Alanna and Jody's DIY prowess made everything shine at the creative baby shower they threw. Alanna gives us the scoop: My friend Jody Peach and I threw a baby (boy) shower for our friend Erin, with the help of a few other friends. We chose to go with a "Woodland Forest" theme, finding a lot of inspiration from several blogs and DIY websites (especially, Hostess with the Mostess, 100 Layer Cake, TomKat Studio). The baby was due in November, so we created our "Woodland" theme with an autumn twist. We incorporated owl prints, acorns, pumpkins, miniature tree stumps and pinecones.

Jody and I hand-wound yarn and twine around styrophome balls, as well as secured loose/organic moss to additional styrophome balls. We arranged the twine, yarn and moss balls in a decorative vase. We used pinecones from my backyard to hold the food labels. Jody created "felted acorns" by rolling wool-yarn and attatching to acorn tops. I created a double-layered flag garland from mixed cardstock prints and solids, strung on hemp cord. For our table centerpiece, we included warm toned candles and holders, with green silk plant stems and long textured branches.

Instead of games, we created a "Wishing Tree" for the guests to make 'wishes' or leave messages for Erin and the baby. For the tree, we used large tree branches in a decorative vase. For the leaves, we hand-cut a simple leaf out of green shades of cardstock, punched and strung with twine. Guests were to write on the paper leaves and hang on the tree.

The invitations were hand printed by a friend/artist, Marco Suarez. Food included German chicken salad, mini pumpkin cheesecakes, deviled eggs, caramel apples, muscadine grapes, hand-dipped milk chocolate pretzel rods and apple cider punch. Favors included small cellophane bags of hand-dipped milk chocolate mini pretzels. The owl toppers on the mini pumpkin cheesecakes are illustrations by Delphine Doreau found here.

Thanks Alanna! Readers, you can see more about this woodsy party on I Heart Laughing.

(Images: Jody Peach)