[hghent]

I'm in a wedding in June and the bride's sister and I are throwing a bridal shower in 2 WEEKS!!! I did not wait until last minute... here's a quick update:

Her sister is driving me crazy!! I really don't want to even go to the shower anymore (and neither does the Bride!), but, of course, I have to. She told me about 30 people, so I had some left over little baskets that I was doing for the shower. Now, I only have enough for 33 people and cannot get these baskets anywhere! I got them 2 years ago for my sister's baby shower and never ended up using them. I ordered printed labels for candy that I was going to make (nugget wrappers and kisses) and put them in the basket. I don't even have enough labels and I really don't want to order more! Anyways, she emailed me yesterday and asked how they were coming. Then she laid the big one...

"There are 50ish people attended... so far!" AAAHHHH!! Now what do I do!! And what in the hell does "so far" mean?!? How can I plan with that!!!

I'm looking for cheap, cute, crafty ideas that won't take up a lot of time! I only have 2 weeks to get them together!!

PLEASE!! I'll take any ideas!! I know my AFC family can help me out!!

[mckivigl]

wow!! Have you tried to make the wrappers yourself? I did this with my wedding favors.

Another thing you could do is go and get a mold for a flower and make candy lipops in the color of the wedding. I did this and it was a big hit. Or take and do pretzels dipped in chocolate.

For my shower they got little candles and made stickers on the candles and put a ribbon around it. It was very cute. And she also made up placemats with our pictures on them and a little saying. That was very nice.

[AdamsMom]

For my wedding, I bought those little round circle labels (they come in a pack from Avery of about 250) and printed out cute images with my Dh and my name on them with the date... put them on the bottom of mini reeses or kisses... very easy and cheap! You can easily stick 4-5 of them in some tulle and tie it up... we just laid them around the centerpieces.

[Dianaj64]

I like "green" shower gifts. Nothing like actually being able to use the item after! I bought big bags of flower bulbs and put 3 (or 1 if they are big) in a nice wrapper which could be something cheap you can pick up by the yard at a craft store or Walmart. Tie a ribbon around it and add a cute saying or the bride's name. I've also seen little bottles of honey with a nice tag or wrapper. I loved the time I got the bubbles too! That was fun. I also like a combination of different items, so don't worry if you have half baskets and half whatever. It will all work out! You could also do a little plant for everyone. It is spring! Buy small clay pots from the dollar store and get some pansies. Hope this helps a bit and good luck!

[hghent]

Great ideas so far!! I'm going out to walmart and ac moore to get some ideas! I should also add that I'm working both weekends until the shower!! AAAGGHHHH!!!

[rntg83]

I know at the dollar tree, they have LOTS of small things you can use for party favors. I don't know how big the baskets are that you are using, but the DT has small "brandy glasses" that you can put mints in and wrap with netting. I would use the baskets AND something else, kinda mix them together. If she doesn't see the post, PM lhart, she has REALLY good ideas!

[therbel]

I have been to two showers that heve used tulip bulbs wrapped in tule and that had a printed poem tied to the ouside that said something like "plant this and watch our love grow after we are united as one....." Thought is was pretty cool.... and the tulips are just comming up again! made me think of the bride and groom!

[robinlk78]

At my sister's shower, we bought everyone a flavored bar of soap from Bath & Body. Got them on sale for a buck apiece. Everybody loved them!! Something practical. You could also try Michael's. They have $1 bins with lots of cute stuff.
HTH

[targetaddict]

I've made flower pens and put them in bunches as centerpieces. You just take a regular white Bic pen (or similar one) and wrap it with floral tape attaching a silk/fake flower to the top. It worked out great for pens for games, and guests had a little something to spruce up a pen cup at work or home.

[twinkie23]

One of the most unique gifts I ever received was a little wooden stenciled box.

MICHAELS or other CRAFT STORES:
All of the Bridesmaids got together and each had "X" amount to do.
Remember Micheals or a craft store may just let you do a class and finish the project at their store. The supplies will already be there, and so will the instructors. Remember you are generating business for customers who stop to view your craft project.

Favors: A use for your labels: Personalized little bottles of Champagne are great wit the Bride and Grooms names. (I hope this does not offend anyone)

Favors: little boxes of Godiva chocolates are used alot these days. Once again use a personalized G&B label on the box. These boxes are very inexpensive.
With the economy the way it is negotiate the price.
Tell Godiva if the favors look good at the Wedding...more business may come their way...

If cost is a factor. Have the boxes placed after dinner and have one Godiva Mint chocolate inside. However most boxes are 2 to 4 chocolates.
EXTRA BONUSthe little gold bags and tissue paper are a courtesy of Godiva.

[twinkie23]

One more thing.

A Godiva Chocolate is 50 to 75 cents a piece.

Plus you get the bags, tissue etc. for free...

So for #30 favors possible $30 to $40. (approx)

[bjordan101]

LOVE the godiva idea! My sister is having a 'fall wedding' so the gold will be nice.

[cluffgirl]

I have seen these at quite a few showers. They are cake lipops. They are really cute, and you could even make your own wrappers and tie them of with cute ribbon. Here is a link with a recipe and pics! Good Luck! http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2008/01/dont-lick-bite.html

[Susuz]

If you haven't already used the labels you have scan the entire sheet of them, then copy them onto a set of address labels! That way they will all match....Or do as the PP said just make some more, they aren't that difficult. If you have ever made return address labels you can do those. Or, stretch the ones you have by not placing them on every candy, get some small baskets that are similar and don't sweat it, everyone is just going to eat theirs and go on. If you tie them all with the same ribbon/net then no one is going to care that they are slightly different. OR take numbers on the round dots, 1-50 (if that is how many she says are attending), place on chocolate kisses then have everyone take ONE of the # ones. At the end reveal the "majic" number and that person wins the centerpiece, or another prize.

I have made a large basket from my stockpile that the bride will need setting up house, wrapped it in net (the color of the shower, you know us Southern girls and our themes) tied with a huge bow and used that as a centerpiece on the food table. So present, centerpiece not much $$$$ OOP all at once!

I have personally done the pen idea, you can even put one per tiny clay pot with a little styrofoam and shredded paper over it, or a larger pot and use it as a centerpiece, then have everyone take one at the end of the shower. Use the cheapo flowers from WM, those bushes have 5 or so each, and you can get them in your shower colors. Take an exacto knife or box cutter and slice the end cap off (they used to just flip out but now they are attached.) Glue the flower (gerbera or sunflower size work nicely)into the end. Then take stemp green floral tape and wrap the pen, tip to flower.

Target has CUTE tin buckets in the Dollar Spot, put the small containers of forced mini daffodils, tie with a short piece of net ribbon from the DT or use curling ribbon to make a bow. If you want to go even more inexpensively use a brown paper bag, roll the edges down to the right height, place the small forced daffodils in it, this is also a very "green" way to decorate. You can even use the brown wrapping paper for a table runner.

[Susuz]

Get a six pack of dianthus or pansies, plant one in the tiny clay pots, (use you HL 40% off or Michael's). Go get a package of 2 dozen roses or gerberas, the little round fishbowls at DT. Cut the heads off the flowers and float them in the fishbowls, use as centerpieces then give one to each guest. (Or I even saw a tropical themed one like that where they had a small (.15) goldfish in each bowl. You can also float silk flowers, or just float a candle.

DT sometimes has the packs of the small shower boxes, (10 or so white ones in a package) fill in with those and candy or the net treat bags with the same candy as your baskets. That way if only 35 show up you aren't out a huge amount of money and they can be used for other things. You can stamp a tag with the bride and groom's name or initials (I make the bride and groom's initials on my computer, then take it to Office Depot and have a rubber stamp (not the self inking kind) made of it, use it then give it to the bride for a gift. (There are all kinds of fonts you can download)