Dr Seuss Baby Shower- Pic Heavy!

I'm so excited to show you all the baby shower I put together for Saturday.  I feel like I have been working on the decorations forever, but it's finally done, and it turned out so great!

You can read about the invites I made here.  The sign in table I put right inside the front door so people wouldn't forget.  I had advice cards I made from white index cards and attached ribbon to one side.  I bought the Dr Seuss Cat In The Hat book for everyone to write a loving message for the mom to be.  The great part was people actually wrote special messages to the babies as well as to the mom.  I thought that was so sweet and such a great idea, especially since the book will be theirs.  I couldn't find a table cloth or fabric large enough to cover the 2 tv trays I put together for this table, so I used a sheer fabric curtain I found in the closet, then a scrap piece of red fabric down the center.  I made circle garland with my sewing machine and cricut by cutting out 2 inch circles and sewing them together in one long strand, very easy and very inexpensive, 2 characteristics I love in a decoration.  You can read how I made the topiary centerpiece here.

My diaper cake was used as a centerpiece.  Water bottles with personalized labels are on the right, the empty cupcake stand (I took the picture before putting any food out) and in the back next to the diaper cake I used another cupcake stand to hold the brownie favors.  I made favor tags that read "Oh me oh my thank you for stopping by", used my cricut to cut them into circles then tied the favor bags with ribbon.  My cousin's favorite dessert is brownies so it made the perfect favor.  I framed Dr Seuss quotes in black frames I already had around the house.  I printed them on white cardstock, used the Grinched font I found at dafont.com then matted them with scrapbook paper.  Everyone loved walking around reading the quotes.

The diaper cake stand was made using a glass candle stick holder and plate bought from the dollar store and glued together using E600 glue (I actually made this and the cupcake stands months ago for a bridal shower).  The banner on the wall reads "Welcome Jacob & Jeremiah".  I used my cricut to cut the penants and the letters, strung them together with ribbon and taped them up.

I had originally planned on hanging these quotes and pictures from the ceiling but had a very large empty wall I felt needed a little Seusing up.  I used strips of scrapbook paper to line the top and bottom of 2 of the quotes I printed on cardstock.  On the other 2 quotes I cut 1/2 inch and 1 inch circles from cardstock with my cricut then glued them around the quotes.  The Thing image and Hat images I found online and enlarged in Microsoft word, printed them on cardstock, and cut them out.

One of my favorite little decorations and so simple to make was the diaper wreath.  I used a wood wreath found at the dollar tree, diapers I already had in the closet that were leftover from Grant.  Extra ribbon from previous projects, and I purchased the spoons and pacifiers from the Dollar Tree as well.  I used my cricut to cut the tags as well as the boys names.  Then hung the Dr Seuss hat with thread in the middle.  I'm going to make a tutorial on this later but didn't have the chance to take pictures when I put this one together.

I served baked ham, baked beans, pasta salad, deviled eggs, red velvet cupcakes, sweet tea and fresh strawberry lemonade.  I put 2 framed quotes on the bar with the food to give it a little decoration. 

I love tissue poms.  They are such an inexpensive way to decorate and yet they add so much color.  I used aqua blue and red and had them hanging in the kitchen and dining room.  All together I had 8.

I'm not at all good at coming up with rhymes, so I looked online for sayings to put with the Cat in the Hat book and advice cards, typed them in a word document using Grinched font and matted them with scrapbook paper just like the quotes.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the gifts I made for her.  In all my rush I stuffed them in the gift bag and didn't think another thing about it.  I like to make a few things and buy some of the necessary items as well when it comes to baby gifts.  I rarely buy clothes unless it is white onesies or gowns, the staples.  Since Julia is a first time mom, I tried to think of the things I would have liked.  I know I was very concerned about what I needed to take to the hospital and so afraid I would forget something important.  I made a small travel bag and included trial size body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, and a loafa, that way she can just throw it in and know she has all the basics.  I also made a wipes case, changing pad, camo cloth shoes (2 pair), and binky clips.  I ended up buying baby shampoo, breast pads, and a tube of Vasaline. 

I had 2 games, 1 was a raffle.  In the invite I let the guests know if they brought diapers the could win a prize.  All but 1 person brought a package.  The prize was a basket with an Airwick Freshmatic, Dove body wash, Dove deodorant and a loafa.  The great thing about the gift was its all stuff I aready had  in my stockpile.  I paid $0.99 for the Freshmatic, $0.25 for the deodorant, $1.50 for the bodywash, and $0.50 for the loafa. 

The second game was the candy bar in the diaper.  I took 6 candy bars, melted them and smeared them in a diaper.  I numbered the diapers 1-6 and had everyone write down what candy bar they thought each one was.  The prize for this game was an Airwick Freshmatic, which I had paid $0.99 for months ago and already had in my stockpile.

All together, prizes, decorations, food, and gifts included, I spent a total of approximately $75.  When I told my husband this he thought that was alot but I've seen some showers people spend up to $200, so I thought I did pretty good.

Now its time to get started on Grant's Toy Story birthday, wish me luck!

Dr Seuss Water Bottle Labels

I love water bottle labels, I think they are such a cute and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to any party or shower.  So I knew when I volunteered to do my cousin's shower I would have to make some labels, and here they are:

I knew I wanted to incorporate the boys' names, as well as Thing1 and 2 images.  I played  around with a couple different ideas and this is the one I thought would work the best.  I had a font called Grinched downloaded just for this shower so I used it to type the boys' names into a word document with enough space in between to fit the Thing1&2 image (this was just a guess and it just so happened I got it right on the first try). Then printed it on white cardstock and cut it into thin strips. I copied and pasted 2 different Thing images into a word document and shrunk them to 1 inch.

To get the size of the label correct I took a label off one of the water bottles I'm going to use and made a template out of plain white cardstock.  I bought my red/white polka dot paper at Michaels (it was so hard to find this paper, Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's didn't have anything,ugh).  I was able to get about 4-5 labels from one sheet of 12x12 paper.

I used my Cricut (my favorite toy!) to cut the Thing images into a circle and the flower shape I layered behind it in blue.  Using some clear glue I glued the image to the blue flower, then glued the name strip to the red dot scrapbook paper wrap, then glued the Thing/flower image to the wrap. 

In the picture above the labels are not covered with anything to make them waterproof, and to be honest I don't know if there is a way to make them completely waterproof.  I used packaging tape for my sister's graduation bottle labels and they were still bleeding through by the end of the party. This time I'm gonna try contact paper and see how it turns out.

I'm so thrilled with how cute these came together, and so relieved they are finally finished.

Diaper Cake

Let me start this post by saying, diaper cakes are a pain in the tooshie.  Of course it would have helped had I actually read a tutorial on how to make one, but being stubborn ol' me, I decided to wing it.  My advice to anyone reading this who wants to attempt one of these cakes, is to read a tutorial first.  Now that its finished of course I'm super excited.

I absolutely love how it turned out, just wish I would have been able to incorporate some of the aqua blue.  I used straight pins to hold the ribbon in place in the back and used the flowers from a vine I have had stored from our wedding.  Originally I planned and tried to make the cake like this:

However when I attempted this it did not turn out well and I had to change it.  In the end I like how mine turned out better.  I know my cousin will love it and no one in my family would has ever had one at a baby shower.

The diapers I used I actually had leftover from when Grant was in size 1.  I've had them stored in his closet since then waiting for baby #2 or someone else to have a baby. I bought some clear hair elastics from the dollar tree.  You get 500 in a package for $1.  I rolled each of the diapers and used the elastics to hold each in place.  To get each layer to hold its shape I wrapped the ribbon around really snug and used the straight pins to hold it.

I know Julia won't be expecting one of these and I can't wait to put this on the center of the table.

Thing 1 & Thing 2 Shower Centerpiece

I finished the centerpiece for the sign in table and I really love it.  I used a tutorial from the blog Write it Down, she used it as a Christmas ornament.  While typing this, I tried to find the tutorial on her blog but unfortunately every time I tried to go through her archives the page went blank.  If I can't find it I'll try to do a tutorial myself. 

The supplies you need are a styrofoam ball, ribbon (as many colors/prints as you would like), a dowel rod, straight pins, and whatever you want to use as a base.  I used a small mason jar filled with sugar.  As you can see from the picture I still need to pain the dowel rod but I was so excited about getting it this close to being finished, I had to post the picture.

Here was my inspiration:

I think I found this picture on Etsy by searching under Thing 1 Thing 2.  I've had the picture saved for awhile so I'm not sure who the seller is.

Here is the link for the topiary tutorial from the blog Write it Down.

Thing1 and Thing 2 Baby Shower Invites

I'm finally starting to get things checked off my To-Do list for the twin baby shower I'm throwing for my cousin.  I finished the invitations last night.  I wanted to keep them simple but still give everyone an idea of the theme.  No one in my family do baby showers with a theme other than the typical baby blue or pink with the Walmart decorations, and there is nothing wrong with that, but I have been dying to throw a shower like this.  I want it to be a complete surprise to my cousin and therefore have refused to send her an invitation or give her any details other than the day and time. 

(one day I will have a fabulous camera that takes to die for great pictures, until then your stuck with these, haha)

I originally had planned on putting Thing 1 and Thing 2 on the invite itself but couldn't figure out how to get it on there and still make it look the way I wanted so I decided to make a seal for the outside of the envelope.

I couldn't find the cardstock or scrapbook paper I wanted at Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's so I bought patterned digital paper on Etsy that was perfect!  I used it and my wonderful new Cricut Expression to cut them out.

I glued them together then glued them to the back of the envelope and viola, finished.

I mailed them all out this morning and can't wait for everyone to receive them.

I Have Rejoined the Blogging World

Wow, have we ever been busy.  We moved from one house into my in-law's house and then into our current house and we just got internet services back.  I'm now working full time, and while the job itself and the people I work for are great, I would so much rather be at home with my little man.  I'm still hoping maybe in a couple years we can make that happen but until then, I will count my blessings for having the 9 1/2 months I did.

Our house is still a disaster.  I don't know what it is about moving but it seems like the first couple days we get alot put away and in order then it all comes to a screeching hault and we live with a few boxes here and there for months.  I have yet to start my crafting, but I'm itching to get our spare room, aka my craft room, set up and going.  I really missed having my own space in our last house. 

My cousin's baby shower is coming up way too fast along with Grant's 1st birthday, and hopefully a Halloween party, EEK, I'm so excited!  I have started on a diaper cake for the shower and have been slowly collecting materials for decorations for both parties.  This weekend I'm hoping to finish the invites, since I have everything I need and they are all typed up.  All my shower preparations will probably be finished by staying up till midnight or later since little man can't stay out of anything these days.

I have misplaced my camera in the move so hopefully I'll find it soon so I can do a few posts.  Now I just need to play catch up with all my favorite craft blogs!