Get The TechniqueFor the May issue, I worked with stylist (and friend) Sarah Smart on a story about a baby shower thrown for another coworker of ours, Elizabeth Colling, a former food editor here at Living. Neither of us had really done this kind of thing before...but we really went for it. The shower had a library theme, with the idea being that friends brought their favorite children's books as gifts. We planned a whole party with a storybook theme. Very sweet! My favorite are the floating books as decorations, and the garland made with pieces of ribbon and deconstructed silk flowers; see below.
1 The buffet table with garlands hung above
2 Monofilament and bright-pink lanyard (really inexpensive from Home Depot), strung with taken-apart silk flowers and pieces of ribbon. The paper books are made with four creases that make a "spine"...
3 Here is the book how-to. We used old paperbacks for the "pages." The creases are really simple if you use this scoring tool.
4 The talented Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. designed this invitation. It includes a bookplate so that guests can inscribe their book for the new library.
5 Our food department made these Ring Around the Rose-Petal Fools. I was crazy for them! They taste like roses and raspberries, and Sarah put them on scalloped doilies folded in half to look like clouds. Adorable!
6 Here is a behind-the-scenes shot of trying out the garland in the crafts room.
7 And here is a mock-up of the cake decorations...in Styrofoam.
8 This was the real thing. Sugar and Spice Cake... because Elizabeth was having a baby girl!
Click here for the clip art and recipes from this story. For more of Anna's work, see Rifle Paper Co.
From: Gaby | 5/18/11 at 11:22 am
I love this theme! My children get so many toys, books as gifts are always special. Especially if you can tell your child who the book is from and that it is that person's favorite. As always the table looks beautiful. I think children would love the floating books and that this could be incorporated into a magic or wizardry themed birthday party. Maybe with design your own cape? Thanks for the inspiration!
From: mintie | 5/18/11 at 2:05 pm
great job, gals! very sweet.. the little details are perfection. seriously..sugar and spice cake!! awww..
i agree with the previous poster - you can change up the garland so many ways to fit other themes.
thanks for another behind-the-scenes peek. it's cool to see how things take shape and new ideas blossom. this is no doubt my favorite blog. the quality that comes from you guys at MS crafts cannot be matched.
From: KatelynLikesThis | 5/23/11 at 4:53 pm
What a sweet idea! I'll keep this in mind for the next shower i throw!
From: claire | 6/7/11 at 8:55 am
I really enjoyed this article in the May issue.
So many dreamy ideas that will last even when the
baby grows up!