modern animal baby shower cake

This is a recent baby shower cake I made. For the animals, I used my Cricut Cake machine - They look much better than if I were to cut them out! The mommy-to-be's nickname is banana, hence the saying "Welcome Baby Banana". (Just wanted to clarify that she's not like Gwyneth Paltrow naming her children after fruit.)

walnut baby shower game :: part two

I have to start by saying thanks to those of you who participated - I chuckled at each of your guesses!

And the answer is......

twenty seven!!!!  

Can you believe it!?  I wish I could see all your faces right now - that's the best part of this game by the way.  Yes, 27!  Now some items might be a little "subjective" to some, but I just left it how my grandmother had it. (So don't send me nasty emails how you don't agree with this or that. :)) You can pick and choose what to put in your shell.  I have also thought of a couple more things that could be used - listed below.  One thing I really like about this game is it will be new to all your guests.  I can pretty much guarantee no one will have seen it or played it.  My grandmother made this and played it 50-60 years ago!!!!  So, it is a new and fresh idea.  

Here is a photo breakdown so you can see it all come together.  First up, the bow.  Use blue or pink depending on the sex.  Or if they aren't finding out the sex, any multi-colored baby ribbon would be perfect. 

Next up, the rubber banding.  You would have to do this regardless if there were items in the shell or not.  It's two halves and they won't stay together by themselves.  Then when you add 27 items you definitely need a rubber band.

This photo is just the nut as soon as I take the rubber band off.  I just wanted you to see how tightly it's all stuffed in there.  You have to get creative.  Tuck things here, tuck things there.  Anyone who is a good packer would be good at this job.  

This next picture shows a good example of how tight you have to be.  My grandma stacked all the flat items together, used the thread (one of the items) to hold them all together, then tucked the stack into one side of the shell. 

 

Next is all the items spread out and the list.

1. safety  pin

2. cotton ball

3. gauze

4. baby asprin

5. baby tooth

6. baby bracelet (the pink and white beads - this was actually my mom's hospital id bracelet!)

7. baby picture

8. cherrio (I bet that tastes fresh!)

9. toy

10. miniature clothes pin

11. miniature bottle 

12. newspaper birth announcement clipping

13. lock of baby's hair (I put it on a little piece of paper so you could see it better)

14. heart locket necklace 

15. key to baby's bank 

16. money (need lots of this to have a baby - definitely more than just the dime shown!)

17. baby ring

**Next 3 items related to devout Catholics like my grandmother

18. baby rosary

19. Guardian Angel baby prayer

20. mother and baby medallion 

**Next 7 items are obviously a sign of the times when women made their children's clothes / blankets

21. thread

22. ribbon

23. elastic

24. baby button

25. yarn

26. ric-rack (apparently a prevalent detail on baby's clothes years ago)

27. snap fastener (you know, on onesies) 

So there you have it!  A fun, new and creative baby shower game.  Thanks Grandma Riedel - I miss you!  

I also thought of a couple more items you could add...
- rice cereal (put it in tape like the hair clipping)
- a baby fingernail clipping (but maybe kinda gross!?)

And onto the winner... Angel who said "I am going to be brave and guess 8."  Angel, I don't have your email so you'll have to email me (apowers.apartystyle@gmail.com) to receive your prize.  

ella's birth announcement

Since I showed you my youngest daughter's announcement yesterday, it's only fair (to both you and Ella) that I show you my older daughter's debut.

We used "family trees" as a theme. On the cover we wrote "We've added a limb to our family tree". As you can see, we put an actual little limb on the top to really bring the point home.

bree's birth announcement

I am knee deep in party planning right now. I have a few events in the next couple of weeks, one of which is my daughter's second birthday party. In the midst of making table runners, favor boxes and decorations, I can't help but think about the day she was born. How can two years already be gone!? So while I continue on party projects, I thought you might like to see her birth announcement.

On the front, I stamped baby footprints and added text that read "Our home has grown... by two feet". This "theme", if you will, fit our family perfect since my husband and I are both designers and constantly talking in "feet".

And, yes she was a huge baby; no one needs to tell me that. I was the one carrying her, I remember. Both my girls were almost three weeks early and still weighed over nine pounds!!! I loved it - more baby to nibble on.