Nursery Rhyme Baby Shower

Since this was a second baby shower, I wanted it to be more like a kid-friendly tea party than a traditional guess-how-big-Mama’s-belly-is/gift bingo/grown up shower. I also wanted it to be girly but not princessy, cute but not over the top, and to involve lots and lots AND LOTS of food. I actually stumbled into a nursery rhyme theme after reading Little Evan his favorite Mother Goose book for the bazillionth time (he specifically requests the “this little piggy” and “one, two, buckle my shoe” pages because they involve being tickled at the end). “Boy,” I thought to myself, “there sure are a lot of baked goods in these nursery rhymes!”

And thus a theme was born.

I thought it would be super easy to just pick up some Mother Goose craft paper & fabric, grab a couple books from my shelf and be done with it but it turns out nursery rhymes are soooo 1900’s and not very popular anymore so I had to improvise. But it all ended up coming together really well and only involved three trips to the craft store and two to Target with a day of online shopping thrown in for fun.

(click on collages to see them bigger – I know a lot of stuff is kind of too small to read but trust me, it’s better than posting them all individually)

Decorations:

nursery rhyme baby shower invitation diaper cake

nursery rhyme baby shower books banner penant

nursery rhyme baby shower books as favors

nursery rhyme baby shower blessing tree

nursery rhyme baby shower decorations fabric

Adorable book-themed invites from Tiny Prints (free tip: ask around Twitter for discount codes – sometimes people give them to you and the invitations you thought were too expensive end up being just right.)

Baby Girl diaper cake done by the VERY talented Joanna of Raising Madison. She was a doll to work with and even made the cake fit my theme with the Farmer in the Dell animals.

Collection of geese (aka ducks I just called geese) on the mantle from Goodwill.

I found the adorable customizable pennants and gift tags in hedgehogstudio’s shop on Etsy for only $5. I used the pennants (printed in 2 different sizes) to make “Welcome!” banners and one over the mantle that says “Rock-a-bye Baby”. I used the gift tags as book marks for the nursery rhyme books I passed out as favors – an INCREDIBLY lucky find in the $1 bin at Target.

My original plan to just scan in pictures of each nursery rhyme from vintage books was cut short when I realized that probably broke about a zillion copyright laws and after a few minutes of trying to find public domain images I was ready to give up. Luckily, Etsy saved the day again with 20 2×2 vintage nursery rhyme illustrations for only $2.50. I cut them out & glued them to ribbon to hang behind the food table and attached the ones that matched the food to the food labels.

The tablecloths are all fabric ordered from Fabric.com.

The sparkly butterflies were in the 80% off Halloween clearance at Michael’s.

Yarn wreath made by me: it’s yarn scraps wrapped around a styrofoam form. Easiest thing ever – but REALLY time consuming to wrap all that yarn.

The blessing tree was an idea I saw mentioned on Ohdeedoh a few weeks ago and stuck with me – I used the same small book of craft paper (called Nana’s Nursery, bought at Joann’s) for the hanging tags on the tree as for the food labels and the backing on the nursery rhymes I scattered around as decorations.

The books on the mantel are a combination of my own from when I was a kid, my mom’s from when SHE was a kid, a few I found at Goodwill and one special moving-picture book I bought especially for Baby Sandy.

The children loved the coloring book pages I found online and printed out, along with my box of 200 crayons. Many of them took their beautiful creations home as souvenirs.

And I just can’t go without pointing out the tea and the plates/napkins are in (a tisket a tasket) green and yellow baskets. MY THEME WAS SO COHESIVE.

Food:

nursery rhyme baby shower food humpty dumpty eggs

nursery rhyme baby shower food humpty thumb print cookies pumpkin muffins

Menu:

Little Jack Horner Thumb Print Cookies (declared the most delicious thumb print cookies ever by all my guests & made by E so obviously not super hard – I think the secret was we used boysenberry jam because I couldn’t find plum – recipe here)

Little Boy Blueberry Muffins (recipe from Tasty Kitchen – also made by E & his dad and also DELICIOUS)

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater Pumpkin Cookies (recipe from Amy @ A Good Life)

That’s What Little Girls Are Made of Sugar Cookies (bought the nursery rhyme cookie cutters on Ebay)

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef Sandwiches

This Little Piggy Had None Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Humpty Dumpty Deviled Eggs

Mary Mary Quite Contrary Garden Veggies

Jack and Jill Went Up The Hill To Fetch a Pail of Watermelon & Fruit

Peter Piper Pickled Peppers

Three Blind Mice Cheese and Crackers

Jack-a-dandy Sugar Candy (aka Smarties & Starlight mints)

Polly Put The Kettle On Tea

Punch and Judy Party Punch

And, because I am AWESOMELY AWESOME, I found a nursery rhyme that included wine: one of the middle verses of Old Mother Hubbard.

Erin (Wedding Erin for those who know what I mean) made this entire cake from scratch – the cake, the frosting, the fondant and the decorations. One layer was strawberry and the other was vanilla that she made with a no-crap actual vanilla bean. It was DELICIOUS. I’ve stuffed myself with cake every day since the shower and we STILL have some left over. I’m totally blaming Erin when my doctor announces I’ve gained 15 pounds at my next appointment.

Friends (really the very best friends anyone could ask for):

More than half the photos (and all the good ones) taken by Erin of Open Shutter Photography. She’s not only my BFF, she’s INCREDIBLY talented with both her camera and Photoshop and can make even a 35 week pregnant Sasquatch look pretty adorable. (You can like her on Facebook here)

Exhibit A:

Headband from TwentyFiveDesign, sweater is at Target RIGHT NOW (not even maternity)

Thank you again bunches and bunches and bunches to The Erins, my in-laws, and my friends who came. I hope you all had as much fun as I did. Oh and if you ever want to pay me gobs of money (or let me SPEND gobs of your money) to plan a party, just let me know. I’m available.

If you’ve read all the way to the end of this, you deserve a piece of cake. Come over and I will TOTALLY give you one right now.

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44 Responses to “Nursery Rhyme Baby Shower”

  1. MKP says:

    Oh man it looks like a great time – I love the shot of the living room filled with people, and Lil E’s ginger head standing out in the middle…. and the diaper cake…. and the little girl in the tutu, rain boots and sweater drinking juice encapsulates everything I loved about being a kid. I’m so excited to internet-meet Baby Girl (and I love love that you’re not settling on or at least not announcing a name before she gets here :)

  2. jill says:

    oh i wish i really could come over for cake! yummers!!! but really, this party was amazing! you put so much thought and effort into it and it shows! you talented mama you!

  3. Oh, it all looks so great. And you look adorable, not sasquatchy at all. I love the little food cards, too.

  4. Alison says:

    Wow! I love it all. Every last detail. Next time I have a baby you are totally coming to NC to throw me a shower :)

  5. Jennifer says:

    Great shower! Awesome theme!

    You covered every last detail and it came together beautifully!

    For 35 weeks/the home stretch you look fabulous!

    Congrats!

  6. Meg says:

    Damn, woman, you are SO SUPER CREATIVE. I want to throw a tea party like no one’s business. If only I had the space to have more than two people over at a time!

  7. brigidkeely says:

    This looks incredible!

    Your pennants remind me a bit of this: http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=8e687489-3da3-401b-afc9-a6a798b9d0f3 if you do a search for “fairy” you’ll get more stuff. I really really want to do something with these (a quilt? soft stuffed blocks? something else?) but that is unlikely to happen at this stage in my life.

  8. Ashley R says:

    Elsie and I had a grand time! Hands down the best shower I have ever been to. Elsie just loves her books. They are her new sleepy-time books. Thank you so much for inviting us!

  9. tara says:

    Look at that! What a great shower! Were you surprised? It looks like so much work went in to your party, you have wonderful friends!!!! I wish you a very speedy delivery!!! Can’t wait to see the baby’s pictures!!!!

  10. Natalie says:

    ZOMG! This looks absolutely amazing. I am in love with it all and super jealous of your mad party-planning skills. You need to teach a class!

    I love the idea of throwing a (non-shower type) party for your second (or third, etc. etc.) borns. I didn’t do it with Sophia b/c the idea of it was way too overwhelming and I feel kind of guilty. Oh well, when we have #3 I’ll do something :o)

  11. Katrina says:

    Wow Suzanne! You have such a talent! I’m in awe of your energy and creativity!

  12. Heather Colletti says:

    WOW!!! VERY Classy and beautiful! Beautiful home, creative beyond creative! I am impressed! You look beautiful as always, and congratulations!

  13. Amanda says:

    Suzanne you did a fantastic job! Way to go to E for all his baking accomplishments too. Erin did a wonderful job with the cake too! Miss you guys!

  14. Cole says:

    You are AMAZING! Everything turned out so well! Whenever Mommy tries to make something, it LOOKS homemade – and not in a good way, in a “a blind chimpanzee with a broken arm crafted” kind of way.

    We live semi-close, Mommy’s TOTALLY going to take you up on party planning skills if we ever get to host a shower for Aunt Angela!

  15. Laurie says:

    You are so very creative! Wish we could’ve joined you — hoping to see you before you pop!

  16. Other Erin says:

    We’ll have our bakery/tea shop/yarn store some day…

  17. TMae says:

    OH.
    MY.
    GOD.

    Dude, PARTY PLANNER. For realz. You did a WONDERFUL job. I can’t believe how creative you are. And while pregnant! And how awesome is it that your friends contributed such great things? So much love…

    I’ll keep saying it, you look GREAT.

  18. Mama Fisch says:

    Adorable… you did an awesome job on EVERY SINGLE DETAIL. Well done mama! You have some crazy planning and creativity skills. Maybe we can brainstorm my next party together and you can be the party planner?

  19. Gretchen says:

    So very beautiful! Your attention to creative detail is amazing.

  20. OMG! LOVE IT!
    We did Brynn’s first birthday party in a very similar theme, as the only thing she liked in the world was nursery rhymes. Her cakes were stars for Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Her balloons were a moon and a cow jumpink over it (plates, cups, etc., too). We decorated with nesting blocks that had pictures of vintage nursery rhymes. Food included Three Little Pigs in a blanket, Humpty Dumpty Deviled Eggs, and more I can’t think of cause my baby is starting to fuss….
    GREAT shower, BEAUTIFUL pictures. Glad I jumped on my computer to see them this morning!

  21. Krista says:

    You are so damn crafty, I’m jealous. What a great theme & you pulled it off wonderfully & looked completely cute doing it. Nice work, lady!

  22. LOVE IT! You did such a great job!

  23. Molly says:

    WOW! I am impressed. I used those exact same invites for my sister’s baby shower a couple years ago. LOVE.

    The details are splendid and well thought out and planned.

    Congrats to you and Baby Sandy on a fabulous baby shower :)

  24. What a lovely party! And you, my friend, are beautiful!!

  25. raincheckmom says:

    Two words: Absolutely Charming!

  26. adriana says:

    wow! the party is perfect and you look AMAZING!!!

  27. Christy says:

    That looks totally awesome!

  28. Joy says:

    Suzanne, I L.O.V.E.D. your shower!!! You should seriously consider becoming a party planner! The cookies are in the oven right now, thank you sooo much!!

  29. bellegourmande says:

    This is absolutely astounding. I know I sound like a broken record but I am totally amazed at how adorable this party was, and how creative you are! And you look fantastic! I would totally love to come over for some cake, but alas I live too far away :(. You really need to find somebody to pay you to put these amazing talents to use!

  30. awesome shower! love the theme. looks like so much fun!

    you look fantastic. you’ve got the glow… I never got the glow, you’re a lucky lady!

    looks like bebe number two is just as loved. :)

  31. becca says:

    the shower looked so lovely! & such great friends and family to come help you! now, if you’ll please send a slice of that cake my way, we should be all good :)

  32. andrea says:

    Good job!! It is gorgeous. Everything looks like it was made with a lot of love. Baby Sandy is such a lucky little (tiny) baby. My favourite part is the food! Such a great idea to have a little menu that matches your theme. I wish I could have been there to celebrate baby Sandy’s arrival with you. I cannot wait to meet her! <3

  33. Jessica says:

    All the details on this are divine, awesome, totally out of this world. Good job Mama! Can’t imagine doing all of this while pregnant and with a toddler! WOW! I totally love everything.

  34. […] though Baby Showers are typically reserved for a woman’s first child, Suzanne from Bebehblog knew that she wanted her 2nd child, a little girl, to be welcomed into the world with as much […]

  35. Summer says:

    beautiful decoration and yummy food! that looks so much fun!

  36. Vintage Feel says:

    I stumbled across this post while looking for a nursery rhyme about fruit and/or biscuits, since I’m doing the same theme for a baby shower for my sister this weekend. I love what you’ve done; wish I’d found this post six months ago, though!

  37. Jeni says:

    These are wonderful ideas!

  38. Heather says:

    What a fun shower! I’m planning on a nursery ryhme birthday party for my daughter who’s turning two soon. A lot of great ideas for inspiration here! Thank you! Where did you find the Little Bo Peep cake topper? Can’t seem to find that anywhere online…

    • bebehblog says:

      That is actually a really old Happy Meal toy from McDonald’s, back when they were promoting one of the Toy Story movies. You could try Ebay maybe? Or ask around with your mom friends, someone might have one in the bottom of a toy bin.

  39. […] needed something that wouldn’t need too many custom-made or hard to find items. I had done a Nursery Rhyme Baby Shower for Caroline and it was pretty easy and totally adorable, so I expanded upon that to include all […]

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