Baby Time Guest Post--Clothesline Baby Shower by "Not Just A Mommy"

We're kicking off the Baby Time guest posts with a blogger that should be familiar to many of my readers. Dawn of Not Just a Mommy has been featured several times on my blog. She is the brains behind such inventive parties as "Trailer Park Pride Potluck" and recently an adorable airplane party. She has some fun Baby shower ideas to share, today!

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

Even though most modern moms use clothes dryers today, the ultimate symbol of 'classic mommy' makes a perfect baby shower theme - the clothesline. At this baby shower, guests are asked to bring an article of clothing for the baby. Rather than wrapping the gift in a box, they can hang it on a clotheslines spread across the room. I love this theme, there are many elements that the mama-to-be will be able to keep as part of her layette.

Get The Party Started

One stop shop with Sweetly Sweet's clothesline printable files for invitations, Sweet Circles to make anything from cupcake toppers to favor tags, pillow box and baby shower games. Look at that, half the party is done for you!

A plethora of cute invites; Noveau Designs, Tiny Prints, Paper Style.

Setting The Scene

Using clothing as party decor is a perfect way to display cute outfits and show off some creativity. Having an outdoor party? Check out Project Nursery's hot lantern and clothing combo strung above the party table. These pretty hand-me-downs at Party Spot's baby shower were a gift from the planner. I love how Two Boys And A Beagle used onesies as a banner.

How in love am I with Donna Hay's bundled bottles? Did you ever think to use clothespins as a napkin ring? Feel free to paint them and embellish them with sequins or ribbons, or leave them nude. Another option, fold your napkins and fasten with a diaper pin.

I love this alternative to a wedding guest book from Melangerie via It's A Jaime Thing; make it work for a baby shower by having guests to write words of parenting advice, tips or well wishes on the articles of clothing, then clip along the clothesline. Plus, it does double duty as decoration!

What To Do

I never get tired of the idea of having guests decorate onesies. But along with the usual fabric paint why not set up fabric scraps, fusible webbing, and stencils for making appliqued onesies like these from Kojo Design. Do it yourself for double duty decor items a la Cookie Mondays' country themed shower. You can purchase them colored or dye them yourself.

Play Who's Who? Ask each guest to bring a photography of herself as an infant. String the pictures along a wall on, what else, a clothesline. Number the clothespins and have guests write down guesses.

Make the thank-you-note process easier on the guest of honor. I've done this at all the baby showers I've hosted. I gift a set of thank-you cards, and at the beginning of the shower (a great activity waiting for everyone to arrive), guests fill out the cards' envelopes with their addresses.

The Munchies

Your menu depends on your budget and audience, but for dessert, serve cute pacifer cookies or try your hand at these macaron pops that resemble baby rattles. For those of you with fondant skills, how pretty is this clothesline cake?

Send Them Home With A Smile

As if they haven't had enough fun, how cute would are these bloomer satchels, hung on a small clothesline inviting guests to take one home? How about trying your hand at making a few onesie cookies in a pretty package? Creatively Satisifed has a wonderful tutorial for making them.

*********

Super cute ideas! Thanks, Dawn, for helping me out this week! Make sure and check out more of Dawn's fun party ideas at her blog: Not Just A Mommy!