Cheap Baby Shower Tips and Invite Wording Help Please

[newtodis]

Hey Everyone!

I've asked several random baby/adoption questions recently. I'm throwing a shower for one of my best friends the first weekend in Febraury with about 40 people expected. I'm still working on the location but I shouldn't have a problem there. I'd like to keep it as budget minded as possible (she's well aware of this!). I'm thinking simple punch, cake and cookies kind of thing. How should I word that in the invite or just not even mention it?? This is my first "southern" event like this so I'm not sure how things differ north vs south.

Also, I'm looking for a cute little saying to print off and stick in the invites about stocking up either the cabinets by bringing jar baby food or formula or stocking the book shelf and suggesting everyone bring a book for the new baby. Which do you think is the best way to go and what cute wording do you have that I could borrow??

For decorations, I'm thinking I'll just make mini diaper "cakes" (rolled, stacked diapers) for centerpieces; then she'll have some diapers to start her out as well. For games, I'm thinking maybe the present bingo (cheap and easy) and something like unscramble the letters or something like that. I'm also going to cut card stock into small (maybe 3x5) pieces for people to write well wishes for the baby and new family for her to include in her scrapbook.

Along with the shower and three large boxes of almost new hand me downs, I'm also going to make the new mommy to be a scrapbook (something she's wanted to do but hasn't gotten into yet) as part of the shower gift (I've already purchased the baby monitor and a couple of smaller toys as the gift). I have a couple of gift cards I'd like to use up. Think I'm ok to purchase other "filler" type items with those or will she have a problem if she needs to exchange? (specifcally baskets from Pier One and stuff on clearance from Target) She knows I'm very much a bargin shopper so clearance prices wouldn't surprise her at all. We'll (I will) also be making a couple of meals once they're back from picking her up so they won't have to worry about cooking for a couple of days.

There are two people who have offered to help if needed running around and stuff like that. Should I call and thank them for the offer and let them know I'll call if I need them or let them know I think I've got it under control?? I don't know that I'll need help honestly since it's going to be pretty simple and low key.

So I guess in all that rambling, here are the questions I need help with please

*Will cake/punch suffice for a shower?? Should I note it in the invite?? Should I schedule for early morning/pre-lunch or an after lunch/pre-dinner time so people don't expect anything big??
*Would you prefer stocking a book shelf or baby's pantry? (or do you have another suggestion - diapers, wipes, something else???)
*Any decoration or game suggestions??
*Am I ok to use gift cards to purchase gifts or will that cause a problem for returns/exchanges??
*Should I wait and purchase something once the shower's done or have her gift at the shower??? (I know she won't have the time to go purchase stuff if I were to just get her a gift card so I have to go get the gift).
*How should I get back with those who offered to help with the shower??

Thank you DISers so much for all of your help!! I so greatly appreciate it!!

 

[disneygrl143]

Hey! I just threw my sister a baby shower at the beginning of this month.. and we didnt do a cake! We knew she was having a girl... so we made rice krispy treats and found the pink marshmallows and put them in there. They turned out so cute and everyone loved them! For the gifts we told everyone on the invitation to bring a pack of diapers and we would put their name in a drawing for a ten dollar gift card! By the end of the shower she had so many diapers. And for the games, we did a CD with songs with the word baby in it and they tried to guess the artist and the song. We also did different kinds of baby food and they had to guess the flavor! I hope this helps a little.. i also did the cardstock for the advice cards. i also found a bottle piggy bank and wrote a note that said give to her college fund! Baby showers are so much fun.. but remember that and dont stress too bad!

 

[pilgrimage]

I'm all for reading, but think a young mother would have pressing
needs for diapers, food, clothing. You are sweet to host this event
for her.

 

[raven0855]

Hi, well I am not sure of the North vs. South styles but I can let you know what I did for my SIL baby shower.

We just did a cute invite that said "please join us to honor______, ______, and their Baby-to-be. The cutest little yankees fan she'll be"

(this obviously wont work if they arent sports fans but you could always think up sometng along those lines)

Then we sent out little cards with it that said:

We don’t want the new
parents to
Sweat the Small Stuff

Please bring 1 small
unwrapped "must have" item
to fill the baby carriage.


and....

Diapers:
We don’t want (moms name)
to (send dads name) out
to buy diapers
when they first arrive home.
Please bring 1 package
(any size)
of unwrapped diapers
to fill the diaper bag.
Enter your name in a
Door Prize Drawing
for each package of diapers
you put in their diaper bag.

We then did a raffle for everyone who brought the items.

We played a few games, we did the present bingo (very easy) we did the baby food tasting, I made up a quiz sheet of famous couples and you had to guess their babys names, also we did the dirty diaper game....you get premie diapers and melt diff kinds of chocolate and put them in the diapers then people have to guess what each candy bar is.

For favors I went to bath and body and got the $1 body washes and body sprays, wrapped them up and put a ribbon they were a hit.

We did a light fare lunch mini sandwiches and salads, then a friend made the cake.

 

[newtodis]

Hey! I just threw my sister a baby shower at the beginning of this month.. and we didnt do a cake! We knew she was having a girl... so we made rice krispy treats and found the pink marshmallows and put them in there. They turned out so cute and everyone loved them! For the gifts we told everyone on the invitation to bring a pack of diapers and we would put their name in a drawing for a ten dollar gift card! By the end of the shower she had so many diapers. And for the games, we did a CD with songs with the word baby in it and they tried to guess the artist and the song. We also did different kinds of baby food and they had to guess the flavor! I hope this helps a little.. i also did the cardstock for the advice cards. i also found a bottle piggy bank and wrote a note that said give to her college fund! Baby showers are so much fun.. but remember that and dont stress too bad!

My friend's having a girl and my friend that I'm throwing the shower for is adopting the girl! I could buy the Christmas marshamallows on clearance and pull out the green ones. I would never have thought of that! Thanks so much!! Love the college fund idea too!

I'm all for reading, but think a young mother would have pressing
needs for diapers, food, clothing. You are sweet to host this event
for her.

I'm for reading as well. Unfortunetly (or maybe fortunetly), my friends who are adopting are not you - she turned 40 a couple of months ago so the "basics" are things that yes, they'll need but not something the baby would go without by any means. Thanks so much for the ideas!!

Hi, well I am not sure of the North vs. South styles but I can let you know what I did for my SIL baby shower.

We just did a cute invite that said "please join us to honor______, ______, and their Baby-to-be. The cutest little yankees fan she'll be"

(this obviously wont work if they arent sports fans but you could always think up sometng along those lines)

Then we sent out little cards with it that said:

We don’t want the new
parents to
Sweat the Small Stuff

Please bring 1 small
unwrapped "must have" item
to fill the baby carriage.


and....

Diapers:
We don’t want (moms name)
to (send dads name) out
to buy diapers
when they first arrive home.
Please bring 1 package
(any size)
of unwrapped diapers
to fill the diaper bag.
Enter your name in a
Door Prize Drawing
for each package of diapers
you put in their diaper bag.

We then did a raffle for everyone who brought the items.

We played a few games, we did the present bingo (very easy) we did the baby food tasting, I made up a quiz sheet of famous couples and you had to guess their babys names, also we did the dirty diaper game....you get premie diapers and melt diff kinds of chocolate and put them in the diapers then people have to guess what each candy bar is.

For favors I went to bath and body and got the $1 body washes and body sprays, wrapped them up and put a ribbon they were a hit.

We did a light fare lunch mini sandwiches and salads, then a friend made the cake.

Love the "must have" and filling the diaper bag. Maybe I'll pick up the diaper bag she really wants (not at a store she registered at) and fill that with the diapers and stuff! I love the melted candy bar diaper game. I'm so excited for them but they're not familiar with babies at all so this is going to be so much fun!!

Thanks so much everyone for all of the ideas! Keep them coming!

 

[starann]

You could throw a tea party shower...that way you can get away with tea, soda, cake and some cookies...finger sandwhiches are optional! If you word the invite as a tea party one would hope people would understand it is not a full meal. Also throw it around 2pm, this way it is after lunch time.

The craft stores sell labels you can place on regular tea bags (on the small paper part of the tea bag) that you can print up at home and attach, making the tea bags personalized for the event!

Good luck!

 

[newtodis]

You could throw a tea party shower...that way you can get away with tea, soda, cake and some cookies...finger sandwhiches are optional! If you word the invite as a tea party one would hope people would understand it is not a full meal. Also throw it around 2pm, this way it is after lunch time.

The craft stores sell labels you can place on regular tea bags (on the small paper part of the tea bag) that you can print up at home and attach, making the tea bags personalized for the event!

Good luck!

Very cute idea! Thanks for sharing!!