These ideas from our readers show how a little bit of effort and a lot of imagination can create thoughtful, personal baby showers for new moms.

"We planted beans in cracked eggshells, added them to baby-blue pots, and used them as place cards," writes KRo. The beans symbolized the baby boy who was due to arrive. 

"I bought baby cedar trees from a local tree farm to use as centerpieces," writes KRo. "I painted the pots baby blue and added an 'it's a boy' ribbon around the top. They were a hit, and guests were invited to bring them home to plant in their yard."

"Since the baby's name will be Jonah, we decided to do a whale-themed shower," writes rachelnicholsprice.

"We made sugar cookies with a whale cookie cutter and royal icing to put in the mugs for favors," writes rachelnicholsprice.

Rachelnicholsprice also made brownie pops with a "J" for Jonah.

Greeniebeanie made lambs out of fuzzy fabric, and attached little bells and tags that read "thank ewe."

For a sweet pea-themed shower, greeniebeanie made favor bags decorated with mini one-pieces; the bags were filled with bath salts, lip balm, sweet pea soap, and candy.

Greeniebeanie made this "hoagie" out of diapers, hooded towels, washcloths, baby wash, baby lotion, burp cloths, and booties -- a fresh take on the traditional diaper cake.

One-pieces are popular ways to decorate a baby shower. "I love this idea because it is a combination of decor and gift!" writes dana1017.

"These fun party favors are cake frosting bags filled with hot cocoa mix, white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and marshmallows topped off with an 'it's a girl' ribbon," writes dana1017. "So fun!"

"Print the names of your guests on a card, punch a hole, and insert a baby's nappy pin for a cute touch," writes serenasoosay.

After the shower, the new mom takes home this baby-friendly decor of alphabet rubber mats, says serenasoosay.

"My brother and his wife love the beach," writes cathydmill. "Flower arrangements in bright colors and beach pails as well as custom-designed surfboard cookies that our sister made helped carry out the theme."

"We used grass skirts, tatami beach mats, and surf-shaped platters to continue our theme on the buffet table," writes cathydmill.

"Finally, a custom-designed tropical surf cake with three surfboards to represent mom, dad, and baby completed our surfer theme," cathydmill writes. "The parents loved it!"

Guests looked at baby photos hung with numbered clothespins (rachelgeneve used clear stamp blocks to stamp them) and guessed which photo belonged to which guest.

"During the event, we had several spools of ribbon or string and scissors out in a designated area. Each guest 'guestimates' the length of string needed to fit around Momma's belly" writes rachelgeneve. "When everyone is ready, each person comes up to 'hug' Mom and see how close she got to match the correct length."

Julieconleyhenegan filled three dozen tiny baby bottles with pink jelly beans and then tucked them inside baby booties. "I put some pink tulle around the bottom of a white Christmas tree and hung the booties, which everyone took home as favors," she writes.