Shirley's party advice part 5 - Here to Help - come and say Hi

[Blatherskite]

Didn't notice we'd gotten to the end of the thread!

Up where ?

On my profile. Will tweet too

Good, cos I can't see profiles on the stupid app

I've put them on FB too

I cant see any flags on it? Its not too busy. I love it. Clever use of the 6.

I haven't put any on yet. I'm not sure I'm going to bother

Seen the portfolio on FB now. Still want a close-up of the fishing hole though

Hello all, is this still a party advice thread or do I have to be brilliant at cakes to join in? I've been looking at your profiles and I'm a bit in awe!

Ah I'm going to have to go on the computer to see cake pics.

Iillibet - it's still a party advice thread!

Hello lilbet - and welcome. Ignore us getting way too involved in the details of Blathers' latest cake creation - what can we do for you?

I thought of you lot this afternoon. I spent 2 blissful hours, alone and uninterrupted, in the heaven on earth for party planners/crafters/general lovers of stuff that is Jo Ann fabrics. I only left because they were closing and I have just had to have a serious discussion with my suitcase. There was so much more that I wanted, but thanks to a pointer from an MNer I saved a small fortune with coupons, and I think I stopped just in time (as in - I have everything in the suitcase, and now i just have to pray that it is not overweight). You would have all been in heaven. I did get lots of fleece to make some applique blankets for the lovely wooly hugs team. And lots of fabric for my stash making things for DC (mine and others). And lots of Easter stuff. And the Wilton cake yearbook and matching pattern book. And some other stuff too.

Now I have to find something to do tomorrow until I get my flight home that does not involve any shopping, as there is definitely no more room. Apart from popcorn butter. That I still have to get and will squeeze in somewhere.

lillibet - sorry about spelling. Can't even blame it on the phone as I am on my PC

Im not sure what i find more exciting fabric (which i love but cant sew) or butter.

lilibet what would you like help with? We're absolutely party advice but we get lost in our own little world. Its a bit like when you walk into a shop and the staff are gathered around chatting. But we are here to help honestly

The cake is done now lilibet

We need another distraction

How can we help?

Chaos has started a thread about Graham Crackers which has turned into an argument about whether or not Digestives are a suitable replacement. Could you try some and report back please Stealth

Graham crackers are nasty, IMHO. Digestives are closest, but nicer.

Thank you. Would you like to help with my 50th birthday? I need a bit of advice from people who won't think that perhaps I am the just slightest little bit of a control freak.

It's the eternal dilemma of my life that I would like people to do things for me but I would like them to be exactly as I want them. I asked my 24 year old dd to be in charge of decoration and knowing what I am like she has said that she will as long as I tell her exactly what I want!

There are about 40 people coming to my house, for food I am doing a choice of three dishes, a rice, a pasta and a gnocchi, served with bread, big bowl of salad, cheese board and pudding. Some of this is already cooked and in the freezer :-)

So now I come to the bits where I need your input.

For pudding I thought of a 'do it yourself' eton mess, bowls of meringue, cream, strawberries and a jug of sauce and also birthday cake. For ease I thought cupcakes would be best.

So, the colour of the cupcakes (if we decide that's best) determines the colour scheme of the decorations or vice versa. I had thought that gold was a very good colour to go with because there are so many decorations that you can get that have 50 and are gold but when i look at gold/cream cakes compared to a colour they don't look as good. cake will be from here , I'm not as proficient as you lot at cakes, other food yes, cake no.

Am I being too fussy? Do you want to take me outside and slap me about a bit?

Thanks

ps, in defence of my fussiness this is my first birthday party since I was about six!

Hello again, I now have 3 RSVP's (out of 12) from my daughter's nursery friends. I sent the invites last Monday! I feel like I am now becoming slightly obsessed with checking my phone!!
Couple of questions, I am thinking the plant pot/seeds, make your own windmill for 4yr olds and was wondering about bean seed and pot and maybe (if I can find cheaply enough) a copy of Jack and the beanstalk for the 12-18 month olds. But still thinking about that as I saw a nice plastic watering can with little rake/spade in B&M homestore for £1.49.
So, anyway what do you think about white paper (take away like) bags that I then personalise with something stuck on the bag?
Also what is the best way to put cake in the party bag? I have read that some people already have another cake cut up and ready but not sure what I think about this idea really.
Any opinions/advice appreciated
Thanks again

Lilibet - gold is very hard to match, so if it is going to bug you that they don't match perfectly then I would go with something else. What other colours do you like - how about red to match the strawberries? Or you could go with cream (rather than gold) with red/scarlet "accents"

(and you are safe here with your control freak tendencies - I cannot imagine any of our families daring to try and organise a party for us )

White paper bags lend themselves very well to being personalised /decorated, slp. I would go with the watering cans for the littlies IIWY.

Cake wrapping - pre-cut sheets of foil work well.

When is the party? It might be time to think about asking the nursery staff very nicely to chase.

Spending a day by myself wandering around shops in California has made me realise something. There is a reason why all those American supermom parties are so OTT. The ingredients (edible and otherwise) which we spend so much time, effort and money sourcing are at their fingertips, so they feel the need to do more. I could have filled my suitcase 10 times over with cool stuff, and just wondering around a pick n mix type store at the airport (my flight is delayed ) I found about 12 sorts of gummi bears, including chocolate, white chocolate, and yoghurt coated ones, 2 sizes of sharks, frogs, angry birds gummy sweets, rock candy....

I want to set up a fancy party planning business based on shopping exclusively in the US

Lilibet - i can see your thinking behind the availability of gold and cream but because its normal for golden wedding it might age you a bit? 50 is nothing but if people are feeling golden weddingy you might get commiserations ha ha. I really would choose a colour that you like and go with that instead, you'll feel far more excited if its all about you rather than making it fit. Places like partypieces and partyrama do every colour under the sun including numbered balloons etc. vistaprint could make you a banner for peanuts especially if you're bombarded by their offers.
Purple might me nice because most places do a light and a dark so you'd have two shades to play with.

Slb- we often use takeaway bags as party bags and they also work well as a craft activity if you get them to decorate them. Maybe a set of foam flowers and leaves etc to tie in with the seeds etc? When i cut and wrap cake i get a pack of 100 napkins from poundland and just double wrap each piece.

Except the rapunzel cake - i forgot to cut it!

Sorry i didnt mean 50 is nothing, i meant 50 years of marriage usually represents a much older person whereas 50 is spring chicken still

I'd be a customer of your business Stealth! In the meantime DS's godmother travels to the states regularly for business so I'm going to have to utilise that more! Gummi bears could double up as Ewoks couldn't they?

Thanks for thoughts on DS's birthday. There are a few fancy dress costumes that he really wants, so I think I might buy one of those to take on holiday along with a few Star Wars figures. He'll be delighted with those I think, and can just open the rest of his pressies when he's back. I probably won't take a picture of his other presents though - I don't want 'when are we going home?' from him every day.

I've been thinking about his cake - I really want to try the Death Star cake suggested by someone - I found a few tutorials online. But with the party being days before we go on holiday (with me working in between) I could do with minimising preparation and stress. I'm contemplating something like this instead. I could do the basic cake and covering and outsource the character decorations to someone I know.

We used paper party bags at DS's party last year and they worked well. They decorated them with stickers etc.

Lilibet what kind of decorations were you thinking of?

Oh, potentially very silly question. I've been looking at a Death Star piñata tutorial, but how do you actually fill a piñata once you've make it?

I thought you leave a hole then fill and paper/paint over that bit last?