Lori's Storybook Baby Shower

The moment I found out that my good friends Ben and Lori were pregnant I knew I wanted to throw Lori's baby shower in North Carolina! I tossed around a lot of ideas over the months that I had to prepare, and I ultimately decided on a Storybook Theme. This worked out very well since they were not finding out the sex of the baby, and of course since we are all three teachers :)

The internet was full of ideas for a storybook baby shower so I tried to combine my favorite ides plus a few of my own into Lori's shower.

The details:

We planned Lori's shower for February 16. This was the Saturday after my week off for Mardi Gras break. We did this so I would not have to take off of work to travel the almost 900 miles to North Carolina. My original plan was to fly up, but when I checked the airline tickets they were very high due to everyone leaving New Orleans after Mardi Gras. This was a blessing in disguise, because I was able to complete many of the small details and bring them with me when I drove to NC.

Book Page Wreath

I tore apart two old paperbacks that I was finished reading to make this wreath. I found a tutorial online, and then edited it to make it my own. The pennant on the front says "Once Upon a Time". One of my best friends from high school is very crafty and helped with some of the little details that I am not so good at and she made the little detailed pennant for the wreath. I bought an inexpensive wooden "M" at Michael's and covered it in yarn to hang in the center of the wreath.

Katharine also helped me make this L+B= Me banner. I was very pleased with how it turned out, especially after we added the baby pictures of Ben and Lori beneath it. I found the pre-cut scalloped burlap card stock pieces at Michael's and then used a stencil to paint the letters onto the squares. I used the same thick yarn that I covered the center of the wreath with to hang it.

Bunting Banners

I bought some pre cut triangle pennants at Michael's to use as a backing to this storybook banner. I went to Goodwill and bought two large children's books for 39 cents a piece. It was kind of hard to rip apart the cute stories, but it definitely paid off with how cute the banner turned out! I centered the pictures I wanted on the card stock and used Mod Podge to paste them on. The first banner that hung on the stairs was a nursery rhyme book, and the second banner that hung around the kitchen island was Winnie the Pooh.

Lori really wanted the same marble cake that she had for her wedding at her shower. I was really pleased with the rustic look of the mint colored butter cream frosting.

Katharine made this adorable mini bunting banner for the cake!

Around the house I scattered small frames with different quotes about reading or actual quotes from books.

Food:

All of the food had corresponding children's books to go with it. This was a really fun detail! Once again, Katharine made the cute little cards that accompanied all of the books and food items that labeled the food using images and characters from their book, and I attached them to little blocks so they would stand up.

Beverages- Miss Spider's Tea Party
Utensils- And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait Bar- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Chocolate Chip Cookie Tarts- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Blueberry Cheesecake Bites- Blueberries for Sal
Sausage Balls- Ten Fat Sausages
Pigs in a Blanket- The Three Little Pigs
Deviled Eggs- Humpty Dumpty
Ham Croissants- Green Eggs and Ham
Pepper Jelly and Crackers- Bread and Jam for Frances
Meatballs- Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Tomato Tarts- I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato
Pasta Salad- Strega Nona

Favors:


The card with the Moon Pie favors said, "We are Over the Moon You Could Join Us! Please take one."

In the shower invitations I included the following poem asking each guest to bring a book instead of a card.

Although cards are nice, 

They're only read once or twice. 

A book is a treasure 

That lasts forever. 

So instead of a card to be put aside, 

Please give Baby McDonald a book with your name & wishes inside. 

Games:

I wanted to stick completely to the theme, but I couldn't resist "Name that Celebrity Baby". We also played "Finish That Nursery Rhyme" 

It unexpectantly snowed the day of the shower, but that didn't slow many people down from coming to celebrate Baby McNugget with us!

Lori and I always seem to match, even though we don't plan it!

I loved these puff balls that were hanging above the cake table and the colorful ones in the kitchen!

Cake table with baby pictures and the sign in book

So happy I got to do this for my sweet friend!