A Blog post by
Erica Musgrave
Hi there! My name is Erica and I recently had the pleasure of hosting a baby shower for my dear sister-in-law, Kayla. It was such a joyous occasion filled with love, laughter, and of course, lots of baby-themed decor! I wanted to share with you all the details of how we planned and executed this special event, including the inspiration behind the theme, the decor and DIY projects, and some tips and tricks for hosting your own memorable baby shower. So grab a cup of tea and let's dive in!
To create a cohesive and memorable baby shower, we drew inspiration from the beautiful single-layer blankets that Kayla had purchased from Kate Quinn. We recreated the colors from the English Rose and Sea Pine single layer blankets. You can find the links to the blankets here: Kate Quinn Single Layer Blanket English Rose Petal Modal Rib L207, https://katequinn.com/products/single-layer-blanket-english-rose-petal-modal-rib-l207, and Kate Quinn Single Layer Blanket Sea Pine Organic Cotton Thermal W115, https://katequinn.com/products/single-layer-blanket-sea-pine-organic-cotton-thermal-w115.
The leaves in the baby shower decor were inspired by the Jade Leaf pattern in an outfit Kayla bought from Kate Quinn. Although the onesie and hat are no longer in stock, you can find a beautiful reversible blanket in the same pattern on the Kate Quinn website here: https://katequinn.com/collections/all-baby-blankets/products/reversible-blanket-jade-leaf-petal-organic-cotton-thermal. This organic cotton thermal blanket features the Jade Leaf pattern on one side and a pretty Petal pink on the other. Even though the onesie and hat are no longer available, we were still able to capture the essence of the design using this lovely single-layer blanket. If you're interested in incorporating this leafy pattern into your own baby shower decorations, be sure to check out Kate Quinn's website for more inspiration and ideas.
Kayla's baby shower was filled with wild animal decorations, inspired by a giraffe pattern from Kate Quinn. Unfortunately, all items featuring the pattern were out of stock, but we were still able to incorporate the theme by using a single layer blanket with the orange giraffe pattern. Though the pattern was not as prominent as originally planned, it added a lovely touch to the overall design. Take a look at the blanket to see how it looked: https://katequinn.com/products/single-layer-blanket-orange-giraffe-organic-cotton-interlock-n201.
To set the tone for a fun and lighthearted baby shower, we started by purchasing the invitations as they needed to be mailed out quickly. After browsing through various options, we found the perfect invitation on Etsy that had a retro/modern look with a simple "Oh Baby" statement. I loved the energy it gave off and how it would unify the theme of the shower. You can check out the invitations here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1310644000/arabella-retro-baby-shower-invitation?ref=share_v4_lx. To tie in the colors of the English Rose and Sea Pine from Kayla's purchased items, we customized the colors of the invitations on the site. To maintain consistency in the theme, we chose to incorporate the phrase "Oh Baby" in various decorations throughout the shower, including a balloon arch stand and a banner.
To bring a touch of nature into the baby shower, we decided to go with fresh greenery instead of balloons. Kayla had previously expressed her love for greenery, so we knew it would be a hit. To tie in the wild animal theme, we bulk ordered 50 small-sized Monstera leaves from Fifty Flowers, which were perfect for scattering on the tables and adding to the decorations. Additionally, we got five bunches of Robellini Phoenix Green Palms, each with 8-10 leaves, to add some variety to the greenery. You can find the Monstera leaves here: https://fiftyflowers.com/products/monstera-leaves-tropical-greenery-small and the Robellini Phoenix Green Palms here: https://fiftyflowers.com/products/robellini-phoenix-green-palms#product-info-section.
These were more than enough to decorate the arch and place in vases for centerpieces and throughout the vicinity. We used two sets of these vases, Serene Spaces Living Clear Glass Bud Vases, Set of 6, Ideal for Tablescape at Weddings, Events, Measures 6.25” Tall and 2” Diameter, https://amzn.to/41W89cM, these 4x6 frames, LaVie Home 4x6 Picture Frames (12 Pack, Gold) Simple Designed Photo Frame with High Definition Glass for Wall Mount & Table Top Display, Set of 12 Classic Collection, https://amzn.to/3VjLzYJ, these toys, 6 Pack Bendable Wooden Animal Figurines Toys, Smooth Natural Wood Zoo Jungle Safari Animals Figures Toys, Preschool Learning & Education Toys for Toddlers Kids, https://amzn.to/41QNEOk, and these table linens, LA Linen Polyester Poplin Washable Round Tablecloth, Stain and Wrinkle Resistant Table Cover 72", Fabric Table Cloth for Dinning, Kitchen, Party, Holiday 72-Inch, Teal Dark, (TCpop72R_TealDrkP82), https://amzn.to/3HpGnx4.
To create a light and energetic atmosphere, we used five bistro tables, encouraging people to stand and mingle before getting comfortable in a chair where the majority of the party was hosted. For the centerpieces, we used two palm leaves and one monstera leaf in the vase, one wooden animal, and a picture frame of the same color and font style as the invite, "Oh Baby". We used the tablecloths on the bistro tables.
We set up a Snacks and Sweets bar with two of the same vases and a gold stand for the menu, using the same color and font as the "Books for Baby" template we purchased with the invite. We found these cute "Oh Baby" napkins on Amazon, which we layered on top of these tropical leaf napkins from Hobby Lobby to tie in the "Oh Baby" and tropical theme of the party. For the Sweets, we used these tropical leaf paper plates from Hobby Lobby, and for the snacks (if needed), we used these dark teal dinner plates by Meri Meri. We also added these gold plastic forks to complement the gold hues of the party.
To add some variety to the snacks, we decided to do charcuterie cups served in paper cups. We used CAMKYDE 50 Pcs French Fries Holder, 12oz Disposable Paper French Fry Cups Charcuterie Cups for all Occasions (12oz) https://amzn.to/3oSQ9kG for this purpose. To add a touch of elegance to the presentation, we used 200 Pcs Cocktail Picks, 4.7 Inch Toothpicks for Appetizers, Bamboo Cocktail Sticks Skewers for Drinks, Desserts, Charcuterie, Wedding Party Fancy Toothpicks, Gold Pearl Mini Food Picks Decorative https://amzn.to/3Vp0BwE as skewers to hold the food in place. These cocktail picks were not only practical, but they also added a touch of sophistication to the presentation of the food.
To add a fun touch to the snack selection, we served popcorn in these charming white mini popcorn boxes. The BLUE PANDA 100 Pack Mini Popcorn Boxes for Party (3 x 4 In) were perfect for the occasion and added a festive touch to the table decor. These bulk white popcorn containers were not only great for holding popcorn but also for movie night decorations. The guests loved having their own individual box to munch on during the shower. It was a great hit! You can find them on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/44hrdDC.
To give a personalized touch to the popcorn boxes, we used a rubber stamp of the "Oh Baby" theme, which was purchased from Hobby Lobby. The stamp was inked with black ink to match the color scheme of the party. The stamp used was the "Oh Baby" Rubber Stamp, which is available at https://www.hobbylobby.com/Scrapbook-Paper-Crafts/Stamping/Rubber-Stamps/Oh-Baby-Rubber-Stamp/p/80860241.
In conclusion, creating a beautiful and memorable baby shower doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. With a little creativity and some DIY skills, you can transform any space into a warm and inviting celebration of the new life to come. From themed decorations to personalized favors and gifts, there are endless possibilities to make your baby shower unique and special. Whether you're hosting a large gathering or an intimate gathering of close friends and family, the most important thing is to create an atmosphere of love and joy for the parents-to-be and their little bundle of joy. So go ahead and let your creativity run wild, and don't forget to have fun along the way!
For easy access, here are the links to the products I used: