froggy shower printables

Here are the two printables I promised you! Click on the titles to be taken to the download site.

The first is the two shower games I put together. I found the first idea online and switched out a few of the starter words and made it all pretty. The second one I used Puzzle Maker to create the word search, then made it all pretty :) That site is pretty sweet- has tons of types of puzzle it can make and all for free!

I made the little froggy image myself- I couldn't find one online I liked, and I didn't have a stamp I could use. Let me know if you'd like the games but with different colors or images!! I'd be happy to edit and send it to you :)

Froggy Shower Games

Froggy Cupcake Toppers

froggy shower

So I'm wicked bummed that most of the photos didn't turn out.... so bear with the poor photography, but I wanted to share some cute ideas from a baby shower a few of us wives recently threw for our friend who's expecting a boy in May! Again, please excuse the poor photos, but hopefully you can get some fun ideas out of it!! :)

.: Food :.

We catered the event from one of our favorite local Mexican restaurants. For dessert, fondue was on the menu, so I personalized bamboo skewers for us! I also went with cupcakes {not my best work, I was short on time!} but I made little froggie toppers for them! I'll get you the printables for them soon ;) And I used those for nametags for our glasses too! I just added an eyelet and some ribbon!

.: Guestbook :.

I just whipped up something SUPER simple- cut out pieces of paper, rounded the top edges, put eyelets on the front and back pages and threaded some ribbon through and added a charm. The inside pages, I stamped a journaling stamp so we could each leave her some advice or congrats, I also added some coordinating scrapbook paper along the top of each page. On the inside of the back cover, we each wrote down our predictions for date, size, and weight of the baby, so it'll be something fun momma can look back on- see who was closest!

.: Decor :.

Well, I kept it simple. They're moving to GA this week, so we didn't want to get them too too much. I made a small diaper cake {topped with a washcloth... do you know how hard it is to find froggy-themed stuff?!}. In the background, to the left of the cake, you can see we did a wishing well- everyone brought their gifts unwrapped and we added it all into a baby tub :)

.: Games :.

Well, for a door prize, I added some scrapbook paper to clothespins, and then hung baby socks up on some twine. I used my PTI bookmark die, and then cut them shorter to fit in the socks, and added some ribbon to the top. On each "bookmark" I wrote a date. Whoever pulled out her due date won the prize!

I also did two other games, I'll get you the printables for them soon ;)

.: Favors :.

This was a last minute party {since she was moving in a week!} so I decided to keep the favors simple. I went with a small candy display- everyone grabbed a bag and filled it with their favorite candies! For the bag tags, I used my PTI bookmark die & embossing plate, added a sentiment, gems, and froggie, then tied them to the bags! Super simple but cute, I think :) This might have been my favorite piece that I made!!

I hope you enjoyed and got a few ideas for your next party!!! :)

elephant alphabet baby shower

So I hosted my friend's baby shower last year {originally featured on SK Studios} and wanted to share the photos!! It's a grey & yellow "Elephant Alphabet" theme {they didn't know the gender}.

Click on any photo to bring up a larger photo!

Favor cake: inspiration from Dicut Diva. Note the little elephant sock under the cake :D It rattles too... hehe! I had cute baby rub-ons on the cake, but when I assembled them, I realized they were on the wrong side- whoops! So I used the Hero Arts baby feet stamp on the tops. I handmade the elephant on top- loved them!

Made this in Photoshop. Framed it with a simple white frame from Michaels. Original inspiration found on stem parties.

The guestbook, where guests could leave words of wisdom for the mamma-to-be!

Game cards I made up: Baby Bingo {where you fill in with items you think each guest gave as a gift} and Baby Word Scramble. Just whipped these up super quick in Word.

Towel cake- top layer is onesies surrounded with burp cloths, bottom is a baby blanket I made {see post here} surrounded by burp cloths. Here's the second elephant I sewed, so cute :)

Baby letters I found in a discount bin at Michaels- painted them up in the party colors

Cupcakes made from scratch- third ever attempt at doing fancy icing with a piping bag :D dyed the icing deep yellow and sprinkled with grey sugar glitter

Altered tea tins, we stuck a few gerber daisies in each and guests got to bring them home as door prizes! We had to cut the bottom off plastic cups and stick them inside the bottom of each tin to hold water for the flowers- we found out the hard way that the tins themselves are not designed to hold liquids :P

submitted to::

cross-posted on::

SK Studios

stand mixer cupcakes

So I hosted my friend's baby shower, and it was my first time using a piping bag- what fun! I've now begun to expand my collection of tips and icing coloring gel and hope to make more cupcakes and such soon, hehe :) Actually, I'll be making a batch next week, so tune in then to see what I come up with! :)

Anyhoo, here's one of the cupcakes! The theme of the shower was Elephant Alphabet, with colors yellow and grey- thus the yellow frosting with grey sugar confetti :)

These were made using my go-to yellow cake recipe and buttercream frosting! It's a KitchenAid recipe, from the book "Great Baking and More."

.:Quick Yellow Cake:.
.:ingredients:.
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/3 c. sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. shortening {I substitute with butter}
1 c. low-fat milk
2 eggs

.:directions:.
Combine dry ingredients in mixer bowl. Add shortening, milk, and vanilla. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute. Stop and scrape bowl. Add eggs. Continuing on Speed 2, mix about 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl. Turn to Speed 6 and beat about 1 minute.

Pour batter into two greased and floured 8 or 9-inch round baking pans, . Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.

.: Buttercream Frosting :.
.:ingredients:.
1 1/2 sticks butter, softenend
2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
low-fat milk {optional}

.:directions:.
Place butter in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Turn to Speed 6 and beat 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl.

Sift powdered sugar into bol. Add vanilla. Turn to Speed 2 and beat 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl. Turn to Speed 6 and beat 2 minutes, or until fluffly.

this is cross-posted at {Comestibilis}

participating at Cupcake Tuesday @ Hoosier Homemade

Baby Shower on a Budget

So this is part C of the series on planning a baby shower... this is where it gets a little crafty... ;) i've added prices along the way, they're rounded a touch, but it all comes out even in the end. there are some miscellaneous costs that I've added at the end of the post as well, mostly if say I bought a whole roll of ribbon but only used a foot of it, or I used something from my huge crafty stash. Items that you could probably substitute for cheaper or make yourself from things around the house, but in case you wanted to go exactly the route I have, I've included the cost. Thus I'll have two totals at the end of the post- one including these extras and one without.

*************************************************
:: Altered Tea Tins :: {for flower vases}


- empty tins: FREE
- grey ribbon: $4
- discount paper: $7 per pack
- flowers: $10
TOTAL: $21

*************************************************
:: Framed Art ::


- inspiration: FREE @ stem parties
- clipart: FREE {elephant}
- made in Photoshop: FREE
- frame: $6 @ Michaels
TOTAL: $6

*************************************************
:: Stuffed animals ::


- pattern: FREE {from here}
- 1/2 yard grey fleece: $2.20
- yellow fleece from remnant bin: $2.40
- batting: $8
- green ribbon: $1
- tags: FREE {or see misc costs}
TOTAL: $14.60

*************************************************
:: Towel Cake ::


-- {top layer} --
- elephant: {see Stuffed Animals}
- bamboo skewers: FREE {for support, also see misc costs}
- discount onesies: $5
- burp cloth: $2.50 for two {dollar bin @ Target}
- clipart: FREE {see Framed Art}
- yellow ribbon: $2.50
- grey ribbon: {see Altered Tea Tins}
-- {bottom layer} --
- baby blanket: {see Baby Blanket}
- burp cloth: $2.50 for two {dollar bin @ Target}
- ribbons: {see above}
- clipart: {see above}
TOTAL: $12.50

*************************************************
:: homemade cupcakes ::


- ingredients: FREE {or see Cupcake Costs}
- icing: FREE {or see Icing Tool Costs}
- cupcake liners: $2
TOTAL: $2

Cupcake Recipe:
- coming soon!

*************************************************
:: Favor Cake ::
*** photo coming soon ***
- cardstock: $5
- grey paper: $1.20
- stamps: $1 {and see misc costs}
- tags: FREE {see misc costs}
TOTAL: $7.20

*************************************************
:: Baby Blanket ::
*** photo coming soon ***
{this is my gift, so it's only included in the "extras" total}
- discounted dotted fabric: $12.50
- discounted striped fabric: $12.50
- yellow ribbon: $4.70
- embroidery floss: $1
- batting: {see Stuffed Animals}
TOTAL: $30.70

*************************************************
:: Guestbook ::
*** photo coming soon ***
- old notebook: FREE
- stickers: $3
- clearance stickers: $0.80
- rub-ons: $1
- stamps: {see Favor Cake and misc costs}
- paper: {see Altered Tea Tins}
TOTAL: $4.80

*************************************************
:: B-A-B-Y letters ::
*** photo coming soon ***
- letters: $1.50 {x4}
- paint: $1 for two
TOTAL: $7

*************************************************
*************************************************
Miscellaneous Costs:
- tins of tea: $10 {x3} from Republic of Tea
- discounted letter tags: $10 per pack of 120 sheets
- grey ink pad: $4
- yellow ink pad set: $10 for four
- bamboo skewars: $1 for 100
- baby stamps: $10
- old notebook: $1 {dollar bin @ Target}
TOTAL: $65

Cupcakes Costs:
- coming soon!

Icing Tool Costs:
- icing tip: $1
- icing bag: $5
- cake sparkles: $3.30
- icing color: $1.70
- icing bag couplers: $2 for four
TOTAL: $13

*************************************************
*************************************************
*************************************************

TOTAL: $88.10
TOTAL: $196.80 {w/ extras}

Baby Shower Idea Boards

So this is part b of a series I'm doing on planning a {frugal/spender savvy/creatively inexpensive/etc} baby shower. So after you've narrowed down your ideas, this is where Idea Boards can come in handy for choosing a final theme. My friend had her top 3 and I took it from there and put together a bunch of photos that tried to reflect the overall "feel" of each theme!

**please note: these photos are NOT my own, I picked them up at various websites but unfortunately did not keep track of the URLs. If you know where they're from {some can be seen in the links from Part A, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due! thanks :) **

(1) Elephant Alphabet {yellow, grey, white}

Decor:
- towel/diaper cake
- citrus centerpiece
- flowers in tea tins
- wooden letters
- framed letter poster
- advice/note-to-baby book
- favor cake display
Games:
- baby word scramble
- toilet paper momma
- guess the number of candies in the baby bottle
- bingo
Prizes:
- elephant-theme card set
- "O" cookies
Food:
- tea
- lemonade
- fruit / veggie tray
- scones / finger sandwiches
- cheese / cracker tray
- cupcakes
Favors:
- chocolate kisses
- tea


(2) Spa Treatment {white, vanilla, sage, tan, brown}

Decor:
- white fabric draped
- candles
- monograms
- flowers in tea tins
- washcloth candy
- citrus centerpiece
- towel/diaper cake
- advice/note-to-baby book
Games:
- toilet paper momma
- guess the items in the bags
- guess the number of candies in the baby bottle
- how well do we know the momma?
Prizes:
- handmade stationary
- baby-theme cookies
Food:
- tea
- personalized water bottles
- fruit / veggie tray
- scones / finger sandwiches
- candy bar
- cupcakes
Favors:
- tea bags / tea mugs
- bookmarks


(3) Monkey Letters {bright- green, blue, yellow, brown, orange}

Decor:
- towel/diaper cake
- wooden letters
- framed letter poster
- advice/note-to-baby book
Games:
- baby word scramble
- toilet paper momma
- baby bottle bowling
- bingo
Prizes:
- mod card set
- "O" cookies
Food:
- tea
- punch / cherry limeade
- fruit / veggie tray
- scones / finger sandwiches
- chocolate bar
- cupcakes
Favors:
- rose topiaries

Baby Shower Planning

I'm planning a shower for my friend, Sarah. This will be the first post in a series on how I went about doing that! This might be cross-posted on my cousin's blog when she gets it up and running ;) And the goal is to keep it pretty frugal. Now I have a lot of crafty supplies already in my possession, so using my "stash" won't be factored into the overall cost. Most of the decor/favor items you could easily make too!


THEMES
- "Love Comes Softly"... simple, chic, white & beige
- "Bedtime Stories"... bedtime stories, teddy bears, & pajamas (dress code? everyone comes in pjs? hehe)
- "Due Date"... mod and chic with decor centered around the due date
- "Alphabet Soup"... modern, bright colors, ABCs everywhere
- "Bubbly Ducky"... fluffy towels, bubbles and duckies take center stage here, aqua and yellow colors
- "spa baby shower"... pampering you a lil bit, pastels and brown colors
- chocolates
- lollipops
- the sweetest thing {candy}
- polka dots
- moon & stars
- tea party
- Noah's Ark
- Disney {snow white, mary poppins, cinderella}
- Pooh Bear
- umbrella {baby "shower"}
- baby laundry
- blocks
- baby prints {foot and handprints}
- diapers
- frogs
- {B is for..} bees
- monkeys (first two pix)
- woodland creatures (last pic)
- wild animals... zebra and bold colors are this theme
- owls
- momma bird
- nesting
- elephant alphabet... yellow, white, and grey are the colors of the day
- other animal?
- baby books
- Thanksgiving baby shower... autumn colors
- flowers... spring green and yellow colors
- green baby {eco-friendly}
- sun, lemons, and daisies... where it's all yellow all the time
- cute as a Button
- pickles and ice cream

COLORS... if not already inspired by the theme
- chocolate and pink/blue/yellow/green/pastel
- teal and yellow
- raspberry and lime
- black and white
- black/chocolate, white, and pinks
- neutrals {tan, brown, vanilla}
- pastels
- green and yellow/orange
- raspberry, orange, and brown
- raspberry, chocolate, seafoam
- chocolate and orange
- orange, sky blue, chocolate
- blue, orange, yellow
- black, yellow, teal
- blue, green, black, and white
- yellow and grey
- peaches and pinks

GAMES
- random baby trivia
- word scramble
- guess the gift {each gift is passed around the room and the guests have to write down their guess of what the gift is, then as the gifts are opened they get a point for each one they guessed right}
- bingo {they get a blank card and write in items they think are in the gifts, as the gifts are opened they cross off a box for each one right until someone gets bingo!}
- what's in the diaper bag? {they get a blank page with letters A-Z with a line next to each (ex. A_______, B_______,...) and guests fill in for each letter something they think is in the diaper bag that begins with each letter (i'd have a diaper bag filled with baby items, or photos of baby items) and guests get one point for each one correctly guessed... could also be played like bingo where the guests guess what's in the gifts that could start with that letter and they get a point for each things the mom does receive}
- what's that nursery rhyme? {fill in the blanks or guess the rhyme's title}
- baby animal game {guests match up the animal with what their baby's are called... cat to kitten, dog to puppy, etc}
- toilet paper momma {each guests takes as many sheets of toilet paper as they think wraps around mom's tummy, closest without going over wins!}
- baby shower mad libs {could use a common nursery rhyme/children's story and turn it into a mad lib}
- baby shower name game {write down one name for each letter of the alphabet, guests read off their lists, for each name that more than one person has they have to cross that name off, so person with most number of unique baby names wins}
- baby bottle drinking race {each guest gets a baby bottle and whoever finishes drinking first wins, could also be played initially like Hot Potato, 3 bottles are passed out and then passed around until the music stops, then those three compete to finish the bottle first}
- baby bottle bowling {set up baby bottles like bowling pins}
- guess the number of candies in the baby bottle {closest guess wins, without going over}
- guess the items in the bags {10 brown paper bags have baby items in them, bags are passed around and guests write down their guesses, most number correct wins}
- how well do we know the momma? {multiple-choice baby trivia from when mommy-to-be was little, "how much did she weigh?" "her mom was in labor for how many hours"...etc}


DECOR
- baby sock boquet
- wash cloth lollipop / candy
- favor cake display
- diaper cake / towel cake
- citrus centerpiece {see photo}
- flowers in tea tins {see photo}
- advice book {guests write down advice they have for you either that they have as moms, or best advice their mom gave them...} OR letters to baby {guests write a message to the baby} OR guests can write advice or a note to baby or both :)
- Cloth diapers can be used as place mats or napkins.
- Baby car keys or pacifers add a nice touch as a napkin rings.
- Use baby bottles as cups- Just remove the nipple and add a straw for each guest. It works well to give a baby feel to the occasion and it gives the mom-to-be supplies.
- Baby clothesline- this is a simple yet great way to both decorate and give cute gifts to the mom-to-be. Hang a clothes line as a decoration and string up cute baby clothing items like onesies, baby booties, socks, and outfits. After the shower they can be given to the mom as a gift for the baby.
- Display gifts in a crib, car seat or stroller instead of using a gift table. Decorate a crib or stroller to hold the gifts for the mom to open. {this is if you have any of those already that we could use}

FAVORS / DOOR PRIZES
- handmade card set / stationary /note pads
- tea bags / tea mugs
- bookmarks
- candles
- candy bars / kisses
- baby themed cookies
- terra cotta pots with seeds
- bath salts/soaps/lotions
- rose topiary
{photo from Stampin' Up! catalog}



FAVORS OR FOOD
- tissue baby booties
- lifesaver pacifiers
- baby bootie cups
- diaper candy cups

FOODS
- tea
- baby carriage fruit salad
- punch
- scones / tea sandwiches
- fruit / veggie tray
- cheese n cracker tray
- make your own sundae station
- chocolate / candy bar