Tuesday 2 October 2012

Memories are made of this...

On Saturday I held a party for my Dad's 80th birthday

 He knew he was having a little family party at ours, what he didn't know was that my brother and his family would join us. My brother is a busy university professor and spends a lot of time out of the country. M and I decided on this date for the party a long time ago. We had thought about going out for a meal but then I decided that what could be real fun would be to have an old fashioned party like the ones my M and I had as kids and that I gave to my own children when they were young. My Dad's face was a picture when my brother, sister in law and 2 grown up nieces appeared at the party.

Obviously for a birthday I needed to make one of my cakes. Some weeks ago I got busy designing the plaque. I decided to make one of my popular "exploding" plaques.




I got busy cutting out lots of stars from fondant icing  using my star plunger cutter. I also made some candle holders with the icing. I made a champagne bottle and cork out of the icing.














I wired up some of the stars and pushed them into the neck of the "bottle". I added an 80 to the "label".
I cut out a plaque, piped the words "Congratulations Dad" using royal icing and then added lots of the stars. I really like the bright bold colours.













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This was my finished design which I was able to get made a few weeks ahead.  This meant that all I had to do was to stand  it on the cake (which  I made it on Friday afternoon after work).
















Personally I prefer lemon cake but most of my family love my traditional Victoria Sponge with butter cream filling and raspberry conserve.  Here is the cake sliced and spread all ready to put together on Saturday morning.






And here is my finished cake all ready on the table. We had a traditional party tea with all the trimmings. This included pineapple on sticks, pizza, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, cheese board, pasta salads, salad, crisps etc etc. We even had jelly and ice cream for pudding ;0)  We played silly party games including pass the parcel and matchsticks on the bottle and I even sent everyone home with a party bag. The one grown up thing we enjoyed was to enjoy plenty of champagne! The 12 of us had a ball and  it was just perfect to be together for such a memorable day. Times like this give us such wonderful  memories to cherish.

So unbelievably my Dad is now 80 years young.......! Happy Birthday dear Dad ;0)

My challenge card today is the card I made for him





I used one of my favourite Ladybug Crafts Ink stamps from the Gardener's Delight range. I coloured it using my Promarker pens and highlighted using my Prismacolor pencils. I distressed the edges of the focal and the backing cards...I really like the effect. I added some mulberry paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and the tags are from Lili of the Valley. The 80 is also from LCI, I added some Dimensional Magic to make it stand out. 
I would like to mention that The Ribbon Girls are having a super twine and charms give away. Do check them out.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
Joanna Sheen Down in the garden
Forever Friends anything goes #46
Emerald Faeries Flowers #33
Make It Monday Linky Party #109
Simon Says Stamp anything goes
Whimsy stamp Challenge anything goes #51

My final photo just made me smile.... a certain cat decided to check out the seating before the guests arrived.....

Needless to say he didn't stay there long as my niece brought her little dog with her who just loves chasing cats. Billy sneaked back in again when the coast was clear and everyone had gone home ;0)

After a decent sunny few days  the rain has now returned and the wind has really picked up. A real autumn day. Happy Tuesday everyone,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

44 comments:

  1. Wow that looks likes one yummy cake and love the card xx

    PS I prefer victoria sponge to lemon cake too lol!

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  2. Thanks Debbie...and another Victoria sponge fan I see ;0)
    Jane x

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  3. Fabulous cake Jane, you clever thing! I love a slice of gold old lemon cake too :)
    Victoria xx

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  4. Oh Jane, that made me smile and bring a lump to my throat all at the same time, what a fab cake, what a fab day, all of you together, how wonderful, I bet your dad really loved it. I can't remember the last time we, as a family, were altogether, you have made me quite jealous, in a good way. Lovely lovely pictures. Laney x

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  5. Amazing cake Jane, I'm sure your dad was thrilled with it. The fizz coming out of the bottle is brilliant. :)
    Looks like you all had a fantastic time, just as it should be, I love a good old fashioned birthday party. I used to love thinking up things to put in the children's party bags.
    The card is lovely, I do like the watering can cards. :)
    Wet and miserable here too. :(
    Vivienne x

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  6. Dear Jane.. thank you SO much for inviting us to the party too.. you're so lucky to have your Dad still with you. I remember so fondly when we had my Dad with us for the family parties. I'm glad you had the party at home, it's so much more "homey" than going to a restaurant! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. Glad to see you are a fellow lemon cake lover Victoria ;0)
    Jane x

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  8. My Dad was really thrilled Laney and it was so special to all be together to celebrate such a special day,
    Jane x

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  9. We all loved our old fashioned party Vivienne, there was a lot of laughter that day....magic!
    Jane x

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  10. I agree that I am so lucky to have both my parents Teresa as a lot of my friends don't. Home was definately the best place to have the party, such a joyful day.
    Jane x

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  11. Sweet Jane,
    What a beautiful occasion! You did an amazing job on the cake and the decorations. It also looks so delicious.
    I love that you did all the birthday games and party bags, now that's a PaRtY!!!!!
    I'm sure your Dad loved every moment and appreciated all your efforts!
    The best of family times and memories were made.
    Love your card and Billy's appearance!
    xoRobin❤

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  12. I am so glad that you chose to share more than the delightful card , Jane.I really enjoyed your lovely post .
    Thanks for sharing all on Make it Monday.

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  13. Very pretty card! The cake looks yummy

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  14. Happy Birthday to you Dad, Jane! You have had the most wonderful day all together! Your cake looks amazing and all the tea party sound so delicious! Unforgetable day! x Teje

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  15. It certainly was a real party Robin and such a cherished family occasion.
    Jane x

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  16. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit here Shirley.
    Jane x

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  17. It certainly was an unforgettable day Teje :-)
    Jane x

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  18. This is a Beautiful card and pictures. I spotted this on MIM.... LOZ

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  19. Fab card hun, great image & colouring! Happy Birthday to your Dad & it looks like you all had a fab time!

    Thank you for sharing with us at Emerald Faeries, good luck!
    Hugs Shell xx

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  20. Happy 80th Birthday to your Dad, Jane! What a wonderful party, family times like this are such fun and so memorable and special. Love the idea of party bags for everyone! The cake is amazing, and your card is lovely too.
    The sun is out here now...hope it is with you too.
    Helen x

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  21. Indeed Helen, as we get older time like this get fewer. Everyone loved their party bags ;0)
    Jane x

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  22. Thanks Shell, we had a brilliant time!
    Jane x

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  23. Fabulous card Jane :-)I am sure your Dad loved it :-) It looks like you had a great party too ,, lovely to get everyone together for a special birthday like that eh :-)

    thanks for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp and PTW Challenges :-)
    luv
    Lols x x x

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  24. fabulous card but think your cake decoration is fabulous, have a 70 birthday coming up you are so inspirational
    hugs Kate xx

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  25. It was wonderful to get together Lols, everyone had such fun, so much laughter too! Thanks for visiting,
    Jane x

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  26. Hi Kate, I have made a couple of these explosion cake toppers and they do come out quite well (they are not too difficult to make either ;0) Thanks for visiting me here,
    Jane x

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  27. Dear Jane,

    What a lovely way to celebrate the BIG 80 - a proper home-party! I'm sure your Dad (and everyone else there) loved every minute of it (except poor Billy, perhaps ;) ?)! And the cake was an another masterpiece of yours again... wow!

    Have a wonderful weekend, dear friend, and warm greetings from rainy Finland again!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  28. It was indeed the best way to celebrate it Mia, we all agreed that. Billy was fine once Gipsy went home ;0) Enjoy the weekend my dear,
    Jane x

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  29. OH! Happy, happy birthday to your dear DAD!! That is a fantastic way to celebrate...you really know how to make someone feel loved and so very special. Oh, the champagne bottle with candles plaque is fantastic..you are SO multi-talented! Thanks for letting us take a peak at your wonderful day. OH! And thank you for your sweet visit..turns out that she liked the Croque Monsieur piece best! : ) So, more mice and animal characters in my future. : ) Have a lovely weekend, Jane!

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  30. My Dad really did feel very special Shirley, I do love seeing people happy and get a lot of pleasure doing these things. You excel at drawing mice and animals....all your work is just wonderful. Happy weekend too my dear,
    Jane x

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  31. Sorry I've been a stranger the last week or two Jane, slow going still and collecting Buffy's ashes this week put me right back to square one again.

    I am sure you Dad loved his Birthday party, when I did one for my Dad's 80th, or barbie as he's a summer boy, he sat there centre stage contemplating then said to all "I never ever thought I would see this day", he loved every moment of it.

    Your lovely card is perfect for a Dad.

    B x

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  32. The cake looks fabulous! I do love a proper old fashioned party, we do them every other year, usually at my Mum's farmhouse as her family is so big and there is always the 'traditional' party food. Last time we played hide and seek, kids and adults together - it's a big old house will a 4 room attic and large cellar so it was great fun. Glad you got to spend such a special day with all your family. Bethx (thelinencat)

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  33. You're never a stranger here Brenda, so good to see you here and just takes things slowly but surely. Dad really had a ball!
    Jane x

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  34. Hi Beth, we seem to never grow out of our childhood fun do we...hide and seek sounds fab...my tiny terraced house has no where to hide in!
    Jane x

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  35. So happy to see the whole family together!! Congrats again to your dear Dad!!

    The card looks wonderful for his special day!

    best wishes
    Anne
    PC22

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  36. It was such a happy day Anne,
    Jane x

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  37. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talents with us and helping us celebrate our 5th Birthday! Please be sure you've commented on all the designers blogs for the biggest chance of winning one of the amazing prizes! Hope to see you join us again soon!
    hugs, Sharon

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  38. Thanks Sharon, it was a great hop and happy birthday to the challenge too!
    Jane x

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  39. Lovely party deco's.. Thanks for joining us at FF challenge hope to see you on our next challenge!
    Shirl ~ DT

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  40. Gorgeous card, love the wonderful image
    Thanks for joining us at Joanna Sheen
    Hugs
    Kat xx
    Ps happy birthday to you Dad too, my mum celebrated her 80th this year too, its an amazing milestone. X

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  41. It is an amazing milestone isn't it Kat, thanks for visiting,
    Jane x

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Jane x