Planning a Story Book Themed Baby Shower

The Event

I have been planning and prepping to host my a Story Book Themed Baby Shower for my sister who is pregnant with her first born.  I have been planning this party for a few months now and have pulled together some fabulous ideas!

Theme

In planning a party or event I often find that a theme helps to structure your plans. Sometimes it can be limiting but for the most part it gives you something to focus your efforts around.  I also think it is a good idea to work with your client, friend or family member that you are hosting the party for and discuss their thoughts around theme.  You wouldn't want to offend or take the party in a direction that is inappropriate or just whacked out.  So after discussing with my sister, knowing my sister and her husband it was decided the theme would be 

"Build a Baby a Library."  

Invitations

What cool idea could I use to create neat invitations?  First thought, send everyone a book shaped invitation. I began my search online (Pinterest, Google Images, Pottery Barn Kids etc.) I stumbled upon Pottery Barn Kids website where I found the cutest invitation. 

I so badly wanted it.  But after following the directions a million times that were provided I realized I must not have had the right programs in Adobe and that the download and manipulation of this invitation would not work. Maybe someone else could try this download and let me know how it works.  Time for a different idea. 

After continuing my research on invitations I found that this idea was super cute and fun. I could even put a twist on it.  A Library Check out card invitation.  There were several that I found from websites like:

1. http://maddycakesmuse.blogspot.com
2. http://www.partylikeakid.com
3. http://www.etsy.com

So from all of those ideas because I didn't want to purchase and I work in education, my first thought was to see if there were any Library pockets and checkout cards available at work. Using one of those for a template would be easy. I could use my computer software to do the rest.  Here's what I found.

I decided to create a template after scanning one of these library cards into my computer! I decided not to use the pocket that I found, because I only had one and I didn't want the invitations to be plain o' drab.  I had super cute 12x12 scrap book paper that needed using and since I didn't know what gender the baby was, I could use a variety of colors!  

Still a bit plain for my liking and really no notion that it is for a baby so I added a round colored button to the pocket to spice it up a bit. Sadly I did not take a picture of that.

Along with the invitation, there were three bookplates that the guests were asked to use in the book they were bringing in lieu of a card.  Because this was my sisters FIRST baby I wanted her to be able to receive not only books but needed items off of her registry. This theme is Great for second or third babies with families who have the necessary items to welcome their little one home.  

I made cute little envelopes as well to keep the invitation cute and non-gender specific!  Remember when making your own cards, and envelopes to take them to the post office to have them weighed there might be extra postage. I took apart an envelope that was regular sized and that fit the invitation and used that as my template.  Because I added the button onto the pocket I needed to pay an extra twenty cents to hand feed the envelope into the postal machine.  

Decorations

 I went all out on the home made decorations. I was not about to purchase a canned party decoration package so here goes.

I made two lanterns out of book pages.  The picture above does not do it justice so here are few others.

These were super easy to make. Just buy a lantern shade (IKEA or World Market is where I found mine) cut out circles from old torn up books purchased from Goodwill or other thrift store and take your trusty glue gun and glue them on. Then use decorative ribbon or string and tie a knot around the inside wire hanger and whallah there you have a beautiful decoration.  

I also hand sewed a bunting using book pages, ribbon and my sewing machine. See below.  Curious George all the way. What a great gift to also give the person you are celebrating. This could be used to decorate the baby's nursery!

I also decorated the buffet table, dessert table and each of the round tables  with a different book theme. Take a look.  

Madeline. One of my favorite books. I don't often get to read this with my two boys. But thought since we don't know the gender this would be a great one to display and give to my sister. Took me a while to find the Eiffel Tower but I did thanks to Salem Real Deals.

 

Dessert was brought to us by Saint Cupcake in Portland, Oregon!  I made the cupcake toppers.  Look how cute they are!

Party favors included book worms and book marks! Bookworms were boxed up gummy worms! The guests enjoyed!

 

 

Because our venue was an old school I made use of the chalkboards.  On them I wrote a variety of things. 

 

 

These were two of my favorite book sayings/phrases that I wrote onto the chalkboard.  I also made sure to post a poll to have guests post their guesses on the baby's arrival date, gender, lbs, and length! Take a look!

 

For the games we played a Dr. Seuss Trivia game and Bingo. All in all the event was fabulous. My sister received a variety of books for the baby's library and even books that were read to both her and her husband were given from each of their respective parents. It was great!