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

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!