How to throw a fabulous baby shower (Part 4 of 10)

Where do your guests get the first impression of your baby shower? The invitation! This simple, yet incredibly important element sets the stage for your entire event.

The invitation is more than just a practical way of dispersing the who, what, where, and when but conveys the theme, formality, and general demeanor of the party.

In a time where electronic invitations are getting increasingly popular, your gorgeous custom invitation will be even more valued.

And before we continue, let me mention how cheesy and inappropriate it is to send a baby shower e-vite. First of all, not all of the invitees will have access to a computer. Most showers have a combination of young friends and the full gamete of family members. I know there are some hip grandmothers out there that are "silver surfers" but the majority still prefer the old fashion paper invitation.

Now that we have established that the paper invitation is the way to go- let's get a feel for the extraordinary selection of baby shower invitations.

Handmade Custom Invitations: Are you looking for an invitation as unique as you? Etsy.com is filled with talented artisans ready to make your baby shower dreams come true. Here is one of my favorites from graciegirlnotes.etsy.com



Gather your friends and family to the shower your hosting with this sweet, flat invitation. This listing is for 8 custom invitations and address labels. This heavy-weight, white card measures 4.25 x 5.5 and features an adorable pink, handmade, polka dot onesie embellishment. Chocolate brown envelopes (with custom address labels) included. $ 20.00

graciegirlnotes.etsy.com

TinyPrints.com features a huge selection of invitations. For those of you considering a "Bring a Book" themed baby shower consider this cute invite!

Bedtime Stories: Cream Prices start at .99 per invitation

Encourage the growth of a new generation of baby bibliophiles with a book exchange and this delightful baby shower invitation! Created by Petite Alma, this snoozing babe must be having sweet dreams about the wonderful world of literature.

On a tight budget? Do-It-Yourself Kits are economical and a great way to save money! This kit sold on Target.com includes everything you need for only $ 24.99

• Invitation Kit
• Features Blank Cards
• Contains 50 Cards, 100 Envelopes , 50 Seals , 50 Thank You Cards
• Cards: 6x9 "

How to throw a fabulous baby shower (Part 2 of 10)

Welcome to the second installment of "How to throw a Fabulous Baby Shower!"

After 3 years of planning my wedding, I learned more than one person should ever know about party favors. This is the number one topic on wedding boards. What's your bridal shower favor? What's your wedding favor? and then... What's your baby shower favor?

According to wordnet.com a favor is defined as a souvenir consisting of a small gift given to a guest at a party. A party planner's definition of a party favor is the object which makes your party stand out from all the rest. Women love favors. More importantly, women remember favors!This past weekend I cohosted a first birthday party where my talented friend designed the favors. These are perfect for the "Green" Mom-to-Be that loves to recycle.

Baby food jars were saved and filled with candy (you could also place a tealight inside). A custom photo label was designed by Alexis Sykut of Luminescent Events. Contact her for pricing.

http://www.luminescentevents.com

These favors were a huge hit and such a great keepsake.As an Etsy.com boutique owner, I wanted to feature some of my talented colleagues.

One of my all time favorite sellers, LoveLeeSoaps makes the most unique, realistic, custom soaps. These would make the most adorable party favors. Here are a few of my favorites and the shower themes they would support.

http://loveleesoaps.etsy.com

This set is so adorable! It is made with moisturizing shea butter. The bird has a soft baby powder scent and the nest is chocolate. The nest has cocoa added the increases skin hydration and decreases its roughness.


Bird themed nurseries are ALL the rage right now. Why not carry that theme into the Mother-to-Be's shower theme. Stop back for tomorrow's post about themes.





Another cute theme is the "Bun in the Oven." These super strong Cinnamon Bun tarts smell incredible and are so affordable!25 for only $ 6.95.

http://theclackhouse.etsy.com

"Grow with me" Baby

ChristieCreations is committed to offering the most useful Baby Blooming Bouquets. Clients have suggested the need for a "Grow with me" Baby Blooming Bouquet featuring baby clothing in a variety of sizes.

Several "Grow with me" Baby Blooming Bouquets have been added to the etsy boutique!

Grab your umbrellas, it is shower time!

As the saying goes, April Showers bring May Flowers...The air is warming up, flowers are blooming, and the sun is finally making its appearance. ChristieCreations is gearing up for the upcoming baby shower and bridal shower season.

Did you know that more newborns arrive during the late summer and early fall months of July, August, and September than during any other time of the year?

Paul Sutton, a demographer for the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, says it makes sense if you think about what happens nine months earlier in most of the country — the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors with their sweeties. Also, some people plan their baby's birth to coincide with summer vacations, especially teachers and other people who get summers off.

According to TheAmericanWedding.com, the most popular months for a wedding are, in order, June, September, August, May, October and July.

So with the baby and bridal shower seasons quickly approaching, let's discuss those special options for making YOUR gift stand out from the rest.

Most individuals who receive a Baby Clothing Blooming Bouquet or Kitchen Towel Blooming Bouquet have never seen anything like it!

The majority of the Baby Blooming Bouquets are purchased to serve double duty as a baby shower centerpiece and gift!

Recently the smaller Baby Bib Blooming Bud Bouquet was purchased to be held by a large stuffed animal bear for a Teddy Bear themed baby shower.

Kitchen Towel Blooming Bouquets are ideal for double duty as well. Why not purchase multiple Kitchen Towel or Wash cloth/Spa Blooming Bouquets to be used as centerpieces on the bridal shower tables.

As you play Baby Bingo or other shower game, the winners can select a Blooming Bouquet centerpiece as their prize.

This is a unique twist to the now common "gift basket" centerpiece option. The blooming bouquets are far more beautiful, unique, and affordable. Prices start at just $ 14.95. Who can make a gift basket for $ 14.95?

As always our Blooming Bouquets, can be sent directly to the gift recipient and wrapped in clear cellophane with a bow (at your request and a nominal fee). All orders receive a complimentary custom 4x6 glossy photo gift card with your personal greeting inside and a list of items in the bouquets written in elegant calligraphy. (see previous post for more information)

ChristieCreations LOVES custom orders. We can use items directly off a mother to be or bride to be's gift registry or her style, theme, and color selection can be matched.

A custom order was received for a Baby Clothing Blooming Bouquet for a dolphin themed baby shower. ChristieCreations matched the items to the invitation while adding two dolphin accents to the outside of the bouquet. The client was thrilled.

Let ChristieCreations do all the hard work making the perfect, pretty, yet practical shower gift. We do the work... you get all the oohs and ahhs.

Baby Shower invitation available at: scraplesspress.com

Custom Photo Greeting Cards

ChristieCreations will now be offered complimentary photo greeting cards with each purchase. The main display photo on etsy will be printed and placed on the front of the custom card. The inside of the card will include a list of items included in bouquet written in calligraphy.

ChristieCreations is aware that our target audience are customers purchasing a gift for a baby shower, bridal shower, birthday, thank you or wedding gift. The custom photo card allows the gift recipient to enjoy the beauty of the bouquet long after it was been disassembled to use the items. The card is perfect for keeping in a scrapbook or memory box.

Currently you can choose from the pink card pictured above or a yellow printed framed card.

New Boutique Brands to be featured in Blooming Bouquets

We are expanding our line of Baby Blooming Bouquets! Our new Bouquets will feature fantastic boutique brands including Elegant Baby and Piper & Meadow.

After receiving numerous custom requests, ChristieCreations will now sell 100% Organic Cotton Baby Blooming Bouquets. Several new bouquets will include an organic quilt, matching receiving blankets and dust ruffle along with onesies!

Piper & Meadow baby bedding brightens up the nursery with color and whimsy. With delicate, farm-inspired patterns in soft, playful colors and made from 100% organic cotton, Piper & Meadow brings a sweet and sunny touch to baby bedding.

http://homesteadbrands.com/pipermeadowbaby.html



Elegant Baby offers unique and personalized baby gifts, baby blankets, and baby clothes perfect for a baby shower, a new mom, or for the dad to be.

http://www.elegantbaby.com/

Here are just a few of the items that will be going into the Baby Clothing Blooming Bouquets featuring Elegant Baby products:

What are real mommies opinions of Baby Blooming Bouquets?

Before the first Baby Blooming Bouquet was born, mothers were polled to find out what items and sizes should include in the bouquets. The overwhelming response was that most moms receive too many blankets and that most babies grow out of newborn clothing very quickly. They suggested the creation of "Room to Grow" Baby Blooming Bouquets with a range of sizes.

Here is a sample what real mommies are saying about the Baby Blooming Bouquets! These are direct quotes from newlywed and baby chat boards, former customers, and etsy shoppers and sellers.

She custom designed the basket to match the shower decorations. Great to work with and the basket is just perfect.- Former Customer

OMG!! That is just to cute and reasonably priced!!! Its so nice I would not want to take it apart. - Mother/Fellow Etsy Seller

I love this idea. What a great thing for a baby shower, especially when you're pressed for time. - Mother/Fellow Etsy Seller

Your baskets are WONDERFUL! What a fantastic gift!
As a mother, I really liked Carter's. - Mother

I haven't had my baby yet, but those baskets are adorable! They definitely seem way cuter than diaper cakes and are certainly prettier. I think a "Room to Grow" basket would be nice. Everyone wants to buy you newborn stuff your baby grows out of in a minute and a half. They would definitely be a nice, practical alternative to regular flowers. - Mother to be

These are so darling and precious! What a great idea! - Mother of two children

I wanted to let you know that I really think this is a WONDERFUL idea! I'm definitely keeping you in mind for all of my friends who are having babies! Kudos to you for developing such a unique way to present shower gifts. - Fellow Etsy Seller

Everything was completely in place. I am happy with the bouquet. It does include alot of items. Thanks for everything. Good luck with your business. Like I said before you should do well. You have very nice unique bouquets. - Former customer

I think they're a great price. If I had the need I would buy one for a close friend, family member, or as a center piece at a shower. - Mother/Fellow Etsy Seller

ChristieCreations strides to make every Baby Blooming Bouquet an affordable, practical, and beautiful gift.

Do you have ideas? Suggestions? We want to hear from you!

Diaper Cake vs Baby Blooming Bouquet

In this corner we have the defending champion, The Diaper Cake. After its appearance on Sex and the City, The Diaper Cake became the "it" baby shower gift. Soon almost every shower had at least one Diaper Cake. Women everywhere were busting open Pamper packages and using their grimy hands to wrap diapers that are eventually supposed to be used to on your precious child.

In the other corner, we have the new kid of on the block. The Baby Clothing Blooming Bouquet is the up and coming baby shower gift. Its recent appearance on the Martha Stewart Show introduced the world to a much more unique alternative to The Diaper Cake.

Let's see how these two competitors stack up!

The Diaper Cake

The Baby Blooming Bouquet

Items used: diapers, ribbon, elastic bands, cardboard cake rounds, various small accessories to be tucked inside cake or around cake Personalized by ribbon color and size of diapers used Diapers cannot be washed and have the gift makers germs on them Diaper cakes are difficult to transport and are virtually impossible to send in the mail Diaper Cakes makes a great baby shower centerpiece/gift but is not ideal for a hospital gift. No mom wants the diapers exposed to the germs in the hospital setting nor the hassle of trying to get the diaper cake from her hospital room into the car and into her home. Registry items cannot be easily used inside the diaper cake.

Items used: baby clothes, blankets, bibs, lap pads, wash cloths, burp cloths, booties, socks, mittens, elastic bands, basket/other container, silk flowers and stems, ribbon Personalized by ribbon color, baby clothes and items (size, color, organic or nonorganic), type of silk flowers, type of basket/container Baby clothes and items can and should be washed before touching baby and therefore is more sanitary for baby Baby Blooming Bouquets are ideal for transport! Bouquets can be turned upside down and nothing falls out or even moves! The Baby Blooming Bouquet can be sent in the mail will complete assurance that it will arrive just as perfectly as when one packs it in the box. The handled blooming bouquets are obviously even easier to transport. Baby Blooming Bouquets make great baby shower gifts/centerpiece and hospital gift: what mom does not appreciate a flower bouquet that can be carried out of the hospital much easier than a traditional live flower bouquet. Mom can even place it in a bag for ease of transport. There is a plethora of baby registry items that can be used to make the blooms of a Baby Blooming Bouquet

So readers- please make your choice known! Who is the winner?

What in the world is a Baby Blooming Bouquet?

When I got married in 2007, one of my most favorite bridal shower gifts was a bouquet of kitchen items. It was by far the cutest thing I had ever seen. Being a crafty person I wanted to see if I could duplicate this awesome gift for friends. As I was crafting I came up with the idea to put the rolled towels into a basket instead of in the traditional floral shop wrapped bouquet. I gave one to a friend and she loved it! The next thing I know all of my friends are asking me to make them.

I am at an age where ALL of my friends are having babies. I was sick of diaper cakes and wanted to do something more practical. Diaper cakes are difficult to transport and take forever and a day to take apart. Hence the Baby Blooming Bouquet was born!

Each blooming bouquet is handmade to create a stunning yet practical flower arrangement. Baby Blooming Bouquets have blossoms made of every mom's favorites: onesies, burp clothes, booties, sleepers, blankets, lap pads, gowns, and washclothes.

Receivers of a Kitchen Blooming Bouquet will unwrap each blossom to find kitchen towels, aprons, dish cloths, pot holders, and oven mitts!