I threw my first baby shower this year!… and my close friend had her first baby. Okay, one of these is more momentous than the other. The new mom is a laidback librarian-to-be, so she requested that for her baby shower guests bring books in lieu of other gifts (such a great way to build a library for baby!). From this we decided on a “bookworm” baby shower theme.
Inspired by Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar and all of the Paper Source circle card and sticker options, I started playing with baby shower invitation ideas. My first thought was to use 1 1/4″ circle stickers to create a little bookworm on an A7 folded card with hand written details on the inside, but I quickly realized my handwriting wouldn’t look so pretty after 50 invitations! This card idea, did however, turn out to work perfectly for coordinating thank you notes, which I presented to the mom-to-be as a gift.
Next I experimented with printable circle stickers layered onto 5 1/2″ circle cards to create the body of the bookworm. I tried using ribbon to connect the circle cards together but it wasn’t providing the structure I needed to hold the bookworm’s shape. My co-worker suggested using colored brads instead… brilliant!
We knew a baby boy was on the way, so I focused on a playful color palette of chartreuse, pool, and poppy. After punching 1/4″ holes into pool circle cards (don’t forget, the outer circle cards for the head and tail end only need one punch), I used pool brads to secure the circle cards together. To add contrast, I printed the shower details onto chartreuse 4″ circle stickers. I think I’m good at eyeballing and centering without measuring, but I’m really not… so, in the interest of time and “mass” production I went for a fun (and intentional) off-center look layering the printed stickers onto the circle cards. It ended up giving the bookworm a nice sense of movement!
To create the face, I used eco-white 1 1/4″ circle stickers and punched 1/2″ circles out of chartreuse stickers to create bright eyes and half of a poppy 2 1/2″ circle sticker for a friendly smile. The antennae I made from a short length of poppy 1/4″ satin ribbon topped with poppy 1 1/4″ circle stickers (sticking two stickers front to back keeps them from sticking to anything else). A small dab of craft glue anchored the ribbon antennae to the back of the bookworm’s head.
Because of the brads the invitation easily folds over itself and fits into a poppy 5 3/4″ envelope. The guests were completely wow-ed when they received the invitations in the mail! The leftover circle cards and stickers from this project came in handy when decorating for the baby shower! For a super easy banner I stuck 4″ circle stickers (each printed with a letter) back to back along 1/4″ satin ribbon. And I made a table runner using a roll of pool roll wrap embellished with 1/4″ circle stickers in the form of little hungry caterpillars along the edges!
Now that Baby Nicholas has arrived, “Aunt” Jane is already plotting themes for his 1st birthday party! I do love that Octopus wrapping paper…
– Jane
PS colors: pool & papaya
Latest fave: 2010 Paper Source Grid Calendar
This is such a cute idea! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
That is such a cute idea. I am hosting a shower for a friend and something like this would be spectacular!!
Thanks!
I love the blog and all of the great tips you include. I was wondering if you could include a post about centering cards on top of other cards. For instance, if I want to center an A6 card on top of an A7 card what would you recommend. I can obviously measure each side but it is time consuming and does not work perfectly and simply every time. I wanted to see if you have a template/suggestions for doing it easily but correctly time after time. Thank you!
i know who a brilliant coworker is. (s)he IS brilliant!!!! and, pretty…
great job to you and your coworker!
Aside from the cute, cute, CUTE invitation (which, three months after my baby shower, is still plastered across my fridge), the thank-you notes were adorable AND a life-saver. I sent them to both guests of the bookworm shower and my other baby-shower, and the latter recipients wanted to know where I found such perfect thank yous. Too bad “Jane’s brain” isn’t a nation-wide franchise:) Thanks, Jane, for such a great shower!
Jane – you ROCK! This is totally and completely awesome. Can’t wait for another friend to have a shower so I can use this idea!
As an attendee at the blessed event, I will say that the cuteness of Jane’s Paper Source ways spilled over to every ascpect of the decor! Great job my lady!
This is a darling idea! It also has great possibilities as a mini book or on a scrapbook page. Or how about for a gift card presentation for a child? I’m loving this caterpillar!
Opening this invitation was amazing! I have never been so impressed with an invite, and the decorations at the party were wonderful as well! Getting something this cute and not just pink or blue and standard for a baby shower was a wonderful change…Jane is so creative!
Great job on the invite Jane, I am super impressed! And I do love me some creative paper invites! Now I know who to come to if I need any ideas. Keep me posted on any more blog entries
Cute and clever! “Jane’s brain”… priceless!
This is such a cute idea! I have a family member who is doesn’t want a shower. I think going with this theme and a mailed note to friends requesting for books is a cute idea to present to her. Thanks for sharing!
this was exactly what I was planning for my best friend’s baby shower (books instead of a card). im having trouble with the wording tho. is there any way for me to see what is written on the last circle?
Candy, here’s the wording I used on the last piece:
In lieu of a card, bring a book to the party
A favorite story for [Mom-to-be} to read
to Baby [X] with all the love he will need.
Our new [boy] is bound to be such a smarty!
Just fill in with the appropriate name, initial, and gender and you’re all set!
Hi,
I am curious about whether or not anyone has ever discovered how to print on circle cards or on the roll of large circle stickers. If anyone has had success, perhaps they would be willing to share.
Thank you!
Elizabeth
hello:
this looks so good…you must be super talented and patient…:-)
i am also in the same shoes as elizabeth…if anyone can help printing on a circle card, please let me know…
a ps employee suggested the 4″ circle label which can definitely work but i am still open to any ideas.
thanks,
annie
I’ve heard that you can print on circle cards by securing them to a regular 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper using a piece of removable double stick tape. Your printer will be able to feed the larger sheet and your circle card is just along for the ride. If you create a Word template to print within the circle on the larger sheet and secure each circle card in the same location, you should be able to print consistently onto the cards. But the 4″ circle labels are really easy to print on, and are probably the easiest solution for someone short on patience.
Thanks so much for your creativity! I am planning a shower for a friend of mine and this will make a PERFECT invitation. You rock!
My sister is having a baby boy, and she requested that guests bring books to the shower (which, as a reading teacher, thrills me!). I’ve been racking my brain for something creative, and this is PERFECT! Thank you for sharing your adorable ideas.
Do you have any pictures of the decorations? I read your description, but if possible I’d like to see photos.
Thanks!!!
As one of your WNP reps, I love the how-to’s! I love showing my customers all of the possibilities that your bulk paper offers. =)
This is a super cute theme idea, and I would love to use it for my baby’s first birthday party. I would much rather build his library than add more toys to our already bursting playroom. Can I do it without being tacky? I can’t think of how to word the invitation. Anyone have advice for me?
Heidi,
After searching for the exact same thing you are, I found this. I want to do a book theme for my girls’ party, and want to request books as gifts, but don’t know how to do it tactfully.
I love this idea.. already started on mine but have one question the cake how did you get it done cause really dont like any of the ones i’ve seen?