Baby Shower Favors - Aptos,CA

I threw a baby shower last year. I had the hardest time with the favors. I finally made the cutest little things. Everyone loved them. I went to Michaels and got a pack of the little white favor boxes, then over in the scrapbooking section I got a few packages of puffy pastel letter stickers, they were lower and upper case. I put the letter stickers on each of the boxes sides and the top (not the bottom), then filled them with candy. They were just adorable, they looked like little blocks when stacked on the table.

What about buying candy bars and wrapping them in a baby shower themed scrapbook paper? Check out this link so you know what I'm talking about: http://www.babyshowerstuff.com/cabarwrbashf.html
Hope that helps! For each of my showers, they made candy filled baby bottles and rattles.
Good luck :)

Oh how fun! Here are some ideas;
My sister in law filled up the gerber baby milk bags with the candies shaped like little pacifiers and others with sour patch kids. She folded a piece of cute paper over the top stapled them with blue staples. She made her own cute label with the date of the shower and the babies name on them and stuck them on. I am not doing a very good job describing them, but... they were soooooo cute and everyone loved them.
My first baby shower she made edible chocolate ducks out of colored white chocolate by using those little chocolate trays. They were pretty easy to make and super cute. She put them in little bags and also had ribbons made that had my daughters name on them and the baby shower date to tie at the top.
I went to a shower once and they handed out popcorn and they made a label that said something like, Julie is Ready to POP! with the shower date.

For my baby shower favors, I wanted something that could be planted, so my sisters got little 9 inch clay pots and put little rosemary plants in them. We tied blue ribbon with little booties around the rim. They turned out pretty cute!

I went to a shower a few months ago and they had sugar cookies with the name of the baby on them and then individually wrapped in clear celephane. It was for a boy, so each cookie had blue and brown polka dots piped on around the name of the baby. You can find a good recipe on allrecipes.com and then decorate them yourselves, making them very inexpensive. Out of all the baby showers I have been to, this was by far the best favor idea and won't just end up in the garbage. Have fun and hope this helps

This is what I did at my baby shower, I ordered labels to fit small popcorn bag and it said Look who is going to pop and it had my name on it. On the back it had all the ingredients to have a baby. Very Cute.

I just hosted a baby shower, I too am on a budget. I bought tea bags from Trader Joes ($1.99 for a box of 20), Bought mini envelopes to fit the tea bags, mini flowers and some colored cardstock (blue for boy) from a scrapbook store. I cut the colored card stock in 2 inch strips and wraped them around the envelope. Then on white cardstock I printed Swee-Tea with a clipart of a stork with baby and under the baby put, a baby is brewing, then under that typed (name)'s baby shower with date of shower, cut it out and clued that to the front of the envelope. For the back I typed a thank you for the guest "We shower the mom with gifts its true, bu this gift is just for you, Thank you for welcoming (baby name if already choosen) to the world" cut it out and glued that to the back with the flower glued to the flap of the envelope. They turned out really cute and everyone thought is was very clever. Of course we had a tea party theme, so it worked great.
I got the idea from http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com/muse_and_amuse/2008/05/b...
and improvised.
Good luck.

I guess it all depends on how many guests you are expecting as to what your budget can be. But I would recommend looking at Oriental Trading Co. (www.orientaltrading.com). They have REALLY cheap stuff that's cute, easy to put together & you can still add your own personal flair to it. There's a tab for "Party Supplies" & under that is a tab for "Baby Shower", and then a box for "Baby Shower Favors". All kinds of party favors to choose from. I chose the clear boxes that have a baby bottle wrapped with a ribbon around it. Then we put a label on each one with the baby's name & due date. We filled them with jelly beans - which happened to be the mom-to-be's favorite candy.

WARNING: check out their ship dates. If you wait too late then you will pay an exorbitant amount of shipping costs, so it really won't be that cheap anymore. If you plan it out 3 to 4 weeks ahead of when you actually need them, then your shipping will be average.

Good luck!

Wow S.! I thought the home made booties was an adorable idea! Pregnant women are funny sometimes. I don't see why she wouldn't be delighted. I would show them to others and get a second opinion, I think anything homemade wins over store boght favors. It's the time and creativity that matters. After she has the baby, hopefully she'll look back and be more than grateful!
Good luck!
B.

Hi S.,
Great suggestions from previous responders. I agree with the idea of something either edible or useful. The additional suggestion I have is neither edible or useful but it is inexpensive, easy to do and looks nice. For my sister's shower last weekend I bought one bunch of yellow carnations (18 in the bunch) at Costco for $8.99, we tied pink and blue curling ribbon around each stem with an attached note that we printed off the computer which read something to the effect of: "Thank you for celebrating with us the anticapted arrival of Baby Wilson". Then we placed the whole bunch in a vase as a table centerpiece and my sister handed them to her guests as they left. Have fun choosing a favor, whatever you do you're heart is in it and that in itself is a gift to your friend. - K.

Check out websites that create colored fortune cookies. A friend threw a baby shower and had pink ones--I bet they come in blue too--or have them made in both. You can go to Cash and Carry (I'm not sure if there is one near you, but there is one in Concord) and buy the small Chinese food containers, or go to the Dollar Store and see what you can find to put them in (a cellophane party bag perhaps).

Hi S.-
I haven't made these myself but friends did for my shower and another shower I was helping with...they were well received both times. VERY inexpensive if you're on a tight budget too. They are candy suckers made at home with a candy mold and then you make little labels that coordinate...for example heart candy with a label that says "She'll steal your heart..." and then the name of the baby if that is already known. I think the cost was only a few dollars to make 25-30 of them. They can be done without a stick too but it does provide a nice place for the note or label to be attached. Good luck!

Lots of good ideas here. But if it was me, I'd stick with your first idea...the booties!

Hi S.-

If you are computer savvy, I made the Hershey's Chocolate Bar wrapper myself. It think the microsoft website had a template (or just Google it). They I just had to buy the bars at costco and we were done!! Let me know if you can't find the template, as I think I still have mine:-)

S.,

I am having a 1st birthday party for my son. I wasn't going to do favors, because I was trying to keep the costs down. However, I went to Joanne's Fabrics and found the cutest little plant kits (some with spring flowers and some tomatoe plants) that were on clearance for .50/each. They come with a little pot, soil and the bulbs. I purchased the tomato kits because my husband is a tomato farmer. However, the spring flowers would be so cute for a baby shower. I put mine in little vellum bags with candy. You could do the same thing but used what ever candy you were going to use for the booties.

It sounds like soap is the 1 favor. I was going to mention that at my last shower, the hosts placed bath salts along with homemade soap into a cute little pink Chinese To Go container. Very cute and smelled wonderful!
Congrats on the nursing school

Might i recomend a website. my friend makes soap favors they are so cute and very inexpensive. she live in the sacramento area here is her web site.

www.2cute4youfavors.etsy.com

S. I think the booties sound adorable and think you should make them anyway. If your friend was trying to not be rude she failed niserably. It chaps my hyde when someone that is having a party thrown for them wants to dictate how they want things. If she wants it a certain way let her throw the shower herself. In the end I hope/ think she will be grateful.

I like the bookmark ideas!

First off, your best friend should be thrilled that you are participating in giving her a shower and she should be thankful for having friends who love her enough to give her a shower!

That said, you can always go with a favor that reflects the nursery decor for the soon to arrive baby. Book marks are an excellent idea. If you are at all crafty, you can even make them yourself with some cardstock, ribbon and stickers. If you have a printer at home, you can print the basic information on the cardstock, then do an overlay of vellum that has baby stuff on it and put it together with a blue/pink/yellow ribbon. You could even buy a pack of baby charms and attach one to each ribbon. Simple, inexpensive, and hand made.

I agree with those who said EDIBLE! Most people don't save favors, so getting a sweet treat is fun, and as it is only a little treat, most won't feel guilty eating it. Depending on how many people are coming, you can either buy in bulk - MnM's, jelly bellies, or even the pastel mints and put them in those sheer drawstring favor bags that come in all sorts of colors (pastels included) at Walmart, Michael's and JoAnne's. A pack of I believe 12 is around $3.00 or so. Then add a cute charm on one of the ties. You can color coordinate with whatever the shower theme is.

You can also go to See's Candy and buy a box of chocolates (this would be cheaper than buying a truffle for each person) and put them in your own white boxes and decorate with stickers or ribbon with a charm. (Can you tell I like charms?) I love the idea of using the block letters. That's really cute!

This is supposed to be fun for all involved, so try not to stress about it.

I loved this one -- using a polaroid camera, or digital camera with one of those portable printers, as each guest arrives take a photo of the Mom-to-be and each guest in front of the shower sign or a special display (like the cake, the gift table, or we had a big stork out front with balloons that we used) If you print up little cards - half a piece of paper with room for the photo to be taped on, and the date and name of your special Mama these make really cute take-aways.
True that not everyone saves favors, but the mom could also use the photos for thankyous or it would make a really special addition to the scrapbook or photo album to remember each guest who was on hand to wish her well.
Otherwise - I would go with Edible favors :-) Its really easy to make candybar wrappers - personalised with your partys theme and date etc; and doing it yourself is pretty inexpensive.

Hi S., It has been along time since I have done a baby shower. I recently did a 50th anniversary party for my parents. There are so many favors you can find on online. They have so many ideas that you can even do on your own. For the party, I found a website that had little gift boxes. You can order them in any color with any kind of decoration you want on it. You can fill them with candy. They also have cute pacifiers that you can fill with candy. I think they have them at Michaels or even the party stores. I also wouldn't tell the mom to be. If you are in charge, let it be a surprise. Good Luck

Dear S.,
You have received a lot of really great ideas. But me...personally...I would stick to your first idea.
It may be that your friend simply couldn't imagine how paper cups could be made to look like booties. Being a pretty crafty person myself, I can imagine making something out of just about anything.
It's the thought that counts anyway and I would never behave in any way other than being appreciative. The baby shower for my daughter was awesome. I cried because I was so overwhelmed by the love and caring that was shown for me. I spent most of my pregnancy with my son in the hospital so there never was a shower for him. I got a healthy baby and that was my present!
Anyway, I'm sure whatever you choose to do in the end will be great and hopefully the mom-to-be will relax and just enjoy and appreciate.
I would love to see the paper cup booties!
Please don't stress too much about it and have a great time!
Let us know how it all turns out.

At my sister's shower, her friend bought scented votive candles and tied a bow of ribbon with the colors of the shower theme. She used three different colors of candles and different polka dot, plain and striped grosgrain ribbons. The colors were pink, tan and chocolate brown, so they were pretty classy and functional. She bought enough so everyone could take 2 each.

She also made baby themed iced sugar cookies and put them in individual clear bags tied with curling ribbon, so we all got something edible and functional.

Good luck!

What I loved from my previous shower, was a Sees Candy. My girlfriends got cute little individual, mini, truffle boxes from Michaels crafts, then put one piece of Sees candy in each. They knew my favorite kind of Sees candy, so that is what they used. They had all the little boxes in a cute little basket by the door so each guest could grab one on the way out. Also, favors cost money, and a lot of the time, they just get thrown away, depending what they are. You dont want to waste your time or money.

I made favors for my sister in law's shower that were 2 or 3 pieces of nice chocolate wrapped in a piece of netting or organza. I happened to find a package of pre-cut organza rounds at big lots or dollare tree and tied with a ribbon, they were pretty. Plus, I knew from experience that I didn't want to spend a ton of money on something that most people would throw away, anyway. With Valentine's day coming up, there is a nice selection of candy available at Target or Walmart.

For my first baby shower, my friend did a little baby inside a crib with ribbons. It was really pretty but probably cost a lot. It was really nice to look at but had no practical purpose. For my second baby shower, my sister did the favors and she ordered book marks. Look on line at the various ones. I remember she was on a budget, and was able to by 25 of them in bulk, so she bought a packet of 2 (50 total). I am sure she did not spend that much. They were very practical, people were excited about getting them because they said it was very useful, and they had the name of my son, the date of the baby shower, and a little baby poem on them (some decoration too). It was really nice. You can search the web and find the different ones.

I threw a baby shower for a friend last spring. I gave her a lovely pink hydrangea to plant in her garden. She was having a girl, but hydrangeas are available in blue too. Each guest received a lavender plant wrapped in pink tissue paper. Lavenders are dead-easy to grow, drought tolerant, live in any soil and full sun, have a fragrance that promotes relaxation, and will make a lovely reminder for all of your guests. Each of the guests that attended my friend's shower has thanked me since then and told me how much they love their lavender.

Maybe your friends aren't gardeners, as we are, but that's an idea.

GOod luck.
K. in EC

Go on ebay and there is a woman who makes baby shower cookies, onsies, diapers, etc. I'm pretty sure she puts names on them too. That's what I got for my shower, I want to say they were $1 a piece. wrapped and everything.

good luck
K.

Hello S.,
A good friend of ours bought microwave popcorn and had a picture of her very pregnant daughter and a typed poem with the new baby's name and expected arrival date taped to each one with a ribbon tied to it. It was a very clever, inexpensive favor and so creative. The baby will be 11 months and last week my husband popped the popcorn and ate it!

Hi S., for my babyshowers, I went to the dollar store and bought little baby bottles and filled them with candy. Then I ordered that specialty ribbon with the name of the mome and date of the shower and tied it around, people loved them. I don't know how much you are looking to spend, but I think for everything it cost me under $100 dollars. But then I made 50 bottles which was too much. if you make less, or print your own lables from the computer and put on the bottles instead of buying the ribbon it could be a lot cheaper.

checkout- http://couturecelebrations.0.kateaspenshops.com/category/...
So cute!!!!

I just had a shower for my daughter-in-law and son last weekend. The theme was pooh bear and I did it in pastels. I got the little boxes (that you fold together) I think it was $19.00 for 100 at Michaels. Used pastel ribbon around the box glued with a piece of pretty paper with "hugs and kisses for their daughter to be and God's sweet blessings over thee....(printed on the computer) I put a small hand full of hugs and kisses candy and pastel tissue paper in the box. I also printed up book markers on the computer in pastel card stock and pretty paper on top with a winnie the pooh quote. You can go cheaper with cut tulle circles tied w/ ribbon and book marker attached. The fabric is like a dollar a yard at walmart. Good luck I hope this was some help. And have fun!!

Votive baby powder scented candles. I think I found them at yankee, but maybe you could look online to see if they can be bought somewhere online too.

Hi, I hope this is helpful!

I found a really great website that has amazing deals on shower favors. They come wrapped and ready to go! favorwarehouse.com they also have a closeout section. They have things as low as .89 cents a favor wrapped beautifully also!

Check it out!

http://www.bellissimofavors.com/
http://www.babycenter.com/babyshower
http://baby-shower.yeahbaby.com/ideas.php

Hi S.,
My name is V. and I am a mom here in Salida. Here are some links to help you with your baby shower. My husband has been out of work fo 8 months now and I am a stay at home mom so I know what you are going through. there are some great ideas here, and do not forget the dollar tree down in modesto by walmart for supplies. Have a great time.
take care...
V.

Hi S.
I threw a shower for my friend and gave glycerin soaps as favors. I ordered them on line in all different fragrances. If you don't like that idea..google baby shower ideas and you'll find something you like within your budget!
good luck

Hi S.

you could go to a party store and buy those miniature baby bottles and fill them up with jelly beans. I did that for a baby shower I once threw at work for a co-worker. People loved them. They were colorful and fun. I used jelly bellies, but you neednt use a pricey item. even MMS or some other hard colorful candy. Just make sure it doesn't smear when it gets warm. I wouldnt go to far out of your way, outside of the parents, not everyone is too in to favors, therefore, IF I have to use them , I always make EDIBLE ones... this way, ppl can eat, may sound harsh, but I am willing to bet that not everyone saves their favors and if they do, they probably aren't on display. Therefore, why not make them edible, at least they get some pleasure out of them and yes, even for my own shower, we did edible chocolate favors for which MOST did get eaten :) I was happy that they were not wasted.

Hi S.,

sorry you feel your gal wont be happy with what you planned...next time dont tell her. ;-0 ok so what is her theme? is there one? I've done flowers, way cheep and cute as heck. You can get small pots terra cotta or painted whatever you like and then put a really flower in it or fake, I've done both. And then either paint the baby's name on it or print a sticker that says "watch me grow" and the date of the shower and you can also put a bow on it too. I've also done a poem and then laminated it and hole punched the corner and then attached a mess bag with candy on it. the poem was awesome cause it was really heartfelt. I love to sew and glue anything so if you need help with something let me know. I wish you luck J.

For a friend's shower, I got Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls, baked them, put one for each person in clear "cookie bags" from Michael's with a little tag attached by ribbon that said "Thanks for coming! ~Carolyn's Bun in the Oven." They were inexpensive and everyone LOVED them.

Hi S.,

For my baby shower, my sister ordered some small angelic bears off Oriental Trading Co. She made some small tags with her own computer with the shower info. She then filled small bags with M&Ms attached them to the bear with a tag and we gave those out at my shower. They were the most adorable thing I'd ever seen and I know it didn't cost her too much either.

Good luck and have fun!

N.

just a quick suggestion, votive candle wrapped in netting and tid off with a ribbon (it's a boy etc) maybe a balloon attached. Candles can be bought at the dollar store. Good luck in your new career.

R.