Baby Shower Special Touches
A baby shower is a joy for everyone involved. It is especially meaningful to the moms as they anticipating their new baby. A little bit of creativity can go a long way towards making the shower very special. Try a few of these ideas at your shower and it will add extra sparkle!
Pacifier Corsage for Mother-to-Be
Special corsages can be made for the mother-to-be by creative fingers. You need a new pacifier or rattle, tulle, small silk flowers with wrapped wire stems, ribbon, and a diaper pin. Take the pacifier (or rattle) and use it as a centerpiece for the corsage. It is best to get a pacifier with the two holes in the plastic (one at each side of nipple) so that it can be secured tightly. The tulle should be a long rectangle. Fold it like a fan and then pinch it at the bottom. Tie a length of ribbon around the pinched part of the tulle. Then take the ends of the ribbon and place one end through each hole. Tie the ribbon into a bow in the front/nipple part of the pacifier. The ribbon can be secured to the tulle with a dab from a hot glue gun (or try small safety pins. Try not to glue the pacifier itself so that it can be reused. If it does get something on it, don't worry though as the dried glue is usually not too difficult to peel from plastic. Gently use your fingers to separate and spread out the tulle at the top. Use the flowers and extra ribbons to decorate. The corsage is pinned to the mommy-to-be using a diaper pin.
If you don't have the time to make a corsage or have some extra money, you can buy a pacifier and take it to a florist shop. They should be able to make a great corsage incorporating the shower's colors and the pacifier.
Motherly Advice
At the beginning of the shower, start passing around a journal. In it, ask people to write some advice for the new mother. Present this as a gift to her at the end of the shower. This works best for first time mommies. Also, it is helpful if you make a note on the shower invitation that this will be done. It gives the guests a chance to think of what they would like to write to the mother-to-be. The invitation might read "We will be making a special list at the shower with advice for the mother-to-be. Please be thinking about words of wisdom you would like to share."
Diaper Nut Cups
Purchase cotton flannel from a fabric store that is in the theme or colors of the shower. It can be done with lighter fabric, but is a bit more difficult. Cut it in to squares of 6½" x 6½". Cut these diagonal down the center (corner to corner) to form two identical triangles. Place one triangle so that it is facing towards you and the long end is on the far side. Fold up the point so that is about 1" from the top. Bring in the two remaining sides so that the three parts overlap in the middle. Secure this with a safey pin. Be sure not to have it pulled tight, leave a slack so that it can hold nuts.
Heat parafin wax in a double boiler over low-medium heat. note: For your safety, do not heat wax in anything but double boiler. Of course do not touch any of these hot items directly, do not leave stove unattended, and do not let children do this without proper adult supervision. Once the wax is melted, insert tongs in to the diapers you made. Now spread the tongs and dip the diaper into the wax. The tongs keep the diaper open and keep you a safe distance from the wax. Do not ever leave the diaper in the wax without the tongs. After the diaper is coated, lift the tongs out of the wax holding the diaper just above the wax level for a moment to allow excess wax to drip off. Place the diaper on wax paper to cool. After approximately 5-10 seconds, shape the diaper with your fingers if needed. The shaping is minimal, just to make sure the cup stays open. Line with a napkin and fill with nuts or mints for the shower.
Note: If you don't have a double boiler, almost the same effect can be achieved by dipping the diapers (still with tongs inserted) into fabric stiffner. This may take longer to set and it may be necessary to put a rolled up ball of wax paper in the diaper to help it keep its shape.
Disposable Cameras or Designated Photographer
Capture the special moments. Have 1 camera per 5 guests. Let people know that they can take pictures. This will capture a lot of different perspectives. Giving the cameras to young girls that attend might show you some things you never really thought about. If this is not done, make sure that at least one person is designated as the photographer. The hostess will likely be too busy to take pictures and the mother-to-be will definitely want photo memories of her shower.
Gift Recorder
While the mother-to-be is opening her gifts, have a designated person write down each gift and who it was from. Not only will it make a nice memory, it will make writing those thank-you notes a lot easier!
Printable gift recording worksheet available in the Baby Shower Planner.
Comments Note-Taker
Have another person taking notes while the mother-to-be opens her gifts. This person will write down various comments the mother-to-be says while opening and inspecting gifts. For example, "Wow! It's so cute!" Then after all the gifts are opened, the note-taker can read the mommy-to-be's comments back letting people know that this was what was said on the conception night. Imagine how the innocent phrase "Wow! It's so cute!" can refer to other things when taken in a sexual light. She'll be blushing in no time. While the mother-to-be may know that this sometimes happens, be sure to never mention it to her and have the note-taker be discreet. Remember that this might be too uncomfortable for some women. Use your best judgment with regards to the mother-to-be's feelings.
Sherbet Punch
Put sherbet in punch bowl and let thaw a little. Then add 7-up (or Sprite) a little at a time pouring down the side of the bowl so you don't get too much foam. You can choose a sherbet color to match the colors used in the shower decorations. For example, use lime sherbet if colors are yellow and green, raspberry sherbet if colors are pink and blue... Pineapple sherbet works well and is basically white which will go with about any color theme.