| One of the best parties to plan is a baby shower. | | | | complete the look. You get some nice |
| Making the invitations, deciding on the menu, | | | | decorations; the mom-to-be gets some items |
| buying the cake are all fun, but the best part is | | | | she'll need when the baby arrives. |
| decorating the room. There are so many neat | | | | Don't forget about balloons. They are a cheap and |
| ways you can do this, but many people just don't | | | | effective way to make a room look more |
| have a lot of money to spend. So how do you | | | | festive. Use them outside the party location to |
| make this special day special, without depleting | | | | direct people to the event. Place them along the |
| your bank account? | | | | path to the party room and tie balloons from the |
| Decorating for a party can be done inexpensively. | | | | back of the chairs for a fun and simple effect. |
| All it takes is a little time, help and some | | | | Hang small rattles and pacifiers from the ceiling |
| creativity. | | | | using ribbons. Be sure to hang them high enough |
| Cover tables with pink and light blue tablecloths. | | | | so people can walk safely underneath. You can |
| There are many new varieties with baby designs | | | | also use small baby toys, but they can't be too |
| on them. Paper ones are usually the cheapest and | | | | heavy. Always check with the owner of the |
| they help with cleanup after the party. If you | | | | facility or house before taping or tacking anything |
| have trouble finding a decorated one, or don't like | | | | to the ceiling. |
| the ones you find, single color ones can be | | | | Don't forget your guests when making |
| decorated with stickers, drawings, and baby | | | | decorations. Giving a name tag for each guest will |
| cutouts to make them more festive. | | | | help them remember each other's names and put |
| A wonderful substitution to the standard placemat | | | | them more in the partying mood. Get some pink |
| is a cloth diaper. These can be decorated with | | | | and light blue felt, cut into 6" triangles. Fold the |
| diaper pins, scrapbook embellishments, etc. After | | | | right and left points in, then fold the bottom point |
| the party, remove the decorations and wash the | | | | up to make the felt piece into the shape of a |
| diapers. They will make a nice extra gift for the | | | | diaper. Use a diaper pin to hold it together and |
| expectant mother to use as burp rags. For your | | | | write each guests first name on the front of the |
| table settings use plates and utensils in the | | | | tag with a marker. Use a regular safety pin on |
| opposite baby color as the tablecloth for a nice | | | | the back to attach it to the guest's outfit. |
| contrasting look. | | | | For the guest of honor, take one pink and one |
| Using a few creative centerpieces on the tables | | | | light blue fancy baby sock. Lay the top of the |
| will decorate them and give the mother-to-be | | | | socks together, making sure the bottoms are |
| some useful gifts. Take two plastic baby dolls, one | | | | fanned out so both colors are visible. Using a pin |
| of each gender. Dress them and sit them at | | | | attach it her blouse, making a special corsage for |
| opposite ends of the food table with baby items | | | | the mother-to-be. |
| surrounding them. Tie one pink and one light blue | | | | Anyone can decorate a room for a party. All it |
| balloon around the waist of each doll to add to | | | | takes is a little creativity and some work. But |
| the look. | | | | then end results will be worth the effort. Your |
| On the rest of the tables, you can use small | | | | friends smiling face when she walks into the room |
| baskets with shredded tissue paper and baby | | | | and sees what you've done will be all the thanks |
| items inside. Tie a balloon or two, depending on | | | | you need. |
| the weight of the basket, to the handles to | | | | |