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.

Dinner party sounds like a lot of work for me I can only do a few dishes
In my dreams I would like to have a few lovely things I've made my self that people can help themselves to on a table and then we can mingle
But in my head I can't work it out
SStupid

Yes, link would be fab please.

mamas why not just provide some drinks and get everyone to bring a course? Or just order in Chinese or Curry for everyone? That way you get the chat and the party without the stress of cooking? Or I'm sure Shirley can find you some super easy things to make...

I've just been looking at teddy bear punches! Honestly, I was all ready to leave planning this for another month at least but this thread has got me excited :)

I'm thinking of trying to get a huge red gingham picnic blanket as that feels very 'picnic-y' to me and making invites on white card with big, bold, bright letters on the front spelling out "BYOB" - one in the red gingham of course - and then using the punch to make each of the holes in the B's and the O a teddy bear shape. I can then write all the details inside. I also thought I might steal an idea I saw on 'Ace of Cakes' and make a red gingham tablecloth out of roll out icing to lie over the (Costco) cake. I'm wondering if I could make beliveable picnic food to trace a "2" out with and then I'll sit it on the table with teddy bears sat around the edge wearing party hats like they're at a picnic. We've got a proper wicker picnic basket and I could fill that with the plates and napkins and leave it on the table too.... Sound OK?

Would it be too cheesy to make a Sun do you think? Something bright yellow with a smile on. I'll get a load of bright bunting too - maybe even make some so I can make some in red gingham to carry on the theme...

I've got a CD of Winnie the Pooh Songs and the Jungle book songs - I'm sure we can download Teddy bears picnic and make a CD up to play.

I'm getting a bit carried away now right?

And I'd better not mention the teddy bear shaped pizzas with snipped up Olive eyes and noses else you'd really think I'd lost it

Ha. Probably for the best :)

I may be overdoing it a bit as a) it's my last chance to do a 2nd birthday party and b) my Brother and BIL have both told me how awful it is to have a birthday near to Christmas - and theirs are further away than DDs - and I'm determined that DD will feel differently.

It's fun too

Blathers - Ice Cream Cupcakes and other ideas

Lurve your ideas. How are you going to make the tablecloth out of ready roll?

I have a box of summery party stuff (some of it is 'tropical theme' but some of it might be OK for you) Do you want me to dig through it and send you a sun and other bits?

Mamas - OK. So you want just a buffet style thing and then drinks and dancing? If you've not chucked a do for AGES I would honestly suggest having a few people (maybe 6-8) round and cooking a sit down meal and getting pissed merry on wine! I have some EASY PEASY recipes for dinner party food. Stuff you can cook the day before even and just bung in the oven on the night itself freeing yourself up for a laugh. What do you think?

If not and you're really committed to just a few picky bits and some drinks, I can give that some thought for you!

Oh they're fab! DD loves 99 ice creams so they are just perfect for her. We were given something similar at a day out a while ago but I'd assumed the cake was pre-cut and put into the cones as thought they'd have probably burnt up on baking. I've got some of those flat bottomed ones in the cupboard actually. Will have to give them a trial run with both buttercream and Fluff obviously

The blanket on Ace of Cakes was made by taking a large sheet of white roll out icing (as thin as you can make it without tearing I should think else it would be too sickly) and then very painstakingly overlaying it with little, inch squares of red roll out icing to make the pattern, all stuck down with gel. The whole thing is then just draped over a sheet cake. No need for smoothing down as it's supposed to be a blanket anyway. I think I could have a go. Maybe using some piped icing to make a fringe round the edge? and hide my mistakes

The sun and stuff would be great if you don't mind.

So glad you don't think I need committing too

No, it's mad isn't it? That you can cook the cake batter in the cornet? How mad. A word of warning though - make sure you only HALF FILL the cornets, otherwise you get the cake popping out of the top which means way more icing and, TBH, makes them TOO rich and sweet.

The other thing mind, with the ones I made is that they looking a bit like ice cream BEFORE the icing - so if you wanted to make something a little less sweet, they'd be OK unfrosted I think.

That blanket cake sounds great! I wonder if the sticking down little squares might send you actually batshit though..hmm, I wonder if there's an easier way to create that kind of look.

I'll PM you in a few weeks (remind me) once I've had a look at the stuff and get your addy and whatever - bit busy for the next couple of weeks.

(If YOU need committing then I am in major trouble!)

These are quite cool

Dear Aunt Shirley.......

My dd will be 10 in a few weeks, and would like to invite 6 of her closest friends for a sleepover party. The plan is that they all arrive en masse from school around half 3, and then stay for food and sleepover (to be picked up next morning - not a school day). Have you any suggestions for entertaining them on the cheap (other than the inevitable watching a movie, eating and chatting/cackling into the wee small hours)??? We've done sleepovers before (and I have a 12yo dd, so have some experience) but I suppose I'm dreading that some of them get bored/run out of things to do and start whining ..and I have 2 younger children to consider, so haven't got unlimited amounts of patience/time! Also, any food/snack suggestions would be welcome

ooh me me me

my ds's 8th is coming up and he has said he doesnt want to do anything he's having a bit of time of it atm.

All the recent school parties have been Goals, laserquest er thats it.

I could do a sleepover but think the other parents wouldnt go for it - is saturday morning cinema and pizza good enough. This is the year they stop doing all class parties as well - I think he just doesnt have any firm bfs to invite.

ooh - Hi Shirley - dp and I are planning a surprise 70th birthday party for her Dad which is in a couple of weeks' time. Invites have gone out and around 30 people - grown ups and some children - are coming. Any ideas much appreciated on what we could do at the party itself - not games, but we're getting photos of him from dp's Mum to put on the wall - anything else?! We're hoping to have a BBQ and people outside and inside, but that's obviously weather dependent. Other than that we've had no more thoughts about food/decorations etc.etc....

Thanks

Yes, that's a much easier way of doing the checks!! Brilliant thanks.

Jelly.

I am twitching at the very thought of it

How about making it an American Style Sleepover? All girls to get changed straight into the jim jams, pillows and duvets/sleeping bags all set up in front room.

Are they girlie girls? How about buying some cheapo nail varnish (collection 2000 cheap) and setting up a "nail-bar" (LOOK! I know this is awful and non-feminist of me. I hate myself) If not, (and I wouldn't blame you) Check out This Site has some GREAT ideas

Food can be either pizzas or burgers and how about "make your own ice cream sundaes for puds?"

Stick a couple of movies on obviously, give em home made popcorn - kids LOVE that stuff.

Teach them how to play "consequences" that used to keep us amused for literally HOURS.

Omnishambles.

to hear that your lovely DS doesn't feel like celebrating.

I think you have a couple of options here.

Option 1) You can go along with his desire to not have a party with friends, but make a big splash with the family. I'm a bit of a sucker really, so we quite often have 'parties' at home, and that's just me and the 2 boys - DYKWIM? (but they are just an excuse for me to get cooking and baking and drinking having fun)

If you wanted to have a family party I would get him to write down 5 things he would most like to do on his birthday. This should give you some pointers and might also focus his mind on the fact that you are going to celebrate with him, and he can be in the driving seat (to a certain degree!)

Option 2) You can try and stimulate his interest in finding his "hook". You know the thing that really excites him and then building a party/day out around that. Google local areas - I took my son and a few friends to a place where you can dig up pre-historic shark teeth once. They were SO IMPRESSED.

If you think of anything or need a hand just pop back on here and we can look at some ideas. Fingers Crossed for you.

Ooh, just saw this thread and have not read but wanted to mention here that Shirley gave me fabulous links & guidance for DS's birthday cake recently and it was a rousing success

Will come back and read thread later when not so busy.

Thanks for prompt reply Shirley!! That website has some great ideas (and I've already customised some in my head, swapping torches for glowsticks for example!) like decorating a room for them to use (we're lucky enough to have a separate sitting room that will double up as party room/bedroom so that can effectively be 'fenced off' from the rest of the house!!) and I think I'll set out their party bags for them as they arrive with glowsticks, sweets, etc so they can use them as the night goes on. Brilliant help!

DottyDot

OK. So a 70th? I'm venturing into unfamiliar territory here!

Are you having this party at home? If he's in his 70's then he was a child of the 50's - Have you thought about weaving this into the party at all? You know pictures of his favourite band of that time on the walls (easy to download images and print them off the internet), 50's music playing (this is only relevant if he was into music obviously!) Maybe some iconic images of the time?

You don't have to go overboard, some subtle touches would be nice, and some killer 50's cocktails would be fun.

Some ideas here about throwing a cocktail party

Tableware

Any good?

Ooh, yes. A Kray Twins theme! And you'd have to come a
as a mod or a rocker, and be tooled up and have a big fight at the end. Awesome.

Thanks Shirley! Yes, we're having it at our house - will check with dp's Mum about favourite music and will check out the links later - can't open them due to annoying work policy...

Heh LeBof - you know how much I want to do a Sopranos dinner party. Way to glamorise horrible murdering GOONS!

Shirley, Shirely, Shirley! I just found this and knew who I had to show it to!!

I love it!

OH

MY

GOD

Oh I SO WANT. (so so skint this week though )

AND - I boycott IWOOT because, well, basically they're LYING BASTARDS and they RUINED Xmas a couple of years ago.