Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Guest Post: Themed Events for Special Baby Showers

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Please enjoy this guest post sponsored by Showermybaby. As a non-crafty person, I’m so glad to know that you can now easily purchase everything you need to put together a cute, themed shower!

Today’s baby showers are trending towards the themed shower instead of the traditional green and yellow of yesterday. The expectant parents are picking a theme to be passed on to the host or hostess of the shower that matches the new baby’s special entrance into the family. Whether the theme is based around the colours of the nursery, gauged to the expected boy or girl, or simply a humorous party for celebration, showermybaby has decorations that will assure the party will be extraordinary for that special new baby-to-be. Everything is available for baby shower decorations needed to complete well-rounded theme.

If you thought the tradition of yesterday is not for the new baby, you can pick from jungle theme, bumble bees, angels and special colour theme packages, making putting together the perfect baby shower a snap. Baby showers are a time for excitement and love, a time for welcoming the newest addition to the family. These showers can be of any style from humour to personal taste, but always a time for family and friends to welcome the baby and start a lifetime of memories.

For that special gift, you can purchase from a huge number of baby shower gifts that will show your special feelings for the new addition. If you would like to shower the new baby with an organic gift or special gift basket, you can find it online and know you will be giving a meaningful and special gift. If, as the shower guest, you would like to purchase a more practical gift, you can find that new stroller or those special shoes from a wide selection of colours and styles. If the keepsake or personalised gift is extra special, you might want to look at a complete line of themed sets to make memories for years to come.

What was the theme of the cutest shower you’ve ever attended? Any decorations, food items or games that particularly stood out to you? 

Easy and Thrifty Baby Shower and Birthday Party Decorating Ideas

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Hello!  My name is Allison and I’m the one woman show (though my hubz has been helping out a lot lately and deserves credit 🙂 ) behind a little Etsy shop called hoop~da~loop.  You can find it at hoopdaloop.etsy.com.  I specialize in unique shower and party decorations, especially the custom kind and today wanted to talk to you about some easy ways to decorate for a baby shower, birthday party or other such event on the cheap!  I know that many of you are mommas-to-be, current mommas, or at least know a momma and because of that, attend lots of baby showers and birthday parties for little ones.  With hoop~da~loop, I find that most of my customers are moms or friends of moms looking for party decorations that don’t cost an arm and a leg, but add a pop of whimsical fun and color and thus, I’ve done lots of research on some great ways to decorate.

A couple of tips for you on decorating for your next party:

1)    Try as much DIY as possible!  You may not think you are crafty, but find a good tutorial on the internet (and there are lots!) and you can make decorations for little of nothing really easily.  Two of my favorite resources, pinterest.com (just search ideas for party decorations and you get about a million) and Oh Happy Day!  (ohhappyday.com), a blog full of tons of ideas (some easy, some harder) that add tons of unique décor to your next event.

2)    Look for “printables.”  I am new to the “printables” world, but I am amazed at the number of free and extremely cute banners, invitations, cupcake toppers, favor boxes, etc that you can print off of the internet for free.  Just buy some cardstock and grab your scissors (decorative edged scissors will make it easier to make a festive and fun border and can be found at your local craft store for $3 or less) and start printing.  Printables are an easy internet search away or check out blogs like Oh Happy Day! (http://ohhappyday.com/category/free-printables/) for some great ones!  When searching online, try using keywords like “printable baby shower invitations” or “printable birthday party decorations.”  You will be amazed at the choices!

3)    Less is more!  I love parties that are simple and fun.  I think it’s very false that you need to spend a big hunk of money to make a party special. Decorations don’t need to be a big fuss or costly to create a great atmosphere. To save, try using or reusing what you already own and then think about how you can make a few decorations go a long way!  For example, use white tablecloths (that you probably already own), solid bold color napkins and paper plates, and grab a hole punch and some construction or scrapbook paper and punch other bold color confetti to sprinkle in the middle of the tables.  So cute and so simple!  You can even add some balloons or garland you can find in my shop if you want.  Creating a white background allows your decorations to really pop.

4)    If all of this DIY sounds a little too time consuming, check out etsy.com.  There are lots of artists that are more than willing to create custom work for you, sometimes for no extra charge (like in hoopdaloop.etsy.com).  Because almost everything is handmade, you can send us your invitations or inspiration pictures so we can create the perfect party, invitations and all!

5)  Or even better!  Win a party pack from hoopdaloop.etsy.com!  Enter below for a chance to win 3 ten foot garlands and two packs of confetti in your custom colors! It’s a great excuse to throw a party or decorate your little one’s room even if you weren’t planning on it 🙂

Don’t forget to reuse your decorations if possible!  Lots of my customers will buy garlands for a party and then hang them up in a baby’s nursery or kids room or even in the background of a photo shoot for their kiddos.  All great ways to keep saving and create whimsical one-of-a-kind decorations and photos!

Edit: this giveaway is now closed. 

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the party pack mentioned in tip #5!

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