Cindy of Hungry Girl por vida captured the essence of simple elegance with these shots of gray paper straws. You cannot go wrong with single serving glass milk bottles for a baby shower or a kids birthday party. You can simply remove the commercial labels or go one step further and tailor the bottle with an event tag.

There is another reason why you will feel good. Besides its more sophisticated tones, the Kikkerland gray paper straws are more eco-friendly since they are biodegradable than the traditional plastic straws. Caring for the Earth is a good message to send at a baby shower party.

For a movie night or a circus party, you may prefer to get a box of blue and white  or red and white paper straws. + Paper Straws by Kikkerland $3 for box of 50 + photos: HungryGirl on Flickr + via Parcel Post

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It is no secret that I love giraffe on stationery, plush animals and art prints. It is probably because I always dreamt of being tall. On my quest to find cutely modern giraffe invitations, it seams natural to stop at Minted.

Minted is an online store offering fresh, modern custom stationery and invitations. They opted for the talents of independent brands and designers to bring something new on the marketplace. Without knowing, two design studios are represented twice. I guest I really enjoy the style of pottsdesign and Sweet Tree Studio.

+ Baby Giraffe Baby Shower Invitations by Jennifer Postorino $60 for 25
+ Baby Silhouette Baby Shower Invitations by Emily of pottsdesign $67 for 25
+ Circus Children’s Birthday Party Invitations by Sweet Tree Studio $67 for 25

The next three inspired me for their versatility. Each drawing could lead to a fun party theme while keeping a surprise on how you interpret it until the guests show up. It is ideal if you haven’t decided on your decor when you need to order your invitations.

+ Cupcake Baby Shower Invitations by pottsdesign $67 for 25
+ Cheery Frock Baby Shower Invitations by Kelli Hall$67 for 25
+ Onesie Whimsy Baby Shower Invitations by Sweet Tree Studio $67 for 25

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Modern parents have more stylish and unique choices at reasonable prices. One brand that needs of style-conscious parents is Olli & Lime from England. Do not worry, several retailers in Canada and the United States carry the line.

Olli & Lime’s Fall 2009 collection is spread over 3 patterns: George, Billie and Egg. I prefer George (above) and Billie (below). Each collection proposes the baby gears, baby and toddler bedding and art prints.

If you have a baby shower coming soon, you could find adorable bib and burp sets, changing mats, sleepsacks and hooded towels that the parents will be proud to show off when they have visitors. I know that I will keep them in mind.

On my next collage, I mixed the Little George wall art with bedding and accessories from the Egg collection. Like I told you before, you do not have to stick to a single collection. These collections are less matching than what we used to see and still see at many department stores. Use them as a basis on which you built your own look. Ask your girl friends for advice if you are unsure on how to add your own touch.

A Collection to Grow With

They are adding new items which means that you can extend the decor as your baby becomes a toddler. This Fall, they added a new sheet collection with a fabric that contrasts with the quilt. You can recycle the drawstring bags as a toy bag.

MORE:
+ Store locator for Olli and Lime

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Imagine having a cake with a character that looks like the guest of honor. This is what you get when you hire Anne Heap of Pink Cake Box. She tailored her standard cake creations to fit your event.

The flower baby shower cake includes a pregnant woman modeled after the image on the baby shower’s invitation. The invitation to a first birthday also led to the color palette used for her cake. Each tier of the bachelor pirate cake has port holes with caricatures of the groomsmen looking out. Fall weddings led to leafy pumpkin decorations and a fun Halloween themed cake with bride and groom corpses as cake toppers.

Baby Shower Cakes with Personalized Moms-to-be

Who would not be happy with a pregnant topper like those? Each topper is distinct and tells a story. Details go from the color of the skin, the hair style and fashion accessories up to matching fabric samples provided by the grandmother-to-be. All the pregnant toppers from Pink Cake Box are adorable.

If you recalled, this is the cake shop that replicate the Rachel Ray’s Studio Kitchen as a cake last year.

MORE:
+ Pink Cake Box
+ Get directions to Pink Cake Box p (973) 998-4445
18 E Main St, Morristown, New Jersey, United States, 07960

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It is no secret that I love the vintage items at Three Potato Four.  Here are my three fab from what is online this week. These would feel at home in any family with young children. You could also build a baby shower theme around on item.

+ If you are planning a baby shower on your backyard, go for the Vintage Ice Bucket with a Sandpiper motif. It is playful and sophisticated. I want it. $40 USD
+ I am fond of vintage wood toys. It adds charms to a nursery and a kid playroom. This set of antique Scandinavian building blocks inspires me. $24 USD
+ For your young kids to have a place to put their keys and hang a membership card, I like the Little Red Riding Key Hook $12

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You may be familiar with the letters and alphabet prints by Binth. They have been around since 2007, I think. What I did know what that you can go for single letter print instead of the entire alphabet. It is a cheaper option. Any one of those will look great in a nursery or a kids playroom.

By using a deep frame, the single alphabet art print can be placed on a desk or a bookcase instead of hanging it on the wall. You can write a small word with the 5 x5 inch frame boxes.

SOURCING:
+ Binth Alphabet Poster $80 unframed, $180 framed
+ Binth Numbers Poster $55 unframed, $90 framed
+ Single Alphabet Framed Print $28 USD

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Add creativity to your desk with the exotic file folder set. It is part of the India collection, a PS design. The line includes flat cards, note cards, journals, wrapping paper, rubber stamps and colored glass tea light / votive holder. A good starting point to design a party.

The Papaya Lotus Lotus journal harmonizes well with the India pieces.

Summer Craft Projects

Paper Source just launched a blog. So far, I read inspiring craft projects that would be fun for entertaining this summer. I recalled that we learned in school how to make similar paper lanterns. They are easy to make.

For a picnic or a bike ride, create your own pinwheels. Rubber stamps adds character to solid paper. Both ideas would add a festive touch to any birthday or a baby shower.

SOURCING:
+ Gift Wrapping Paper – sheet $2.25 USD, roll $7.95 USD
+ Jaipur Block Print File Folder Set $27.95 CAD
+ Papaya Lotus Garden Journal $16.95 USD
+ For your handbag or next to the phone, keep a Papaya Simple Pink Bird Notepad $7.95 USD

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Forget the big chains and visit Etsy to shop for your kids birthday essentials.  With all the talented stationery designers on Etsy, it is an amazing source for cute and unique party themes. The key is to scour the gems. These two Etsy sellers qualify.

Jack and Izzy

You can pick your illustration, scallop, monogram or number that Jack and Izzy will be printed on invitations with matching open-end envelopes, thank you notes, circle stickers, cupcake flags and napkin rings. The colored favor boxes and ribbons are included. You select your color and font. Voilà! You get the foundation for setting up your party.

Jack and Izzy illustrations are perfect for a baby shower or a toddler birthday party. Their kits come as set of 12.

Pinwheel Tablescapes by Crossroads Cottage

Pinwheels are a great theme not just for a garden birthday party. Crossroads Cottage made nice pinwheel cupcakes toppers, handheld pinwheels.

She accepts custom orders. You can order harmonizing pinwheel party hats, setting cards, table numbers and invites. She provides many options to dress everything up. There are over 300 designs to choose from.

You can find more products on her Web site Pinwhirls including for the budget conscious, the materials for Do It Yourself Pinwheels.

SOURCING:
+ You Pick Round Illustration Party Pack $78 USD at Jack and Izzy
+ You Pick Scallop Illustration Party Pack $78 USD at Jack and Izzy
+ You Pick Monogram or Number Party Pack $78 USD at Jack and Izzy
+ Custom Pinwheel Birthday Party Hats $3.35 unassembled $3.75 pre-assembled (except for the pinwheel) each at Crossroads Cottage
+ Customizable Mini Cupcake Topper Pinwheels $1.70-$1.90 each at Crossroads Cottage

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Printable party themes range from invitations, labels, stickers, coasters, placemats up to even party hats and favor packaging. The fact that you print it yourself means that you do not have to worry if you have guests confirming their presence at the last minute.

To get a professional look, it is worth getting a circle cutter. Several models are sold at Arts and Crafts store.

An Etsy seller to watch is Happy Papers. It is run by two Argentinean mothers. I enjoy their creative patterns. Happy Papers also sells their birthday kits in two pack: the birthday set and the party decorations set. Check the content before ordering.

For $5, a typical birthday set provides a ready-to-print template for Birthday Invitations, Party Hats, Goodie Cones, Gift Bag tags, Flat notecards, Gift tags and a Center Box. It is hard to beat. Make a few red and turquoise pom-poms to complement the look of the elephant with the red balloon.

These kits would also make adorable baby shower themes.

Glassine Bags

I found a few affordable sources for glassine bakery bags to make your party favors (see at the bottom of sourcing). Take clues on how charming Happy papers decorated her party favor bags.

SOURCING:
+ Birthday Sets at Happy Papers $ 5 to $7 per set
+ Glassine bags, pack of 25 bags – small $2, medium $3, large $4
+ Glassine Lined Paper bags, pack of 100 bags – small $7.49, medium $10.49, large $13.98
+ Via The Little Things

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I bought a couple framed handbags from the New York designer oktak. I enjoy them. With the baby boom I see around me, I more inclined to show you cool baby goods that would be perfect for baby showers.

You can find an array of baby gears in an array of stunning fabrics. The octopus pink burp cloth is lovely. Diapers and feeding bottles of any size will fit comfortably inside the drawstring bags. You can recycle it as a beach bag or a shoe bag.

Mothers never have enough bibs. Her bibs are reversible. The large bibs fit babies over 6 months and toddlers. The small bibs fit newborns, up to 12 months.

SOURCING:
+ octopus pink burp cloth $12 USD
+ octopus yellow drawstring bag $18 USD
+ owls on cream yellow bib $16 USD

More oktak on AHWKV:
+ Mother’s Day gift ideas
+ Running errands with oktak

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I met Lianne of Babyburritto at the Montreal Girl Geek Dinner yesterday If you are going to a baby shower soon, have a look at her baby blankets and changing pads.

She proposes modern, sophisticated patterns. The Babyburrito blankets have a comfy plush collar and are made of luxe minkie fabric on one side with designer cotton fabric on the other. I particularly like the Kyoto changing pad.

On the functional side, her changing pads roll in a slim fit. Parents have enough baby things to carry that you should look for gears that require less space to carry.

Lianne sells her products online and at selected retailers in Canada and in the United States. All Babyburrito products are handmade in Canada.

Women on Twitter

We went to an after-Geek Girl Dinner where we talked about social media. I am glad to report that we convinced one more mom to join Twitter. Josee of LilyEcolo, a fashionable, reusable shopping bags brand has joined us. If you are interested by what I have to say, follow me on Twitter.

SOURCING:
+ Changing pads $25 USD
+ Baby Blankets $40 USD

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Table numbering is not just for weddings. They are a must for any big sit-down dinner from a baptism, a sporting club party to a wedding anniversary.

These table number cards are cute and modern. Except for the yellow-checkered oval table numbers made by Creature Comforts, they all came from Martha Stewart. I love them all.

The photo table number would be great for a bridal shower or a baby shower with a picture of the couple or the mom to be. You could replace the wine bottle by a reusable water bottle for an outdoor theme party.

Martha supplied two templates with no number, in case you need to add your own number or other text. If you have Photoshop, you can use any of these templates as the basis for making your own.

Scrapbook paper and wrapping paper create stunning background. You can either use a stamp or a printer to add the table number.

SOURCING:
+ How to make the Photo Table Number
+ Table Number on Wine Bottles
+ Take a Number Templates
+ Mustard yellow-checkered Table Number Templates

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