I love giving parties, do you need some ideas?

[ShirleyKnot]

Hello!

If you don't know me I'm Shirley and I'm a great lover of planning parties. I do a blog about it (which I'm not going to link here, but if you look on the bloggers network for PartySpanner you'll find me)

ANYWAY

If you're chucking a do, I might be able to help - I'm not a business, I don't charge for my ideas or owt, I just love to trawl the internet find good invite ideas, games and food.

Jump in and I'll see if I can help.

Mexican day of the dead sounds fun. I would vote for that.

It's the combination of other people's children and fireworks that worries me, but I may be more-than-normally paranoid because DS's b'day is ON bonfire night so everyone always assumes we will do fireworks (nope - wrong - not happening - ever )

Just seen the blog. All of the recipes I mentioned above are in Cake Days.

OOOOOOOOOOO

What an utterly brilliant idea Hazel!

BRILLIANT

I could do lots of Mexican dips and a big old chilli (a hot hot one and a milder version) and YES YES YES! You genius!

Blathers - ha great minds think alike and all that!

Stealth - I know what you mean about being slightly nervous about the firework thing and it's something I'm going to have to give some serious thought to.

Hi any ideas /picture that a cake maker could copy for a cake for two boys with a peter pan theme ? Tried to look at google images and there are tons I was wondering if you have seen something nice and would like to share !

Peter Pan cake - I like the idea of this one, if not especially the execution. I think for 2 boys I would focus on the ship (here and here) and then add the characters (including the crocodile, of course ) - does that make sense?

I love <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=peter+pan+cake&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=29kc9TSWj6d9HM:&imgrefurl=justcake.wordpress.com/page/22/&docid=WLYJG0d0zovZUM&w=350&h=457&ei=ziuETtfYL8-78gPkoMlF&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=415&vpy=304&dur=766&hovh=257&hovw=196&tx=163&ty=122&page=2&tbnh=157&tbnw=148&start=22&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:22&biw=1280&bih=827" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This one

In fact that blog is wonderful. Looks like it hasn't been updated for ages though
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=peter+pan+cake&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbnid=gxQD-KihLk8HAM:&imgrefurl=confections.e-siteworks.com/sheet/view.nhtml%3Fprofile%3Dsheet%26UID%3D10043&docid=jHbK69piSh7X4M&w=400&h=266&ei=ziuETtfYL8-78gPkoMlF&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=183&vpy=466&dur=656&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=173&ty=116&page=2&tbnh=136&tbnw=205&start=22&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:22&biw=1280&bih=827" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This one is a bit simpler but also nice and effective (Love the plank effect)

hi ShirleyKnot, i am thinking about throwing a small party for my DDs 16th, i haven't told her yet as dh and i only agreed on it earlier today, so my problem is I HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE please help, we have already agreed between us that we will go out for the evening and i know she will only want around 15 people here, but how much food do i prepare, i don't want any booze in the house not a problem as all the kids are under age so what drinks would you think would be grown-up enough also the budget is small as DS has his 11th birthday 5 days before, and its only a month till christmas, am i mad by doing it or what

GReat thread!
Any suggestions (on a budget) for an 8 year old girl? I think we can hire a small party room in the local community centre as I cannot handle having them all in the house [shudder]
She is very girly, loves (and is very good at, may I say) dancing, karaoke, Justin Bieber, make up and pretending she is actually 5 years older than she really is.

I have a semi- operational karaoke machine(it doesn't play CDs but has a microphone and you can see youreself on a screen/ TV) and I might be able to persuade a few friends to help...

Any tips would be much appreciated, otherwise she will end up at the cinema and Pizza Hut!

NeatFreak is she into crafts? You could get a load of beads from ebay or Baker Ross and they could have a jewellery making party?

notgotanyanswers.

OK, 15 x 16 year olds. You might be a little bit mad, but...relax and it'll all be fine.

If my (admittedly younger) teenagers are anything to go by, they eat like sodding HORSES, so I would definitely "over" cater. Do you think she'd like a theme? Or would that be far and away too uncool?

So, a November Party? Food can be lovely autumnal hearty grub (great for hungry boys) Have a look at Blathers gorgeous idea's for a Bonfire night party a bit further upthread. I'd also go for cooking up loads of sausages and burgers and leaving them in the oven on the lowest heat possible (if you're going to be out) Leave the buns out, with the fixings, and let them get on with it. (cheap as chips as well!) Bung some jacket potatoes in the oven as well, and maybe a big Five Alarm chilli con carne in a slow cooker? Big fresh baguettes and nachos as well?

DO you need cake ideas?

Drinkswise - Blather's idea for "Mulled wine" is nice - You could also go for some non-alcoholic cocktails (link further upthread) and maybe a punch?

NeatFreak

I'll get back to you tonight if that's OK? The boss is glancing at me a bit too regularly!

Stealth - also, I owe you a pizza dough recipe - will do that tonight as well!

Thanks, Shirley - I have some suggestions from another thread, but am getting anxious about the logistics of pre-making and freezing.

PartySpanner - what did you decide re your party dilemma?

Hello all.

Have been clearing out my computer desk since 5.15. THE FILTH! So not had a chance to have a think for you yet NEATFREAK. Promise I'll try and get back to you tomorrow.

Stealth - This recipe makes 2 x large pizza (30cm diameter approx)

280ml water
30ml extra virgin olive oil
450g bread flour
1.5 tsp salt
1.5 tsp sugar
1 tsp easy blend yeast.

Into breadmaker for kneading.

Take it out, knock it back and then make into bases.

I was thinking though - about the freezing? Part of the fun of making the pizza (especially for the kids) is the mucking about with the dough - getting it into the right shape, throwing it around a bit! How about getting the dough going in the breadmaker, ready for the hoards and then letting them not only "decorate" the pizza but also shaping the bases? If that sounds too much like hard work have you thought about buying the pre-made ones?

Hazel - (You know I am also PS right? ) Bit of a change of plan here! It dawned on me this morning that the week before Halloween is also Half Term. I have a few days annual leave left so have taken three days off (whoop) including the Friday and so I think we're going to have a Halloween bash on the Friday night. I am still VERY into the Day Of The Dead theme though and so I think I'm going to incorporate it into the party. I've been googling like mad and I love the idea of an alter and lots of flowers alongside the skulls and spooky stuff - and the food, oh God Yes the FOOD!

Mammoth post - sorry!

Thanks!

(she isn't really into beads/ crafts etc but might be prepared to do some as part of the party...fussy so and so that she is!)

Haha! Nope, did not twig that you're one and the same.

Feel very special indeed to think that I have suggested a theme to the Party Maestro. I am beyond excited on your behalf for your Halloween/DotD party!

I LOVE day Of The Dead! DP has done quite a bit of art around that theme- mainly based around defacing paintings of his ex by super-imposing skulls and crazy body paint on them, hehe. Looks good though, and we do like her really

BOF I keep missing you on here lately.

Thanks, Shirley. I hear what you say, but I am not sure I can quite face 20 4-5yos stretching their own dough, no matter how much fun it would be....

NeatFreak - how about something like this - or, more economically, find some recipes and get them all making lip gloss?

Fair play stealth . Have a try of that recipe - see if it's any good (I'm SURE I've frozen it before...)

Neatfreak
OK, I've got some ideas - you can yay or BOO them and then I'll work the YAY's up and poke myself in the eye with a pencil throw the BOOS in the bin.

Cheerleading?
Teach them all a "cheer" (Easy to find moves on youtube). Buy them all a set of pompoms (or make them, I can probably link if you like this idea) American food, flags.

Disco Diva's?
Get glittery hairsprays, make up etc etc - glam all the girls up, have a dance competition, bit of karaoke - I can think of some games and stuff if you like this one

Movie Party? (not watching films - but MAKING a film) Just found an amazing website which provides scripts and stuff - My DS2 would LURVE this.

Spa Party - this one will have to be at home, but you can reduce the numbers right down.

Let me know!

Do the cheerleading one! Do the Cheerleading one!! I've found some brilliant stuff and it won't cost a bomb!

Shirley:

"Disco Diva's?
Get glittery hairsprays, make up etc etc - glam all the girls up, have a dance competition, bit of karaoke - I can think of some games and stuff if you like this one"

We are doing 7th party on sun. 14 girls (3 are 10yo) We have karoake and will do dancing comps. Also mask and necklace kits.... might go crazy and get glitter hairspray/do make up.... V interested in any easy themed games you could come up with. Somehow have agreed to it being 3 hours, at home.

Dukes (love the name BTW)

How about teaching the kids some proper Disco Dancing moves? (You'll probably have to learn these first! )

Limbo is always lots of fun, and the kids love it!

Obviously you can do Musical Statues - just call it Disco Freeze!

I found a quite nice idea for a craft to do:

"In keeping with the disco theme, create suncatchers using blank or used (unwanted) CD's. Glue together the dull sides of the CD's before the party. Supply the children with two-foot lengths of lanyard cord to thread through the center hole. Provide an assortment of beads to thread on the cord before tying together the ends. Offer to help the kids tie their cords as many will be too young to manage on their own. Then give the kids an assortment of stickers and sequins with glue to decorate their CD's as they feel inspired."

They can then "wear" their CD's as necklaces (bit weird IMO) or take them home in their party bags.

I love the cheerleading idea with the girly makeover a close second. I really can't dance though, do I need 2 teach them a routine?!

(also v interested in movie making, sounds fascinating!)