Little Man Baby Shower {Part One!}

Michaela and I have many things in common. One being that our kids had the same kindergarten teacher. We both fell in love with this lady from the first day of school. She's the kind of teacher that still gives hugs and tells them she loves them. The kind of teacher that shows up to all 30 of the 6 year old birthday parties she's invited to, 

and attends their dance recitals and t-ball games on her weekends. 

When we heard she was going to become a grandma, our creative wheels started to turn, and we couldn't wait to collaborate with her on a sweet baby shower. 

Her new grandson, Jaxson is the center of her universe, 

so we themed the shower around her new "Little Man".

We have so many fun ideas to show you that we've broken this blog post up into two parts. This week's post is some of the prep work...the invite and bow tie tutorial, the wreath for the front door, and a "neck tie banner".

The Invitation

We designed the invitation with an "actual bow tie" that can be removed and worn to the shower. Already you have them excited to come! This invite can be purchased and customized in our Etsy shop as a printable file, and then you print the invites, and attach the bow ties! 

(which we will teach you how to make!) 

Click here for Etsy Bow Tie Printable Invite Listing

We also designed a printable invite with the bow tie already on it if you wanted to skip 

the "real bow tie" look.

Click here for Etsy Printable Invite Listing

How to Make a Bow Tie

We found that 1/3 of a yard of fabric makes approximately 8 bow ties.

This will depend greatly on the type of patterned fabric you used. If you use a stripe, you will get less bow ties because of how you will need to cut and have to match up the lines. Our suggestion would be to find a pattern that can be turned either way and still be symmetrical, like a polka dot or a gingham.

1. Cut a 9 x 4 inch and a 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 piece of fabric.

2. Take large piece of fabric and fold it in half and the smaller piece fold in thirds. Iron each piece.

3. With small piece set aside, stitch large piece a quarter of an inch in. Only one side needs to be backstitched.

4. Flip the stitched piece inside out and iron again.

5. Fold in thirds and with one side slightly overlapping the other. Lightly hot glue ends together, so the glue does not seep through to the other side.

6. Pinch center of bow tie and dab hot glue in center. Then take the small piece of fabric and wrap around pinched center. Make sure all edges are sealed with additional hot glue.

7. Attach a pin back to the back with hot glue and you're finished!

Necktie Banner

We wanted to make something "whimsical" that would hang at the dessert table. 

(Desserts coming next week!)

Because I can't get enough of my Silhouette, we downloaded the bow tie and neck tie shapes, along with a square shape and used the same font that is in the invite.

Here's what we used to make the banner

• plenty of coordinating cardstock (patterned and solid)
• twine 
• ribbon of your choice (I bought two bolts but only ended up needed one)

Cut out your shapes and letters.
We wanted a neck tie shape before and after each letter.

If you don't have a Silhouette or a die cut machine, there are lots of different free printables of shapes on the internet. Just google search in images what you are looking for. Then, print the shape out on cardstock and trace it on to the paper and cut.

Once you've cut and attached it all together, you are ready to string it.

Make sure to punch two holes at the top of each shape so that it lays flat when you hang it.

Knot ribbon in between each shape.

So cute right?

Bow Tie Door Wreath

What a whimsical way to welcome your guests by having a wreath at the front door that matches the shower. This adorable "Little Man" wreath is so easy to make and can be given to the new mom at the end of the shower as a keepsake for the baby's room.

Here's what you'll need:

• a men's white dress shirt (If my husband asks you if you've seen his, just pretend you never saw this)
• a wooden letter (these can be found at any hobby or craft store. We painted this one black)
• yarn
• styrofoam wreath
• bow tie 
• fabric scissors

Wrap the yarn tightly around the wreath and secure each end with hot glue on the back of the wreath. I won't lie. This is going to take a long time. I got through three Grey's Anatomy episodes, and two Sponge Bobs with my boy wrapping this. 

But once it was wrapped, it was too cute for words! My head is spinning with all kinds of wreaths I can wrap in yarn now!

Take the shirt and cut along each side of the buttons, so that you only have the strip of buttons and the collar left.

With the hot glue gun, attach the back of the collar to the back of the wreath. Then wrap the button strip around the back of the bottom of the wreath and attach with hot glue.

Attach bow tie and wooden letter with hot glue.

Adorable!

Click HERE to read Part TWO!

Have a whimsical day!