Archive for the ‘White Elephant Gift Exchange’ Category

The Christmas season is perfect for a hot cup of soup on a chilly evening. What would warm the spirit even more would be sharing soup and conversation with family and friends.

Caroline, the author of Whipped, hosts a soup swap every year and,  in her own words describes: “…an event that embodied all of my favorite things: gathering with friends, eating together, talking about food and sharing food.”

This got us to thinking about how soup could be used as a part of a white elephant or Yankee Swap party. Here is an idea that we came up with… But you could expand this in many directions.

1. Develop an invitation list from those whom like to cook and those who like to visit.
2. Tell everyone that this is a themed gift exchange event around the word SOUP.
3. Ask everyone to bring a quart of their favorite soup for a group tasting.
4. Let everyone know that they don’t need to use soup as the gift, just have the gifts be soup related.  This is where the creativity of your friends will shine!
5. Ask all attendees to bring some 3-cup containers of soup for general swapping among the attendees. Have them include the recipe on a printed card.

Now you can fill the evening with several social experiences.. Soup tasting, a white elephant gift exchange and a swap of soups.

NOTE: Caroline added a few other helpful ideas for hosting a Soup Exchange, so you should read her tips section.

When it is all said and done, your holiday soup exchange will probably become a holiday favorite and warm the hearts of family and friends on even the coldest night.

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Princess Phant
Daughter of the King of Burma
Caretaker of the AlbinoPhant Parties

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A Christmas Party Doesn’t Have to be Expensive

By: Candace Martin

In these stretched economic times even festive celebrations are falling onto hard times. The past couple of Christmases have seen a bit of a downturn in the level that folks were willing to pay for gifts along with the celebration itself, and the upcoming season looks to be about the same. If you are affected by budget issues but need to prepare for a holiday celebration, you do not have to let those things impact the quality of the merrymaking. There are lots of ways to throw a good gathering with limited funds.

The number one thing to keep in mind is that seasonal events take place each year and pretty much everyone you are acquainted with participates in them. Basically everyone you are acquainted with is also accustomed to putting up decorations for them. This means that, once you choose a spot to hold your party, you can almost certainly decorate the whole thing at no cost. All you require is to acquire the contribution of a few of your guests. Ask them to give or loan their preferred ornaments, or even only those that they don’t use any more.

You can also decide to have your gathering at a restaurant or at a bar. Despite the fact that doing this nearer to Christmas is typically challenging as those venues will have restricted room and won’t very likely offer you the space free of charge, near the beginning of December you won’t have much trouble obtaining a location. As long as they are not busy those venues will in fact give you a reduced rate on meals in contrast to making you pay you for space! What’s more, bars and restaurants are bedecked for Christmas from early winter, which means you won’t need to worry about putting up decorations for yourself.

Food is an added concern you will likely be concerned about. Well, at locations such as those mentioned there’s not much flexibility on meals. If you host it at a home or a different place there are lots of alternatives available to you. The ideal thing to do for spending less on the food for your Christmas party, apart from making it a potluck, is to make as much of the food on your own as feasible. In this respect, choosing a dessert buffet in comparison with a complete meal is likely your best bet. And keep in mind, punch isn’t just the cheapest beverage you can provide, but it is in fact a drink that everyone expects to find at a seasonal party.

As for crafting the right atmosphere, you do not need to pay a lot of money. Christmas events can have live bands, DJs and other expensive musical alternatives. Producing a good Christmas ambiance, though, does not require all that flash. Even for sizeable events the most fundamental things are often the most enjoyed. Consider sing-a-longs and gift exchanges. For a gathering where the guest list is loaded with folks without a lot of spare cash, try out the idea of throwing a Dirty Santa type of gift exchange where individuals actually have to re-gift (ie: they have to give gifts that they have received themselves, but didn’t care for.)

The bottom line is to be imaginative and not to be concerned about asking for assistance. Don’t forget that the key consideration of any seasonal party is people, and as long as they are together they’ll accomplish nearly all of the tasks by themself. If you aren’t content with that though, then spend the week after Christmas shopping for all the holiday merchandise that are on sale so you can throw an all-out celebration next year.

Author Resource:-> Get shopping tips, find Christmas games and activities, and learn strategies to get you through the stressful holiday season at Christmas Ideas.

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

With the launch of AlbinoPhant only days away, we are starting to get in the artwork for the white elephant gift exchange on Facebook.

This application is a bit more complex than most of the simple social games that are found in Facebook. AlbinoPhant parties involve the sharing of real gifts in a long-term party and therefore integrate eCommerce shopping and secure payment systems into the process.

We want players to realize that after they purchase a gift in one of the AlbinoPhant markets, they wait while others do the same thing. So we felt that a cute and artistic message might make players feel at ease while they wait for the party to begin.

We hired a talented designer from Tuscon, Arizona by the name of Jay Pierstorff. He has created several creative and cleaver images to help players understand the steps in the game play process.

So when a player has used PayPal to purchase their selected gift for the party, and after they virtually wrapped it in some fancy or interesting box, the Armed-Elephant will store it safely in the AlbinoPhant Palace.
The virtual gift box and the image of the gift will be used on the gameplay page during the party. The real gift will actually remain in the control of Amazon, until we know who gets the gift after all the stealing and swapping are finished in the party.

The AlbinoPhant management system will see that all the gifts are sorted out and that all the players get the correct gifts delivered after the game ends.

At the end of the party another fun artistic message will be displayed to remind players that they should be looking for a shipping company to show up with the gift that they won in the party.

We know that family and friends will find AlbinoPhant a fun and easy way to connect and share real gifts together this holiday season.. These humorous images of elephants should assist in making the experience all the more fun.

Your are going to love this party!!!

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King Thibaw
The Royal Thibaw, Golden-footed Lord of the White Elephant, Master of a Thousand Gold Umbrellas, Owner of the Royal Peacocks, Lord of the Sea and of the World, Whose face is like the Sun.

Some good ideas and great causes come from a loss or tragedy. I learned of a wonderful way to use the gift exchange concept to share with children this season.

Julia Chambers, crochet artisan and the author of several blogs, including “The difference between a duck”, shared a stocking stuffer gift exchange that has its genesis in a personal loss. Some family friends were tragically killed in an accident near Christmas.

She and her daughter decided to gather small gifts for children and wrap them for a gift swap, as a way of healing the wounds of the community. They started a stocking stuffer swap for kids in their area.

“The gifts were meant to carry on the spirit of gratitude to our community, both givers and receivers.  To bless friends and neighbors…” Julia Chambers

All ages appreciate a great party, and a White Elephant / Yankee Swap party is a great way to be social in a group. I would caution that small children may have trouble grasping the “stealing” component of the white elephant style of gift exchange, so an alternative might be better.

I would recommend for the child-version, that you stick to just a simple exchange of wrapped gifts.  Make sure that you mark boy or girl gifts and share them appropriately. This is the style that Julia and her daughter have chosen and it seems to be working well for them.

Every challenge in life can be turned into an opportunity, with a little creativity and some care. The stocking stuffer exchange sprung from a challenge, but with thought and charity it shows others what it means to truly care.

Have a great holiday season of sharing.

Thanks to Turn Back to God for image

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Princess Phant
Daughter of the King of Burma
Caretaker of the AlbinoPhant Parties

Ok, I am the first to admit that some of the gifts that are shared in a white elephant/Yankee Swap can be pretty useless…

A middle aged guy will never need a My Little Pony saddle collection. But, that is what he takes home after his 18 piece tool pouch was stolen by cousin John. (He’s not bitter!)

Gift sharing and stealing are what make the gift exchange party such a great social event. You never know how it all will turn out, so you could leave with a keepsake or you could just keep wishing until next year…

Some gifts are just begging to be re-gifted…

Jennifer, the ThriftyMommy blogger suggested a great idea for that stable collection sitting in a box in the garage… Have a re-gifting party after the holidays. She writes: “Plan your party for mid-January so everyone can relax a little after the holidays before attending yet another seasonal party” She then suggests that this gift exchange could be handled like a white elephant gift exchange or Yankee Swap, or even a open gift barter party.

We join in white elephant parties mainly for  socializing during the holidays, so the gifts are just a small part of the great experience.  So, why not bring out those unneeded gifts and do it all over again in a re-gift Yankee Swap?  This  and other re-gifting suggestions are included in a book on saving money called, Penny Saving Household Helper.

As a sponsor of online white elephant parties, AlbinoPhant  suggests that you should do the right thing and pass along an unneeded gift to someone who will find it useful.  We further suggest that you make the re-gifting event into a party as well… What is more social than a party?

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Princess Phant
Daughter of the King of Burma
Caretaker of the AlbinoPhant Parties

People are very creative in the ways that they share gifts during the holidays.

I discovered what the book bloggers and the tea enthusiasts are doing, and it is very cool…
They use an online Secret Santa format to spread the joy of the season with their respective networks.

Bonnie at Red Lady Reading Room and Gwendolyn at Sea of Books both participate in a blog-based book swap.  This event was started a few years back by some passionate book readers who describe the party as: “a way for book bloggers to connect and celebrate the holiday spirit by sharing gifts. It’s done secret Santa style; all of the participants are randomly assigned a blogger to send a gift to, and these assignments are kept secret until the gift has been delivered. So no one knows who their gift is coming from”!

I did a little exploring around, and it seems that there is a large group of bloggers who share the gift of reading through this online party.

But, the book readers are not the only online community that swaps gifts using  internet tools…  The tea crowd is in on the action as well…

Theirs is also an online Secret Santa format and is titled The Tea Round Table’s Holiday Gift Swap.  It is organized by the World of Tea.  Those who are a part of the world of tea online forum can use an online registration to join and share tea with randomly selected “gift buddies”.

These connected groups of users  find many ways to share with each other. So during the holidays they use the web to facilitate their effort to share gifts.  We  see groups like book bloggers and tea drinkers also using the online white elephant party system to share as well.

In fact, it would add the extra dimension of a common game play page and extra banter into their events.  The online yankee swap/white elephant party would connect club members, societies, sororities and gift-sharers of many persuasions.  What is more social than a party?

We salute the Blogger Book Swap and the Tea Holiday Gift Swap for moving the party online!

What other groups do you know who could benefit from these ideas?

Thanks to HolidaySwap for the image…

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Princess Phant
Daughter of the King of Burma
Caretaker of the AlbinoPhant Parties

We just discovered a great way to share the holidays with your customers, if you are a retailer….  Host a gift swap party at your store…

Caroline Rose-Kerr is the owner of Knit ‘n Knibble, a specialty yarn and knitting store in Tampa, Florida, and she does just that…

Every year she hosts a gift swap party before the holidays. At 6:30pm, after the store is closed, she opens up for a party. She uses her blog, store signs and customer lists to invite people to the event.

Her rules for the party are pretty simple:
Bring a wrapped fiber related gift valued at no more than $25 to the party (arrive before 6pm please).  Drop your wrapped package at the counter and pick up a number.  At 6:30, we’ll begin unwrapping…  The person with #1 opens a gift and sits waiting.  #2 then gets to choose between what has already been opened and the surprises in the wrapped packages.  And it goes on…

Because the Knit ‘n Knibble is a fiber retailer, Caroline requires that the white elephant party carries a fiber theme.

If you are an auto parts retailer, use a car theme. A pet supplier should suggest that all the gifts relate to pets. This could work for almost any store…  You could even add simple party favors that also relate to your theme, or give out door prizes.

You don’t need to enforce or suggest any “only bring gifts from my store” rule, but most of your satisfied customers will probably find something in your shop to share at the party..

You should provide decorations around the theme and some refreshments to add to the party atmosphere. You could probably be clever and use some of your display items in the decorations as suggestions for future purchases.

Treat this like a customer appreciation event and leave the hard-selling to another time.

Thanks to Caroline for a great idea to nibble upon.  Plan a Yankee Swap party at your store to knit closer customer relations and greater holiday fun!

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Princess Phant
Daughter of the King of Burma
Caretaker of the AlbinoPhant Parties

You really need something to generate more fun in this years Yankee Swap…

Or, you want the white elephant gift party to really be something unique…

Then try this white elephant gift exchange poem… It was created to keep the party lively and unique. Read this poem during the party to guide the actions in the gift exchange…

This will work for a Dirty Santa, Rob your Neighbor or Chinese Christmas party as well.

We can all thank Melanie Day at SugarDoodle for this great gift party generator of fun.

Give it a read… Then give it a try!

A Fun White Elephant
Gift Exchange Poem

1.  Lucky you, you’re # 1

You get to start all the fun.

So grab a gift and grab it quick.

Cause you’re the one who gets first pick.

2. Number 2 you’re on the way.

It’s time for you to have your say.

Get your gift and when you’re done,

Swap it off with number 1.

3. Number 3 its plain to see.

It’s your turn to pick which gift `twill be.

And when your choosing job is through,

Swap with 1 and then with 2.

4. Number 4 must use your head.

So grab a gift that has some red.

If it doesn’t suit you to a `T’,

You may swap with 2 or 3.

5. Jump to it 5, don’t drag your feet.

Take your gift back to your seat.

Wonder of wonders, it’s yours for a spell.

But what comes next, you can never tell.

6. Number 6 it’s your time to go.

Grab a gift and don’t be slow.

Now put on a smile so they won’t be sore,

Cause you must swap with #4.

7. Is a lucky number it seems,

You choose a gift that has some green.

Poke it, and shake it until you get back.

Now trade with someone wearing black.

8. Number 8 its up to you.

To get a gift that has some blue.

Now go quietly to your place.

Or trade with someone with a smiling face.

9. Nine, we haven’t forgotten you.

So choose your gift and don’t be blue.

Consider well and when all is said.

Trade with someone wearing red.

10. Number 10 come to the front.

For yours you shouldn’t have to hunt.

Now hurry back and look alive.

For you get to swap with #5.

11. Your turn 11 is finally here.

Pick a gift and hold it near.

Back at your seat look both ways.

If your choice was right then it may stay.

12. Number 12 jump to it sir/girl.

Make your choice, and with a whirl

Glance around to see who’s where.

Swap with whomever’s got the darkest hair.

13. Well, now, what do you know.

It’s finally 13’s turn to go.

There you go, you’re doing fine.

Now swap with 3 or 6 or 9.

14. Number 14 it’s your turn to shine.

So find a gift and don’t you pine.

Somewhere you really have a friend.

You get to trade with number 10.

15. Number 15 how do you do?

There should be a fit up there for you.

So pick one out without delay.

Now trade with someone wearing gray.

16. Number 16 your patience is great.

Go get a gift and don’t be late.

When your return, spin around.

And switch with someone wearing brown.

17. 17 your choice is here.

Find a box and hold it near.

When you return and look behind.

Swap with 11 if you don’t mind.

18. Number 18 boogie to the tree.

Choose the largest gift you see.

Admire it well, then turn with a wink.

And swap with someone wearing pink.

19. Now #19, do as you’re told.

Find a gift which has some gold.

When you’ve chosen we must be fair,

Trade with whoever has the blondest hair.

20. Number 20 how patiently you’ve waited.

Go get a gift before it’s outdated.

Shake it a bit and look around the floor.

Swap it with someone who’s five feet four.

21. 21 it’s time for fun.

For swapping time has just begun.

After trading with 4 and 9.

Swap with two even numbers–That’s fine.

22. 22 it’s time to make your way.

Get a gift that’s pretty and gay.

Now get ready to use your bean.

You must swap with 8 and 14.

23. 23 your turn has come.

Choose your gift with a lithe hum.

Look it over and when you’re through.

You may swap with a number having 2.

24. Number 24 have you been bored?

Well, we’d like to show you you’re adored.

So choose a box, see what you get.

Now you may trade with a brunette.

25. Let’s go 25, look alive.

Pick a gift of any size.

Show the gang that you’re O.K.

And swap with anyone you say.

26. It’s time for 26 to mix.

Get a gift if just for kicks.

For you’re to trade, if you have the knack.

With anyone whose shoes aren’t black.

27. Number 27 how lucky you are.

You’ve seen all the gifts chosen so far.

If a pretty box catches your eye.

Grab it, make a trade, and don’t be shy.

28. Hop up 28, don’t drag your feet.

Study your gift as you reach your seat.

Now grin a bit and smile some more.

Trade with 22, then 24.

29. Number 29 you must wake up.

Run up there as spry as a pup.

Make your choice, isn’t this keen?

But you must swap with 17.

30. Number 30 your wait was long.

But when we’re through you’ll sing a song.

Just look them over from small to large.

See a favorite? Then forward charge!

31. Number 31, how about that?

On your chair so long you’ve sat.

But get a gift, it’s not too late.

And trade with 30, 20, and 8.

32. O.K. 32, jump up quick,

And snatch your prize.

Then trade with the person

With the bluest eyes.

33. Well 33 it’s here at last.

You may break your giftless fast.

Gaze around at all the lasses.

Trade with someone wearing glasses.

34. 34, can there be more?

This poetry may be a bore.

Find your gift and look around.

Swap with the youngest member found.

35. 35, it is really true?

That 34’s rhymes now are through.

Well, choose your gift, now you see.

You trade with two numbers having 3.

36. 36 your waits been endless.

But now you know that you’re not friendless.

Look around and “case the scene”.

Then swap with someone wearing green.

37. 37 the end is near.

But have a gift, and never fear.

Now let’s shake up the early ones, like 7.

Trade with odd numbers through 11.

38. 38, it’s your choosing time.

Please make it better than this rhyme.

When you have it, look around.

And trade with those from out of town.

39. 39, go to the tree.

Choose the smallest gift you see.

If you wish to make a trade.

Find the largest that was made.

40. 39’s turn is finally past.

It’s number 40’s turn at last.

Find your gift and make a date,

To swap with #38.

41. 41 are you still awake?

Go get a gift for heaven’s sake.

Pick it up nice and quick.

Then trade with numbers having six.

42. Guess whose turn has come up now.

42, please take a bow.

Choose your gift, isn’t it keen.

Now trade with 15 and 19.

43. Oh my goodness, it’s getting late.

43, let’s see your fate.

Go get yours, sakes alive.

You have to trade with 25.

44. On we go to 44.

There must be at least one more.

Take your pick, are you in heaven?

Alas, you’ll swap with 27.

45. 45, it’s time for you.

Guess what it is you have to do.

Trade with 28, then 29.

Now you can say, “This one is mine!”

46. Skip on over 46.

Time for you to stir and mix.

Make your choice and then connive,

To swap with #35.

47. 47, we’re now to you.

There’s a gift for you there, too.

Isn’t this a lot of fun?

Now trade with 40, then 41.

48. 48, there’s not much left.

Still we won’t leave you bereft.

Maybe you’ll choose an old, rare wine.

Would you like to swap with 39?

49. 49, are your eyes still open?

Are you sitting there just hopin’?

Trot on up, what’s your fate?

Then trade with number 48.

50. We’ll wrap this up with #50.

We bet what’s left is really nifty.

However, one last swap is due.

With the gal who’s sitting left of you.

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Princess Phant
Daughter of the King of Burma
Caretaker of the AlbinoPhant Parties

OK, put down the spiked punch and rejoin the white elephant gift exchange ideas for a minute…

What would happen if you hosted a Pink Elephant party this year?

Wouldn’t it be fun to send out the white elephant gift exchange invitations with a pink elephant as the artwork? You could call it the Pink Elephant white elephant party. Or the “Whink” Elephant party…

Seriously, this could be a great “girls’ night out party” Everything in pink… Decorations, the punch (less alcohol = less pink elephants), and all the gifts in pink.

I came across this website where all the gifts are pink. There are pink blenders, pink dog houses and even pink pepper spray (for warding off the charging pink elephants!)

If you are doing some sort of re-gifting, you could do a re-paint of the item in Fairytale pink.

You could use pink wrapping paper, pink ribbons and even a requirement that everyone wears something pink to the party.

If you want to include a charitable component, then have everyone bring a couple of dollars to donate to a breast cancer cause and give out pink ribbons to your guest.

Go ahead, there are no laws that say white elephant parties must be all white…

If you now have visions of pink elephants dancing in your head, then go with it and host a pink gift exchange this year.

Thanks to nod to nothing for the image

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Princess Phant
Daughter of the King of Burma
Caretaker of the AlbinoPhant Parties

This stuff is called elephant toothpaste…

We are not sharing the ingredients here; you can find them online.

This science sideshow would be an interesting entertainment experiment at your next white elephant gift exchange.???

Be brave… It will only remove the wax from your linoleum and leave spots on your carpet!

Elephant toothpaste would certainly make the party more memorable. (Warning: this stuff is nasty)

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists