#you toss up a little envelop with a balloon tied to it and hold your hand to your heart as if wishing it a safe voyage

[gummi-ships]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep - Commands - Balloon Letter

[ssrleona]

homecoming (I)

pairing: leona kingscholar x fem!reader

warnings: slight angst, allusions to childhood mistreatment

word count: 1.5k

s: at your insistence, you finally visit the afterglow savannah and meet Leona's family

a/n: this was written before the tamashna muina event released. and since I haven't read the trans yet, how I describe the savannah and its culture may not be the same as it was described in game. I'm East African, and since the lion king was essentially a mishmash of East African culture (mostly Kenya, Ethiopia, and for some reason some stuff from W. Africa), most of what I describe comes from my own cultural background + light research. enjoy!

It starts with a letter.

It’s not unusual for Night Raven College to be overrun by its unruly student body, but the coming summer holiday brings a new level of restlessness that hums through the walls. Hasty stops at the school store, last minute assignments, bittersweet goodbyes. Even the faculty seem on edge and ready to end the semester.

Ruggie all but collapses at your feet when he spots you in the hall of mirrors, heaving a woven basket twice his size. It’s filled to the brim with an assortment of different packages; mailers, bags, miniature boxes wrapped in newspaper clippings and assorted wrapping paper. A neat ivory envelope tied with a golden ribbon at the very top.

He gives it to you. “Could you hand this off to Leona? I have enough on my plate as it is.”

“Is it usually this bad?” You ask, eyeing the precarious stack that’s leaning just a little too close to the floor. You turn the envelope in your hands. The words on the front are written in a script you can’t make out, only recognizing ‘Leona Kingscholar’ in the far left corner. It’s bulky, like someone crammed multiple letters inside, but doesn’t take away the luxurious quality of the paper. It’s silk between your fingertips.

“It’s from his family, so I doubt he’d read it anyways,” Ruggie comments. He hefts the basket from the floor, “Throw it out if you want.”

His family.

Besides bitter remarks thrown in passing, Leona never speaks of them. Or his home. What you’re holding in your hands is the only piece of the other Kingscholar’s you’ve ever gotten so close to. The letter is tucked away before you give the suggestion a second thought. 

“You came all this way, I might as well.” 

“You just wanna read it, huh?” 

“And you wouldn’t?”

Ruggie laughs at that, turning to the door with a shake of his head. “There’s a reason curiosity killed the cat. Something’s I’d rather not know.”

______________________________________________________________________________

“Took you long enough.”

Warm arms circle your waist as you enter the room, dragging you backwards until you hit the plushness of his sheets. He’s practically on top of you. Flush against him, back to chest. His head finds its way to the crook of your neck and you can feel the sigh he releases on the wisps of your hair. The softness of his tail curling around your ankle.

Leona’s tone is scalding, but the delicate possessiveness of his actions tell you otherwise.

You turn your head. Heavy olive irises sharpen as you place the letter between the both of you. “I got caught up.”

Groaning, he’s quick to toss it on the nightstand before burrowing himself further into your neck. With you two so close, sheets ballooned around you, a drowsy warmth fills you. It’s hard not to fall into it.

“That’s the last thing I need right now.” He huffs.

You raise a brow. “You haven’t even read it.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s the same old shtick. Naggin’ me to come for break.” 

He sighs. “If it was up to me I’d just stay here.”

“Aw, you’d miss me that much?” You tease, yelping as he pinches your side. The laugh pulled from his lips ease into a yawn.

“In your dreams.” Leona exhales. His breath evens out, warm against the shell of your ear as he’s lulled into sleep. 

And that was that.

In your position on the bed, you have a perfect view of the nightstand, eyes catching the glimmer of gold ribbon in the dim light.

Coming to Twisted Wonderland, you’ve constantly been thrusted into the most asinine of situations all while being told to keep your head down and leave things where they lie.

But you're a curious sort by nature. It’s a hunger, insatiable in its pursuit to pick everything apart, examine every crack and rough edge, feel the grain against the pad of your fingers, piece by piece. You’ve disrupted the debased philosophies of Night Raven College’s elite because you’re always pushing for more, not settling for less.

This is not something you are ashamed of.

Yet, as you stare at the envelope in front of you, you can’t help but feel hesitant.

Leona is an enigma, an ever changing labyrinth. The moment you think you have him figured out, the layout changes and you’re back at square one. And it leaves you starved.

You want to know him, yearn to trace his patterns like the dips in the back of your hand; know where each curve started, why it ends, and swallow it whole to keep wherever you go.

 You also know this: if you push too far Leona will close himself away and never let you see these parts of him ever again. And you’ve grown greedy.

(Something’s I’d rather not know)

You grab the envelope.

The ribbon gives easily enough, and you’re met with letter after letter, all scrawled in messy print. You realize these were written by Cheka– asking his uncle how he’s doing, when he’s coming to visit, and what he’s been up to at the palace since the last time Leona saw him. On the bottom of some of the pages were crayon drawings: portraits of his parents and scenes of Leona and him together, exploring the palace or traveling through the city. 

As you sift through, a paper falls into your lap. 

It’s a photograph of Cheka and who you’d assume to be his parents. The man in the photo is laughing, light smile lines gracing his face. Cheka’s in his arms, and the woman beside them looks at the sight with fondness. The background is flooded with the country’s namesake- an assortment of orange, yellow, and pinks kaleidoscopes together in a painting of the setting sun. It looks homey, tender and inviting, and you can’t help the smile that curls around your lips.

You’d love to be there, surrounded in that warmth.

 Leona’s scoff makes you jump, looking over at him, and his bleary eyes meet your stare. His expression was mostly hidden in the depth of your shoulder but he didn’t look pleased. You didn’t realize you said the words aloud, or that your movements woke him.

“Go be a comedian if you wanna start telling jokes.” He grunts. You turn yourself in his grasp to face him fully and his arms tighten their hold. His hair is mused with sleep, blanketing the pillows beneath. Your hands itch to touch it.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” You insisted. He scowls at this, tail shifting back and forth beneath the sheets. “ I want to see the Afterglow Savannah, the palace, your family. It'd be nice to know where you grew up.”

The message is quiet. You do not tell me enough.

Leona grows silent. Contemplative. He knows when you get like this, stuck on an idea that overrules your every action, close to nothing can convince you otherwise. 

He told you once that’s a trait he liked about you in the best of times. 

( ‘But half the time it just makes you hard headed’ he said, and snickered at your glare.)

Leona knows you well, too well. Usually this would bring a coy flush to your face, but you couldn’t help but grimace at the thought.

“I just want to know more about you.” You admit. 

“You could just ask.”

“Like you’d tell me.”

He says nothing, looking through you, deep in thought. Leona doesn’t seem annoyed by your probing, but something about the furrow in his brows looks resigned. Bitter.

“There’s nothing worth seeing.” He bites out. “It’s a bunch of royals too stuck up to see past their ivory towers.”

The photo; the honest smiles and laughter.

“I’m sure there’s more than that.” You contend.

Something bubbles forth in him. A dark quality you haven't seen before. He growls deep in his throat. It’s too low for your ears to catch, but you feel it reverberate through the bed and into your chest. 

“ Yeah, the stupid age old rules they hide behind–and they're sure to ostracize anyone who steps outside it.”  He meets your gaze.“Birth order is the only thing that matters. If you’re not first then you’re nothing.”

 The vitriol in his tone catches you off guard, and the words fall away from your mouth before you can stop yourself.

“Do you hate the Afterglow Savannah?” 

Instead of the eruption of anger you expected, the brewing storm leaves him sullen.

You regret it as soon as it passed through your lips

“You really don’t let up do you?” He sighs. Leona’s voice is oddly gentle. You wait for the other shoe to drop; anger, arrogance–anything. But it never comes. His arms move you so you’re in your original position, back to chest, as if the conversation never happened. Except this time, he curls himself into you– his body hiding you away, swallowing you whole.

“Stop worrying about it.” He mumbles. “Hurry up and sleep.”

You don’t. You spend that afternoon staring at the photo, tracing over their juvenile smiles.

Leona’s was not one of them.

TBC

[ikeromantic]

Balloon Ride

An Ikemen Vampire fanfic written for @kissmetwicekissmedeadly featuring her MC Elaine and Napoleon. This is part of my 300 follower Thank you! 

Approx 3000 words, fluff and smut - be fair warned. 

Elaine and Sebastian had their hands full with picnic goodies and supplies. Comte’s announcement at dinner the night before took them both by surprise. No one expected him to announce a ‘family’ picnic, but no one objected either. 

That left Sebas and Elaine with a lot of prep to do on short notice. They’d been up since dawn cooking and preparing a variety of treats for the mansion residents. Well, Sebas did most of the cooking between them if Elaine was honest, but that left her to round up everything else.

It was strange though. Elaine went to get a heavy picnic quilt, and instead found Theo and Arthur carrying out a pavilion, with Leonardo and Isaac carrying a table out behind them.

“I - I thought we were having a picnic, not building a new dining room outside,” Elaine said, loud enough the boys could hear her. 

Leo chuckled. “Comte never does things simply. Why don’t you go grab some baskets for Sebas, cara. I’m sure he’ll need them.”

“But what about this,” Elaine held out the blanket she’d found. 

Arthur snagged it with one hand and tossed it over his shoulder. “Perfect to bring along so you and I don’t get grass stains on our clothes when we - owww!” He didn’t get to finish. 

Mozart tossed a coin that hit Arthur right in the middle of his forehead. “You’re being too noisy.”

Elaine couldn’t help but laugh. “Thanks Wolf. I guess I’ll go get those baskets.” She turned to go and then glanced back again. “Has anyone seen Napoleon today? I- I think he woke up before me this morning.” Which had been quite a surprise. Leon never woke up before his good morning kiss, but now that she thought about it, he was probably running some errand for Comte.

“Noticed he’s not holding your leash today, hondje,” Theo grinned. 

Arthur, still rubbing the little red spot on his forehead, answered. “He’s at the meadow already, setting up the - ah - some things, I mean, with Jean.”

“Best run along, cara,” Leo added. “There’s a lot to do, and you’re a hard worker, right?” He fished out a cigarillo.

“We don’t have time for you to stop and smoke,” Isaac huffed. “Can we just get this over with?”

Theo and Arthur continued on with the pavilion, clearing the way for Isaac and Leo. Leonardo tucked his cigarillo away with a sigh and gave Elaine a parting wave before carting the table out. 

Elaine sighed. She couldn’t imagine what Comte might have asked Napoleon to do, that Arthur wouldn’t tell her about. Well. She’d find out soon enough. Her gaze found Mozart, still standing on the stair, watching her. “What are you working on for the picnic? Or, did you decide not to go?”

Mozart sniffed. ���Comte told me if I didn’t come willingly, he’d hire me. So I am coming. I need to go set up the phonograph.”

“That will be nice, having music outside.” Elaine smiled brightly. It was one of the things she missed about the modern day. There was a certain bliss to popping in your earbuds and putting on a playlist. But with no way to recharge her phone here, in Comte’s mansion, she had only a small selection of records to listen to. 

Mozart gave an abrupt nod and left Elaine to finish her work. She couldn’t think of much left to get for the picnic, besides baskets to carry the food and drink. She went to fish those out of a closet. 

When she returned to the kitchen with four large picnic baskets in tow, Sebas was wrapping sandwiches in waxed paper. “You sound cheerful,” he said without looking up from his task.

“I am.” She set the baskets down. “It turns out we’re going to be eating under a pavilion. At a table. With chairs.”

“Of course,” Sebastian nodded. 

Elaine shook her head. “Does that even count as a picnic?” 

“It does when you’re celebrating spring with a group of wealthy 19th century vampires.” Sebastian finally looked up, his stern expression belied by the light of mischief in his eyes. 

“Point,” Elaine grinned. She sat down and started packing food into the baskets. There was wine and cheese and pastries, sandwiches, and cold, roast chicken. Fruit. A variety of sweets and candied delicacies. It was honestly more food than she thought the group could eat, but Sebas liked to make sure everyone had their favorites, with enough to share. 

“I haven’t seen Napoleon this morning,” Elaine said. “Arthur made it sound like he’s off on a secret mission.”

“He is.”

“Sebastian! You know too? You have to tell me!” Elaine pleaded.

Sebas shook his head. “Nope. Now, did you pack the container with Dazai’s miso soup? I’d hate to forget it.”

“Yes, it’s in the basket. But, why won’t you tell me what Napoleon is up to? What’s so secret about it?” Elaine saw the thump coming and tried to dodge it, but Sebastian was too fast. 

“Stop asking silly questions. You’ll have your answer soon enough. Now come on. It’s nearly lunch time.” 

Elaine did get her answer the moment they crested the short hill between the forest and the flower meadow. A large, colorful hot air balloon sat on the ground, the fabric slowly inflating. Napoleon and Jean were operating the burners that heated the air. 

Napoleon saw her coming and raised a hand to wave her over. His smile was so full of joy that it set Elaine’s heart pounding. She started to walk faster, almost a jog.

“If only I could get you to move this fast on your chores,” Sebas chuckled. 

Elaine didn’t even shoot him a dirty look. She was too busy hurrying toward her love. After spending the whole morning without him, she found she really needed that good morning, or afternoon, kiss.

She set down the picnic baskets as Napoleon swept her into his arms. His lips were warm and firm, and his tongue darted playfully between her lips as he kissed her thoroughly. In front of everyone.

When Leon set her down, Elaine’s cheeks were bright pink and her eyes were fixed on her feet in embarrassment. 

“Now that’s how you say hello,” Arthur laughed from where he sat at the table. 

“Her face is very red,” Jean whispered loudly. 

Comte chuckled. “Come now, let’s give the lovers a moment. Help Sebas set the food out.” 

There was a flurry of activity as the mansion’s residents moved to do as Comte suggested, leaving Napoleon and Elaine as alone as they could get out here. 

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Napoleon laughed, stroking a finger down Elaine’s cheek and along her jawline. “But I couldn’t help myself. I had to do without a good morning kiss.” 

“I - I’m not embarrassed,” Elaine said, stubbornly refusing to admit the obvious. 

“Mhmm. I don’t remember your cheeks being so red normally . . .” He pinched one cheek with his other hand. 

“Hey! Let go!” 

Napoleon laughed. “Alright, nunuche. Alright.” He let go. 

Elaine glanced over at the hot air balloon, still filling. It was tied to the ground by several thick ropes, secured to stakes driven into the soft dirt. “Is this why you were up so early?”

“Oui. Jean and I had a lot to set up. When Comte suggested the picnic, I thought this might be a nice surprise for you. I’m glad Jean was willing to help. I’m not sure I could have managed on my own.” He rubbed a hand through his hair. “I’d have tried though. Seeing you smile is worth it.”

Elaine felt a rush of love for this sweet, thoughtful man. She threw her arms around him in a hug. “I love you.”

“Love you too, nunuche.” He put a kiss on the top of her head.

“So - you know how to work a hot air balloon?” Elaine asked, her face still pressed against Napoleon’s chest. It felt so good to be held by him. It was really hard to let go. But she did. The others were only a little ways away, sitting under a bright red pavilion and pretending not to eavesdrop. 

Napoleon nodded. “I was fascinated by them. One of my generals set up a balloon corp but,” he shrugged. “It didn’t work out. Too much equipment to haul around. Too fragile.” The balloon, now full of enough hot air to lift, began to strain at the ropes that held it to the ground. The patterned fabric of the envelope shone in the warm afternoon light. 

“I didn’t know that,” Elaine sighed. There were so many things she didn’t know about Napoleon and she wished she knew every detail. 

Leon laughed and nudged her side. “A man must keep some surprises from his lady love. How else to keep her interested?” He took her arm. “Now come, let’s enjoy the feast Sebas prepared.

Comte and the others pretended they hadn’t listened in on the whole conversation, chatting and asking Napoleon for stories from his hot air balloon experimentation. Elaine laughed along with them as he told them about the time they’d tried to fire a cannon from one and nearly blown themselves into the sea. 

“Twould make an interesting scene for the theatre,” Will commented, his mismatched gaze thoughtful.

“Yes,” Arthur nodded. “I wonder if I could use that in one of my novels.”

Napoleon shrugged. “If you think people would like to hear about it. Just leave my name out.”

Then it was time for trips up. Elaine expected to get to go up first, but Napoleon didn’t even glance at her. Instead, he took Comte and Mozart. Leonardo was invited as well, but he’d fallen asleep under the table, using his coat as a little pillow. 

Then Theo, Arthur and Dazai went up. And Vincent and Will after them.

While the others took their trips up in the balloon, Comte helped lay out the blanket Arthur brought. Elaine laid on it looking up. The bobbing air balloon did look pretty neat from here, as she patiently waited for her turn. 

Jean came to sit next to her, a quiet, solemn presence that she found strangely comforting. He was the sort of person you could rely on, even if he wasn’t full of smiles as some of the other vampires were.

“I did not think there could be love beyond the end of life,” Jean said softly. He was looking up at the hot air balloon, not at Elaine. But she knew he was talking to her.

“I didn’t know there could be love for me a hundred years before I was even born.” 

Jean glanced over and gave her a brief half smile. “You two make me almost believe . . .”

Whatever else he meant to say was interrupted as the balloon set down. Arthur and Dazai were smiling brilliantly, while Theo looked vaguely ill. They hopped down and Napoleon called for Isaac. The physicist was nowhere to be found though, having slipped off at the earliest opportunity. 

“Looks like that leaves just us,” Napoleon’s jade green gaze caught Elaine’s eyes. There was something naughty in that look, though she couldn’t put her finger on what.

Comte smiled. “It seems Elaine will be the last of us up. And just in time to see the sunset. How fortuitous.”

Behind them, Sebastian was organizing the packing up of picnic items. 

“Oh, but I need to help Sebas,” Elaine scrambled to her feet and looked over at the world’s most amazing butler. He’d marshalled the remaining mansion residents and they were already carting away the table and chairs. 

“I think Sebas will handle things just fine without you, ma cherie.” Comte gave Elaine a wink as he ambled away. Jean followed him without a glance back.

“Looks like you’re all mine, nunuche,” Napoleon held his hand out to her. 

Elaine eyed the hot air balloon basket, feeling a little nervous. “Is it safe up there?”

“I would never risk you,” Leon answered. He meant it too. 

Elaine took his hand and let him help her into the basket. It wasn’t very big, and it creaked alarmingly as Napoleon turned the burner up, causing the balloon to rise. She squeaked when a gust of wind shook them. Her fingers found Napoleon’s arm, which she held to tightly. Safe or not, she felt better touching him.

He kissed her temple and kept working the burners until they finally reached the height he desired. 

Elaine wasn’t sure how far it was, but when she peered over the edge, the flower meadow below them was only a patch of distant ground, stained in the red-gold glow of the sunset. “How far up are we?” 

Napoleon smiled. “Mmm, about a mile, maybe a little less.“ 

“That’s a long way . . .” Her eyes followed the light west, where Paris sat. From this distance, it was like a bunch of little toy towers and tiny buildings. The River Seine was a rippling band of gold that faded to silver in the east. What wasn’t lost in shadows shone in the dusk-light. 

“It’s beautiful,” she said in a voice filled with awe.

“I wanted to share this with you.” Napoleon wrapped his arms around her and set his chin on her shoulder. They stood like that, watching the sun slowly slide beneath the horizon. 

The stars came out, sparkling like diamonds, scattered carelessly across the blue velvet night sky. And beneath them, fireflies lit the meadow in answer. “As in heaven, so on earth,” Napoleon whispered, his voice low and husky. Breath tickling Elaine’s ear. 

She shivered, and not from the evening chill. “Is this heaven then?” Elaine gave a soft laugh and turned her head to regard her lover.

“Not yet . . .” He spun her in his arms until she faced him. His mouth captured hers in a kiss that was slow and sweet. His tongue stroked gently at her lips, he nipped her lower lip. She returned his passion hungrily, eagerly.

Napoleon’s hands slid to her waist band, tugging her shirt loose. Cool fingers slid under the fabric, caressing her skin. His light touch made Elaine gasp, but he didn’t relent. His hands slid round to her back, undoing the clasps of her bra. Once her breasts were free, his hands sought them, rough callouses rubbing her sensitive nipples.

Elaine let out a little moan of pleasure, one captured by Leon’s lips. His knee slid between her thighs, pushing them apart. Sliding her skirt up. 

He finally freed her lips to kiss down her neck, leaving little love-bites along her collar bone as he undid the buttons of her blouse. Cold air hit her breasts, her nipples hardening at the sudden temperature change. 

“Nn-napoleon! It’s - it’s cold,” she gasped, only half complaining. 

“Then I best warm you up,” he laughed. His warm breath taunted her as he spoke against her skin. Then he captured one breast in his mouth, the other in his hand. His tongue lathed her breast as he suckled, teeth scraping gently. 

Elaine suddenly didn’t care that it was cold up here. She didn’t feel it. Her body pulsed with warmth and need. She could feel his thigh pressing up against her and she ground against him, unable to resist a shudder of desire. 

Napoleon answered her with actions. He slid his free hand down to her panties. His questing fingers slid beneath the linen. He teased, stroking the edges, letting his fingers dip - almost - almost - to touch her clit but only a bare touch. 

Elaine tried to suppress a needy whine. Her hips pressed toward his hand, desperate. 

“So greedy,” he laughed, and switched from one breast to the other. “I can’t say no when you make such beautiful music for me.” His fingers slid down into her cleft.

Elaine moaned as he began to play a rhythm, his rough fingers sliding in the slickness of her. Each stroke down, he’d curl his finger to catch just so against her clit as he came back up again. It was maddening. Her back arched as she felt her climax close in. She wanted to hold back but there was no way . . . no way to stop the fireworks that burst behind her eyelids as she came against his hand. No way to stop the cry of pleasure, his name, or the way her muscles tightened and shook. 

Napoleon’s breath was coming in short gasps too, and he let out his own little groan. He pushed her panties to the side with his sticky fingers, and with his other hand, freed his hard cock. Its tip glistened with pearl of cum, proof he was as desperate to make love to her as she was to have him. 

Elaine gave him a wicked smile that turned into a gasp of pleasure as he lifted her hips and pierced her. His cock was hot and hard and it felt so good as he thrust into her still throbbing core. She couldn’t help the way her hips tilted toward him, wanting him deeper. More.

She would have ridden him to climax in a rush, she wanted it so badly. But he wouldn’t let her. After that first, desperate push, he withdrew slowly, holding her against him. Then drove into her again. The length of him stroked against her clit with each deliberate movement. 

The basket rocked with their motion, the balloon bobbing above them. The burner hissed, keeping them afloat, lost in their own private heaven.

A gradual heat built between them, in panting breath, and locked gazes. Their lips found each other, tongues entwined. Parted for breath, mingled moans. Elaine felt her toes curl. Napoleon’s thrusts sped as he too neared his peak. 

Then the crest broke, like a storm-wave, pleasure crashed over them. Their cries met in the cold air, plumes of breath entangled as their souls. 

[viralhottopics]

37 Creative Gender Reveal Ideas You Can Steal

Blue or pink? Learning the gender of ababy is a very exciting momenteven forfamily and friends of the parents-to-be.

Creative gender reveals have become increasingly popular among couples who want to find out the gender of their baby before birth. Some parents-to-be are throwing gender reveal parties to find out the sex of their baby in a unique way, such as having their loved ones cover them in powder paint.

A gender reveal party is a gathering of family and friends where the couple reveals the sexof their baby in a creative way.

Guests attending the party are typically not expected to bring a gift for the parents-to-be or the baby. The party is simply a way for couples to celebrate with their loved ones while enjoying a slice of pink or blue cake.

If youre planning to share the sex of your baby, use our list of popular and creative gender reveal ideas below. We especially think #30 is a unique idea.

Did we miss any gender reveal ideas? Let us know in the comments, and

Author: Nicole Millsfield

Thumbnail Photo: Still Frames Photography

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1. Gender Reveal Cake

Angel Food

Eating cake is always a great way to celebrate. A gender reveal cake is a cost-effective option because it also serves as food for your guests. You can also save money by making a cake yourself. To make a DIY gender reveal cake, add blue or pink food coloring to cake batter and frost the outside of the cake with a gender-neutral color like white or yellow. At the party, cut a slice out of the cake and serve to your guests.

2. Gender Reveal Box

LittleThings

Gender reveal boxes have become one of the most popular gender reveal ideas. For this, you take a large box and fill it with either pink or blue balloons. When you open the box, the balloons will fly out to reveal the gender of your baby. Just have someone double-check thatthe balloons arethe right color!

3. Gender Reveal Pictures

Pixabay

Taking a creative family photo is a popular choice for many couples who may not want to throw a big party. Its an easy way to announce your babys gender to family and friends who live far away because you can share the photo in acard, email or social media.

Here are a few gender reveal ideas for pictures:

Pose with a pink or blue onesie.

Hold tiny pink or blue baby shoes.

Paint your baby bump blue or pink.

Throw pink or blue confetti.

Hold pink or blue balloons.

Blow a pink or blue bubble with bubblegum.

Hold a cute or funny gender reveal sign and circle the correct gender. Popular sayings include:

“He or She?”

“Guns or Glitter?”

“Buck or Doe?”

“Boots or Bows?

“Rifles or Ruffles?”

“Touchdowns or Tutus?”

“Lures or Lace?”

“Hair Bow or Bow Tie?”

“Staches or Lashes?”

“Little Man or Little Miss?”

4. Gender Reveal Cupcakes

Angel Food

Gender reveal cupcakes and cake pops are also a fun way to announce the sex of your baby while serving your guests some dessert. The inside of the cupcakes or cake pops can be filled with either pink or blue cake. But unlike a cake, party guests can all participate in finding out the babys gender by taking a bite from their cupcake or cake pop at the same time.

5. Gender Reveal Piata

LittleThings / Rachel Ray

If you want to build the suspense of finding out the gender of your baby, you can use a piata and really work hard for the answer. Gender-reveal-themed piatas are sold in stores, or you can use a box for a DIY project. Some couples choose to fill the piata with blue or pink candy, while others fill it with blue or pink confetti like this couple did on The Rachael Ray Show.

6. Gender Reveal Balloon Pop

Flickr / Natalie

Like a piata, a balloon pop can be an exciting baby gender reveal for either a party or photo shoot. You can fill a balloon with pink or blue confetti and then pop it to reveal the gender.

7. Gender Reveal Confetti

PosieProject / Etsy

This is a cheap gender reveal option that will photograph well. Buy pink or blue confetti or DIY confetti by cutting up colored paper. Hand out the confetti to party guests in little bags and have everyone throw it at the same time.

8. Gender Reveal Party Poppers

Thimblepress / Etsy

Party poppers are a fun way to get all of your party guests involved in the baby gender reveal. Everyone grabs a party popper and pops it at the same time to reveal pink or blue confetti.

9. Gender Reveal With Paint

Macon Photography

Paint can be used for photos or a party. You can have a can of paint filled with either pink or blue paint and open it at a baby reveal party. For couples who are willing to get a little messy, you can also fill water guns with colored paint to have your guests shoot at you, asthis fun couple did. Wear white clothes to make the color really stand out and look amazing in photos.

10. Gender Reveal Nursery Art

Public Domain Pictures

Buy different shades of pink or blue spray paint and hide the color on the bottle by wrapping it in whitepaper. Lay out a large white canvas and have your guests gather around it. At the same time, have your guests spray the canvas. When youre done, youll have a pretty piece of art for your nursery!

11. Gender Reveal Bonfire

Pixabay

This would be a great idea for afall gender reveal party. Have your family and friends gather around a bonfire and toss in a flame-color-changing chemicalto share the sex of your baby.

12. Gender Reveal Smoke Bomb

Poof There It Is

Smoke bombs can be used in many creative ways. One idea we like is placing them inside a pumpkin for a Halloween baby gender reveal party. Be sure to follow the safety guidelines if you decide to use these.

13. Gender Reveal Fireworks

Pixabay

If youre ready to reveal your babys gender around the 4th of July, then a fireworks display is the perfect choice. Set off fireworks for guests in either blue or pink. Just make sure fireworks are legal in your area!

14. Silly String Gender Reveal

Captured With Love Photography

If you don’t mind having a mess to clean up after, have party guests spray pink or blue silly string to learn the gender of your baby. For a really fun photo, have your family and friendscover you in the silly stringlike this couple did.

15. Gender Reveal Darts

LittleThings

Create a balloon dartboard and fill the balloons with blue or pink paint. Throw a dart at the board when youre ready to reveal the sex of your baby.

16. Gender Reveal Riddle

YouTube / Brittany Wood

Heres a creative way to really build suspense for your party guests. Create a riddle and write it out onto several pages like this couple did at their gender reveal party. Have your guests read the riddle as you flip through it. On the last page, tape an envelope with a ? written on the outside and the babys gender written on a letter on the inside. Open the envelope and read what the letter says!

17. Hershey Bar Gender Reveal

V.Invites / Etsy

On Hershey’s chocolate bars, color in the letters She or He in pink or blue. Wrap the bars in white paper and have guests unwrap them at the same time.

18. Heads Up! Game Gender Reveal

YouTube / Hhday ytreadi

Try a variation of this couples creative pregnancy announcement and turn it into a gender reveal announcement. Create a custom deck on Ellen DeGeneres Heads Up! game and have your friends and family act out the gender of your baby.

19. Gender Reveal Eggs

Life Is For The Fun / Etsy

Fill eggs with colored confetti or dye the inside of the eggs with pink or blue food coloring using step-by-step instructions. Have guests crack the eggs at the same time or mail an egg to out-of-town family and friends.

20. Gender Reveal Football

Poof There It Is

If you’re a sports fans, you can buy balls for virtually any sport you like filled with bright pink or blue powder that explode on impact. You can kick a football or hit a baseball to reveal a big cloud of blue or pink powder.

21. Gender Reveal Scratch Off

HoneyBeePartyPrints / Etsy

Feeling lucky? Purchase scratch-off cards that reveal either Its a girl or Its a boy. This is also a fun baby reveal idea to send to relatives and friends who live far away.

22. Gender Reveal Bath Bombs

Bluff Top Essentials / Etsy

For a cute idea, fill a clear plastic tub with water and add a rubber duckie on top. When ready, add a color-changing bath bomb to the water to reveal your babys gender to guests.

23. Gender Reveal Drink

Practical Parenting

Give each guest a mystery packet of colored drink mixes in blue or pink and have them pour it in a bottle of water at the same time. Practical Parenting blogger Debi was extra creative and came up with cute names for the drink mixes like Baby Dust.

24. Bow and Arrow Gender Reveal

Sweet Miles

Put a balloon on a target with pink or blue paint inside. Using a bow and arrow like this dad-to-be, hit the target to reveal the sex of your baby.

25. Gender Reveal Straws

Amazon

Buy color-changing straws and have guests place them in drinks at the same time to find out the gender of the baby. This a good option for couples who need last-minute ideas, as you can find these straws on Amazon.

26. Gender Reveal Cards

Candi Mandi

Create a pull-tab card to mail to your family and friends, like this one by Candi Mandi, who even provides a free template download of the design.

27. Gender Reveal Trivia

YouTube / Anna Tidwell

Make a Bow or Bow Ties? trivia board like these parents-to-be did. Have your guests ask you baby- and parenting-related trivia questions. For example: What was the most common baby girl name in 2016? If the couple gets it right, they get to draw a pink bow or a blue bowtie out of a bag and put it up on the board. Once you’re out of bows and bowties the gender will be revealed!

28. Gender Reveal Fortune Cookies

JazzyAppleGal / Etsy

Decorate fortune cookies with pink and blue frosting then fill the cookies with a slip of paper that says Its a girl or Its a boy. Have guests open them at the same time to reveal the gender of your baby.

29. Gender Reveal Piata Cookies

KJ Cookies / Etsy

Buy or bake cookies that look like a baby onesie and fill them with pink or blue candy. Have guests open their piata cookies at the same time to find out the sex of the baby.

30. Gender Reveal Hair Dye

Instagram / Box Office Hair

Of all the gender reveal ideas, this may be the most unique. Remember the “hidden rainbow hair” trend? Why not try doing hidden blue or pink hair? Weve even heard of one mom-to-be who dyed her entire head of hair, but we havent seen this done yet (if you know someone who did it, please have them send us a photo!). To pull off this gender reveal, dye a strip of your hair blue or pink underneath your normal color. When youre ready to reveal, tie your hair up for guests to see. You could even do this halfway through the party and see who notices first!

31. Gender Reveal Scavenger Hunt

YouTube / Case and Lou

Send your family and friends on a scavenger hunt to find out the gender of your baby. One idea for ending the hunt is having the last clue be to open the oven and pull out a gender reveal cake, like this couple did.

32. Gender Reveal Balloon Drop

LittleThings

Buy blue or pink balloons depending on your babys gender. Hang a solid-colored balloon drop tarp (so guests cant see through) or a box filled with the balloons. Attach a string to the drop for each person to hold. Pull the strings at the same time to reveal the gender of your baby.

33. Baby Furniture Gender Reveal

Flickr

If you have an old piece of furniture that you want to DIY and fix up with new paint for the nursery, consider putting your gender reveal party guests to work. Give party guests a can of spray paint and conceal the color of the paint by wrapping the bottle with paper. Stand around the piece of furniture you want to paint and spray at the same time to reveal the gender.

34. Gender Reveal Sparklers

Haverkampf Photography and Video

Give your friends and family members a blue or pink sparkler and have them light it at the same time. If you already know the babys gender but want to share it with your guests, you could instead write out boy or girl with a blue or pink sparkler like this couple did. This can make for a very pretty photo op! Pro tip from the mom-to-beCandice Butterfield: if the sparklers you bought aren’t colorful enough, you can adjust the color in Photoshop!

35. Gender Reveal Brag Book

Buy Buy Baby

This is a great idea to use for revealing the babys gender to grandparents. Make a brag book photo album filled with your ultrasound photos. On the last page, write Its a girl or Its a boy. Your parents will be thrilled to have photos they can show off to their friends.

36. Volcano Gender Reveal

Abby Barstow

This idea is perfect for siblings. Get the kids involved in finding out whether theyre getting a baby brother or sister by using a volcano. The kids can help make a volcano out of papier-mch. Fill your volcano with water, vinegar, and dish detergent, then either pink or blue food coloring. When youre ready to reveal the gender, have the kids add baking soda to watch the volcano erupt.

37. Play-Doh Gender Reveal

YouTube / aata’s223 channel

Another fun idea for kids to do as a way for them to find out the gender of their sibling is to use Play-Doh. This couple usedPlay-Doh Surprise Eggs to share the news with their two boys.If the kids are disappointed by the result, at least they have some Play-Doh to ease the pain!

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