Shirley's party advice part 6 - don't be afraid to interrupt us!

[Tinkerisdead]

Okay, this is shirley's party advice part 6. Shirley ducked out a while ago and you'll notice us chatting about all kinds of stuff whilst we wait for party planners to barge in.

So, don't lurk, jump in and chat. We'll give you any advice on parties from costumes to cakes....

I was just pondering decoration/tableware options for DD's party and was half way down the line of pastel coloured spots when I remembered that I got all the stuff to do tie-dye aprons - so I guess I will be doing rainbows instead.

Is anyone expert in tie dye [hopeful]? Any opinions as to whether I would be mad to attempt multi-colour aprons (the alternative would be to do lots of different, single colours..)? I was thinking I could do some lengths of fabric (or an old sheet) while I was at it and make bunting.

Well done jetstar thats a lovely lovely cake!

I spent a happy(ish) hour or so last night assembling the "stamp" for DD's invitations. I need some more double sided sticky tape to finish it off and then I need to be brave enough to try it on some clay. Trouble is, if it doesn't work, then I have spent lots of time and money and I have no plan B...

I think I might have to make this thread a permanent feature after DD's party as I've really enjoyed reading it & seeing everyone's ideas.

Since I last posted I've found a website called www.kidsinvitations.co.uk/ & have been in touch with them to see if they could make a girly version of a dinosaur party invitation for DD's party.

I've kind of fallen in love with a lot of their stationary (a bit of a fetish of mine) & they won't charge any extra for coming up with a design for us.

Hall is now booked (wipes sweat from brow as that was complicated!) and entertainer is booked too.

Right what else?! My sil mentioned that balloons as decorations can be quite a distraction for kids that age- any advance on that? I know my own dd goes nuts for a balloon so perhaps best keeping those until the end?

It's been quite a year for us- my lovely DH has had a cancer scare & is currently recovering from removal of his pancreas & spleen so after a bloody awful year it's nice to plan a celebration & do something "normal"

Party planning sounds like excellent therapy, lizard .

I have never consciously avoided balloons for littlies - I am cautious of them because DD used to wail every time one got popped and my DM won't let us kill them so we end up bagging up the bloody things and bringing them home where they sit around for a week and then get killed anyway

3 invitations made. It works . I will be needing more clay, though.

Thank you everyone for your lovely compliments about the cake. I was pretty pleased with it in the end although it takes me so long I could never make a business out of it! I have agreed to do a cake for a friend at the end of the month so I can only get better with practise, right?

We had balloons at our recent party (ages 1 - 4) and although there were a couple of littlies who did go for them and some popped, it wasn't a big drama! We gave away as many as we could at the end of the party and the rest are decorating our living room

lizard know what you bean about stationary fetish - I like that link esp. the letter from Santa...

DD1 told me today she wants an Ariel Mermaid party next year (only about 358 days to plan for that then!!)

I'd like to ask a very lazy question and make a recommendation.

1. The lazy question: It's DD's 7th birthday party on Saturday. I have had little time to prepare and don't even have any idea about the food. She is having 12 guests at home. I am shopping on Friday and would prefer the food to be cold because at previous parties I have attempted to organise games, look after kids and heat stuff up in the oven at the same time. This time I want it all plated ready to go. So can anyone give me some ideas for simple party food.

1. I have ordered from Party Pieces 4 times and they have been crap frankly. Each time they have sent the parcel too late even when I've paid for Express Delivery. They ask when the party is and seem to use this as a date at which they might consider possibly sending out the order. This time I have used Party Parade and everything came in one parcel within 3 working days. Unfortunately I can't find anywhere to review them - so I'm doing it here!!

Thanks for tips about ordering noses- that's good to know.

Would you have time to buy some sandwich/ good box type things & make one for each child with their name on? That way all the food can be ready for them & they can open & eat straight away with minimal faffing. I haven't done this before myself although its been strongly recommended on here for my party of 3 year olds. I think 7 year olds would be a lot better at choosing etc but think it does cut down on having to do platters etc.

Thanks for tips re balloons jetstar & stealth - I was thinking about having them up somewhere then they could all scrabble for them/ chase them around the room at the end if they wanted to.

The one thing I have got is tableware so would rather not have to get boxes but think I'll do that next year.

Tableware vs boxes is an age thing, I think. I have never done boxes, although I can see the appeal for 3yos. By 6 they seem to make the leap from eating nothing to being a hoard of locusts, so no point in boxes at that point. At 8 DS chose to have lasagne and garlic bread for his (much smaller) party and it was incredibly grown up and civilised and DH cooked because lasagne is one of his specialities

Balloons to riot with is good, but if you want them to be taken away you may need to plan to attach strings at that point.

I definitely just want cold food. My husband is incapable of running the games so I end up trying to run a game whilst also being in the kitchen cooking. Just impossible. I want it all plated up the night before.

Nosey - cold party food.

Sandwiches or cold pizza - depending how sophisticated your 7yos are, maybe bagels, cut into quarters, for something a bit different? Cocktail sausages for down fine cold (although personally I can't stand the ones you buy cooked, so I still cook my own even if they are going to be served cold).

Crisps, bowls of cherry tomatoes, cucumber sticks.

I have made puff pastry pinwheel before - spread pesto /sun dried tomato paste/cheese and mayonnaise on a sheet of puff pastry, roll up, chill, slice like biscuits and bake.

Sausage rolls

... and then the sweet stuff. Mars bar krispie cake, rocky road, butter biscuits in appropriate shapes, fairy cakes or tray bakes, etc....

How much do you want to over cater ?

Thank you for that. I am going to get the kids to do the pinwheels.

They are all great party food tips from stealth. If blathers was here she'd tell you to buy enormous pizzas from costco and cut them up.

Balloons, if you want to chase them blow them up but have balloon sticks at the ready. If you want helium partyrams do good deals on helium canisters, balloons and ribbon. I made a great balloon arch by tying a ribbon to each balloon but then thread the balloons onto a long piece of string by putting a needle/thread thro the deflated part of the balloon neck. Tie each end of string to a weight snd the balloons all pull upwards into an arch.

Blathers is here she is just really struggling to keep up this week. Hang on, let me have a read...

YY to pizza. Most kids will eat pizza - even cold - and it's slightly more than a treat than sandwiches. I tend to use the Costco ones as they are very good value for the size plus they can be cooked in the tray and then the lid replaced ready for taking to the venue/saving for later.

I've managed a few bits for DD's party. DW saw the bowl and bottle I bought while bored one lunchtime and I've also picked up some 6' long cardboard tubes ready to be transformed into masts for the party table. I even have a pink t shirt which will be perfect for turning DD into Izzy :) Now I need some pirate-esque serving platters. I was thinking those ornate edged silver foil platters that Tesco sell for a couple of quid would actually be perfect for once and wouldn't need to be hidden :)

I need to order some blue jelly and some more plastic wineglasses for my jellies

I have some big green leaf party platters - would they fit?

Hmm maybe. I was thinking Treasure Island style lunch on board so maybe silver tankards and platters... Leaf platters might add a shipwrecked feel....

I want to do this but better :)

If it's shipboard dinner then stick with silver and gold.

Text me your address again and i'll send you blue jelly.

Hi "Doctorswife* - where do you get this mythical blue jelly from?

Here abu

I might need to order some anyway depending on hoe many packs DW has...

Gosh thanks!