Shabby Baby Banner

I've always wanted to make a "shabby" banner, the ones that have strips of torn material and ribbon hanging.  Of course, I realized that stripping the material and tying it would take a little time, but the look makes it all worth it!

This banner was made for a vintage-music themed baby shower. I was thankful to have the burlap BABY pennant taking up some of the space by the time I had torn and tied a while!

For this banner, I used strips of cut burlap, torn muslin, and other torn thin cotton material, and several varieties of ribbon.  (To tear material, snip it where you want to begin, then tear it all the way to the end of the other side.  Be careful not to tear too fast or it will get wider or thinner!) The pennant was cut from burlap.  I actually cut it double so that the fold is hanging over the jute cord.  I cut a piece of poster board and glued it in between the two layers of burlap - just to make it more sturdy.  The chipboard letters were covered with music-themed scrapbook paper and hot glued to the front of the pennant triangles.

The pennant was hung on the fireplace and went home with the parents-to-be for the baby's room. It will be a sweet addition to their other accessories, plus a reminder of the shower anticipating baby's arrival!

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Coffee Filter Pom Pom Balls

To make vintage looking coffee filter pom pom balls, boil tea bags in a large pot.  Turn off heat and allow the tea bags to set a while.  Place coffee filters in the tea and soak to absorb tea.  I did some for about five minutes and left some in for a day.  

The five minute ones were just ivory colored and the others were as in the picture above and below.  It didn't get any darker, but could have with more tea bags.  Some tea grounds seeped out after a day or so, but it just added colored spots to the filters and made it even neater - so don't worry about that.

Place the wet filters on a cookie sheet or baking pan. It's okay to overlap some, but be sure to pull them apart to hasten drying time.  I put them in a warm oven (to warm setting) for 30 minutes or longer.  Sometimes I would take them out when they weren't completely dry and let them finish drying on the counter.  FYI:  It took over 100 filters to make one pom pom ball!  Thankfully, filters are cheap!

Gather the filter in the bottom center and twist to keep the "flower" in place. I did groups of three together, then secured with a floral pin - which look like a long staple.

This ball was bigger than it appears.  It was big enough so that the floral pin didn't poke out the other side.

For the white pom poms, I just used the filters as they were - without dipping them in a liquid.  If you want them to look more vintage, you could dip them in water, then dry.  I just didn't have the time with the white ones.

Because I used a smaller styrofoam ball for the white pom poms, I used straight pins.  I put three "flowers" together, then inserted them as shown below.

Continue with the filters until the ball is all filled.  Insert a floral pin into the ball, but not all the way down to the ball.  This will be your hanger.  Be sure to wait and do this when you're ready to hang them or tie your string (I used jute) on with the pin....otherwise you might have trouble finding it! (or I would, anyway!)

My pom poms were tied to an old ladder above the table.  A little time consuming, but so much cheaper than the store bought pom poms, plus the vintage look needed for the shower.

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Mocha Punch

For a vintage-themed baby shower yesterday, we served a pretty colored Mocha Punch.  A friend has this beverage server, which is BEAUTIFUL, and I remembered that at my nephew's wedding they had a Mocha Punch.  My niece-in-law shared the recipe with me so that we could serve it to the guests.  I'm not a coffee drinker, but it's really good!

I'm sharing the two variations of the recipe.  We used the bottom recipe for the shower. FYI:  I didn't read the instructions, so didn't have everything refrigerated in advance.  We cooled it off with ice to speed up the cooling process and it worked just fine!

Mocha Punch

Brewed Coffee (1/2 gallon) - 64 oz
Sugar (1 cup)
Milk (1/2 gallon)
Chocolate ice cream (1/2 gallon)

Instructions:
In a container combine coffe and sugar
Stir until sugar is dissolved
Refrigerate until chilled
Just before serving, pour into a punch bowl
Add milk, mix well
Add ice cream and stir well
(Some recipes added 1 tsp. of vanilla)

Recipe Variation:

20 cups of brewed coffee
1 cup vanilla creamer (liquid)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 gallon chocolate ice cream
1/2 gallon milk

Follow directions above....

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Owl Baby Shower

Posted by Lori:

This past Saturday was a baby shower for a sweet couple who are expecting their first child.  The church showered them with lots of love and gifts.  Showers always make me think of the scripture "Rejoice with those who rejoice...." Romans 12:15.  

Our congregation has been blessed with lots of babies this year!  So that means lots of decorating for baby showers for me! :)  I don't mind at all, of course!

I was really excited about doing an owl shower, but realized quickly that most of the owl decor is directed towards girls.  At first this baby was thought to be a girl, but a few weeks ago, the couple found out it was a boy!

I found these wooden owl shapes at Michaels, covered them with burlap and scrapbook paper - making the owl's features.  The baby's room is going to be owls and trees, so I had everything all worked out....or so I thought.....

My husband spent Friday afternoon cutting big tree limbs for me to use for the shower, but when I went to the building to decorate that evening, the limb's leaves were all wilted.  I thought they would last for at least a day, but they didn't.  Maybe it was just that particular tree.  So one to plan #2.....silk greenery.

These cute owl napkins were a little bright for the color scheme, but I couldn't resist them!  So cute!

If you keep up with this blog often, you'll remember my burlap wreath.  Here it is being used - yet again - for another purpose!  I like things like that!

This sweet lady has been writing shower poems for many years.  She puts a little humor into them and it is such a special keepsake for the couples and their child.  I have one she wrote for my wedding shower.

Isn't this knitted, stuffed owl adorable???!  What a fun gift for baby and mother!

Babies are blessings from God!

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Black, White and Hot Pink Baby Shower

Posted by Lori:

Last night we had a baby shower before our regular monthly singing night with our church family.  I thought I would share the pictures with you.  This hanging chandelier turned out great hanging from the ceiling.  I first saw this idea on Pinterest, hanging from a tree.  I'm planning to make one for my daughter's room.  To make, get a hula hoop, a strand of icicle lights and I used tulle rolls to cut in pieces to attach the lights to the hoop.

A friend bought these black and white checked tablecloths last year.  We've already used theme numerous times for showers and events!

Pure yumminess from the bakery!

A is for baby Annalyn!  This plate is a friends.  I didn't realize I threaded the ribbon wrong on the right side in one place until during the shower.  Oh, well.....

The entry table with newborn baby pictures.

A cute black and white banner found at Hobby Lobby.  Milk jar/crate from Michael's.

Paper cones hanging on each side of the banner were also Hobby Lobby finds.

Now on to the next shower in a few weeks!  How funny that of the four showers we have had or will have this year (so far), all four are girls!  On the other hand, I found out yesterday that I would be having another great nephew in August.  Thank you, God, for babies!
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Just Ducky Treats

Posted by Lori:
I just saw the cutest little ducky desserts on FamilyFun.com!  I was looking for a recipe that I made several years ago that I was wanting share with you, but never found it.  However, I think you'll like this one!  This would be adorable for a duck themed party or shower - or anytime!

Photo from Familyfun.com

Instructions for Just Ducky Treats:

First spread out a paper cupcake liner and set it on a small plate or in a bowl.

For the body, place a large scoop of vanilla ice cream or lemon sherbet on top of the liner.

Create a neck by topping the body with a spoonful of ice cream and use the bowl of the spoon to flatten it slightly. Place a small scoop of ice cream on the neck for the head. Press on chocolate chips or raisins for eyes.

For a beak, flatten an orange gumdrop and cut it into two pieces. Or you can simply insert a shelled peanut into the ice cream.

Finally, make webbed feet with pieces of fruit leather or dried apricots.
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