Monday, 23 July 2007

Party Time

party invite copy


It's time to prepare for Louisa's birthday party yet again. This year, we're having a Hawaiian theme. I just hope I don't run out of ideas soon. It's quite a difficult task to decide what theme to have as I have to consider the availability of partywares, decorations, costumes and what sort of games to play. After scouring party sites, I decided on having a Luau themed party. The party invites were cheap to make but time-consuming. Adrian had asked me to just hand out the pieces of paper instead of rolling them up and tying with strings, flowers, leaves and nametags. I ignored his advice and went ahead with my idea. The initial plan was to place the scrolls inside small glass bottles filled with seashells and sand. I couldn't find the bottles anywhere so had to make do.

Louisa's birthday falls during the summer holidays and a few of her friends are holding their parties during those weeks. The week before her party, there'll be 2 parties and another one on the day before hers. Charlotte shares the same birthday as her but luckily she's having hers a week earlier. I've decided that it'll be an all-girls party this time round. I don't have to make another invite just for boys and I can have all things girly and sweet. If not for some of her friends having the same sex parties, I wouldn't have done likewise.

Foodwise for the children will be very simple fare. I don't have a proper list yet but it'll be pizzas, nuggets, mini sausages etc, the usual stuff you'll find at all children's party here. I remember cooking fried rice, fried noodles, springrolls, sotong balls etc last year. There were popular but took a lot of time. Then there's the cake. Fingers crossed, I'm making a Hula Girl cake. I had asked Aiqi to buy the doll's cake mould from Bake-it-yourself in Singapore and requested one of Adrian's friends who is flying here tomorrow to bring it over. I'm glad I remembered Jean buying the Hula skirt from Hawaii years back so it's coming together with the cake mould. I think the cake will not be as complicated as last year's and since we're not inviting too many adults, plus my mother-in-law will be here, it'll be easier to cope. Or so I hope.

As it's now summer in UK (but doesn't seem like it), the shops are selling tropical party stuff including the hula skirts and leis. But they work up to quite a substantial amount as we are expecting at least 10 children. I'm still trying to source for flower petals (anyone know where I can get them?) which I can string up myself and rafia strings (can't find any yet) for the hula skirts. I may have to use crepe paper for the skirts instead. If I am ambitious enough, I may make coconut trees out of cardboards. I also need some mini paper lanterns, may ask my mother to buy and get my MIL to bring over. We'll be going away soon (hopefully can get some of the partyware there which may be cheaper) and by the time we get back, I'm left with only about 2 weeks to prepare.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Am a regular reader to your blog becos i simply love your scrappages. Are you celebrating ur dotter's birthday on the actual day? If yes, coincidentally it is mine too. :)

Roslyn said...

May I ask if I know you? Thanks for being my regular reader. Louisa's actual birthday falls on the 28th but we're having it earlier on Sunday.

M said...

Raffia seems hardier than tearable crepe (heehee, on a skirt :P ), why not ask someone to bring it over when they bring the other stuff too? :) The invit looks SWELL, I haven't sent any paper invits b4 , bad ettiquette on my part- everything's email or SMS!

M said...

Both of us seem to like parties :P , got any idea where I can buy hairbands for kids? the plastic kind... I was thinking of adding plastic corrugated board "Mickey Ears" to make, well, Mickey Ear hairbands. Just realised my description sucks- ok, here... http://www.anniescostumes.com/disneycharacters.htm (the girl as Minnie Mouse wears a headband with Ears). Am not sure abt dressing Athena in that though, will she kill me when she looks back on the pics as an angsty teenager?

I wld love a way to DIY these instead http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl051031xx , for sentimental reasons. My late dad once got these for my sis fr Disney USA, I think with her name embriodered even.

Sorry for hijacking your post- wanna dig ur brains :P !

Roslyn said...

Mel,

Ya, agree that raffia is defitnitely hardier than crepe but the English doesn't seem to use it. I'll have to look harder. My MIL's only coming on 21st. I'm just worried I have too little time to make.

Invite - thanks! In S'pore, I used to only send by email and SMS too. Louisa's guests are children mah, so had to send paper ones. But I still send by emails to adults. I think now that Athena doesn't like the Pirate theme anymore, it'll be easier for you?

Roslyn said...

Sorry about the delay, preparing for holiday. Gosh, I've been away from S'pore for so long....uhm Sinma comes to mind. What about those $2-shops (if there's still such shops around) and Daiso? I just thought of something. Use pipe cleaners (black) and tie elastic band to both ends like those for hats (make sense?). I think this may be more economical but as pipe cleaners are quite flimsy, I thought the elastic band will hold it in place when put on. Maybe can twist a few together to make it more strong.

The other cap type....what about buying those plastic disposable bowls and paint them black? Better still if you can get them in colours then just add the black ears (foam boards? or thick black paper?).