My creative bug bit me one day as I was planning a co-worker’s baby shower. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making a watermelon baby carriage filled with delicious fruit, so I tackled it with gusto! It was relatively easy, and this was a big hit with both the women and men attending the shower.
For my filling, I bought the following foods. Look for specials on in-season fruit and use your coupons if possible!
- Whole watermelon
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- one Orange
- 4 grapes (obviously I bought more but used only 4 of them. Use the rest on the cheese tray)
- Individual sponge cakes: 2 packs of 6 each
- Cheese tray with 4 different varieties
- Whipped cream: FREE from my house
TOTAL: almost $20
Watermelon Baby Carriage
If your melon is wobbly, cut a small piece off the bottom to flatten the underside. Carve out the watermelon, and chop the reserved melon into chunks for the fruit salad. (You’ll have more than you need!) You can add a decorative edge to the top if you like. Save the extra rind for the carriage handle. Cut the rest of the fruit into bite-sized pieces. Mix with the watermelon chunks. Fashion a stroller handle out of the leftover rind using my picture as a guide. Attach the handle to the body with toothpicks. Slice the orange into 4 pieces, and using the grapes too, attach with large toothpicks to the melon for the carriage wheels.
I brought the carved melon unassembled to work in a large white plastic trash bag, and the fruit salad separately in a large covered bowl that I kept refrigerated. Right before serving, place the carriage on a platter, assemble the handle and wheels, and spoon the salad into the melon. Serve the fruit salad with the sponge cakes, whipped cream and cheese tray.
This simple yet elegant party served about 18 guests, and everyone had a wonderful time. The gift basket and food were a big hit, and the 2-year-old loved playing with the balloons.
For the completed baby shower and how our co-workers spent little money, visit How to Throw a Frugal and Fun Baby Shower.
