It’s all about the theme, and this is a great one. Full of surprises that you can actually do, this Under The Sea-themed baby shower will delight all of your guests, especially the mom-to-be.

If you have some netting, you can tack it to a wall and fill it with balloons, draping some across the table. A great idea to make your table part of the decor is to put a colored tablecloth on the table, then a different colored tablecloth on top of the first colored tablecloth, which has been cut with a wave pattern at the bottom. Make sure to have the bottom layer still showing. You can repeat this method to get in all of the colors in your scheme.

On the table, decorate with shells, a treasure chest (even a glass jewelry box open with a string of pearls and a couple of shells will do the trick), and sea-inspired floral arrangements and centerpieces.

One nice touch is to mix Elmer’s glue with a couple of drops of food coloring (we recommend green, purple, and blue) and then paint it onto a glass item, like a candleholder or a hurricane glass. This will create a sea glass effect and make the piece a nice backdrop for the food or gift table.

Find a jug and put out brown paper for people to put a message in a bottle, a.k.a. advice for the new mom and dad. After they’ve written their advice, have them roll, then tie, the brown paper with some twine and put it in the jug.

Even the food can be part of the effect, and it’s easy to do, too. Set out pretzel sticks and label it driftwood. Cut out fruit in star shapes and say it’s starfish. Put out some carrots and call it crab legs. To really dazzle, whip up some shell-shaped macarons filled with vanilla icing. Put out a jar labeled dinglehoppers and fill it with forks and you’re good to serve! To quench guests’ thirst, make some Sea Water with 7 Up, pineapple juice, and food coloring.

Everyone wants pics of the new mommy and what better way to do it than with a DIY backdrop? Dip coffee filters in a turquoise colored paint and string them together. You’ll need about 20 strands across. Hang them from the ceiling or tie it to a backdrop stand. An alternative is to take three different colored tablecloths (lavender, blue, and turquoise would be great) and cut them into strips, braiding them at the top, with about a foot hanging down. Let the rest hang. Just add props!

Tiny jars with little bath salts make the perfect party favor, as do mini bath bombs or a candle with a shell or corral attached.

This shower is all about the details and you can do it small with great effect, or really pull out all the stops in this under the sea adventure. Whichever way you go, it’s sure to please.