There are lots of new babies arriving (or about to arrive) around here, and I got to host two baby showers recently for two of my good friends. The more recent one I actually co-hosted with several lovely ladies, which meant that each of us was actually only responsible for a few elements of the party. Not only is this a very low-stress way to host a party, but it also meant I had a chance to take some photos, which I did a very poor job of with the first one!
This friend is expecting a baby girl in just a few weeks — I can't wait to meet her! One of the things I was in charge of for the party was decorations, and what I did was simple, inexpensive, and homemade. Also pretty!
I turned to my favorite easy-as-pie homemade garland, which I first made to decorate our temporary home in Oklahoma. This time I used kraft paper, butcher paper, and some cute wrapping paper from the dollar bin at Target.
I plopped myself down in front of a tv show (Downton Abbey, anyone?) and cut a bowlful of circles, then ran them (mostly) randomly through the sewing machine. (I did string them by hand in Oklahoma, where I didn't have my machine. It takes a little longer, but it's quite doable.)
(Since the wrapping paper is single-sided and a little thin, I would fold over a section and then cut the circles right along/next to the fold so that there was a little piece of folded edge remaining. Does that make sense? So each circle was in fact two circles attached to each other with a little hinge, so there was pattern on both sides. You could cut them normally and then match them up, but this way they stick together, therefore saving you the matching step.)
The cutting takes some time but almost no concentration — it doesn't have to be perfect! (A child could certainly help with this part, provided he's competent with scissors.) The sewing is very fast. The result is a fun and easy way to add a colorful homemade touch to a party, or really to any room!
The garland I made for the first shower is now hanging above my kitchen cabinets, and I love how it looks. (You can see it in the first picture in this post. Turns out that baby was also a sweet little girl, though we didn't know it at the time. Hence, yellow and green cardstock along with the white and kraft paper.)
(Confession: I have not yet taken these pink and white garlands down, either. I don't plan on them being a permanent fixture in my dining room, but they're just so cheerful, I haven't gotten around to it yet!)
I also made a bunch of tissue paper pom-poms after stalking my friend's baby board on Pinterest and seeing that she had pinned several similar decorations. (She took these home after the party to hang in the nursery!) One bunch hung over the middle of the room, and the other went behind the guest of honor's chair so that the pictures of her opening gifts would look more festive.
This was my gift to her! I'll show you more pictures soon. |
I felt so clever for thinking of that.
Lots of food on the table and lots of chairs in the living room! |
This is the dessert I contributed: cappuccino brownies. They're not particularly Lenten, so I won't dwell on them. But they are (were) delicious.
Do you like decorating for parties? What sorts of things do you do? If you have a post, link to it in the comments!
Jessica says
So lovely! Here in Dallas the showers are over the top. I love the simple beauty of what you are your friends put together.
A @ Classical Quest says
How pretty! The decorated room and food look so inviting.
We made a similar garland last year for our Christmas tree. It was a good way to use up lovely bits of scrapbook paper. I invested in a 2 in. circle punch from a craft store and it really made the project fly. Even my two-yr-old helped.
Jessica says
So lovely! Here in Dallas the showers are over the top. I love the simple beauty of what you are your friends put together.
Lisa G. says
Everything so cheery and pretty! And, those pompoms are huge – they make a nice display.
Barbara says
Cute garland — you could use any shape — pennants or large ovals end-to-end — and different textured paper — some vellum or crinkle paper. Very cute.
My favorite party decoration is one I saw in an Angelina Ballerina book once when my older children were much younger and I've used it for all the children's birthday parties since. String a ribbon across the room and tie balloons onto the ribbon so they swing and sway. You can see pictures of it at this link: http://prayingforgrace.blogspot.com/2010/02/land-…
_Rosie says
Those are so cute, Barbara!
EML says
I love the decorations! Decorating for parties is one of my favorite things to do. Here are some parties I had for my kids birthday: http://bandsp.blogspot.com/2012/02/thomas-train-p… http://bandsp.blogspot.com/2011/10/rocket-to-moon… http://bandsp.blogspot.com/2011/03/two-parties-in….
_Rosie says
Those are great! I love the biplanes, and that rocket cake is awesome!!
EML says
Thanks!
Briana/Justamouse says
Rosie, that is all just beautiful, and you are so sweet a friend to do that for them.
I'm wondering what all kinds of crafting is getting done during Downton Abby. I think there should be a pinterest board that everyone can add their, “I made this watching Downton Abby.”
_Rosie says
Briana, you're absolutely right! I love it.
Becca says
How fun! For a recent shower, my friend and I made those tissue pompoms. I made the sharp edge one and she made rounded ones and we both loved the others way more but together they all look great. That mother to-be is lucky to have a devoted friend like you!
Celeste says
Lovely! But please do share a recipe for the brownies! I know it's Lent, but that looks like just the thing for Easter dessert–divine!
Maria says
Thank you! I am hosting a baby shower Sunday (!) and am in a small panic because this week is insanely busy for me. But, I have loads of cute paper and I might even have a circle punch around here somewhere. I would love that cappuccino brownie recipe, if you have it easily available :).
Betsy M says
Your decorations are so sweet Rosie. I especially love the garland – I think I will copy that!
Margo says
LOVE that garland idea! Maybe I really do need to get on pinterest so I can collect all these ideas 🙂 Your house looks so inviting, too. Well done.
Leigh says
Thanks for posting about your baby shower decorating! I think I'll have to try that garland next time I do a party – very cute. I also recently posted about throwing a baby shower http://ismystrength.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-party… & on my “to blog” list is my daughter's Cupcake b-day party & my son's Angry Birds b-day party!
I enjoy your blog, very real!! Thank-you 🙂
(& thank-you for the chance to share my blog!)
Leigh
Colleen says
I've seen so many fabric garlands on pinterest and such and think they are way cute, but not quite worth the time… your paper circles are every bit as cute and seem manageable (though how you could take your eyes away from the costumes on Downton to cut one out is beyond me!) Besides being great party decor, I'm thinking these would be nice in kid's bedrooms year-round.
_Rosie says
Colleen, I love the fabric ones too! I made some for the other shower, and was planning on making some for this one too before I realized it was crazy to try to make three different labor-intensive decorations, no matter how simple they were.
Suzanne says
Love the baby shower ideas…we dont tend to have them here in Australia, although, I would have loved to be spoilt with all my three..!!!
oooooh Downton Abbey, waiting patiently here in Australia for the second season return…love all my old time shows…hope its good…
Missy Rose says
I love the simple garland. I love the using any relatively inexpensive wrapping paper you could make them for any occasion!
Joy in the South says
Rosie! Please do not leave us hanging with only a picture of the brownies! We must have a taste and/or the recipe! lol Loved your decorations and the party looked fun.
Mel says
I noticed that garland in your kitchen picture and wondered what you had going on up there. 🙂 Very cute….
Sarah says
Hmm, I like bunting for a good celebration – I made some which said “welcome home” when DH got back from Iraq. I was a very novice sewer at the time and it took me forever! Then, I couldn't find a stretch of wall long enough in the house to hang it – so I put it on the back fence, the return flight was (very) delayed and by the time DH actually got home he couldn't even see it because it was dark:)
Last year for ginger's birthday I made bunting and paper puffs. I put both away so this year all I have to do it is grab them out. I am still thinking of making a birthday crown though.
I loved that you have kept up your garland. I was actually thinking the other day of making some bunting to go permanently in our Army house kitchen. There is nothing wrong with it – but it is just so grey. A nice, colourful gingham bunting would brighten it up.
Christy says
What a lovely job you did! It really makes me wish I could throw a shower soon, and that it wasn't Lent so I could eat those brownies!
Tracy says
The shower was absolutely beautiful and the decorations were so perfect. You did such a fantastic job and I appreciated all the hard work each of you ladies put into it more than you know! Also, I of course LOVE the quilt and mobile you made. You are so talented and such a wonderful friend. I'm so thankful for you =)