Invitations

• Choose invitations that match your shower's theme. For example, if the theme is rubber ducks, look for preprinted invitations with ducks on them. The other option is to make your own. One way to make your own invitations is to trace the shape of a cookie cutter onto a piece of heavy card stock and then cut the shape out. Print the invitation information on the cutout. Another idea is to print a photograph of something that reflects the theme and write the invitation on the back. Then, mail it as you would a postcard.
  
  

Decorations

• One easy decoration idea is streamers and balloons in colors that match your shower's color scheme. Mylar balloons, in shapes related to your shower's theme, and baby-related items, such as a bottle, add additional detail. To design your own decorations, make a diaper cake or baby sock bouquet. Both function as room décor and a gift for the mother-to-be when the party ends. Make diaper cakes by rolling individual diapers and securing them with rubber bands. Then stand them up on a cardboard cake round, adding a second layer on top to look like a layer cake. Decorate them with ribbon and baby accessories, such as pacifiers and rattles. To make a sock bouquet, roll the socks up starting at the toe of the sock and ending with the cuff. Attach the rolled socks to pieces of wire wrapped in florist's tape. Place the sock roses into a vase.
  
  

Party Games

• Plan games to keep your guests and mother-to-be entertained at the shower. Baby bingo allows guests to play a game of bingo while mom opens presents. Create bingo boards with possible baby gift items on it. As mom opens the presents, the guests mark off items on the bingo card. The first to get a straight line across or up and down wins. For an interactive game, the guests guess how big around they think mom's belly is by cutting lengths of ribbon. Once everyone makes her guess, mom's belly is measured. The closest to the actual size wins. A third game idea is the baby food game. Take the labels off 10 types of jarred baby food. The guests must identify the baby food by look and smell. The one who gets the most right wins.
  
  

Goody Bags

• Create goody bags for the guests to take home as a thank-you for coming. Fill the bags with candy or small gifts, such as bottles of lotion or votive candles. For candy, choose either store-bought candy or homemade treats. Store-bought candy may be traditional candies or baby-themed, such as crybabies or pacifier shaped suckers. Make homemade chocolates by molding the chocolate into baby-themed shapes.
  
  

Cake

• Choose a cake that matches the theme of the party. Provide cake design ideas to a professional cake decorator or make your own. When making your cake at home, choose a design that matches your decorating skills. For a simple cake, make a basic sheet cake and frost it a solid color. Decorate the top using plastic figures, such as babies, bottles or diaper pins. With more skills, use fondant to cover the cake and make gum paste sculpted figures. With more experience, carve the cake into a shape, such as a baby rattle or a baby and cover it in fondant.