A Babe in the Woods: Kate Berry's Woodlands-Themed Baby Shower

March 20, 2014
Charlotte Jenks Lewis
Martha Stewart Weddings celebrations expert Darcy Miller, second from left, threw a stylish woodlands-inspired baby shower for colleague and friend Kate Berry (the magazine's style director), center.
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Showered with Love

See Darcy's Top Five Baby Shower Tips

Once the theme was decided, Darcy took stock of what she could make by hand. "Those personal touches are what Kate will remember," she says.

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The Invitation Suite

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

On Darcy's DIY list: drawing sweet baby animals, which were then printed on the invitations. An envelope liner featuring the little critters continued the theme.

Custom invitations, chereeberrypaper.com

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The Food

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

The motif was reflected in the food as well. Here, crackers in the shapes of forest animals elevated a standard cheese-and-crackers plate.

Cheese and bunny crackers, petercallahan.com

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The Decorations

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Darcy decorated the event with flora-and-fauna vignettes using birds' nests, candy eggs, cloches, and faux-bois pedestals.

Flowers, seaportflowers.com. Mini birds' nests, $12 for 12, beau-coup.com. Woodsie cake stands, from $175, bellochio.com.

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How to Make Handmade Woodland Stockings

Martha makes wool woodland stockings that are embellished with fuzzy felt creatures, they're the ultimate in rustic chic.

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The Sweets Table

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Keep the food spread visually appealing. "I like to group like with like, displaying bites in an organized, pleasing way," says Darcy.

Candy, nuts.com, sugarfina.com, jellybelly.com. Cupcakes, $2.75 each, onegirlcookies.com. Winter deer cupcake toppers, $4 for 12, shopsweetlulu.com

. Chocolate deer (under cloche), andiespecialtysweets.etsy.com. Flowers, seaportflowers.com. Mini birds' nests, $12 for 12, beau-coup.com. Birch rounds, from $1 each, michaels.com.

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Oh, Deer!

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

A green-tea mille-crepes cake from New York City's famed Lady M Confections was decorated with a woodland scene.

Green-tea mille-crepes cake, 9", $80, ladym.com. DIY woodland cake-decorating set (includes sugar mushrooms and ladybug, shown), $109, andiespecialtysweets.etsy.com. Deer figures, from $3 each, safariltd.com

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Hop to It

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

One of the many highlights of the dessert table: bunny-shaped sugar cookies.

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Put a Deer on It

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Buttercream cupcakes were each topped with miniature plastic deer for a hit of wildlife whimsy.

Cupcakes, $2.75 each, onegirlcookies.com.

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Sandwich Bites

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

It's important to work with a caterer who is open to customizing the food to suit your theme. For example, Peter Callahan Catering cut croque monsieurs into bunny-shaped bites to go with the party's theme.

Birch rounds

, from $1 each, michaels.com. Sandwiches, petercallahan.com

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Gingerbread Cookies

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Darcy found these sweet deer-shaped gingerbread cookies from Picket Fence Confections.

Gingerbread deer, $14 for 24, pfconfections.etsy.com

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Soap Favors

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Be creative and continue the theme as much as you can. One of the favors given to guests was a custom-made soap bearing the fawn illustrated by Darcy.

Custom soap, justbubbly.com

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Sachet Favors

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Bunnies and squirrels and deer, oh my! Darcy turned to Spoonflower to make custom fabric bearing her designs for lavender sachet favors.

Custom fabric, spoonflower.com. Cotton mushrooms, $3 for 6, shopsweetlulu.com.

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Mushroom Marshmallows

Credit: Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Darcy scoured the Internet for unique finds, like these adorable (and delicious!) marshmallow mushroom favors that reflected the shower's theme.

Mushroom marshmallows, $3.25 a lb., sockerbit.com

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