Even if you can't make it to a friend or family member’s baby shower, you can still celebrate the joyous event. Enter the themed "shower in a box" -- a gift idea devised by Martha Stewart Living crafts editor Jodi Levine for parents-to-be who live far away. Mail a carton loaded with toys, nursery decor, keepsakes, funky baby staples, cute party things, and thoughtful treats for the mom. Top it all off with a bright helium-filled Mylar balloon to float up and out of the box -- like magic -- when she opens the package.

Mylar Balloon, 18", in Teal, $5, Balloon Saloon

You just can't go wrong with a zoo concept: Kids adore animals, and the gift possibilities -- books, cupcake toppers, mobiles -- are almost endless.

Animal Parade Cupcake Kit, $13, Meri Meri

"Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, $9; "I Want My Hat Back," by Jon Klassen, $16; "Creature ABC," by Andrew Zuckerman, $20; "Little Owl Lost," by Chris Haughton, $15; "I Am a Bunny," by Ole Risom and Richard Scarry, $10; Barnes & Noble

$4, Skip*Hop

$69, Coral and Tusk

by Artisan Biscuits, $5, Cube Marketplace

$14, Dwell Studio

by Flensted, $39, Mini Jake

from $40, Rifle Paper Co.

$15, Little Alouette

$190, Areaware

by Vulli, $20, Toys"R"Us

After Jodi's brother and pregnant sister-in-law relocated to San Francisco, she gathered New York City–oriented gifts from their friends and family to send to the expectant couple. She topped off the collection with some black-and white cookies, an NYC classic and a family favorite, before sending it west. "They were so happy and touched with the hometown gifts," she says. Swap in presents from your home city or region.

City in a Bag Decoration (ages 3 and up), $14, Muji

$3.60 for 24, New York Transit Museum Store

$60, Guggenheim Store

$6.50, NYCwebStore

in Bridge and Tunnel Gray, $38, Winter Water Factory

in Poppy Red, $54.25, Famille Summerbelle

"I Lego N.Y.," by Christoph Niemann, $15; "Up and Down New York," by Tony Sarg, $20; "ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York," by Joanne Dugan, $17; "This Is New York," by Miroslav Sasek, $18; Barnes & Noble

$11, New York Transit Museum Store

$13, Yellow Owl Workshop

by Playsam, $50, Babesta

$10 for 10, Zabar's

The graphic punch of an alphabet-related shower has universal appeal. Guests can eat their words with letter lollipop party favors. "You could display the poster above the dessert table or scatter the felt letters around a table and then use them later in the baby’s room," Jodi says.

Stuffed Felt Alphabet Letter Set, in Uppercase, $40, MiChiMa

$10.50 for 2 cups, o.r.e.

in Letters, 3", $9.75 for 3, Vintage Confections

(for the cake garland), by Martha Stewart Crafts, $33, EKSuccess Brands

$20, Barnes & Noble

"Dr. Seuss’s ABC," by Dr. Seuss, $9; "Harold’s ABC," by Crockett Johnson, $7; "P Is for Peanut: A Photographic A-B-C," by Lisa Gelber and Jody Roberts, $10; "Bruno Munari’s ABC," by Bruno Munari, $20; Barnes & Noble

$12 for 30, Isakay Boutique

$8 for 50, Knot & Bow

$15 for 6, Snow & Graham

$19, Barnes & Noble

$50, Rifle Paper Co.