Double Digits

I'm bringing you a little bit of Spring today. Isn't is just beautiful? The strange thing is, we are meant to be entering Autumn! Half of the plum tree is still loosing it's leaves, while the other half is flowering and new leaves keep appearing. This has been going on for about three weeks now and I think it has finally stopped budding. I wonder what will happen, come Spring at the end of the year?

Well guess what? Daughter No. 1 is turning 10 in a few weeks time!! It's a special birthday, ten is. Double digits at last! So exciting when you are that young. I vaguely remember mine, a sleep-over from memory. Hers was meant to be the same, but last year's party ended up being a sleep-over, cunning child!! I think there were about 6 or 7 girls in our lounge talking and giggling until quite late, then up again at the crack of dawn. Just the usual really! I'm sure some of you have been there! These are the sleep-over cakes I made. We tried to get the hairstyles similar to each guest. Good fun to make and really easy.

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Our first party idea was to have a disco. I was a bit nervous about the whole thing, but it is a special birthday, so I went along with it. Unfortunately, yes very, she changed her mind and decided on something more sedate. We are now going to Valentines Restaurant, an eat as much as you like place, perfect for children. Nothing fancy but something for everyone.

Anyway, it was suggested yesterday that we should make the invitations. You know, as soon as she had got in the door! I could see how well that would work with four extra helpers. I don't think so!! So I suggested we make a draft and work it out first. Some ideas came to us very quickly and it was agreed, unanimously - that it was perfect. Pheeew! Not bad going Mama.

I rather cleverly spaced things out slowly by talking about which stamps to use, which stickers, colour schemes etc until, by golly it's bedtime. Oh, no! Well honey, Mummy will do one quickly and take it in to you for your approval. That's fine? Oh, good.

Lucky for me all went well and the first invitation was complete ten minutes later. Gasps came out of her mouth and some lovely words eventually followed. Success!

I'm grateful there were only five to make. They were fairly quick to do, but the ink can mess around the edge of the stamp and cause a little stress. Still, a bit of excess stamping won't be noticed - I shouldn't think.

Oh gosh, I don't have any envelopes that size at all! After a hunt around my supplies for red paper, or any paper that was kind of suitable, I was at a loss. Then I remembered something I saw in a magazine a while ago, for using a pretty page in a mag as wrapping paper or for making envelopes. What a creative idea I thought at the time.

I flicked through my treasured NZ House and Garden magazines and found some pretty pages in the cooking section. Not usually a place I venture into, but we are going to a restaurant, so thought it most suitable. They all looked rather tasty. Check out those dear little cakes with the blue ribbons around them. Aren't they just so pretty?

The poor child was pulled out of bed this morning, and instead of her usual read, she was sat up at the bench with instructions on what to do. Hey, she could hardly complain. She made a border around the front of the cards, with names of foods she likes to eat at Valentines. Don't forget your neatest writing lovey! How nice you are to let your sister do half of them. Good girl!

What do you think of this combination of colours? Pretty groovy isn't it? Think I might have to make bags for each guest. Well, it's not like we need decorations or a table cloth is it? We can hardly turn up to the restaurant and flick a new table cloth over their stained white ones now can we? Certainly tempted to though!

I will be organising a little craft activity prior to leaving for dinner. Not too sure what we will do yet. Maybe decorate some chipboard alphabet letters for their rooms? Using scrapbooking papers or ribbons on them. Any other ideas out there? Simple, but not too expensive if you please. And no cooking ideas pleeeease!!

Well I guess I should be making a start on the bags. I have an hour to make a start on them. I'm thinking they will take their creation home in them. A little keepsake.

Hope you are having a good day, or have had one, if you are on the other side of the world. Sending warm wishes to you all! Bye for now.