Making Life Whimsical: Little Man Baby Shower {Part Two!}

little man baby shower cupcake bow tie tutorial root beer float favor

Welcome to Part Two of the Little Man Shower!

If you missed Part One, click here!

We had a whimsical few weeks with our beloved friend planning her first grandbaby's shower. Lots of collaborating, laughing, planning, more laughing, crafting, listening to her call us crazy (is that a good or bad thing?), and many warm hugs.

He made his debut at the shower at 6 weeks old, charming everyone with his cuteness.

Sweet, dapper, little man.

Root Beer Float Favor

This was our favorite part of the shower.

So simple, yet so adorable!

What a sweet favor to give your guests!

Just purchase root beer bottles, and add a striped paper straw, and add these tags

(or make your own!)

Root Beer Favor Tags in our Etsy Shop

Stores like Michael's and Target are now carrying these cute paper straws so it makes it really easy now to find them. Etsy shops carry them in bulk amounts.

Here's one of our favorite shops: Grey Striped Paper Straws

Napkin Bow Ties

These are so easy to make and gives just one more whimsical "detail" to this shower.

Just take a napkin, and lay the utensil in the middle.

Take a strip of coordinating patterned paper and wrap it around the middle of the napkin.
Attach the ends with a glue dot to secure.

Bow Ties!

Fondant Bow Ties and Buttons

You don't have to be a cake decorator to work with fondant.

Did you like playing with play dough as a kid?

That's really all it is, except it's edible.

I'm a baker at heart, and have a fierce love for cake decorating.

Once I started making things with fondant, I began to realize what a whimsical touch they would give a simple cupcake, and I was hooked.

Making bows or bow ties are really easy!

Here's what you'll need:

fondant (comes in white or colors)
rolling pin
fondant cutting tool
color gel (wilton or americolor)
Crisco
ruler
cookie sheet, wax paper and cornstarch for drying

Knead the fondant with a small amount of Crisco on a clean surface. I use a slip mat but you can use a clean granite counter or anything where it won't stick. I take a bit of Crisco and rub it onto the surface that I'm using also. It comes off the mat much better.

I also put a small amount on my rolling pin.

If you are coloring the fondant, start with a small amount and continue kneading it into the fondant until you have the right color.

Roll out the fondant to 1/8 inch thick.

Using a ruler, begin to cut strips evenly down the fondant, about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch wide (depending how big you want your bow)

Take one long strip and cut two 2 inch pieces, and one 1 1/2 piece.

Take the two 2 inch pieces and fold each one over so that the ends meet, and pinch it at the end.

Bring the two ends together so they are touching.

Take the 1 1/2 inch piece and run a drop of water on it with your finger.

(Water is glue for fondant)

Wrap the strip around the two pinched ends.

Dry all your pieces on cookie sheet lined with cornstarch dusted wax paper.

You don't need to cover it, just let them air dry for a day or two.

Making buttons is really easy too!

Use a circle fondant cutting shape or a 1A tip to cut circles out of rolled fondant.

I use a wooden lollipop stick to make these, but anything would work, that is the same shape. Indent the circle and move it around until you have an even circle.

Take the point part of the stick and make two holes.

Dry on cookie sheet with bow ties.

So simple and easy!

We also made cupcake wrappers from our Silhouette using matching cardstock and designed Little Man cupcake toppers!