Western Baby Shower on the Bella Bash Boutique

Cupcake wraps for both mini and regular size cupcakes!

Cupcake picks

Favor box and napkin wrap used on a water bottle

My second party from my premiere collection is probably my fave (might have something to do with the principle color?).I kinda have a thing for pink, and a pretty major crush on western fonts, so this theme was a no-brainer for me. I've got this party ready to go for a baby shower (or baby birthday) but it can also be used for a bridal shower or birthday party.

For those who may still not quite get this printable party concept (like my mom), I've included an example template to check out. Feel free to save it, print it, and test it out for yourself (make sure it fills the page completely so you don't get a teeny tiny little favor bag). Score the folds first with a ruler and knife and it will fold much easier and prettier!

The Western Party Includes:

Invitation & Envelope
Thank You Card & Envelope
Cupcake Wraps (for Regular and mini cupcakes)
Cupcake Pick Toppers
"Oh Baby Shower" Banner OR "Bride To Be" Banner
Napkin Wraps
Candle Wraps
Favor Box
Favor Bag
Gift Tags/ Place Cards/ Labels
Bingo Cards & Bingo Markers
Gift Log
Patterned Paper

Some DIY ideas for your Western Party:

1) Instead of using the favor bags for favors, try filling with snacks and treats like popcorn, nuts and bolts, chips etc.

2) Playing baby shower games, like chugging the juice out of the baby bottle? Use a napkin wrap to customize your baby bottles.

3) Make yourself some pretty, fluffy tissue paper pom poms. Hang from the ceiling, extending the string down through the pom so that you have a piece of string that hangs about 6 to 10 inches underneath. Attach a star label to the string hanging from the pom. Once you have a bunch of them done it will look like a pretty mobile or baby chandelier.

Check out my Western Party on etsy right here!

The Wonders of Tissue Paper

Above: Underfunded Heiress

All photos, unless noted, are from Martha Stewart

Diaper Cake via Lucky Baby

When it comes to decorating your event, it's fairly safe to say that you are limited for options. You can go the decorator route and opt for complete and utter amazingness with wall drapings and fancy shmancy everything, or you can go to a local dollar or party store and stock up on all kinds of tacky cheesiness that even a 10 year old would frown at. The lack of pleasing event decor that is somewhere in the middle in terms of budget and accessibility is down right disturbing!

That is why when I came across these pictures of tissue paper pom poms from Martha Stewart I jumped for joy! These are not a new idea, and I must admit I thought they were rather childish when I first saw them a few years ago. However, after giving them a go and making them on my own for the Barbie shower I threw earlier this year, I can't say enough good things about these Martha Stewart "good things". Tissue poms are fun, pretty, unpretentious and generally low maintenance (so in other words pretty much any guy's dream date!).

They are so ridiculously easy to make (don't bother buying the kits, just use tissue paper, floral wire and you're set!) and since you can make them in a variety of colours and sizes, they are perfect decor for pretty much any event (think: baby shower, bridal shower, birthday, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid brunch etc etc). They definitely add a finishing touch to your party, and since you can make them in all sizes they can be used pretty much anywhere. I used pink pom poms in different sizes to fill out the dessert table at the Barbie bridal shower, and another blogger used them to pretty up a diaper cake. Your options are endless and are only limited by your creative prowess. They are a bit time consuming to make, so if you want a bunch of them either start early or round up the ladies for a good ole wine and Martha night! Happy crafting!

For pictorial instructions, check out Imperfectly Beautiful

Circus Cowboy

All images from Oh So Beautiful Paper courtesy of Wiley Valentine.

Oh how the bloggers over at Oh So Beautiful Paper are after my own heart. Thank god there are people in the world who are more paper obsessed than I am, because frankly I was starting to feel a bit crazy. The new feature on OSBP is too die for. This stunning baby announcement set was designed by Wiley Valentine, and was inspired by a popcorn bag from Trader Joe's (Trader Joe, who are you? And why aren't you in Canada? I have a feeling we would be really great friends!).

I am currently wrapped up in a whirl wind romance with all things "Circus Cowboy". I call this Circus Cowboy, because the design elements are laid out like an old fashioned circus poster, and the fonts used are generally called "Cowboy something or another". I guess the fonts are interchangeably Circus or Western, and since they are generally from the same era I feel completely comfortable merging the two (sorry if I've offended any stationary gods using incorrect terminology!). I also give credit to the one and only Britney Spears and her Circus tour for bringing Circus Cowboy to the forefront of stationary design. Thanks Brit Brit!

Another of my favourite blogs is also featuring a backyard western style baby shower that incorporates some Circus Cowboy. Check out the post on Hostess with the Mostess.