Not your mother's cake toppers: Wedding cakes now customizable in wood, paper ...

But these days, with the boom of do-it-yourself party and wedding projects, cake toppers are undergoing a renaissance. Suddenly, they are an important reflection of the wedding couple or the party's guest of honor. They sum up the style of the event; is it rustic, elegant, quirky or chic?

At weddings, toppers sometimes outshine the cakes they decorate. Forget porcelain - couples are now rendered in wood, wire, paper or even Legos. And at birthday parties, showers and other events, toppers can help carry along a theme. (Plus, they're a great work-around for hosts who aren't skilled with a pastry bag. If your cupcake-frosting skills are subpar, all you need is a cute cake topper to distract your guests.)

A quick search of Etsy, the online marketplace of handmade goods, will bring up hundreds of clever cake toppers. But here are a few favorites for weddings and parties:

- Classic silhouettes are enjoying a new moment in the sun, and Simply Silhouettes captures the motif on dozens of personalized products. The company's wedding shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/silhouetteweddings) features custom acrylic cake toppers cut from your own photograph. All you need to do is send a photo of yourself and your beloved, and Simply Silhouettes will do the rest. Choose to frame your faces in the word "LOVE" or select a more classic pose. ($50, http://www.etsy.com/shop/silhouetteweddings).

- Designer Agnes Blum is best known in the online world for her yarn-wrapped collage wreaths. But she recently expanded her wares to include party supplies, like handmade "cake picks" that elevate even simple baked goods into works of art. Try Blum's felt pinwheel cupcake picks to add a touch of whimsy to your next bridal or baby shower. Or use them to dress up cupcakes at a little one's first birthday bash. ($28.50 for 12, http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnockKnocking).

- Cake toppers can have a sense of humor. Case in point: The Cake Candelabra. The mini candle-holder adds a touch of "posh" to an anniversary celebration, 40th birthday or even a sweet sixteen. It holds standard supermarket candles, and can be used again and again. Make it a family birthday tradition! (Fred & Friends, $8.95, paper-source.com).

How to Have a Scrapbooking Baby Shower - Nana's Corner

. We actually did find one vendor. I could change the hair and eye colors to match the mommy-to-be and also blue accent colors since they knew she was expecting a boy. The customer service was excellent and real-time! I could make changes online, with help if needed, as many times as needed. Once I approved the scrapbooking invitation design, it was printed almost immediately. The order arrived before the week was out! I wrote a

This was a wonderful shower idea! It will make scrapbooking the 1st year of Dylan’s life that much easier! As a new mommy there is not much time! I loved that it kept people entertained while I was opening presents (which can be the boring part of the shower for the guests). I also liked that cards were included with the completed scrapbook pages including the person’s name who made it and what their theme was.

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