of the wire with floral tape.

**Note: When using floral tape be sure to stretch it as you wrap and overlap it so it will stick to itself.**

If you are making long stemmed roses form a small hook in one end of the heavy wire, place the hook over the softer wire where it circles the roll and wrap softer wire down the heavy wire flower stem and then wrap as above.

To add the leaves begin at the base of the leaves on the stem with the floral tape stretching and wrapping approximately 1/2" to 1" onto the stem, then arrange the leaves in a pleasing manner on the stem of your rose and continue to wrap the two stems together down to the end. Adjust the positioning of the leaves and gently stretch the top edge of your rose to open it slightly.

For the bouquet arrange the sock roses in a clear glass vase adding fern and baby's breath to fill the bouquet. Use iridescent shreds to cover the ends of the rose stems.

For the corsage wire the tufts of tulle and ribbon loops the same way you did the sock rose wrapping them in floral tape, then arrange two or more socks in a pleasing manner using the wired tufts of ribbon and tulle, a small amount of baby's breath or fern, wrapping each addition with floral tape until you have the corsage completed to your satisfaction.

Baby Cloth Diaper Cake

• 1 dozen prefolded cloth diapers, folded in 3rds, lengthwise
• 7 pairs infant socks
• 16-20 diaper pins
• ribbon
• 1 receiving blanket
• optional: goodies to fold into the cake

Instructions

• Fold the cloth diapers into 3rds lengthwise
• Roll up the receiving blanket. It will become the center of the cake. Measure to make sure it's long enough for the folded cloth diaper to wrap around it, but not so long that it will stick out the top of the cake.
• Roll the cloth diapers around the receiving blanket to make the cake, pinning to secure the diapers in place as needed. Use 7 cloth diapers for the base, 4 cloth diapers for the middle layer, and 1 cloth diaper for the top.
• Roll goodies up in cake as you go: diaper covers, bibs, natural toys, cloth wipes, cloth nursing pads... whatever you think the recipient might like!
• Use ribbon to further secure the diapers in place and "dress up" the cake a little.
• Take each sock and tie a ribbon near the toe. Place these in the cake to act as "candles" or, if you prefer, flowers.
• Add lace around the edges for a "ruffled" look
• Put a toy or stuffed animal on top, or use fresh flowers as a topper
• Do everything in unbleached organic cotton and tie with raffia instead of ribbon
• Make a "mini cake" out of cloth wipes or wash cloths to go with the big one

Disposable Baby Diaper Cake

makes a layer cake

BOTTOM LAYER
Take 2/3's of diapers from the package. Imagine that your paper towel holder was cut in half. Attach your ribbon, securely, to the middle of one of the halves of your paper towel roll. Place first diaper on the end of the ribbon, bottom (folded part) first. Place another diaper inside first about halfway down facing the same way as the first. Begin tightly rolling the bottom of the first diaper around the paper towel holder, making sure the ribbon wraps around the outside to secure the diapers. When you begin rolling the second diaper add a third in the middle and continue tightly rolling until all of the remaining 2/3's are used. Make sure the diapers stay neatly on one half of the towel roll. Wrap ribbon completely around bottom layer, pull tight, then knot it to itself. Trim off the extra ribbon.

Other Decorating Ideas:

Decorate a white umbrella w/pink & blue streamers and get some baby bottle, pacifiers, bottle brush, etc. and string them around the umbrella.

Use baby bottles as vases and filled them with daisies. Use white tulips or some other delicate white flowers.  Add blue or pink ribbons for an extra added touch.

Take a napkin or paper towel and fold in half to make the shape of a diaper with tiny pin in front. Make sure to get blue, pink, yellow or green colored paper towel.  Dip into melted wax and shape it to form. Use it to put mints or peanuts in for the tables. Add a piece of liner in each one so that mints and peanuts won't fall through the holes.

Favors

Here are some favors to give as gifts for a Baby Shower submitted by Jenn:

• Buy very cheap baby bottles, fill them up with jelly beans or pastel M&M's. Place a nice ribbon around them.

• Give out cinnamon rolls wrapped in cello tied with a pink or blue organza ribbon as party favors. Attach a note with one of the following:

  'A bun for your oven, from enter expectant Mom's name bun in the oven'

  Thanks from enter expectant Mom's little bun in the oven

   

• Votive candles , buy 1/2 the size of a regular votive then buy the already cut toile circles and ribbon or fabric.

  You take a piece of toile and set a candle in the middle, measures the ribbon by holding the ribbon in my hand and letting it drop to my elbow and cut the ribbon a little past my elbow , I gathered the toile around the candle and tied the ribbon , I then used a paper punch and punched a hole in one corner of the card and put the ribbon through and then tied the bow.. The card should say:

  This is a gift for you today ,

  So when I'm born you'll light my way,

  And when that happy day is here,

  Burn this candle and spread good cheer

   

• Give a tiny clay pot with a pack of seeds in it. Then tie a bow around it with this say:

  Here are some seeds and a little clay pot.

  They are a lot like a baby believe it or not.

  Both of them needing special care and love.

  Fragile new lives sent from above.

  Each time you see them be sure to remember

  every day is a gift and God is the sender

   

• EDIBLE BABY BOTTLE FAVOR.

   

  For each favor you will need:

  1 roll of lifesavers

  1 individually wrapped peppermint lifesaver

  one white Good n Plenty

  pink or blue curling ribbon or thin satin ribbon

  powdered sugar & water--to make a paste.

   

  Remove the paper wrapper from the lifesaver. Replace it with white paper--(you may also print on the computer in pink or blue a little poem, or shower thank you info.  I like to make the white paper just a little bit wider so it covers the silver from end to end. Unwrap the individual lifesaver and using the powdered sugar paste, glue it to one end of the roll. Using the same paste glue the white Good n Plenty in the hole of that lifesaver. Let them dry thoroughly. When dry tie a pink or blue ribbon around the bottle just under the individual lifesaver.

   

Memorable Touches

Purchase a baby blanket and a Fine Line Fabric Marking Pen.  Have each guess sign the blanket and then later, either trace the signatures with fabric paint or hand embroider or cross stitch them.  Don't forget to write down the date of the Baby Shower.  This makes a wonderful keepsake.

Create a Motherly Advice Book - Purchase a Notebook or Journal.  Decorate the front of the book for a more personalized keepsake.  Put the date or glue the shower invitation to the inside of the front cover.  Then have each guest write motherly advice and then give it to the mother to be at the end of the party.

Purchase a Baby Pillow and a Fine Line Fabric Marking Pen.  Have each guess sign the pillow and then later, either trace the signatures with fabric paint or hand embroider or cross stitch them.  Don't forget to write down the date of the Baby Shower.  This makes a wonderful keepsake.

Guest Pictures - Have a disposable camera ready.  Take a picture of each guest with the mother to be.  Then give the camera to the expectant mother.  She can then put all the pictures in the baby's album to remember the occasion.

Gifts to Make

Snuggle Blanket
These large homemade receiving blankets are wonderful...and they're easy to make from soft cotton prints or flannel.
• You'll need two pieces of fabric 1 1/3 yard each.
• Wash, dry, and cut two 45-inch squares.
• With right sides together, sew all the way around leaving an opening of about 6 inches on one side to turn the blanket right side out. Sew the opening by closed with whip stitching.
• Make it special with coordinating prints.
• For example, use a black and white cow print on one side and a matching cowboy baby print on the other side.
• Use rickrack sewn between the seams.
• Finish it by adding topstitching about one-half inch from the edge all the way around.

Sites with additional Memorable Touches to create for your baby shower.

8 inch Baby Doll Pattern

more crafts for babies coming soon!