Use balloons artfully

Balloons make it feel like a party! Always have balloons at your events. Here's a money-saver tip -- your local 99¢ store will usually have balloons at a much lower price than most party stores.

A basic use of balloons is to create color spots around room or area where you're holding baby shower. Tie a bunch of helium balloons to an anchor. Use baby items like booties, soft toys or baby bottles filled with water as anchors. Always use an odd number of balloons in a bunch.

If you have multiple tables, get a few baby items like shampoo, lotions, bottles, diaper packs, wipes, refill packs, baby formula packs, soft toys, etc and place them in center of each table. Tie a bunch of balloons to them. Each table now has a color spot.

If you have large gifts like strollers or cribs, tie balloons to them to create a special look. Choose balloon colors according to sex of baby. If that’s not known, use both pink and blue balloons.

Use balloons to decorate mommy's chair. Tie balloons in bunches to her “throne” and treat her like royalty! Also add streamers, satin bows and ribbons to her chair to give it a special look.

If you're using a specific table for gifts, make sure it has several balloon bunches floating over it. That helps to create a focal point for gifts.

How to use tubs and umbrellas for baby showers decorations

Use baby tubs as a punch bowl. Get one of those tubs that look like a whale. Fill it with clear punch and put in a small rubber ducky. The tub makes a wonderful present for mom-to-be after shower.

Here's another way to use tub -- fill it with individually wrapped presents. That can include diapers, shampoos, lotions, washcloths, etc. For an added effect, put some balloons into tub too -- they will look like floating bubbles! And fix a rubber ducky atop one of balloons using ribbons.

You know what's a perfect fit for any baby shower? Umbrellas. After all, it's a shower, right? Here's how you can use them.

The ingredients for your baby shower cake

Here's list of items you need for your cake:

• Naturally, you'll need disposable diapers. How many? Assuming you want to make a medium size diaper cake, you'll need around 45 -- 55. You can't be sure of exactly how many until you make cake. Any diapers left over can always be handed over to mommy-to-be.
• Your baby shower cake needs a base. Get a platter of metal, cardboard, or other materials that are reasonably stiff. Choose one that's about 14" -- 16".
• Buy a 10 foot length of 1" wide ribbon and about 60 to 80 feet of narrower ribbon. The latter is for tying individual diapers into rolls.
• Every diaper cake needs a focal point. The most commonly used one is a baby bottle.
• Rather than use an empty baby bottle, fill it with something edible. You could buy or make small chocolates shaped like various baby items, packed individually. Candies are another possible choice.
• Get other cute, useful items for babies. Such as pacifiers, teething rings, bibs, socks, baby hair brushes, small sized soap and shampoo and so on.
• Procure good quality, clear cellophane to provide final wrapping. Get additional ribbons for tying bows at top of cellophane wrapping, if you so prefer.
• Have adhesive tape available.

Baking diaper cake -- putting it all together

While making a baby shower cake is quite easy, it does require a bit of patience. But end result is certainly worth it! Plus fact that you made it yourself creates a terrific impact.

While following through these instructions, have someone help you. It will get done faster.