Which is why these elegant gift baskets created by D-Tales Event Designers caught my eye. They are unique, and not your generic basket which clear cellophane bags suffocate. Really inspiring for a DIY project, don’t you think?

Simply Elegant

Pretty in Pink

Holiday

Baby Shower

Cozy Night

A Taste of Italy

Angels Among Us

Wine and Wilderness

Feast your eyes on this classic school themed Baby Shower that Sarah Westbrook threw for her sister-in-law. Brittany Egbert helped her put this lovely together. It even includes a vegan menu (since her sister-in-law is vegan). Here is the invitation that she designed.

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Old fashioned flash cards and a giant letter.

A chalkboard and more vintage school cards.

Vegan brownies.

A yummy green salad.

And meatless minestrone.

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Sidebar: How adorable would this cute yardstick table be for a party like this? I found it over at CountryLiving.

Here is Country Living’s Wooden Yardstick Table Project Instructions: How to Transform a tired side table into a piece that really rules by covering the top in vintage yardsticks.

Try to get a variety of colors, but be sure they’re all the same thickness. (For a 19- by 17-inch table like this one, you’ll need about 16 yardsticks.)

STEP 1: To figure out how best to align the sticks, create a template of the tabletop by tracing it onto a sheet of paper. Arrange the rulers on the template, marking where you’ll need to cut so they fit the width and length of the table.

STEP 2: Once you know where each ruler segment will go, make the cuts with a hacksaw or small electric saw. Smooth out any rough edges with medium-grit sandpaper.

STEP 3: Starting at one corner, attach one of the ruler segments to the top of the table lengthwise by hammering a flat-head nail in at each end. Repeat in rows until the entire surface is covered. You can stagger the sticks as shown, but line them up carefully to avoid gaps.

STEP 4: Apply several layers of Zinsser clear shellac ($4.79; doitbest.com) over the yardsticks with a wide brush, according to the can’s directions. Allow ample time for drying between coats. Once you’re done, let the table dry for another 48 hours before putting anything on its surface.

Chop up some branches from your backyard or outdoors and you’ve got stands for food labels.

Try candied pecan favors, sew muslin drawstring pouches and stamp them with a squirrel stamp carved out of an eraser.

Buy a manzanita branch and stick some felt leaves on it for the main spread.

Use Burlap Fabric for your Table Linen. And if you are saavy with the sewing needle or know someone who is, sew little birds and foxes, and let the ladies make some amazing food.

Little Wooden Peg Doll Shower Activity

Finished product

Cute wooden peg dolls here.

Consider manzanita branches from here.
]]> http://eventsualitiesblog.com/baby-showers/the-forest-from-the-trees/feed/ 0 http://eventsualitiesblog.com/baby-showers/diy-iron-on-onesies/ http://eventsualitiesblog.com/baby-showers/diy-iron-on-onesies/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:35:10 +0000 snazzyjazzy http://snazzyjazzy.wordpress.com/?p=1824

I think this is an awesome idea! I think my favorite part is that you can customize it to any shower or nursery theme.

These would make great decorations or gifts for a Baby Shower. You could even give guests the option to make these iron-on onesies while they chit chat.

Supplies:

Step 1: Following the directions on the fusible fabric, adhere the rough side to the back side of the fabric. Do this with several different fabrics beforehand, so guests have options of which to use.

Step 2: Find or create shapes to use for the iron-on. Download the free font animals from Dafont.com and then print out your favorite animal shapes on card stock to trace. Have several shapes ready for guests to choose.

Step 3: Have guests trace the shape on the back of the paper and cut out the shape they choose.

Step 4: Remove the paper from the back of the shape, and place on the onesie where you want it adhered. Press the iron on the shape for several seconds.

Cute custom onesies for the guest of honor

Tip: Try putting stitches around the animals so this will last.

Ok, so this past week I’ve been feeling like I’m in an episode of National Geographic — birdwatching that is.

There is this little bird’s nest outside my bedroom window. Me and the kids have been observing the nest and its eggs. The mother bird sits atop the eggs to keep them warm and when I open the curtains to take a peek, flys away (but stays near).

I’m a suburb/city girl at heart, so it’s all very beautiful to me and brings me a greater appreciation for the Creator.

I was not fast enough to get a pic of mama bird, but here’s a photo I snapped of her nest:

Of course, this nest brought on inspiration and I found an adorable Bird’s Nest Themed Baby Shower by Joanne from Cottage in the Making.

This table was set with blue and white polka dot plates and the napkin rings were made to match the invitation also. The little bird was in the center of each napkin ring holder.

A little nest with blue Jordan almonds were on each place setting. Not only did it go with the bird/nest theme but it also kept the plates from blowing away.

She even found soaps that looked like eggs!

Check out Martha Stewart for inspiration and instructions on how to create some of the things Joanne did.

Bird’s Nest Favors

In these favors, sugar-coated Jordan almonds masquerade as robins’ eggs in a faux nest; parchment paper threaded among them acts as a simple place card.

Not feeling Martha Stewart-y? You can buy this version at wholesale cost: Factory Direct or pay a bit more: Wedding Channel Store.

Nesting Baby-Bluebird Cupcakes

Bird’s Nest Cookies

These are thin chocolate cookies with icing dipped into grated coconut.

Here’s to all my Momma’s and Bird Momma’s To Be! Let’s Celebrate!

Hostess with the Mostess created this sensational cake by using scrapbook paper and receiving blankets.

If you don’t want to spend 100 plus bucks on a commercial diaper cake make your own! My sister tried her hand at these for a co-worker. I think they turned out great for a beginner!

These are also adorable:

Of course, this cake won’t be served to the guests for dessert. But this cake will do double duty as a cute centerpiece and a much needed gift for the new baby. Although storks and bunnies are cute, they won’t be much use after the party is over. However, what new mom couldn’t use a few extra diapers stacked up in the nursery? I don’t think you can EVER have enough diapers for a newborn!

Making a diaper cake isn’t all that difficult. You can make it from scratch easily from supplies you could buy at your local Wal-Mart.

It’s important to have in mind what you want your diaper cake to look like before you start. How many layers do you want it to be? What do you want it to look like?

I adore this diaper cake. It’s modern and it’s simple. JoAnna of LotusHaus decided to make her own modern diaper cake. She used two kinds of satin ribbon to go with the look of the table linens and silk flowers for decoration. For the cake stand she used two white ceramic serving platters with the bottom platter overturned.

There are various ways to create a diaper cake. And there are tons of instructions online to create them.

Ingredients needed:

- 50-80 cloth or disposable diapers (number of diapers depends on how many tiers you want)

- A bag of rubber bands (various sizes)

- 16” Disposable cardboard platter. (found in party stores)

- At least 8 feet of 1’ wide ribbon ( need more if cake is more than 3 tiers)

- Clear adhesive tape

- Decorating items ( pacifiers, bibs, toys , socks, etc.)

- Decorative cake topper (stuffed animal or bottle filled with candy)

Baking your Cake:

- Roll diapers with tabs tucked in

- Wrap rubber bands around each diaper roll.

- Use rubber bands to create a bundle with the diapers (may need inner & outer bundle for larger tiers)

- Use ribbon or receiving blanket around the cake to cover rubber bands

- Use the clear adhesive tape to attach the tiers to the platter

- Now use the decorations you bought to tuck around the cake

Using the step by step “How to make a diaper cake” tutorial video, really guides you through the process of making a professional looking diaper cake. It shows you crystal clear steps on building each tier of the cake and gives many decorating ideas. This video will allow you to have more time to decorate and personalize your diaper cake.

Photos courtesy: Diaper Cakes by Becca and Wikihow.

This beautiful favor cake, right off of the cover of Martha Stewart Magazine, was created by hand by the bride and groom. The groom spent many hours stuffing favor boxes with personalized Hershey kisses and hot gluing bows on the tops. Photo Credits: Gray Photography

Sixty-five favor boxes make up the three tiered Pink Polka Dot favor cake from Avas Weddings. The Pink Polka Dot Wedding/Bridal Shower Favor Cake below will cost you about $245 and ships to you already made.

Of course, if you prefer to create the Favor Cake and save some money, here are some instructions on how to create your own favor cake:

Things You’ll Need:

Candies or small gifts

Decorations

Cake boards

Cake pedestals

Step1
Buy favor boxes. The cake slice shaped boxes are sold in bulk and come in a variety of colors and designs. Alternatively, you can make the boxes yourself with a template and cardstock.
Step2
Purchase embellishments in the colors and theme that matches your event. You could use silk rosettes, ceramic or silk flowers that match your bouquet or shells for a beach theme. For a baby shower, use miniature babies, booties or rattles.
Step3
Assemble the boxes according to the manufacturer’s directions. Make crisp, firm folds so that the finished boxes are level and secure. Decorate the boxes with rubber stamps if desired.
Step4
Fill the boxes with candies, cookie cutters or other small gifts. Include a card with the name, date of the event and a thank you message. Glue your embellishments and decorations to the top of each box with craft glue.
Step5
Arrange the decorated slices in a circle that looks like a cake. It takes about 20 boxes to make one “cake.” Place the assembled cake on top of a hatbox lid or cake board.
Step6
Wrap a ribbon or lace around the outside edge of the cake. Decorate the center with a larger flower, bouquet or other decoration.
Step7
Place cake pedestals or decorated hat boxes between each layer to add tiers.