Homemade Baby Shower Centerpieces

A baby shower is an occasion that every mother-to-be looks forward to, a time for friends and family to show their love, support and excitement at the arrival of a new life. Homemade centerpieces for such an occasion may take a little more effort than buying ready-made options. But the thought and effort you put into getting them ready when you're throwing a baby shower will be worth your while. If the mother-to-be knows whether it's a boy or a girl she'll be welcoming into the world, you can have a color themed shower - pink and blue are easy enough to work with; if not, you always have the option of combining both, or choosing a gender neutral buttery yellow, or minty green.

Floral Centerpieces
Chances are, that the word centerpiece conjures up something floral in your head. True, most centerpieces are made with flowers, generally fresh flowers, in an artistic flower arrangement. You could pick out the new mum's favorite blooms and use these as the focal point of each centerpiece, supplementing with additional coordinating flowers or fillers to add volume and depth. There are a few points to keep in mind when you create a centerpiece though, (especially if they are to be replicated and placed on individual tables) and these are as follows:

• Always ensure that the height of the centerpiece is low enough to allow for easy eye contact and conversation across the table.
• Allow enough space around the centerpiece to ensure easy movement and the placement of crockery, cutlery and glass ware.
• Ensure that the centerpiece is securely stationed and stable, to avoid any accidents.

Diaper Cakes
If flowers are passe, and not baby themed enough, you could try something along the following lines. Diaper cakes are very popular and easy enough to make, plus you can be sure that the mum-to-be will actually be using every little bit of your centerpiece. A diaper cake is a very easy centerpiece to make, and instructions on how to make one are as follows:

You will need

• About 50 disposable newborn baby diapers
• Clear rubber bands
• Curling ribbon or colored yarn
• 3 round cardboard bases; 12", 9" and 6"
• Strong core securing point - paper towel inner roll or similar
• Baby themed decoration of your choice

Method

1. Begin by rolling up the baby diapers and securing them with the clear rubber bands. You can also use ribbon to tie them up and hold them in shape. Many diapers have pretty decorative patterns on the edges - you can choose to display these when you roll. Next, place the 12"cardboard base on a stable surface.
2. Place you core piece at the center of the cardboard base, and secure with glue or double-sided tape.
3. Using this as the center point, place diapers in a concentric circle, all the way around the core piece and then secure with a ribbon. Continue with the concentric circles till your base is covered (you should need about three) and then tie a broad ribbon band around the outermost layer.
4. Place the 9" cardboard base on top of this layer and secure it firmly to the lower core piece. If you feel the lower base is strong enough, you can do away with the cardboard and begin you next layer without a supporting base. Construct the circle of diapers in the same manner taking care to ensure that you maintain the narrow upper tier effect, the tie another ribbon around the outer edge. Repeat this with the third and final layer.
5. Once the basic cake is assembled, you can use all sorts of little odds and ends to further decorates it - place a pair of baby booties on the top, maybe drape a baby blanket along one edge, or surround the base with little rubber ducks and toys. Have fun and be as creative as possible.

Other Ideas
Another great idea for homemade baby shower centerpieces is to fill some glass bowls with colored stones or shells, then fill them up with water and float little baby bath toys in each. You could intersperse some flowers in between, for an unusual effect. Bunches of helium balloons also make for quick and easy centerpieces - secure these to the table, or pin bunches to the backs of chairs for an instant party effect. Stuffed animals are a really easy centerpiece option - place one on each table, and give each a little blanket or bottle and little baby bits and bobs. If you've known the mum-to-be for a while, why not put together a scrap book of pictures, with additional pages for when the baby arrives? Or a baby gift basket perhaps, filled with little goodies for the newborn.

A baby shower is a celebration of the joy that a baby brings, and a way for you to show your love and support of for the parents to be. Though traditionally celebrated by women, why not veer off the beaten track and bring some special gifts for the new father too? Putting thought and effort into the planning of the many details that go into creating a special day will ensure its success - when you do something with love for someone else, the results are always spectacular, so enjoy the planning and let your creativity loose! There's a plethora of options available no matter what your theme is, so whatever your chosen type of decor, you're sure to find a centerpiece idea that works for you! So go ahead with those centerpieces and brighten up the decor of that important day around the corner.