Young House Love

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A Fall Themed Baby Shower

Alternate punny title: Leaf it to me. Oh yeah, there’s nothing like a little corniness on a Tuesday afternoon. I blame it on being downright giddy to have power again. Ohthankgoodness. Anyway, this weekend before the chaos that was Irene I actually helped with a little bridal shower for our cousin Megan who is getting hitched this fall. John’s mom hosted the sweet informal gathering at her place, and each one of the daughters (and in this case, me the daughter-in-law) were asked to bring a few things. I was in charge of a bowl of candy, and a little bit of table decor. Nothing too crazy, just a few small touches to hopefully get people into the fall spirit (as inspired by Megan’s pretty fall-ish wedding invitations):

Megans Invite

Of course I took it as an opportunity to get all craft-tastic (I tried to resist, but I was powerless against the draw of Michael’s). First I grabbed $2.50 worth of colored paper in a few pretty fall-ish colors. Then when I got home I googled “leaf pattern” and sketched out a few different leaf outlines onto a piece of white cardstock with a pen (I just free-handed them, but you probably could trace them right off the computer screen too). Were they perfect? Nah. Were they leaf-esque? Sure.

Leaf Project1

Then I cut them out. It didn’t take ten seconds, but it wasn’t too bad. Maybe five minutes for ten of them. I recommend watching Real Housewives Of NJ in the background to keep morale up.

Leaf Project2

Then I used each cardstock leaf as a template and traced it onto one of my colored craft papers with a black pen. I actually ended up tracing each one a few different times and crowded them in so I’d get as many leaves as possible from each sheet of paper. And yes, I did crack insanely bad jokes like “hey John, leaf me alone” as I went. He was not amused.

Leaf Paper3

Then I stacked an extra sheet under the one that I traced my leaf shapes onto (so I could cut each leaf out once, but get two out of the deal – each in a different color thanks to the stacked paper). Then I did the rest of my sheets in the same way (tracing the shapes on the top page and stacking the paper so I could cut it once and get a few leaves out of it). Total time spent: an episode of Real Housewives. And surprisingly (because I half expected this crazy spurt of craftiness to be a total bust), the varied colors and shapes ended up being pretty darn cute.

Leaf Project4

I mean they’re not über upscale and spendy looking (Posh might not demand them at her next shindig), but they’re sweet and charming in that homemade full-of-love sort of way. Which seems to work when you’re casually gathering with family on a stormy day to celebrate love, love, and more love. I ended up sprinkling them down the middle of the table to make a little leaf runner of sorts.

Table2

Not bad for $2.50.

Flowers Above2

Then came my weird M&M project. I thought tracking down some sort of candy in fall tones could be sweet in a clear cylinder vase (of which we have many, leftover from our own wedding). So when I came across two bags of brown, red, and yellow peanut butter M&M’s at Target, I took the bait and bought them (for around $5 total). Then I sorted them by color in three bowls and stashed each tone in a different ziplock bag so I could bring them with me to the party already-sorted. Oh yeah, and wash your hands before you touch all the candy. In case you’re wondering, I watched last week’s Design Star during this part of the process (I’m hopelessly behind on that show – don’t ruin this week’s episode because we haven’t seen it yet).

Mandmsorting

Once I arrived at the party, my big M&M arranging finale took ten seconds. I just poured the pre-sorted brown ones into my big glass cylinder vase, followed by the pre-sorted red and yellow ones. Bing, bam, boom.

Mandmsfinal

I probably can’t take any credit for the fact that everyone scarfed them down (peanut butter M&Ms are irrefutably addicting in their own right) but Megan and the other ladies seemed to enjoy the little layered look. Weird candy separating mission accomplished.

I also grabbed eight glasses from Target (sold for $2.99 for a set of four, so I spent under $6 total) and John’s mom just took a few clippings from two potted mums that she already had on the front porch to make eight mini bouquets to fill our glass “vases.” I loved the idea of using already-owned potted mum clippings because there are about a million blooms covering them, so it’s way more bang for the ol’ buck. We probably would have needed to buy at least four bouquets of flowers to fill the eight vases that our two mums easily covered with plenty of blooms to spare (we tried to clip from the perimeter/underside of them, so the remaining plants will still look nice and fresh out on the porch for a few more months).

Pinecones Leaves

So with the cups-turned-vases filled with mums and my little paper leaves spread down the center of the table like a festive little runner, it was time for one last touch. Oh yes I did buy six little glittery faux pinecones from Michael’s for 50 cents a pop. Guilty as charged. I can’t help it. I’m like a magpie when it comes to shiny things. Especially shiny fall-ish things in the golden color palette of the leaves from Megan’s wedding invitation. They conveniently came on a little wire (I think they’re made to be stuffed into bouquets or wreaths) so I just stuck them randomly into a few of the little mum vases (which we sent home with each guest as a small party favor).

Table 1

It was a sweet little party. Even though it was rainy and gross outside, it was warm and happy inside. And I don’t mean to harp on odd things like glittery pinecones (I’m from Jersey, ok? Maybe that explains it), but they seemed to be quite the hit.

Oh and check out this cute thing John’s mom put together. We all played one of those how-well-do-you-know-the-bridge-and-groom games, and she hunted down fall-colored ribbons and tootsie pops to tie on top of each clipboard, which she also sent home with each guest. So yeah, come to our family’s showers if you want to leave with vases of flowers, glittered pinecones, ribbon slash tootsie pop riddled clipboards, and M&M hangovers. Do we know how to party or what?

Clipboard

My favorite part of the whole celebration was when Clara and her cousin Jake serenaded us. Once again proving that random is good. Bring on the paper leaves and faux pinecones! And don’t forget that baby solo to end things with a bang.

Clara Jake Piano

Oh and because you know I love a little budget breakdown, here are all the supplies I grabbed:

  • Paper leaf “runner” (made from 6 sheets of Michael’s craft paper): $2.50
  • Five glittered faux pinecones (from Michael’s:) $2.50
  • Eight glasses to use as mum vases (from Target): $5.98
  • Potted mum clippings: $0 (already out on the porch, but they might be $5 a plant at a grocery store for a small one)
  • Two bags of fall-colored peanut butter M&M’s (from Target): $5
  • Glass cylinder vase for M&Ms: $0 (leftover from our wedding, but originally from Michael’s for a few bucks)
  • Total: $15.98

Not bad for eight flowering favors in little glass vases, a festive fall-inspired table runner o’ leaves, and a quirky color-coded dish of M&Ms. I just liked that it felt more Megan-specific to DIY a few things than run to party city and spend $20 on plastic tablecloths and crepe paper. But enough about my insane propensity for faux nature and glittered anything (why yes I did own a bedazzler in ninth grade). Have you guys whipped up any crafty little homemade-with-love party decor? Ever arranged candy by color? I think that takes a special kind of crazy. And I’m happy to wave my little yes-I-sorted-M&Ms-by-hand freak flag nice and high.

Comments

  4. Barb says

    M&M’s are a food group…right??? My most favorite food in life. BUT…have kicked the habit and haven’t had one in over a year. YES, I AM TELLING THE TRUTH!!! I have lost -65.6 pounds in a year on WW and part of it is due to NO MORE M&M’s……..E.V.E.R!!!

    Sounds tragic, but as the Weight Watcher saying goes…….NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS!!!

    Oh, your post is genius.

    B.

    Reply

  6. Julia @ Chris loves Julia says

    Gah. You did so well. We had a rather big family dinner at our home this past Sunday and the one thing I regret is not taking time to make all my husband’s food look good. (Yes, my husband does all the cooking. I’m sooo lucky.) My excuse was I didn’t want to detract from all of his hard work, but really, I should have spent a few bucks and put things on nicer plates and in better bowls in the “food line”

    His menu: http://chrislovesjulia.blogspot.com/2011/08/27-marcums.html

    Eh well. You live. You learn. Right?

    Reply

  9. Sophie says

    I wouldn’t say I’m hugely crafty….however in the past 18months I’ve helped make 36 metres of bunting for my friend’s wedding reception (helped by 6 other lovely ladies):

    http://tinyurl.com/44oavll

    As well as 20 wedding themed corsages for my sister’s hen do (the UK version of a wedding shower/bachelorette party):

    http://inkstagram.com/#/photos/196368304

    And similar in felt for my best friend’s hen do:

    http://inkstagram.com/#/photos/196364185

    It’s how I indulge my inner crafter!

    Reply

  10. Nicole says

    Wow, you made the table look so nice and it had that perfect homemade touch. I know who I am getting advice from next time I am planning a shower of some sort!

    -N

    Reply

  12. Sarah says

    Admission: I sort all my M&Ms before I eat them. Also Reese’s Pieces and Starburst.

    At least you did it with a decor purpose. I just do it because I like to eat my favorites last.

    Reply

    • Donna Jean says

      AHH!! I leave all my red starbursts for last, too! And banana runts ARE the best – hands down! I would probably agree with you on the skittles if I actually liked skittles (although if it’s the only thing around, the red and purple ones are the only ones that I will eat). But I DO save my red M&Ms for last. Now I really want some PB M&Ms!!!

      Hmmm…I hurt me knee today; perhaps I need to convince my dear hubby that PB M&Ms will help me feel better….

    • ELT says

      I don’t sort by colors as much as I make patterns. When I have a handful left, they start being arranged into arrows and flowers and triangles and crosses and the like, and as I take one away, I rearrange into a different pattern. This is where I usually place colors strategically and to my advantage. But you know I’ve got another handful on the side that I’m eating while I arrange these! lol.

  13. Teresa says

    oohhh, my little one turns 1 in a couple of weeks and I am totally doing a color coordinated candy display! Blue and green in several different dishes. Even going to make colored popcorn balls. I will post pics of the table if I can remember to! Hoping it turns out well!

    Reply

  19. Emily says

    Totally stealing the table runner idea! I am always looking for fun DIY table runners. For my rehearsal dinner I stole a table runner idea from Better Homes and Gardens (best magazine I have ever subscribed to). I went to a bunch of different party and craft stores and found napkins with different patterns, but the same color scheme (my wedding colors of course). Then I organized the different patterns to look cute beside each other and I taped the under-side together and put them down the center of each table. It had an adorable patch-work quilt look to it and people couldn’t believe it when I told them they were just napkins! Super cheap and fun :)

    Reply

  22. Jeanne G. says

    Our public library has an Ellison letter machine where you can die-cut leaves. I think that would be more my speed… I wouldn’t have to spend much time cutting and hurting my hands. I’m lazy like that.

    Reply

  24. Melissa says

    My bestie is having a colourful candy themed wedding and I suggested sorting the candy in the different vases by the colours and she looked at me like I was crazy. I didnt think it was that big of deal but apparently it is a crazy thing. Oh well at least now I know I am not the only one.

    The table looks so cute I might just have to do some leaves of my own for our big thanksgiving dinner.

    Reply

  27. Kristin says

    Very cute! Love the paper leaves.

    The m&m bowl reminds me of 2006, when the FIFA world cup took place here in germany. Lots of people made something similar with m&ms because black, red and gold are the colors of the flag of germany. So, the bowl looks to me like a white-red-blue m&m bowl would look to you, haha.

    Reply

  28. Amber says

    Such a cute set up for a shower! Thanks for the ideas.

    My husband and I have been a bit busy lately setting up the new nursery…but of course I haven’t taken any photos yet! We made cute paper flags in various pink & green patterned paper from Michaels to string on the wall above the crib. And we just finished up a DIY mobile using the method of melting crayon shavings between sheets of wax paper, cutting out shapes (hearts), and stringing them from a frame. Excited to hang everything up and see the room come together!

    Reply

  29. Kristen says

    I just threw a baby shower for my soul sister – she’s a totally down-to-earth chick, and Party City wasn’t going to cut it. For decor, I spent about $30 at Produce Junction (not sure if they have them near you – kind of like a farmer’s market) for … wait for it … over 100 stems of flowers – roses, hypericum, daisies, you name it. Used vases I already had and needed to get rid of, so every guest went home with beautiful flowers and a vase! I also tie-dyed a bunch of plain white onesies by hand and used them as decor. She was floored! It was SO much fun and so personal!

    Reply

  30. Jasmine says

    This is a HUGE reminder to how close we are to Autumn-and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Definitely my favorite season and the best season to have parties! Love the simple, cheap but oh-so-chic table ideas!

    Reply

  31. Stephanie M. says

    I got married in the fall of 2008 and our wedding colors were orange & brown. So I convinced my BFF into helping me sort through Reese’s Pieces for my wedding favors. We weeded out all the yellow ones so only the brown & orange were left and I’m sure I seemed like an OCD freak to her at the time. But I was nice and let her eat the leftover yellow ones. Oh and I did little cardstock leaf confettis on our tables at the reception. But I opted for the lazy route and splurged on two Martha Stewart paper punches. :)

    Reply

  32. Lauren says

    I’m stealing the layered M&M idea for my sister-in-law’s baby shower! I’m planning it – with a lot of DIY love – as we speak!

    Reply

  34. Allyn says

    This sooooo makes me wish I had gotten married in the fall! Of course, that would mean that we wouldn’t be married yet, so that’s a bummer, but still… fall is my favorite season hands down.
    If it wasn’t still in the 90’s in TN, I’d so be buying mums right now! Soon, soon…
    Oh, and I always eat candy by color. Especially Jelly Bellys. The colors should not be mixed.

    Reply

  36. Jen says

    I love it! I’ve been trying to think up table decor for Thanksgiving, and I really wanted to put some candles in glass vases (and do other stuff, like leaves and fall flowers). But the vases were always so expensive! I think I need to use some miscellaneously sized glasses instead. Thanks for the idea :)

    Reply

  38. Kristen says

    Oh my gosh – our wedding was DIY overload! I:
    -modpodge cheapo wood frames with the same paper from our invites so they matched
    -gocco’d cocktail napkins with fun facts about my husband and I
    -made our invitations… pocketfold… from scratch
    -made our save the dates… from scratch
    -gocco’d coasters with our monogram and invitation paper design
    -made all of our table numbers (photos of our doggies on the beach with numbers written in sand)
    -my mom made 22 basketball-sized tissue paper pompanders
    -i panted our monogram onto our aisle runner
    -made 30 dozen cookies for our cookie buffet
    -designed and created all signage for wedding (cookie buffet menu, dinner menu,info on the 3 charities we donated to, etc.)
    -designed and created our 5-page fold out fan programs
    -etc., etc., etc.

    and now, almost a year later, i’m still going through withdrawl, so I’ve moved on to tackling our new house using you guys as inspiration! :)

    Reply

  39. Anita says

    Yummy! Sorting M&Ms by color always reminds me of math class and learning about probability. The sweet reward made up for that night’s homework!

    p.s. How long has that little smiley face been there? The one at the bottom of the page in the same line as ‘Videos.’

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, pretty much for the past few years. It’s actually put there by our stat tracking software, but we love it since it seems to fit us. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  41. Jen @ The Decor Scene says

    Love it!!! All of it was soooo cute. I would have totally done the cutting of the leaves & the sorting of the M&M’s. Hello a little OCD over here. ;)

    For our wedding, I did punch out little mini leaves for our place cards. We used those small white tented cards and glued the mini leaves to them to add to our October wedding. We also made our cermony booklets for the church out of Fall colored paper. We also did table numbers & menu’s for our wedding. Well worth it in the end. I loved how everything looked that day and me & hubby did it all ourselves. Well I believe my Mom helped too. I know I made other things for my wedding too, but I can’t think of them all now. ;)

    I love home made stuff. :)

    Reply

  42. Chrissy says

    I was a big DIYer for both the wedding such as making the save the dates, invitations, and thank-yous, just ordering boxes of flowers and assembling the centerpieces myself (with some recruited help). Did all the reception decorations as the hall we rented only provided us with tables and chairs- I must say Christmas lights and tulle go a long way!

    AND now I have been DIYing our upcoming baby’s nursery (3.5 more weeks eeeek!!)! Here are some of the nursery pics- http://www.flickr.com/photos/acd1215 I made the mirror with her glittery name on it, the pennant banner, the mobile, the curtains, the balloons, and made the photo collage all for around $35.

    Reply

  43. Jill @ Craft in Northern Town says

    Very cute!

    I created a banner for my daughter’s first birthday (we celebrated with her aunt and cousin too) using my silhouette cutting machine. I also used it to cut out different flowers and butterflies that put on my mason jar vases. It wasn’t over the top, but added a nice personal touch. I spose I should do a blog post about it cause they were pretty cute. :)

    Reply

  44. Leah says

    For my brother’s wedding, I designed the invitations, mini candy bar wrappers for favors, banners and a bunch of other stuff. I’m married to a graphic designer and apparently it’s rubbing off! I was able to print everything out at work using our super fancy printer, so the invitations ended up costing about 1/8 of what they would have if they’d ordered them from a printing place and you couldn’t tell the difference.

    Unfortunately, I can only DIY stuff if it involves a computer, Illustrator and Photoshop. My hands-on crafty skills are limited, at best!

    Reply

  45. Kate C says

    we got married in the fall too and my mom and i die cut about 150 fall leaves in different fall colors so people could write us messages on them…. you know to “Leave a message for the bride and groom…” (oh punny!) it was crazy but totally worth it in the end. oh the endless possibilities of paper leaves.

    Reply

  46. gia says

    For my daughter’s first birthday party, I dyi-ed a cookie favor bar (We baked all the cookies), did some tissue paper pom poms, a heart garland border and my favorite a collage of all pictures of her from her first year arranged in the shape of a number 1. Everything was done in shades of light pink and hot pink. It was a huge hit and a labor of love! Wish I could attach a picture of it for you, maybe I’ll email it!

    Reply

  48. Rosanne says

    Love the leaves! For my 50th birthday party(I know, I can’t believe it either) I had these small jeweled frames I got at the One Spot at Target a few years ago, I put different fun facts about the year I was born, the Oscar winner that year, song of the year.(Did you know in 1961 Barbie finally got a boyfriend?!) and put them on tables, by the beverage station, all around. They looked really cute.

    Reply

  49. Lauren says

    Oooh I loved this post! And it’s making me all sorts of excited for fall.

    It goes without saying but my goodness Clara is just the cutest!

    Reply

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