To celebrate the motherhood of two modern women, we dispensed with the fusty color code, invited the soon-to-be dads, and offered zero-prep-time foods instead of the usual tea-sandwich fare. Here, a crib sheet for planning a party that's cliche-free and easy as ABC.

Make It Personal
Our coed shower was born from the individual styles of Kendra and Rachel.

They both love clean, modern design and bold color. Two of their favorite hues, orange and teal, play nicely together, so home editor Page Marchese Norman and senior home editor Rebecca Robertson started there.

On Kendra (left): Alisha Levine Sleeveless Ruffle Tunic, $184, available at Barneys New York and all Barneys locations, 7 For All Mankind Jeans available exclusively at A Pea in the Pod, $215, apeainthepod.com
On Rachel (right): A Pea in the Pod Printed Silk Shift Dress, $250, apeainthepod.com

They whipped up a pair of graphic mobiles (top), made from construction paper and embroidery hoops, which served as the party's decor and as take-home nursery decorations for the almost-parents.The inspiration was clean modern shapes that appeal to young, modern mothers and will later stimulate the baby in the nursery or playroom.

Tools and Materials
Art-quality colored construction paper or card stock (available at art-supply stores)
Embroidery hoops or basket hoops (we used 18- to 20-inch hoops)
Colored waxed twine
Eyelets

Mobile How-To
1. Determine the length of your mobiles. Remember, you want the mobile to have various lengths of circles to make it visually interesting. Cut the various lengths of waxed twine. Double the twine strings (as if you are going to thread a needle). Tie the loose ends in a knot.

2. Slip finished end through eyelet and pull through. This will create a slip knot. Repeat with all other lengths of twine and attach around diameter of hoop.

3. You will want to repeat the same slip knot with the waxed twine to hang the hoop from the ceiling or beam (as we did). Once you have doubled the twine and made a slip knot at three points around the hoop, tie the unfinished ends of each in a knot and then tie all three knots together and hang from a cup hook in the ceiling.

4. For the circles, choose varying sizes and colors and cut freehand; you can also purchase already cut card stock in circular shapes. Use a 1/8-inch hole punch to punch a hole at the top (about 1/2 inch from the rim of the circle). Attach eyelets to circles with eyelet punch (available at scrapbooking sites and art-supply stores).