The best way to deal with fondant is to remember it is just like modeling clay or the soft dough from our youth. Don’t be scared of it. You may have to knead it to warm it if you bought it pre made. It won’t take long to soften up. If you bought the fondant white and want to change the color, just use your basic food coloring. Place a single drop on a small piece of fondant then fold and knead until the color distributes easily and it will.

Now if you are cheap like me (because fondant certainly isn’t cheap) you can make your own fondant at home. Look up the marshmallow fondant recipe online and follow the simple instructions to make about a pound of fondant at a time. It will save you lots of money, produce a softer fondant to work with and taste sweeter than traditional fondant. And then of course if you mess up you don’t have to feel bad.

Making shapes for your baby shower cake decoration can be as easy as rolling out your fondant and getting out the cookie cutters. They do make small cutters specifically for cake decorating but I wouldn’t invest until you are sure you like doing it. If you want 3D figures go back to your modeling clay childhood. Roll out balls, shape heads and use cocktail sticks to add stability.

Now I bet after reading this the world of fondant cake decoration doesn’t seem so intimidating right?

Search online for a simple square box template. You’ll find a number of choices on the education worksheet sites. I would choose a template that’s already the right size to avoid errors when changing the proportions. Print out the template. Decide how many boxes you can get out of a standard piece of paper (usually just one or two), create a master and then copy the template directly onto the favor card.

When it comes to choosing card stock you are pretty limitless. You’ll find the most selection in the scrapbooking aisles at the craft store. If you live near a large paper store take a good browse around. Don’t forget to look for clearance prices. You probably only need a single block of card stock so choosing a discontinued line isn’t really a problem.

After printing your baby shower favor boxes, cut them out with a pair of sharp scissors. Use the side of the scissor blade and a ruler to score along all the folds of the box to create sharp corners. I would use a glue stick to glue the flap rather than a liquid glue. It will be less messy. After your basic favor boxes are dry add any embellishments or labels you would like.

The main issue with making your own baby shower favor boxes is time. If I were hosting an intimate baby shower I would make the favor boxes. If I had a huge baby shower I would not make favor boxes. That’s too much work. Buying boxes for shower guests may be pretty pricey. Be sure to really check around the Internet for deals before purchasing anything. Any more than 50 cents a piece for a simple favor box is way too much.

Because mom is so far along we are days away from the shower and it has to be a surprise. Mom to be doesn’t need to worry about anything extra right now so we are throwing the shower during our mommy group. That means she’ll be dressed for company, have the time already set aside and all her friends will be there without a problem because they were going to be there anyway. We managed to get a list of local family members from hubby and made a few calls. There really isn’t time for formal invites.

Food is going to be pot luck for this last minute baby shower. Every friend has been asked to bring a dish (sweet or savory-no details just make sure a fair amount of each type) and family members have been welcomed to join in but not required. I’ve learned some folks love not to make an effort and others feel left out when you don’t ask. I mention it and then don’t make a requirement. So food and drink are easy. We’ll just serve water, juice and maybe a punch.

Decorations for this last minute baby shower will be pretty minimal. I’m hitting the dollar store to get colored table cloth, plates and napkins but besides a few sprinkles and the odd dish of candy, decorations are not really on the agenda. We have suggested if people want to bring plants or flowers that works. Games are so far not happening but that’s okay. This is more a sit down lunch with gifts.

And that’s it. A last minute baby shower is just that: last minute. Forget the custom printed invites and cutesy party favors. You don’t need them and at eight months and not expecting a shower, mom will not notice if a few details have been missed. Its going to be fun. I’ll be sure to take pictures.

Balloons are available in so many shapes, sizes and colors you can find something for every baby shower and every shower theme. Always analyze your space before picking your balloons. If at all possible take a few photographs on your phone that you can refer to when you are choosing the balloons. Like flowers, certain sizes and quantities make a room look good.

Now where to find balloons for your baby shower? Well of course you could grab a few of those packs from the dollar store and start training your lung capacity or you could get helium filled balloons from a party store or florist. Prices may vary depending on where you live. My local florist charges $1.29 for standard helium balloons and $2.00 for oversized and foiled balloons. That includes ribbon, helium and delivery. Be sure to check around before deciding on one florist.

Now you can save a little money by going with the balloon department at your local dollar store. The only problem is there is not much to choose from. Most of those balloons are birthday balloons or child themed balloons. Cheap yes. Work for your baby shower? Probably not. Figure out how many, what size and what colors you want then get online or the phone and start price comparison shopping. Don’t forget to ask for a bulk discount.

Some folks will read this and frown because balloons are of course not the best option for the planet. But if you think about it all baby shower decorations are not planet friendly, are used one time and then discarded and like any party decoration are not a necessity. Well all I can say is for some folks green is too expensive. Buy the balloons local and use a local florist to provide helium and additional decorations. It may not eliminate your carbon footprint but it may be enough to reduce your green guilt.

And the balloons will look awesome.

Of course the obvious answer is to buy a baby shower cake ready made but there are a few issues here. The main problem with those grocery store cakes is they are way too sweet. The store is so used to creating kid’s cakes they don’t know when to tone it down. I’m at the point if someone says its store bought I won’t even try it as my teeth are already cringing. Now of course a cake from a professional baker will not be as sweet but it will be much more expensive, especially if you want detail.

You can always ask a friend to make the cake for you but be sure you don’t get too control freak about it. I have seen friends fall out over the design of a cake and that sort of communication issue really brings down the vibe of the shower. If you ask a friend give them free reign and be ready to compromise.

The cupcake option. Yes cupcakes are easier and most of us can manage them but they are a compliment rather than a replacement for the baby shower cake. And again, cake mix is a cop out and the bakers at your shower will notice. Try a test batch and decorate super cute and you may get away with no cake.

And of course, my favorite option when it comes to shower cakes is to try and make it yourself. Your friends will appreciate the effort you make and it doesn’t have to be perfect. Give yourself enough time to practice and concentrate on taste rather than decoration. Cake is cake no matter how it looks.

Hit the store on the way to the shower and pick up something already made. That doesn’t mean spend a ton of money. Go to the dollar store and either buy something that is ready to go or something that you can split up easily. Think about five pack lip balms or hand creams. While you are there grab some candy bags with twisty ties and assemble as you set the table.

Okay so you have a little more time before the shower? If you have ingredients you can make four dozen cookies very quickly. Choose an easy recipe and check the yield. If it says ‘makes 24′ double the recipe and you have four dozen. Place three or four cookies in a bag and tie it with a little ribbon or string or whatever is laying around.

Now here’s a fast favor I did before. Take brown paper lunch bags and cut them down to a manageable favor appropriate size. Get the kid’s stamps and ink pads and do a quick decoration on the outside of the bag. Fill the bag with popcorn, cookies, or penny candy or even flavored tea bags if you have them to hand. Fold down the top and use a hole punch to make two holds in the fold. Thread a piece of curling ribbon through the holes and tie a bow. Curl the ribbon ends with the blunt side of a scissor blade and you are good to go.

There’s always something you can give your guests as a thank you gift at a baby shower. Just think of something in bulk, accessible and easy to put in a plain old bag.

Hey if it is cookies, no-one will care about the bag.

The sheets of custom printed stickers are available at the same online sites that offer announcements, cards and invites. They may work as your sole announcement or as a supplement. Personally I would get the traditional announcements and use the sticker announcements to place on the back of custom photo books. It would be cheaper to have a sticker than to custom print the photo book cover.

Depending on whether you are buying your guests thank you gifts or favors a sticker with the birth stats on is a nice finishing touch. Think about using them on boxes of candies, backs of photo frames, inside baby books, on the back of photos, as a label on gift baskets, on the bottom of paper weights, flower vases and the inside of keepsake boxes.

The online printers have quite a lot of sticker templates that you can customize as much or as little as you want. Personally a completely custom sticker would be cute but if you have a template that matches your cards and other announcements that may provide a more cohesive look.

For some folks sending birth announcements is either odd or old fashioned. By customizing the birth announcement to suit your personal needs the idea of formally announcing baby becomes more personal. And sticky.

The last time I was pregnant I had no mommy friends, lived far away from family and didn’t really need any baby stuff as I am a total shopaholic. My co-workers organized a dinner party two weeks before I was due and invited my husband and me to attend. After a very nice meal everyone brought out gift bags and I had an impromptu but very thoughtful baby shower. For those that live far from close family and friends a co-worker dinner shower may be the way to go.

My friend hates parties. She hates making a fuss, she gets twitchy at the thought of favors and don’t even mention baby shower games to her. For her ‘baby shower’ a few gal pals went out for a nice lunch at a nice restaurant and just visited for a couple of hours. Small gifts for mom not baby were handed out and she had a great time. It was the right baby shower for her.

Another friend of mine comes from a very large Italian family and planning a baby shower with her friends and family would have been a nightmare. Instead, my friend had a family only baby shower. They all met at one house and had a very informal family get together. She had a blast.

So if you are pregnant or have a best friend who is pregnant don’t panic if the classic baby shower isn’t your thing. There are alternatives out there. After all, its your party and you should have it how you want to.

Baby Friendly Circus. This means a cutesy circus theme in lighter pastel colors such as light yellow, light blue, light pink and light green.

Hearts. Sounds simple and it is but offers a lot of chances for creativity. If you are thinking of a hearts theme be sure to shop the Valentine’s clearance sale.

Birds. From unpainted bird boxes to chocolate egg filled nests this is an adorable and quirky baby shower theme. I’ve attended a wedding with a bird theme but never a baby shower. It would certainly have your guests talking. My mind is full of those little chocolate eggs you can get around Easter. Yummy!

Bees and Ladybugs. Insects have become a popular baby shower choice in the last few years and the theme is growing. Its much easier now to find baby shower appropriate bugs and bees. Think honey, picnic style and outdoors.

Zebra Stripes and Hot Pink. Any time you search for shower themes this shows up in your results list. This may work for the younger new mom but in most cases it seems (to me at least) more a bridal shower theme than a baby shower theme. Cute though.

Baby Clothes Line. This is a cute theme. You can find plates, bags and invites with a line of baby clothes on them. This would be great for decorating for the shower because you can use the gifts as decorations. Simple and cute.

Well that’s a few newer themes to give you some baby shower ideas. There are hundreds out there and I’m sure I’ll be posting more ideas soon. Always happy to hear your baby shower ideas!

First things first you need a firm date for the shower. Ask your friend to pick a weekend where she is past her six month mark but not too close to eight months. That’s about an eight week window so you have some leeway. The time isn’t too much of a big deal at this point unless of course you intend to rent a venue.

Baby showers are held at people’s houses, community rooms, church basements and fire halls. Depending on where you choose there may be a security deposit and there may be a set time or time limit for using the facility. Find all this out, check with the guest of honor and get it booked. If you are going with someone’s house be sure to call and ask them formally if that’s okay. If its your house, you may want to check in with the other half.

Most baby showers these days have a theme. You can talk this over with mommy to be and see what she likes. Ask her for three possible themes and tell her you will pick one of them if that’s okay with her. This way when you go to order your party supplies and can’t find anything to match one theme you can just move over to the next one. Regardless of theme you will need decorations, tableware, food, cake, favors and prizes.

Now its just a matter of making yourself a specific to do list and getting things done. If you need help ask for help and don’t wait until the last minute to get everything you need. First baby shower or not, if you plan well, organize your time and check in with the guest of honor everything should turn out just fine.