Living in My Pajamas: July 2012

This past weekend was my sister's baby shower I hosted with my mom.

You can find my inspiration board here, which I posted a couple of days ago.

{Invitations}

When I was starting to plan the shower out in my head, I knew I wanted to do a "book" theme. I had been to a shower for a good friend last spring where everyone was asked to bring a book for the baby to start his library. I loved that idea, and since my sister is an avid reader, I knew this would be a perfect theme for her shower.

I saw an idea (probably on Pinterest!) to make the invitations look like the old library cards that used be in the front of your checked out book. So I created them & had them printed.

And I decided a library card needed its own sleeve, to stay with idea of a library book. I created a template, cut them out of card stock & attached them to the inside of the card.

Since everyone would be bringing a book, I made a bookplate for each guest to fill out & put in their book and included it with their invitation.

Along with a book theme, I wanted the decor to be very vintagy (pretty sure I just made up that word!). So to stay with the vintage idea, I used kraft cards & decorated the front with a small doily & turquoise ribbon {if the baby were a girl, I would have used a peach ribbon}.

I absolutely LOVE how they turned out!

{Decor}

I decided early on to decorate using peach, turquoise & yellow. I figured this palette was neutral enough to work for either a boy or girl. And since I wasn't planning on the shower being gender-specific, this worked out perfect.

And I wanted to include "books" into the decorations. Thanks to Pinterest, I found several ideas using book pages. Pennant Banner, Flag Banner & Rosettes.

I made a rag banner using scraps of fabric in the clearance bin at the fabric store in just the right colors. To add a more vintage touch, I strung them on jute twine.

More paper rosettes & pennant banners using turquoise, yellow & peach paper. There is a huge mirror in the living room of my parent's house, so I used that to hang some the banners & rosettes.

Since children's books were a major theme, I made some graphic art using quotes from well-known books & hung them along the mantle. My sister is going to frame them & put them in the nursery.

**Update**

I've had so many requests for the book quotes. So they are now available for purchase in my Etsy shop here

I found a "Boy" printable & had it printed and framed to go on the mantle {you can find it here}

I hung streamers which I ruffled (another Pinterest find!). Super easy & super decorative!

Rather than have one large bouquet of flowers, I decided to do a bunch of small bouquets all over. Mason jars have that vintage look & make great vases.

{Food Table}

This was an early shower {9:30 am}, so mom & I decided to make brunch food.

Mini Quiches, topped with a fun flag of fabric scraps & "baby" bunting

Make Your Own Fruit Pizzas

and Yogurt with Granola & Fresh Fruit

Basil & Cucumber Water and Lemon & Lime Water

I used book pages as the background to the food labels.

Drink straws with "Hooray" flags completed the table

{Favors}

Keeping with the book theme, I made a paper clip bookmark for everyone to take home as their favor

{Activities}

I despise shower games, so I wasn't planning to do any. However, we needed something for the guests to do other than eat & watch the gifts being opened.

As a special piece of art that can hang in the nursery or go in a scrapbook, I had everyone place a thumbprint to make a "balloon" and sign their name next to it.

I love the idea of a photo booth & wanted to make that happen. To celebrate the Little Man, I made mustache props & used some of my dad's ties for everyone to use to take their pictures.