She’s About to POP Baby Shower

Description

'She's About to POP' Baby Shower! Neutral-gender baby shower that's chic and anything but cutesy.

Design Inspiration

Since we didn't know the gender of the baby, I wanted to do colors that were universally happy and bright. The 'pop' theme, which in my mind suggests bubbles, led me to choose circles and spheres for the decor. So, I added aqua beads (which inflate to look like bubbles) in the vases, flower balls for the centerpieces, little glass and green craft balls for a confetti-like feel, fizzing bath balls for favors, etc. 

Decorating Style

I love parties that are elegant but with a touch of whimsy. I love color but try to stay within a theme or idea. The hardest part about decorating is deciding which direction in which to go....but once I decide, I commit! I believe that's really key to not drive myself crazy!

Project Details

Invitations and stickers: www.tinyprints.com

Linens: BBJ Linens, www.bbjlinen.com

Balloon streamers: http://www.etsy.com/shop/katemaedesigns

Menu cards: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoTinyLoves

Vases, Floral foam, and Aquabeads: www.save-on-crafts.com

Note: For centerpieces, you must soak the Aquabeads overnight in order for them to fully expand. For flower balls, just rotate the floral foam spheres in a big bowl of water--do not submerge or the floral foam will fall apart. Then cut the stem of the flower to about an inch and stick in the ball. These require a deceivingly large amount of flowers, so overbuy! (I went to the downtown flower mart in LA and spent less than $100 on these flowers....the quote I got from a local florist was over $600!!!)

Candles: Just buy (I found on eBay) or save baby food jars. Wrap in tissue if desired, and drop in a votive candle. Easy!

Candy bottles: Just buy real baby bottles (an extra gift for the guest of honor at the end of the shower) and fill with candy!

Candy 'bar': www.ohnuts.com for bulk candy you can buy according to color.

Favors: www.LUSH.com for bath bombs, and homemade Baby 'Pop' Mix CD's. (Just pick lots of songs with Baby in the title)

Lanterns: Crate and Barrel. (cheap!)

Favorite Items

I really liked the two games we played: 

#1: Get photos from the mother-to-be and father-to-be's family of them ages 0-10 (one for each year of life). Scramble and then have people match them according to age. For instance, when they're both babies, age 1, age 2, etc. Winner gets a prize. Guests got really into this one!

#2: If you have a creative bunch, this is a great game. Write a list of 20 words--in the first column of 10, list baby words (nursery, crying, sleeping, bottle, etc) and the second column of 10, list words having nothing to do with baby (tires, dentist, microphone, etc). Give them 7-10 minutes to write a short story using all the words, and then have a few confidant guests share. Lots of fun! 

Advice

I found such direction when I decided and stuck with the 'POP' theme and the color scheme...there are so many creative things one can do within the th