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How to Plan a Baby Shower With a Nautical Theme

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There’s a baby on board! Casting off into the mysterious sea of motherhood should be recognized with a whale of a baby shower. Prepare your friend or family member for a safe voyage with a nautical-themed baby shower.

Nautical fun like anchors and whales has been popular for the last few summers, so your party is sure to make waves among family and friends. Dive into the adorable menu and decorating possibilities with AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com as we help you plan a sea-worthy baby shower, step by step!

Climb aboard the baby boat…

Use these ideas throughout your nautical baby shower theme.

  • Blue and white
  • Rope
  • Whales
  • Water
  • Anchors

1. Baby Shower Menu

First, you need a menu fit for a sailor and a new mommy. No worries, pregnant ladies are allowed to eat fish, as long as they don’t eat too much in one sitting. Make some delicious Coconut Shrimp as your entree, with Blueberry and Bree Crostini as a side dish. Top it off with these adorable Simple Seashell Cookies for a perfect nautical-themed baby shower menu.

Coconut Shrimp Simple Seashell Cookies
Coconut Shrimp
Blueberry and Brie Crostini

 

 

 

 

 

2. Baby Shower Decorations

Once you’ve decided on your menu, it’s time to decorate! This theme includes so many cute details like whales, stripes, and anchors. Use Mermaid Shell Topped Bottles as a centerpiece. The possibilities for these Nautical Baby Shower Printables are as big as the ocean. Stick them on toothpicks in your coconut shrimp, and use them throughout your buffet. Next, make some Nautical Painted Napkins for your guests. Hang some No Fuss Nautical Buoys from the ceiling, and you’ll have a super sea-worthy party room.

No-Fuss-Nautical-BuoysMermaid Shell Topped Bottles
No Fuss Nautical Buoys
Nautical Painted Napkins
Nautical Baby Shower Printables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Baby Shower Games

Baby shower games ahoy, matey! These games are extremely easy and quick to make. All you need is your printer to make Personalized Bingo Cards and Baby on Board Price is Right. Your guests will love the cute nautical designs. End the day with a Dollar Store Sailboat Race, which begins with party guests designing their own little sailboats. Everyone will love these games, and the mom-to-be will adore having some fun with friends before her maiden voyage into motherhood with the new baby.

Dollar Store Sailboat RacePersonalized Bingo Cards
Baby on Board Price Is Right
Dollar Store Sailboat Race

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus: Baby Shower Favors Ahoy!

Make these cute crafts as baby shower favors.

What other nautical baby shower games would you play?

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Block Party Ideas: A How-to Guide

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Memorial Day kicks off the hot American summer and suddenly we’re ready to put on our sunglasses, get outside, and party!

No more hiding inside watching TV, it’s time to meet the neighbors and soak up some rays. Remember the good old days, when neighborhood kids ran wild or zipped around the block on bikes while their moms and dads grilled, talked, and hung out?

Let’s throw the perfect block party—the kind they’ll talk about for years to come—with a sizzlin’ grill, red gingham table cloths, music, lemonade, and laughter.

Block Party Checklist

Let’s get started. Here’s your checklist for must-dos to plan a perfect block party this summer. Print it and stick it on your fridge!

Decide on the date, send invitations or fliers to your neighbors, and plan for safety with your local municipality. Then, you’re ready to get into the finer details of the block party, including the menu, decorations, and activities.

1. Block Party Activities

Paint the Town DIY Outdoor Idea

 

Giant Outdoor WaterbedThe most important part of the block party is the activities. After all, it’s a party. There are obvious activities like listening to music, dancing, and enjoying the buffet. But make sure you plan some fun for the kids, as well. Create some homemade paint and let the neighborhood kids use the whole block as their mural. While the sun’s shining, set up a Giant Outdoor Waterbed in someone’s front yard, so the kids can cool off. Every great block party has a bike parade, where kids can decorate their bikes, like this one from Apartment Therapy.

 

2. Block Party Decorations

Burlap Utensil Holders

What says summer more than blue jeans or red gingham? We love these simple red and blue decorations. They’re so classic and summery, and remind us of childhood potlucks and block parties. String Festive Denim Party Bunting from tree to tree near the central party house. Then, decorate the buffet with a red gingham tablecloth by Beach Vintage. Top it off with cute Burlap Utensil Holders, easy!

3. Block Party Menu

Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches

Apple Pie on the Grill

Grill out with Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches, then chill out with some Fresh Cherry Lemonade. Have the neighbors bring the appetizers, salads, and other desserts. Check out this gourmet burger bar layout from Heart Tree Home and display your food in a similar way, as a buffet with everything labeled. Here’s the rest of our block-rockin’ menu to fuel all the neighborhood fun.

 

 What’s your favorite block party memory?

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Link Love: Crafts for a Party

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It’s party time! With Christmas and New Year’s Eve just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing and decorating for guests. To get into a festive mood, consider creating your own party crafts. You can make everything from place card holders to garlands without breaking the bank. Dip into your stash of buttons, fabric and paper – you won’t need expensive supplies for these crafty projects.

There’s always an excuse to throw a party and celebrate a milestone , so consider saving these tutorials for later. For instance, a New Year’s garland can be repurposed for a birthday party! A Paper Flower Centerpiece is ideal for everything from the holidays to a wedding. Use silk flowers and thrifted vases to create your own version of this gorgeous tablescape. Frosted Luminaries are another fun option for a party – you can recycle old glass jars and cover them with paint to make each one look unique. Now that you’ve mastered the look of your party, it’s time to focus on your guests. Add some fun to the occasion by crafting your own Party Hats! Encourage guests to wear them throughout the night or set up a makeshift photo-booth in a corner.

Give yourself a reason to celebrate and an excuse to get crafty before the holidays are over. Now is the time to celebrate friends, gather together and have a little fun. These DIY ideas will help you stress less and make it a night you won’t soon forget.

  1. Old Trophy Place Cards from Jennifer Rizzo
  2. Cardboard Paper Tube Napkin Rings from At the Girls Room
  3. Painted Plastic Champagne Cups from Something Turquoise
  4. Felt Gift Bags with Buttons from Leigh Lauren Studios
  5. Gorgeous Napkin Rings from Ef Zin Creations
  6. Easy Place Cards from Hey Lovely Designs
  7. Drawer Pull Table Number Holder from Fancy Pants Weddings
  8. Party Place Card Ideas from Alyssa and Carla
  9. Simple Gold Triangle Garland from Almost Makes Perfect

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National Sewing Month 2013 Sewing Social: Easy and Sweet Sewing Patterns

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It’s Day Six of National Sewing Month! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.

National Sewing Month 2013

While sewing can afford you an invaluable solitary haven, it’s still fun to sew socially. At AllFreeSewing we started thinking about what makes a sewing party great. If you’ve never been to one, it’s essentially a bunch of people getting together and sewing. The formula for throwing a hit, we found, is simple. All you need are people you love to chat with, a fun but simple sewing project, and food.

Some of you advanced sewists may object to our recipe for success, but let us at least defend ourselves. You may not have any beef with our assertion that good friends make great sewing buddies (after all, who wants to sew with someone they profoundly dislike?),  but you perhaps find that one should take advantage of company to tackle tricky projects. This is entirely legitimate; especially if you’re sewing for a cause or a deadline, you want to take advantage of your fellow sewists’ expertise. However, we’re strictly speaking of sewing for fun. If you’re planning a party, pick something simple to tackle.

We got to thinking about our sewing and food mishaps. One minute your ruffled linen shorts are spotless, the next they’re stained with the piece of chocolate cake you tried to eat while simultaneously threading your serger. It can be a deadly combination. We took two of the necessary elements for a successful sewing social, easy patterns and food, and created a quick list of sweet sewing patterns for you to make at your next get-together. Of course, we couldn’t resist tacking on a treat for the after-party when all of your fabric is put away. Enjoy these patterns from AllFreeSewing and others, plus brand new recipes for our sister site, TheBestDessertRecipes. Try not to get too hungry.

Easy and Sweet Sewing Patterns

1. Cupcake Wrist Cushion –  We love this pattern. It’s a great sewing social project because it’s so simple and easy to make, not to mention functional. Once you and your guests have the body of your cupcakes made, get really creative and decorate them with embroidered sprinkles and candies. This project can be completed in the duration of the party, so these cupcakes will double as a party favor.

Cupcake Wrist Cushion

Afterwards serve Lovely Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes. Why wouldn’t you want to enjoy these angel food treats after sewing something that looks so tasty?

 Lovely Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

2. Macaroon Coin Purse Pattern – The zipper included in this pattern is perfect for the sewing party that wants a little variation. Create this easy coin purse in one sitting with sewers of all levels. This is a cookie for the rookie. Don’t be swayed by the sophisticated end product, this design can be easily accomplished by a novice.

Macaroon Coin Purse Pattern

When you’re through enjoy English Coconut Macaroons. Since your party decided to sew something totally unique, eat something with just as wild a flavor. The coconut accents that abound in this cookie put a twist on a traditional treat.

English Coconut Macaroons

3. Ice Cream Gift Box, Card Holder and Present Topper – Learn how to sew gift wrapping like never before with this creative treat from Ever Kelly. We are wild about these delicious looking goodies. No doubt there is ample material here to fill your social hour (or hours) with sewing fun. Try these simple sewing project with your friends when the weather is particularly warm and enjoy a cool treat afterwards!

Ice Cream Gift Box, Card Holder and Present TopperYour cool treat could be Oreo Cheesecake Ice Cream. Dish out personal portions to every guest and taste the edible translation of your sewing projects!

Oreo Cheesecake Ice Cream

4. Strawberry Pincushion – Sew a naturally sweet treat with this simple sewing tutorial. These teeny pincushions can be easily tied to your favorite pair of fabric scissors for easy transportation. Totally adorable, these easy-to-make pincushions will be a total success.

Strawberry Pincushion

Afterwards enjoy Strawberry Banana Mousse. This unassuming dessert will take your guests by storm. Plus, it’s low-fat, so if your party is in the middle of the day everyone will enjoy this guilt-free treat.

Strawberry Banana Mousse

5. Felt Food Muffins – This is a purely playful project from Pieces by Polly. Consider making this fun felt food if you have some youngsters attending the party. Easy to make and fun to play with afterwards, this simple sewing project will be a healthy reminder that sewing for the sake of fun is always worth a try.

Felt Food Muffins

When you’re finished serve Blueberry Muffin Tops. This spin on the classic muffin is a great party treat.

Blueberry Muffin Tops

And there you have it! Some options to host a great sewing social. Our compliments to TheBestDessertRecipes for providing the real counterparts to our sewn treats.

 

Do you snack while you sew?

 

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Link Love: Crafts for a Party

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My idea of “partying” has changed a lot. These days, I’m much more interested in sharing a good meal with close friends. In fact, I’ve found that sometimes the best nights are spent sitting around, laughing and talking. In my opinion, decorating and crafting can take an ordinary night to the next level. Pretty homemade favors, cool tablescapes and fun photo ops help create a fun and memorable experience.

When hosting a party, it’s important that you set the mood with fun decor and colorful touches. You don’t need a lot of expensive supplies for these projects, so round up what you have and use your creativity. An Origami Paper Chain doesn’t take long to make and only requires a few easy-to-find-materials. You can coordinate the paper for these garlands for a graduation (school colors) or a sports-themed event (team colors). In addition to delightful decor, a party isn’t complete without refreshments. Find an old cart or side table at a thrift store and cover it in chalkboard paint. Have guests leave notes or drink orders on your Chalkboard Party Cart – you’ll have fun reading the messages when the party is over! Another fun idea for a party at home? Party hats! C’mon, this is your chance to get a little silly, so why not take advantage? Use an ice cream cone to create an Ice Cream Party Hat – you’ll love taking pictures and posing with your awesome design.

There’s never a bad reason to have a party, so gather up your closest friends and family members for a DIY celebration. Save money and time before the event and create a few fun crafts that will help make it a night to remember.

  1. Pastel Dipped Milk Bottle Vases from Say Yes To Hoboken
  2. DIY Washi Tape Silverware from The Merry Thought
  3. Baby Block Photo Holder from Something Is Done
  4. Woodsy Cupcake Stand from The Lovely Cupboard
  5. Washi Tape Paper Lanterns from A Casarella
  6. DIY Serving Tray from The Flair Exchange
  7. Mini Bunting from Me and Mr. Jones
  8. Comic Bubbles from Crew & Lu
  9. Disposable Gilded Cups from Running Blonde

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Link Love: How to Throw an Oscars Party

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The Oscars are going down this Sunday night! Who’s excited to see who wins? I love watching the Academy Awards every year, and even though I’ll probably be watching them alone this year, I always dream of hosting an Oscars party complete with themed food, decorations, and voting. I found some cool ideas for Oscars-themed crafty food, Oscar party ideas and decorations, and printables to use at your Oscars viewing party. If you’re not hosting a party this year, bookmark this page to use for next year’s shindig. You can try these party ideas for any Oscars night, no matter who’s nominated. One thing’s for sure: if you host an Oscars viewing party using these crafty ideas, you’ll be nominated for best party host!

  1. Oscars Party Theme and Printables from Hostess with the Mostess
  2. Fantasy Oscars Draft Game from Formal Fringe
  3. Oscars Statue Cookies from Bakerella
  4. Oscars Cupcakes from Namesake Design
  5. Red Carpet Dress Kids Craft from Babble
  6. Popcorn Cupcakes from Give Peas a Chance
  7. Oscar Party Tablescape from Food Network
  8. Ken Doll Oscar Statues from Everyday Celebrating
  9. Printable Ballot from Studio DIY

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Link Love: Over the Rainbow

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I’ve been seeing a ton of rainbow birthday parties online lately–it’s making me wish it were socially acceptable for an adult to throw herself a party like that! With parties come fun crafts, so without further ado, I present you with what is arguably the most colorful link roundup of all time.

  1. Rainbow Yarn Wreath from Real Life, One Day at a Time
  2. Rainbow Wrap Skirt from Aesthetic Nest
  3. Balloon Banner from Design Mom
  4. Rainbow Flower Banner from Little Bit Funky
  5. Scrap Felt Christmas Ornament from Whatever…
  6. Rainbow Cookie Pops from Sew Can Do
  7. DIY Birthday Pinata from The Sweetest Occasion
  8. Rainbow Ruffle Tablecloth from Hip Hooray
  9. Birthday Balloon Wreath from How Does She?

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Link Love: Pretty Party Decorations

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I’m in the mood for a party, aren’t you? Well, you’re in luck: here are some super cute (and inexpensive and easy) party decoration ideas I’ve seen around the web lately. Which is your favorite?

  1. Yarn Ball Lights from Kim’s Kandy Kreations
  2. Colorful Backdrop from Style Me Pretty
  3. Paper Sphere Centerpiece from Better Homes and Gardens
  4. Art Party Decor from The Pleated Poppy
  5. Giant Paper Flower Bouquet from Creative Jewish Mom
  6. Paper Bag Lanterns from Landee See, Landee Do
  7. Paper Rosettes from Transient Expression
  8. Cupcake Liner Garland from Project Wedding
  9. Petal Pendant Light from inchmark

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Link Love: Party On!

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News flash: Halloween is over! The craft blogosphere is slowly weaning itself off spooky themed projects (although turkey-tastic tutorials are already sprouting up all over the place) so I thought it would be nice to throw a party! Well, I’ll probably have to settle for an imaginary party, but you guys should definitely use these ingenious craft ideas at your next fancy fête.

  1. Cecilia from So Tei-Tei recently threw her daughter a delightfully colorful 2nd birthday party with tons of handmade touches. She linked up at our blog hop too!
  2. Candy corn is still relevant for Thanksgiving, right? The picture alone of these Candy Corn Coolers from Gormet Mom on-the-Go is making me salivate.
  3. Nancy from A to Z Celebrations recently guest blogged for Tatertots and Jello, showcasing the bumblebee party she hosted for her daughter.
  4. There’s a free template up for grabs on How About Orange for a butterfly die cut invitation. Classy!
  5. I love how simple and cheerful these bunting cards from Simply Modern Mom look! Bonus: there’s a tutorial!
  6. If you’re planning on bringing a dish to an upcoming holiday party, this casserole carrier (also with tutorial!!) from 2 Little Hooligans is worth a look.
  7. Put the finishing touches on a hostess gift or stocking stuffer with a paper pom-pom gift topper, a free printable template from Nice Package.
  8. The stylish and crafty Maegan from …love Maegan turned a plain old shelf into a cool mini bar, perfect for hosting an old-timey cocktail party!
  9. Here’s another simple project, from Between the Lines: upcycle wine corks into cute Christmas ornaments! This might not have anything to do with throwing a party, but you could certainly make these with the garbage accumulated after you throw one!

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Gift Sunday: Party Time

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If you’re planning someone’s gift, then you’re probably also thinking about where the party’s at. Gifts and parties are like peanut butter and jelly – they just go together. So you might give a gift without attending a party, but you probably won’t attend a party without giving a gift! Well, depending on the kind of party anyway. The point is that the two are synonymous.

Instead of getting a standard gift for your best friend this year, throw her a party with your small group of friends. A small gift can be easily forgotten or cast aside, but a fun time with friends and family is unforgettable.

Here’s a few ideas from our Party Time section at FaveCrafts:

Handmade Invitation: Get the party started with handmade invitations that say something about the guest of honor. Personalize them to fit your best friend’s personality.

Quick & Easy Party Lights: These party lights are just too cute for words, and they’re easy to make. Your party decor is complete with a bit of extra party lighting.

Party Favor Basket: Send everyone home with a party favor in this beautiful basket. Fill it with candy or a variety of non-edibles like socks or flowers.

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