SHAKE, RATTLE, AND, ROLL BABY BASH

 Theme Concept: A 50’s sock hop theme for the expectant parents.  

Guest of Honor Profile:  For a fun, couple that has had a smooth and happy pregnancy. Mom-to-be shouldn’t be dancing but she can rock along with the songs.   

Invitations: Postcard with tiny bobby socks on a clothesline ribbon.  Purchase or make a 5X7 nice white postcard with a decorative border.  Print verse and shower information on card. Punch 2 holes in the corners the card.  Cut thin cloth ribbon into 10-inch lengths. Knot one end of the ribbon and feed the other end through the hole from backside of post card.  Feed the ribbon end through other hole from front side of post card. Knot ribbon end in back of card.  Ribbon should resemble clothesline across top of card.  Purchase miniature clothespins and tiny socks from a craft store in the baby shower section.  Pin a few socks to ribbon clothesline with clothespins and secure with glue if necessary.  Substitute glue for the clothespins and cut bobby sock shapes from felt or purchase doll socks from a toy store if items are unavailable.

Invitation Verse: Put on Your Bobby Sox & Poodle Skirts for a Shake, Rattle, and Roll Baby Shower Bash! (print shower information)

Décor: Pink & blue record centerpieces. Spray paint 45 records with pink and blue gloss enamel paint.  Design a center record label, either in color or black & white, with a picture of the mom & dad as babies.  Draw 2 circles the size of the center label on a 45 record.  Arrange photos and titles like “Babyface Judy” or “Jumpin’ Jack” in circles.  Copy photo circles at copy center.  Cut out circles and use gluestick to adhere to center of 45 records over labels.  Place records in flower arrangements on tables or stand records upright in Styrofoam bricks as table centerpieces. Mask Styrofoam with metallic shreds around base.  

Purchase cardboard standees of Elvis, Marilyn, or James Dean set them around party.  Give guests disposable cameras to photograph themselves with these legends.   

Menu: Hamburgers & hot dogs with an ice cream sundae bar.  

Cake Décor: For a fun and easy cake top use a clean 45 record.  Make a new center label in pink and blue colors, baby pictures and congratulatory words (see décor instructions above).  Insert the record on end into the cake.  Painting the cake top record, as suggested in the décor instructions above is not recommended, as the record will be inserted into the cake.    

Games / Activities:  This game can be organized as all guests race around to music with a time limit.  Or guests can play throughout the evening.  Photocopy 10 pictures from newspapers or magazines that show significant events from the 50’s.  Number picture from 1 to 10 and post pictures in various locations around party.  Give guests a sheet of paper numbered 1 to 10.  Guests guess the events in the pictures and record their answer on the sheet.

Music: Play 50’s favorites such as Elvis & Chubby Checker. If budget allows, rent a jukebox or a cardboard jukebox standee.

Party Favors: Make a custom CD of 50’s music for guests to take home with them.  Use the artwork from the center labels for the CD insert that lists the songs. (see Internet Resources: Custom CD’s page xxx)

  Theme Substitutions 

THEME TITLE	THEME CONCEPT	DÉCOR IDEAS
Rockin’ Round The Clock	Mom and dad are going to be rocking that baby all night long.	Mini rocking chairsin centerpieces.