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....

[LatinForTelly]

Cool - mould sounds good. And can I buy resin? Or that stuff you get in craft kits which you add water to and it sets - white stuff, can't think what it's called.

[NonsenseTalker]

I agree with Stealth, ThreeDaughters! I think your party sounds fab and it's not really hard work. You're not asking HIM to decorate a mug! You just need help with supervising them so that they don't get pen in their eye/up their nose/on eachother!
What I love about these threads is that people on here are making an effort for a loved one. When my DH looks at me like I'm mad and making too much work for myself and makes me doubt my plans, I come on here and get inspiration from likeminded people. We choose to make a "lot of hard work" for ourselves because we want to make really good memories for people and ourselves! So screw him and ask someone else for help!

I also think the decorate your own bag is a must!
What about decorate your own cupcake to go in the bag too? I might be taking things too far here.

[ThreeDaughtersLoveSandwiches]

Thank you. He has said that if his DDs are able to come he can help but it did make me have a couple of doubts.

Right back on track now. I think I'm going to have to ask a friend to bake a cake for me. I had a look online and the only ones I could see were from M&S costing at least £35!

Yes I was going to get some paper bags for them to take their things home in though hasn't thought to get them to decorate it

Thank you for the replies, I wish I could be more helpful to others

[ThreeDaughtersLoveSandwiches]

Latin you can buy plaster of paris for ebay, would that be any good?

Something like

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fine-Casting-Plaster-of-Paris-Variable-Sizes-/321134855504?pt=UK_Crafts_Other_Crafts_EH&var=&hash=item4ac5210550#ht_859wt_1142

Not sure how much would be needed but looks fairly cheap.

[Blatherskite]

ThreeDaughters ignore that man! NonsenseTalker is not talking nonsense this time, she's right, we make the effort because we want our loved ones to have a lovely and memorable day. DS went to 3 water park parties in a row last summer and very quickly couldn't remember who's was who's.

On the other hand - DD's rainbow party went down so well that it's about to be copied for a second time and DS's pizza making party is regularly called 'the best party she's ever been to' by a friend of mine. I'm sure stealth has told stories before of people exclaiming "Oooh, a ministealth party, this'll be good" when they get their invites too

[stealthsquiggle]

Latin, I know you find pinterest scary, but I saw this via a FB link today

[stealthsquiggle]

this stuff seems to be the modern equivalent of plaster of Paris - easier to use and sets harder.

[stealthsquiggle]

this is the mould I was looking at

[LatinForTelly]

Thanks, ThreeDaughters, that looks great. I'll use that if I go down the mould route.

At the moment I'm thinking about using mini logs as the body of the house and some sort of roofing material ! I'm slightly trying to go down a 'low effort' route, but want a decent effect.

Your craft party sounds great, by the way. I sometimes have the doubts your guest's father voiced (ie I get the irony of me getting ultra-stressed to give them the perfect party - not that you sound at all stressed.) But I do think they remember their parties. I still remember some of my parties and I am as old as the hills!

[stealthsquiggle]

I have told this story before, but at DS's last party hid friends sat round at their (terribly grown up and sensible) lunch at reminisced about all DS's other parties. They remembered every detail, right back to when they were all 4 . I nearly blubbed but DS would have killed me

[stealthsquiggle]

his, not hid

[LatinForTelly]

Thanks stealth. Now why didn't I get that many pictures when I searched Pinterest?! They are great, they just set off my perfectionist jitters! But great for ideas - thanks.

I've got my eye on those bird houses too - quite cheap on yellow moon, but worried they'd be too big for the planters I'm planning on.

That mould looks perfect - just might end up being quite expensive with postage. I'll keep an eye on the bidding and maybe sneak in. I've never used Ebay. Do I have to preregister to bid/buy?

[stealthsquiggle]

You do have to register, but it's not a huge hassle IIRC. You could search elsewhere for the mould, of course.

[stealthsquiggle]

There are cheaper moulds for fairy doors - would those be any good (can you tell I am not well versed in fairy stuff)?

[Tinkerisdead]

Hello all. Im so sorry ive had to just skim read to catch up as we've been having major major problems with dd1 at bigschool intro days and well frankly i'm all parented out! She hates the place but now really insisting on a mermaid bloody disco for her next birthday. More on that later.

For fairy houses i've seen numerous people decorate the mini bird houses and it does work really well for kids. The woman on the imagination tree did a fairy party albeit for tenny toddlers but some basics there to be stolen for a short notice party. here

ideas and makes on here

In the works the other day i saw colour in castles etc that could easily be made into a fairy castle with group effort

[Tinkerisdead]

ahem how's about this with the infamous blue jelly

[chestnut100]

Hi everyone, I wondered if anyone had any inspiration/experience of a toy story themed party. My soon to be 3 dd has chosen this and I am at a little bit of a loss!....

[stealthsquiggle]

What's up with big school, DW ?

[stealthsquiggle]

Toy Story - combination of cowboy stuff and spaceman stuff? Does she have a favourite character?

[chestnut100]

That is more or less what I was thinking....she's a Jessie fan! Trying to think of themed games with no success!

[Tinkerisdead]

Oooh love toy story too errmmm thinking...

Stealth - screaming blue murder. First day they left her to cry for two hours(i was on site but in a class about phonics) and no-one came to get me. So then dhe was petrified. This time they let me stay but if anything she was worse and the head had to carry her kicking/screaming into another room. I burst into tears from sheer embarrassment as it was a completely different child to the one at home. Luckily her nursery teacher was there with some other kids and next week they've suggested taking her instead. Shes refusing to swim now too and today cried if her key worker went off at playschool. Sighhhhhh.

[Tinkerisdead]

reductions on toystory party stuff at tesco

[Tinkerisdead]

If its three year olds what about mr potato head activity? Make laminate potato head placemats and tons of eyes/nose/glasses etc that be blu-tac'd on etc. you can actuslly get mr potato heads cheap. How many are coming could we souce them as your party bag giveaway?

[Tinkerisdead]

Im trying to think how you could do a lucky dip style game like "ooohhh the claw you are the chosen one"

Maybe do a lucky dip with alien pictures on string and one woody. Who draws woody is the winner.

[Tinkerisdead]

Its hard to think with dr ranj singing at me..