Baby Shower

Baby showers are sweet. Everyone is so happy for the mum-to-be & there's so much anticipation in the air. I was invited to one recently & had a lot of fun.
There were plenty of gifts for the bub in the tum,

 fun(ny) games,

(pin the dummy on the baby)

(guess the number of jellybeans in the jar)

scrumptuous food

(delicious white chocolate mud cake made by Samantha at "Cake Smitten")

&.....a fingerprint tree.

Here's another way to use the fingerprint tree (in my previous post it was used at an engagement party):

get all the guests at the baby shower to pick either blue ink or pink ink, depending on whether they think the baby will be a boy or a girl, & add their fingerprint to the fingerprint tree. Then they can put their name next to the fingerprint. It's a beautiful alternative to a guest book & a fun idea so that the mum-to-be can look at all the baby predictions on the tree. Also nice to pass on to the baby as a keepsake for them to have later on.

There was a 50/50 split on the predictions at this baby shower.

Upon leaving, we each received this gorgeous Thank You

with an ultrasound photo of the baby on the back.

A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Have you been to a baby shower recently? How much fun did you have?

Fingerprint Tree

I recently attended an engagement party for a lovely couple &, instead of a Guest Book, they had a Fingerprint Tree. This was the first time I had seen this, but I've recently also noticed it on Pinterest, so it's not a new idea - but a very creative one.

The idea is that you have a tree printed on a sheet of paper (A4 or A3 are a good size) & you also have an ink pad where guests can ink their finger, then apply their fingerprint somewhere on the tree. You then write your name next to the fingerprint & the couple are left with a beautiful memento of all the guests at their engagement. (Having a packet of wet wipes handy is a good idea, so guests can remove the ink afterwards).

Here's the Fingerprint Tree that I put my fingerprint on:

This is such a clever idea for many other special functions too, such as weddings, kitchen teas, baby showers, birthdays, christenings & so many more, where you might previously have used a Guest Book.

I think a fantastic idea would be to create a Family Tree similar to the Fingerprint Tree (I don't know if this has been done yet - it probably has). With the Family Tree, your family members can put their fingerprints on the tree & then you can frame it & hang it on the wall in your home, along with your family photos.

It's beautiful. What do you think of the Fingerprint Tree? Do you like it as much as I do?

Christmas Craft - Orange & Clove Pomanders

Here's a popular craft idea for Christmas, & so easy to make. There are many variations of ingredients, but these are the ones I like. Of course, you can use Ginger, Star Anise or other powdered spices you like, & instead of oranges, you can use lemons or even apples.
These aromatic pomanders send a fabulous fragrance through the house. Why not give them a try? Here's how: 

• 100g ground cinnamon
• 50g ground cloves
• 15g ground allspice
• 15g ground nutmeg
• large ceramic bowl
• 6 oranges
• 100g whole cloves
• thick needle
• plastic cling wrap

Mix all the powdered spices in the bowl.
Pierce holes in the oranges with the needle & stud with the whole cloves. You can cover the whole surface of the oranges with cloves, or create a simple pattern, as I have.

Place oranges in the bowl with the mixed spices, tossing gently until
their whole surface is covered with spice.
Cover bowl gently with the cling wrap.
Turn pomanders daily for 2-3 weeks, after which time they’re ready for
displaying in a pretty crystal or glass bowl.


Just in time for Christmas!
x Kathy x