getting crafty!

This coming weekend I am throwing a baby shower for my best friend.  She's having twins, which, of course, makes it twice as exciting.  And I'm actually pretty excited about throwing this by myself.  I've helped throw showers before, both bridal and baby, but always as part of a group.  The last shower there were 5 of us and we were divided into committees.  On one hand, it was great because I didn't have to think about games or the RSVP list.  On the other hand, I like to have my hand in all of the details! 

Well, this time I'm making all of the decisions.  The mother-to-be decided she wanted a co-ed shower and it's going to be about 1/3 male.  So I decided to forego all games and the little prizes that go along with them.  A guy isn't going to want a scented candle, you know?  And at that last shower, it was also co-ed so the prize was a bottle of wine.  Nice, right?  Except that there were a good number of kids present and of course one won and it was a little awkward.  So instead of having this be a traditional shower that happens to have men, it's going to be an afternoon party that happens to have a baby theme.  And presents.  Have to open the presents.

The parents-to-be have painted the nursery a really pretty light green.  Very Spring-y and apparently green helps babies grow.  Plus it's gender-neutral and they are having a boy and a girl.  So I decided to go with green as my color theme.  And I'm all about decorations that can be used later.  My sister had the BRILLIANT idea of making a banner out of onesies and I'm going to have them say the twins' names.  And then maybe they can actually wear the onesies after they're born.  Each onesie will have a different letter and you know the crazy thing?  The names don't share letters.  So even though the girl's name doesn't start with R, if she's wearing the R onesie, it will still be applicable only to her.  Kinda cute.  Oooh - maybe I'll make my friend put each onesie on each baby and then we can do a collage of that or something.  Told you I was getting crafty!

I saw on Katie Brown's Workshop a doughut croquembouche and it was the cutest thing ever.  She did it with doughnut holes and strawberries and then draped ivy over the whole thing, but I think just the doughnut holes would still be pretty cute.  Especially since I just found this blog post while looking for Katie Brown.  So I bought some styrofoam cones and some clay pots.  If it ever stops raining, I'm going to paint the pots white with the leftover spray paint from my lamp project and then tie a ribbon around them.  If it doesn't stop raining, well, I think the pots in their natural color will still be pretty.

I also decided to make a wreath out of tulle.  I had bought a 12" styrofoam circle back before the by-committee baby shower but didn't end up using it.  I thought about returning it but figured I'd get some use out of it sometime.  That time is now!

I bought two rolls of tulle at Jo-Ann's and cut them into 12" strips.  Then I tied them onto the form two at a time.  I tested out double and single strips and just liked the way the double looked better.  It took about an hour and a half to cut out and tie it all on.  It was super super easy, but kind of mind-numbing and felt like it would never end.  But whenever I got discouraged, I would just hold it up and look at the fluffy tulle and get another wind.  Can't say a second wind because I did this 3 or 4 times.  Seriously mind-numbing.  But totally worth it.

I was going to hang it on my mirror to display, but that reflected the mess of my living room - Target and Jo-Ann's bags EVERYWHERE.  It doesn't show up as well on the painting, but at least you can't see the mess.  No one should have to see the mess.  Everyone should have to see my wreath.  All it needs now is a bow.  I'm horrible at tying bows, but my friend Shelly rocks at it.  And she's coming early to help me set up.  Perfect!

And yeah, the picture is awful.  I lost my camera so this was taken with my phone.