How to Make Your Own Umbrella for a Baby Shower

You can turn a child's umbrella into a special baby shower umbrella.

One traditional baby shower decoration is an umbrella. You can hang the umbrella upside down from the ceiling in the middle of the party room or place it upside down on a table. You can then fill the umbrella with small gifts for the mom-to-be, such as bottles, pacifiers and bibs. A simple, store-bought child's umbrella would suffice, but it would lack details specific to your shower. Luckily, you can use these umbrellas to make your own special baby shower umbrella.

Things You'll Need

• Child's umbrella
• Hot glue
• Ribbon
• Puffy paint
• Permanent marker
• Drywall anchor
• Hook
• Twine
• Small gifts

Instructions

1. Purchase a child's full-size umbrella in any color that fits your shower theme. Children's umbrellas work well since they often have a curved handle on them and come in bright and pastel colors. You can choose to use an adult umbrella if you prefer; however, be sure that the umbrella is not a collapsible one.

2. Apply some hot glue to the end of a piece of ribbon. The color should coordinate with your umbrella. The length of the ribbon depends on the length of the metal rod of your umbrella. Attach the ribbon to the handle of the umbrella where the metal rod meets the plastic handle.

3. Twist the ribbon onto the metal rod of the umbrella, overlapping layers as you go. Attach the other end of the ribbon to the metal bar with more hot glue once you reach the top of the metal rod.

4. Apply some hot glue to the center of a 12-inch ribbon in any color you choose. Press the ribbon to the umbrella. You want the ribbon situated on the outside center of one of the fabric panels, near the bottom edge of the panel. Once the glue has dried, tie the ribbon into a bow or, if you prefer, leave the ribbon loose.

5. Repeat Step 4 to the other panels of fabric, using more ribbon. You can use different colors of ribbon if you like.

6. Use puffy, fabric paints to write or draw decorations onto the panels of the umbrella. You could write well wishes or baby-themed words or the new baby's name. Or if you prefer, you can skip this step and give the guests a permanent marker to write well wishes on the umbrella when they arrive.

7. Insert a drywall anchor into the ceiling in the center of your party room. Twist a hook into the anchor, and hang your umbrella from the hook so that it is upside down. If you chose an umbrella without a curved handle, tie a piece of twine around the handle and use the twine to hang the umbrella from the hook. If you choose not to hang the umbrella, place it upside down on a table.

8. Fill the umbrella with small gifts such as socks, onesies and stuffed animals. Allow the mother-to-be to take the umbrella home with her when she leaves.

References

• Baby Showers Central: Simple Decoration Ideas
• Baby Shower Stuff: Baby Shower Checklist