Dear Design Divas,
I’m trying to throw a baby shower for my Sister-in-law’s second baby. I was thinking of a “Bear” Essentials shower. I’m having trouble coming up with design ideas and also clever wording that lets people know to just bring diapers, wipes, onesies, bath and feeding product she might need. Any ideas?
-Valerie

Dear Valerie,
We love the idea of a “Bear” Essentials shower - and that is perfect for a 2nd child. We also think it’s great that you are having a shower for the second baby. Many people shy away from this as they think it’s not “proper”, but we believe every baby is a blessing and deserves to be honored. And a bear essentials shower, often also called a “sprinkle” is a fantastic idea for the mom-to-be who already has all the big stuff for baby but still could use more of the basics.

One of the toughest parts of planning a shower is coming up with a theme. With your bear essentials theme, you have the perfect starting point for decorations, invitations, cake, etc. Everything can center around the bear theme and will be so cute. Depending on how big your guest list is and what your budget is, you can even do some really creative and fun things with the invitations. Invitations cut out in the shape of a bear would be adorable. We also love the idea of writing out your invitation wording on a card and attaching it to a small bear. You can mail the bear in a box with a couple of holes cut out and the wording “Don’t Feed the Bear!” written on the top of the box. Invitations with vellum overlays are extremely popular right now and look so sweet tied with a chiffon or satin ribbon and perhaps the addition of a small teddy bear charm.

If you want something a bit more simple, you could still create something really cute and memorable with a simple panel card. All you need is a great design and some really catchy wording. We’d suggest incorporating imagery that reflects the gift ideas - such as bottles, diapers, onesies, blankets, etc.

Every inviation needs to include the basics: Name of Mom-to-Be, time and date of shower, location of shower, who is throwing shower with contact info, RSVP info. It’s also a good idea to include the theme of the shower, the name of the baby if known, the sex of the baby if known, and gift ideas.

Here’s a little rhyme we think is cute and may help get you started with wording:

Please Help Us Welcome Baby Number Two
With Onesies and Blankets, Towels and Shampoo
Diapers and Bibs, Bottles and More…
That’s What This “Bear” Essentials Shower is For!

It’s a question we hear a lot: Is it appropriate to throw a baby shower to celebrate the arrival of a second baby? There are a lot of schools of thought on this one, and almost everyone you talk to will have an opinion on the subject. Traditionally, this practice was frowned upon. And, while opinions are changing, some people are still staunchly against the notion of a repeat baby shower. Our stance on the subject? We think that society as a whole seems to have gotten away from the fundamental reason for a baby shower in the first place - to celebrate life. While gifts are great and much appreciated by new parents, they aren’t the only valid reason for throwing a shower. Often the gifts of time, thoughtfulness and love are much more highly valued than those that max out the credit cards. And we believe that every baby, whether it be the first or fifth, is a miraculous blessing which deserves to be celebrated.

Second or third baby showers can be a lot of fun - for the mom-to-be as well as the guests. With a second shower, you can be truly creative and innovative. In all likelihood, second-time parents already have the bulk of what they need for baby - especially the high ticket-priced items like a crib, a stroller, car-seat, etc. So the second shower can truly be about celebrating the joy of parenthood instead of checking off items from a registry. Here are some fun, creative shower ideas we’ve come across that would be fabulous for a second or subsequent shower.

Build Baby’s Library:
Ask that all gifts are books for the baby. Let guests know this in the invitation. Possibly ask them to bring their favorite childhood book and sign it inside as a keepsake. Also, a fun party to plan - invitations in the shape of a book and bookmarks for the party favors.

Pamper Mom:
After months of pregnancy and taking care of the older kids, she deserves some pampering and a fun time with “the girls”! Create a day-spa theme. Ask guests to bring lotions, chocolates, gift certificates to a spa, etc. as gifts for mom. You could even hold a “spa-session” in your home for guests - bring in a masseuse to massage guests shoulders, a manicurist to shape their nails, or even a make-up consultant for fun. Play nature music in the background and some soothing fragrances in the air. The mom-to-be will be able relax with the gals and the guests will have a great time. Definitely a mommy shower to remember. Please keep in mind your guests and their comfort level in attending a “spa-party”.

A “Sprinkle” :
We love this idea! Sprinkles are perfect for second baby showers. Instead of “showering” you with the large baby items needed for the first child, your guests can “sprinkle” the little things that need replenished. Such as: diapers, baby wipes, bottles, baby shampoo and lotions, diaper cream, pacifiers, baby socks (they always seem to get lost in the dryer) and countless other necessities. A nice way to gather together and celebrate the second pregnancy.

Casserole Shower:
For the mother who has everything already, how about a Casserole Shower? Have each guest bring a casserole or other ready-to-cook meal that can be frozen or stored until after the baby is born. Be sure to have the containers clearly labeled with contents and any cooking instructions. How helpful that will be when Mom and Baby come home?!

Planning a baby shower and need help with creative invitation wording or design ideas? Please email the Design Divas at The Inviting Pear. We’d be happy to help you design unforgettable, one-of-a-kind shower invitations or favors — or simply offer you free tips and advice for creating your own do-it-yourself invitations.

Dear Design Divas,
My fiancee and I are both very creative and artistic. He’s a musician and I’m an artist. We really want our wedding to be an expression of our creativity and individuality. However, our parents are definitely the more conservative, traditional types. We are having a very formal, traditional wedding to appease our parents. But we are trying very hard to incorporate elements of our personal style while still maintaining a very elegant, formal feel. One way I thought about doing that was with the invitations. I want something very unique and artistic, but my mother insists we need to go with the standard black ink on white paper to set the formal tone. I really don’t want my invitations to look the same as everyone else’s. Can we have both — something artistic and clever while still being very elegant and traditional? Please help.
-Creative Conundrum

Dear Creative Conundrum,
What a fantastic question! We’re so happy you came to us for advice. We think we can really help you out here. First of all, let us commend you for respecting your parents’ wishes for a traditional and formal affair. Even though this is your wedding, it’s not only about you. However, you can and should infuse your wedding with your own unique style wherever possible. And your invitations are a great way to do that. It is possible to create invitations that are elegant and traditional while still being stylish, extraordinary and unlike any other invitations you’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately, when selecting a design from off-the-shelf invitation books, you have very little customization flexibility. But, if your parents have found a simple, elegant design in a book that they love, you might consider a compromise — take the design template to a custom designer and ask them to recreate the design while adding some embellishments that make the design uniquely yours. You might consider adding a custom monogram or a custom illustrated motif. A wrap of handmade paper or vellum adds a bit of style and flair without detracting from the simplicity of the design.

If you want something a bit more spectacular, we love the extraordinary look of a “gift” invitation, so named because the invitation looks like a gift when closed. This design is accomplished using a half-fold style card and layers of beautiful satin ribbon. It’s a stunning look that is guaranteed to impress your guests, but it’s still very tasteful and sophisticated — something that should make your parents happy.

Another variation of this exceptional design is to incorporate a stunning pocket fold with a thermography printed invitation (a great way to add simple elegance) and a custom monogram vellum overlay. Seal the pocket fold with layers of organza ribbon and a custom tag.

The key here is compromise. We’re convinced you can create something both you and your parents will love. We recommend seeking out a good custom designer who can work with you to incorporate elements of your personality and your parents’ vision while creating something everyone can feel good about — giving you the style and creative flair you want with the traditional formality your parents desire. Good luck!