Shirley's Party Advice Part 7 - how did they all get so big...

[stealthsquiggle]

Part 7 - link to previous one to follow!

Just seen a st Patrick's day cake that was a variant of a rainbow cake only with 4 shades of green. That would work but you don't have time

DS's cake sucks.

I don't have time to make another either

Not even Tesco stocking blue jelly can cheer me up

Awwww - what's up with the cake?

Gaps between the 'pixels' and it's gone all wobbly where the cake has sunk as it settled last night.

DS likes it but it's rubbish.

. I suspect your Guinness cake is too moist to like being cut up and stacked.

Can you find it's best angle to take a photo and then cut it up before anyone other than small boys sees it?

Good luck with it all. I am shattered - ballet bag done (took for ever as the intricate pattern of the fabric meant that I had to be much more accurate than I normally am ). I can see it's flaws but DD is pleased (just needs rope for the drawstring, which I will get in the morning from the village agricultural merchant ), and chunk of house tidied (it's an unheated room so no one but DD goes I there all winter, so it ends up knee deep in general junk and DD craft projects). We even let the (newish) cats out for the first time and the came back. So not ready for Monday, though.

LOL at all the comments on FB - I am not seeing any "well the party was OK but the cake was a bit rubbish"

Yes, so far out of 3 guests, 2 have demanded the exact same party for their upcoming birthdays.

I made sure none of the parents saw the cake though

The party bags appear to have made up for the cake too

Before I forget, ballet bag - and potential cake toppers for bake off - what d'you reckon? I am going to do a cricket ball for the big cake, but had my arm twisted into entering cupcakes as well.

Hello party peeps. I havent been checking the threads im on just dipping in late when i get a break from painting.

Firstly sorry blathers i had blue jelly and had i seen this i'd have sent it to you. Secondly im gutted i missed the run up chat to ds's birthday but i blame you for only gearing up on thursday! Lol. Send me some pics wouldya!

Stealth - the ballet bag is lovely!

My dd has just ditched sports club but its her rainbows promise week this week and she did her 25m swimming at half term so im not as bothered about sports club if it leaves two things shes loving. I cant believe this is the same child that wouldnt go to school without clinging on to me.

For all the Mad Hatter fans - I really want to go and try this and steal all their ideas

Oh, and sport relief cake and cupcakes:

Fab cakes stealth. Are they on the flikr feed to have a closer look from my phone? How'd you shine the cricket ball up?

Can definitely recommend the Mad Hatter's afternoon tea! It is amazing, went in December and my lovely husband even booked the very private booth for us! Lovely and would definitely go back!

slp - I think I would be spending the whole time taking notes/photos - I am hoping that when DD declares herself too old for "children's" parties we can do a Mad Hatter tea party. But she's not allowed to do that this year, clearly, because she is having a science party, given that 90% of it is bought and hidden in a cupboard already.

DW - yes, they are on Flickr, although I still don't have one that shows the hidden centre because they judged it without cutting or tasting it . It did win - and the prize was yet another flipping cupcake course, miles from home - so I gave it to a colleague who does live in the right area who is going to give it to his wife for her birthday . The cupcakes won third prize, which was a sport relief apron which is quite cool. Apparently they are going to slice and sell it today and the catering manager promised she would take a photo of it once cut for me.

What do you put in the pass the parcel for the prize in the middle? Mixture of boys and girls aged 5yrs.
Thanks

What's the party theme, slp? TBH I generally end up with something that I found and wish I could afford to put in party bags. DD's favourite win from pass the parcel was a mini winning the pooh pencil case with a pencil. Nothing "big" as it risks being the same as a present brought to the party (we have done that too - DS once won as a prize the exact same thing we had taken as a present ).

Winning the pooh? That would be Winnie.

I usually try to find a craft set or similiar. For my pizza party i had a playdoh pizza set, i did toothbrush flannel bath bombs for my gruffalo party, gruffalo ones. My dd won one of those big tubes of sweets once and she loved that cos even after sharing them she still had tons.

Stealth yes yes but how did you shine the ball up like that?

Congrats on the wins. Naturally!

DW - with this stuff

no theme as such - have some party entertainers who are doing games etc but just keeping it simple really - I have got some craft kits for the party bags (for the girls). I know this may be a bit controversial but got a good deal on some kits on Baker Ross and have a make your own pull back car for the boys and couple of other vehicle themed bits.

Didn't think that the boys would really want a craft kit as such - well from what I see of them at my dd's school anyway! Oh and I am making them all personalised bead key rings and there will be few sweets.

Now I am doubting myself for having girls stuff and boys - I would normally think all the same but knowing what I know about the boys I think they would definitely all prefer the cars, planes etc

Anyway, back to the pass the parcel – will have a look at play doh – was thinking maybe a little game but it really is hard to know what children have already!
Any opinions greatly received!!!

I wouldn't get stressed about the girl /boy thing, slp. No point in giving them something that you don't think they would like just for the sake of political correctness. My DS likes craft sets and always has, but I know he is in the minority.

How about a gender neutral mini football (sports direct have them for £1.50) or something like that?

I always worry playdoh is too young for five year olds then all the visiting five year olds get it out and go mad!

Stealth im such a goon cos I was going "how has she done that? Its like its glazed" lol and I know full well glaze exists!! I must be really tired. The kids got up at 5am today - moving day - and to be fair 80% of the house is unpacked. Well rehearsed!

Invitation replies....how long does it take people to reply? I usually reply the same day as receiving the invite or next day but I guess this is not the norm. What are your experiences of receiving rsvps?
Thanks