Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

999 replies

Tinkerisdead · 09/06/2013 17:06

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....

OP posts:
mrsseed · 11/09/2013 19:04

Stealth you are brilliant. I hadnt thought of camp rock. I dont look forward to scary films, loved them when younger (had older brothers so used to creep down stairs and watch in early morning after they had friends round) cant do them now.
And yes to smoothies, muffins and fruit..I'll set up a breakfast 'bar' and bid my fond farewells..

mrsseed · 11/09/2013 19:05

Stealth you are brilliant. I hadnt thought of camp rock. I dont look forward to scary films, loved them when younger (had older brothers so used to creep down stairs and watch in early morning after they had friends round) cant do them now.
And yes to smoothies, muffins and fruit..I'll set up a breakfast 'bar' and bid my fond farewells..

Blatherskite · 11/09/2013 21:14

I'm finally done with jury service so can get back into party mode - just let me sleep first! I did an "accidental" half marathon on Sunday and still haven't really recovered!

stealthsquiggle · 11/09/2013 21:25

Hooray for the end of Jury service. I need you to get DD's party back on track (with distractions like business trips and DGoddaughters' christening to contend with)

stealthsquiggle · 11/09/2013 21:25

Hooray for the end of Jury service. I need you to get DD's party back on track (with distractions like business trips and DGoddaughters' christening to contend with)

Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 11/09/2013 22:07

Why what help is needed for dd's party?

Sorry i was having to lurk as ive been packing, dd has been a horror and we've argued a lot. Ive had messages saying classmates are being sick so now i feel terrible that ive really told her off and she could well be coming down with something.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 11/09/2013 22:54

Um - I think I need a list. I have the rest (majority) of the invitations to do, the aprons (which should wait until I have replies), decorations, food plan, order bags for party bags, decide if we need any games, design and make a cake, and whatever else I have forgotten Wink.

stealthsquiggle · 11/09/2013 23:00

When is moving day, DW?

stealthsquiggle · 12/09/2013 10:37

I was about to ask Blathers where you found to spend your Love2Shop voucher in the end (I just won one GrinGrin) but then I remembered that House of Fraser sell Le Creuset, so most of it could be accounted for in replacing the casserole that DS dropped and somehow managed to smash. Not very thrilling, but maybe the DC and I can go nuts in The Works with the rest.

Blatherskite · 12/09/2013 16:32

I spent mine in Debenhams - on my MagiMix :)

Boots also take them so I got some posh face cream and my busted straighteners were replaced in Argos

stealthsquiggle · 12/09/2013 16:57

oooh - if the vouchers come through while the offer is still on, then Debenhams have the same Le Creuset casserole for £35 less - £35 more mad money instead of sensible purchases Grin I still wish Lakeland took love2shop vouchers though

Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 12/09/2013 21:11

Moving on the 4th stealth. Very very jealous of a voucher splurge!

OP posts:
Choccyjules · 12/09/2013 22:03

Thanks Stealth and Blathers. There's a Tesco but not an M&S within emergency distance so plan to bake a cake tomorrow evening then panic buy a blank one if necessary Sat morning!
DD is going to the Sunday party; she's happy to do so and will still get half her birthday here with us.
DH has tried his best today. Good job as he's out tomorrow night and I will be cleaning and cooking after DD is abed.

stealthsquiggle · 12/09/2013 22:37

Good luck Jules.

DW - I bought myself a bargain craftsy course the other day and now I have a whole list of stuff that I need - she has a brilliant way of covering cakes for which I have none of the equipment. DGoddaughters' christening cake is going to get expensive at this rate which means I really should keep vouchers for sensible things

Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 13/09/2013 06:43

What kind of things? And what way to cover cakes tell me tell me. Is it one of them massive mats that you roll out and splat it on?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 13/09/2013 06:46

I mean whats on your list, what'd you learn...tell all im knee deep in boxes! On a positive note, im not one for clutter anyway, but we're having the most fantastic clear out as we go. Ebaying tons, charity shopping tons, so therapeutic watching junk going out of the door and money trickling in...even a broken nintendo ds!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 13/09/2013 06:47

Good luck over the weekend jules.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 13/09/2013 08:42

Basically, she crumb coats and then fondant covers (partially) upside down, which gives really really sharp top edges - but she uses single edge razor blades for trimming, and a piece of thin "plexiglass" (perspex in English, I think) to do final smoothing as the cake smoothers have rounded edges, and sheets of thicker perspex to stand things on. She also does a really neat way of putting designs on, by assembling them on wax paper first, but I haven't watched that lesson yet. She uses lots of modelling "chocolate" which she makes from candy melts and corn syrup (would be with liquid glucose for us, I guess) and makes her own fondant using marshmallows, which looks interesting.

stealthsquiggle · 13/09/2013 08:46

So I "need" - razor blades (cheap, ordered), flexible perspex (ordered a cheap flexible chopping mat and I am hoping that will work), and perspex sheets (not sure about this one - may go for a glass pastry board with my magic vouchers) and whatever else she uses in the putting the design on lesson. I also "need" wax paper and have already bought various moulds for this christening cake

Another complication is that for the upside down method to work the cake board needs to be the same size as the cake. Without easy access to a sugarcraft shop, that is hard to achieve.

Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 13/09/2013 10:32

Oh good lord I've read that four times and i still cant work out what you mean. I normally trim my cakes with a craft knife blade or a pizza roller lol

OP posts:
Blatherskite · 13/09/2013 12:08

stealth - DSis who lives near DW is a DT teacher. I may be able to get you perspex sheets. Routed to size perspex sheets at that.

I may swap for insider knowledge Wink

Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 13/09/2013 14:16

How on earth did dsis end up as a dt teacher?! My dt teacher was a dirty old sod who stank of beer and fags!

Honestly shes far too glam to be a DT teacher?!!

OP posts:
Blatherskite · 13/09/2013 15:43

Mum was a DT teacher. I have basically a DT degree as does DBro.

It's a family affliction Wink

Original poster
Tinkerisdead · 13/09/2013 18:41

I knew your degree but didn't twig. Wow. Well done mrs blathersmum raising a clutch of DT'ers!

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 13/09/2013 22:00

Ok, so I did a really bad job of explaining that. Sorry. I was on my way to a meeting with an astrophysicist Wink

I will try again sometime over the weekend - too tired now Sad