Posts Tagged ‘Gift exchange’

Some Very Useless White Elephant Gifts

Sometimes it just makes perfect sense to do something truly wacky. And what could be more fun than to gather your family or friends together for a white elephant gift exchange with totally useless stuff?

Some people believe that white elephant gifts are supposed to be gag gifts or other less practical items, others use the event to share valuable items.  White elephant gifts can be useless or practical, it is completely up to you.

Of course, we always promote giving gifts that will get the conversation going within the game.  Most of the time it is the banter that makes the party more engaging, so wacky white elephant gifts can make perfect sense.

The following is a list of unique gifts that should help build conversation in your next white elephant party.

The World’s Most Useless Gadgets

There are some inventions that have been created to better the lives of people. Gadgets like the fire alarm device for homes, door bells, mobile phones etc. Then there are these utterly useless gadgets:

The AC T-shirt: This T-shirt comes with an Air Conditioner for those trips across the Kalahari Desert.
.
The Flying Alarm Clock: As if we don’t spend enough energy trying to find the snooze button on our normal clocks, this clock will buzz around like a fly that you just want to swat. Buying a new one isn’t cheap so swat gently!
.
The Electric Paper Airplane Launcher: Just put your paper plane between the two rotating discs and launch at 30mph. Wonder if you can launch other things like rotten tomatoes.
.
The TV in the Armpit: Missing out on your latest soap opera or want to know what is going on at the Cricket World Cup, just switch on the TV conveniently located in your armpit. Hmmm… well you might not be able to watch, you will act like that antenna guy, holding up your arms while your friends can watch.
.
Nothing: The perfect gift for anyone. The gift is a perfect orb that comes in a great packaging that does absolutely nothing but just look pretty. Won’t your friend be pleased with his ‘Nothing’.
.
The Message Toaster: This is a great gift to give your special someone before you plan on dumping or divorcing them. Just write a message on the top of the toaster and switch it on, when the toast comes out it has the message written on it. Perfect way to break up over breakfast.
.
The Nordic Bearded Cap: This is just plain silly. When will someone ever want to put on a cap and pretend to be a Viking named Olaf. This cap comes in four amazing colors with two beard lengths.
.
The USB Fragrance Burner for Laptops: This probably was created to help people relax while they work. Available for just $8, I hope the boss doesn’t mind when you get so relaxed that you start snoozing at the job.
.
USB Toothbrush: Who in the world would want to brush their teeth by the laptop. I mean cleaning up spilled drinks and food crumbs is hassle enough, can you imagine trying to clean up toothpaste.
.
The two-sided shoes: These very unpractical shoes have been designed so that when you sit on the bed or sofa, you don’t have to turn the shoes around. Just insert your feet and you’re off.

Have you seen any silly gifts or gadgets that we haven’t featured here on on gizoo.co.uk? Let us know the silliest gadget you’ve seen in the comments below.

FIND MORE  → White Elephant Gift Ideas

White elephant gift exchange – Easter style

Every holiday is an opportunity to share gifts and fun with family and friends, and Easter is no different.  This year you might change things up a bit and host an Easter Gift Exchange.

Unique and creative gift giving is the hallmark of a great party, and nothing makes a party more fun than some games… Of course we always suggest some type of white elephant gift exchange.

For your Easter party you could ask everyone to bring gifts with a Easter theme.  Maybe it could be a Bunny& Egg party, or an “Everything Fuzzy” exchange or for a religious gathering the theme could be centered on Christian gifts.

You would structure your gift exchange like any traditional white elephant gift party, with all invitees asked to bring a wrapped item. You could specify a price level and determine if regifting is OK and then notify all with an invitation.

Because we are affiliated with the Amazon markets we went in and gathered together some gifts that may help to get your creative juices flowing.

We also searched Python Printable Games for some other party game ideas for you → Easter Games

White elephant gifts are encased in value

White elephant gift traditions

Marketing unique gifts

Gifts in a Virtual World?

White elephant gift discovery

White Elephant Gift Party Rules

The most complete list of gift exchange rules anywhere!

The white elephant and secret Santa exchanges are the most popular gift swapping parties for groups during the holidays. Similar group parties are used by direct sales companies like Tupperware every day of the year. The PartyWeDo recreational experts monitor the gift exchange industry to assist you in finding the best ways to share presents with family and friends. Our team has collected the most complete list of gift exchange rules and suggestions available on the web. We encourage you to share these ideas with your friends and family.

On the right side of the page is a line of buttons that will take you to various white elephant and other gift swap ideas. We hope that you will try any variety of these great party games for your next group gathering.

.

.

Your Going to LOVE a White Elephant Party!

In every style of gift exchange game there is a requirement that everyone bring a wrapped white elephant gift to the party. Keeping the identity of the purchaser secret is an important part of the fun. Some gift exchange games like the White Elephant Secret Shopper game use the secret identity of each purchaser as a part of the fun so secrecy is critical. Do not put your name on the gift, and try to be as stealthy as possible with your present delivery to the party host.

It is the responsibility of the party host to collect and administer the items for the exchange. Some hosts require that all wrapped white elephant gifts arrive in a garbage bag to conceal their identity. It is recommended that hosts meet players at the door to collect the items and to keep track of how many packages are available for the exchange. Most gift exchanges require that all of the gifts are gathered together in one spot for the game-play activity. Hosts should set up the room so that all players can have easy access to the presents during the exchanging process.

Gifts are the center piece of a successful exchange party so the host must establish some rules or guidelines for the white elephant gifts.

The white elephant or Yankee Swap gifts should:
* Have a suggested price range… Hosts should set a price limit for purchases so that people don’t become to extravagant or go too cheap. Most exchange party items fall between 15 and 35 dollars each. The exception to this rule is the Bridal Gift Exchange Party or the Birthday Gift Exchange Party where pricing is not so much of an issue, because the bride or birthday person is getting all the presents anyway.
* Be tasteful… This is a very subjective rule depending upon the crowd that is invited to the party. The host should give some guidelines concerning adult themes or other embarrassing products if some of the invitees might find them offensive. Don’t stifle the creative or fun white elephant gifts from coming to the party, just be sensitive to the crowd and use common sense.
* Inspire conversation…. Creating fun banter and friendly conversation is the hallmark of a great party. Suggest to all players that they use some creativity when it comes to selecting a gift.

Here are some Gift Ideas to get your creative juices flowing from the AlbinoPhant marketplace.

↓

15 Dollar White Elephant Gifts

20 Dollar White Elephant Gifts

25 Dollar White Elephant Gifts

30 Dollar White Elephant Gifts

35 Dollar White Elephant  Gifts

.

Finding gifts that are a balance between useful, desirable and just plain wacky is an art-form for the better gift exchange shoppers. Gift shopping for this type of party can be one of the most rewarding parts of the activity.

White Elephant gift parties have two schools of thought when it comes to gifts. One side suggests that white elephant gifts should come from the back of the closet or the dusty storage room. These people would love to play a White Elephant Regifting game, were all gifts are used or barely used. The other group follows a more historical perspective, suggesting that in ancient Siam white elephants were highly prized and important gifts (learn more about the Albino Elephants of Siam HERE). This group plays the gift exchange with newly purchased items. Ether way is perfectly fine and should work with any of the gift exchange rules listed here on the AlbinoPhant online white elephant party site.

The host must also decide before hand how the game playing order will be administered. A gift exchange is a turn-based activity, where players are selected randomly to take a turn in the game.

White elephant game variations…

If the host chooses the White Elephant Spin the Bottle game, then attention must be paid to the room set-up and finding a bottle to spin. Most hosts use a numbering system and a container (hat, pot, basket, or bag) to provide a random number selection system. This will require several slips of paper with numbers to correspond to the number of items brought to the game. In the Online White Elephant Party the players are selected with a computer-controlled randomizer software program.

Standard Game Play

The game begins by gathering all players into their seats and identifying the leader of the game; usually the host is this person, but it could be anyone assigned to that duty. The rules of the party should be reviewed so that everyone is clear as to what to expect during the white elephant game. Remember to pay attention to unique rules if you are doing an exchange that is not traditional.

All game play items should be placed in the center of the seating area prior to the beginning of the game.

NOTE: We will describe the basic rules of game play for a traditional gift exchange activity and try to mention where there are variation in other types of white elephant gift parties.

The leader then uses the random selection devise (bottle or numbers in the container), to identify the first player of the game.

On the first turn, person #1 chooses a gift, opens it, and displays it to all of the other players. In the case of the White Elephant Gift Auction, the White Elephant Caroling Exchange or White Elephant Left Right games there will be other requirements for person #1 (see individual rule sheets for these games. Most hosts require that the opened gifts remain in full view of all players during the game (no “squirreling-away” a desirable gift from the other players).

The leader randomly selects the next player in the gift exchange.

On the second turn, person #2 gets the choice of “stealing” any unwrapped gift (#1′s) or choosing a wrapped one from the gift pile.

If the second player “steals” the gift from person #1, then person #1 can choose a replacement gift from the pile of wrapped presents. In all games there is no immediate steal-backs allowed ( person #1 can not re-steal the gift just taken by person #2) Stealing back a gift that was once in your possession must wait at least one-turn removed before stealing it back.

NOTE:  You will discover that the most exciting and unique white elephant gifts will build the most conversation.  Usually there will be one or two stand-out gifts that will get the conversation going and will be the target of most of the stealing.  We can’t stress enough that part of the fun of the party is the finding the best white elephant gift and then watching how your friends and family react to what you purchased, once it is revealed.  Now back to the rules…

The leader randomly selects the next player in the gift exchange game.

On the third turn, person #3 gets the choice of “stealing” any unwrapped gift (#1′s or #2′s) or choosing a wrapped one. Game continues based on the following:

1. – If a gift is stolen from you, you can steal a gift from someone else (see #3 and #4 below), or open a new one.

2. – Turns proceed until everyone has a gift. A turn is ended when a gift is opened and displayed to everyone.

3. – A gift cannot be stolen more than once in a turn.

4. – The third “owner” of any stolen gift gets to keep it – it is unavailable to be stolen again. This is the rule in the White Elephant 3 Steal game, but is completely broken in the White Elephant Commando party.

At the end of the last turn, the first person (who had no choice at the beginning) can choose to “exchange” any gift with any player that has a gift available (not stolen 3-times) for the taking. There are some people who choose to not have the first person make the final selection. This is up to you.

The game ends.

The Christensen Family Tradition is Shared

Our family has enjoyed white elephant parties for many years as a way to save money on sharing presents. When our children left the nest we started playing the game online. AlbinoPhant is the online white elephant party that you can play with family and friends that don’t live close by. We have built this party game so that you host and then enjoy all of the same functions of the party that you would have at home, but with some exciting twists. If you and your guests have an email address and a computer you can play AlbinoPhant. We make the hosting process seamless and completely electronic.

This online party keeps track of your invitation list and then let’s you know who has RSVP’d to your party. You can set the pricing of your white elephant gifts for a level playing field. AlbinoPhant provides all of your guests a great gift shopping experience with markets powered by Amazon.

The game is structured just like the traditional party so you will see all the wrapped gifts and watch as gifts are opened and displayed. AlbinoPhant keeps track of who has which gift and randomly picks the turns. There is a comment area where players can express their thoughts and create lively banter. The extra benefits include picture posting and Youtube videos that will add to the fun. It is a social game that mimics everything that you would do in your living room at a regular gift exchange party. We know that you will have a great time in this online white elephant party…

If you want to give an online white elephant gift party a try you can use offer code 1234 when you host your own AlbinoPhant party.

…MORE IDEAS WANTED…

We are always looking for unique ways to play the white elephant gift exchange party. If you have something to share, please send us an email at partywedo@gmail.com or post your idea here on this post.

…SHARE THE FUN…

If you would like some other fun ideas for gift exchanges please explore other pages on this site. Have a great party!

…WHITE ELEPHANT PARTY INVITATIONS…

The AlbinoPhant site can be your resource for many gift exchange events. If you are looking for Invitation ideas or Decorations and Treats you can find them on the pages of this gift exchange resource site. We are passionate about the white elephant gift exchange system and suggest this activity for any and all gift sharing events in your world.

Rattle loose a great white elephant gift

For  about $15 dollars this white elephant gift will be a find great appeal in your next white elephant gift exchange. It is a combination set of wrist rattles and foot covers for babies.  Baby items are great conversation starters in these group gift party settings.

The rules of the white elephant gift exchange require that players open wrapped gifts and then allow others to make comments and possibly steal the gift away.  Traditionally the gift that gets stolen the most also receives the most comments. This rattle and foot cover systems definitely meets the conversation starter status needed for a very popular white elephant gift.

The funniest part of this gift is its name:

Foot Finder Set

This gift has worked very well in the online version of the white elephant game because the complete description is displayed on the playing page when the gift is revealed. With the additional information on the product, the players can take the conversation if several directions.  I could see one of my son’s attempting to gross everyone out with an image of an ugly toe that would need a toe-cover.

Even in a standard white elephant gift party or a Yankee Swap this set would rattle some conversation out of even the most stoic participant. .

You are going to love this party!

This white elephant gift idea is 100% MamaC endorsed!

Graveling SOLD – White elephant gift auction

Finding fun and unique ways to share gifts between family and friends is a challenge for every group. The white elephant gift exchange is a great tradition for gift sharing during the holidays, but sometimes it gets a little old-hat.

AlbinoPhant attempts to mix-up the fun by offering several variations of this classic party, including an online white elephant gift exchange.

Try a combination auction and white elephant exchange for your next gathering and be amazed at the fun and conversation that you will start. Remember that the most important component of the white elephant party is the gifts. Suggest that your guest find the most unique, zany and fun white elephant gifts so that the conversation will be lively and the bidding will be strong.

The following white elephant gift exchange rules will help you host the white elephant auction party of the year…

Prepare for the white elephant party by going to the Dollar Store and get several packages of money. This is like the Monopoly money used in the board game.
Next, create several envelopes with varying totals between 200 and 500 dollars. We have found that $20 dollar or $50 bills are the best. Have each envelope contain a different total so that there is variety among the party participants.

On the day of the white elephant gift exchange, set the room up like you would for the traditional gift party. Make sure all players have easy access to the gift pile and that they sit where they can see everyone in the game.

#1 Put all the wrapped items in one place

#2 Put every players name into a hat

#3 Draw the first name, read it and then put it back into the hat.

#4 The first player opens a gift and shows it off.

#5 The first player can choose two options:
A Keep the item
B. Start a White Elephant Auction

#6A If they keep the gift the next name is drawn from the hat and then the name is returned to the hat.

#7A Player two has the same two options, ether keep the gift (until stolen or swapped) or hold a white elephant auction)

#6B If they choose a white elephant auction, they will act as the auctioneer and start the bidding at any level that they think that they can get.

#7B All players can choose to make a bid for the item and the auctioneer will give the gift to the highest bidder and collect the cash.

NOTE: Players that have an open gift can add the item into the auction bidding. For example a bid could be: I will give $100 dollars and this great ???? for your ????. If the winning bidder has a gift they will exchange the item and the money.

#8 Another name is drawn from the hat and then returned into the hat.

#9 Player selects from three options:
A. Steal another opened item.
B. Open a new unopened gift and display it to others.
C. Hold a white elephant auction on any open gift in his/her possession.

#10 Following the actions of ether the steal, the open or the auction, the next name is drawn from the hat and returned.

#11 The next player again has the 3 options explained in #9.

#12 In the event that a player with an opened gift has their name pulled from the hat they have two options:
A. Swap for any other opened gift
B. Hold a White elephant auction for their existing gift so that they can open a new item.

#13 Game play continues until every gift is opened.

#14 An option would be for the host to provide a prize for the person who has the most money left over at the end of the party.

You are going to love this party!

Flashy $15 white elephant gift

When this special white elephant gift is unwrapped during the party it will instantly be popular. 

TIME TO STEAL…!!!

Other gift exchange game players will see that they can finally clear that pesky traffic (not recommended) on the way to K-Mart for that big sale.

As MamaC, I get to select the white elephant gifts for the online gift parties that family and friends enjoy on AlbinoPhant.  I know that this blue-light flasher will get conversation going in your next white elephant party or at a Yankee Swap.

With this great white elephant gift conversation will head in several directions, including to K-Mart shopping memories or old Cop-show stereotypes.

Have some fun with this flashy gift…

This Special commercial “I know a Place!” should get your toe a tapping…

Comfort from the white elephant exchange

Put the words wedge, pregnancy and “Boppy” together in a group and someone will have something cleaver to say.

Cleaver banter is what makes the white elephant gift exchange a popular holiday event, and when friends and family members see this white elephant gift coming out of the box, they all will tease the new owner.

The fun will spin out of control from there!

You are going to love this Party Gift!

I selected this gift for the online white elephant gift exchange because I can see how much fun it would yield in the party.

Google “Boppy” and see if you could find something interesting to talk about….

I found this gift in the $15 dollar white elephant gift idea marketplace here in AlbinoPhant.

My white elephant gift idea center

My name is Sarah Christensen and I am passionate about white elephant gifts and parties. I am also a professional recreationalist who has spent the past 27-years finding ways to engage groups in fun activities.

They call me MamaC – I have earned the “mama” part by raising 5 children of my own and shepherding hundreds of  youth in many recreational venues.

White elephant gift passion

Over the years I have developed a passion for sharing unique gifts, like those found in a white elephant gift exchange party. I have found that the best gifts stir-up fun conversation and get people engaged in the complete process – from shopping for just the right item to figuring out the best way to make the delivery.

Gift ideas → Great White Elephant Gifts

On the pages of this site you will discover some white elephant gift ideas that will make your friends and family chuckle, cringe or even cheerfully re-gift.  No matter what the outcome, everyone will know that you took  time to think of them and put a little fun in their life. I will also attempt to start a conversation about each of the gifts that I share. Your special gift should become part of the conversion not just be unwrapped and forgotten. Every great white elephant gift becomes the center of attention during the party game, at least for a moment. Make sure that yours has everyone talking and “stealing”. I will help you discover the best gifts in my white elephant idea center.

Online White Elephant Gift Sharing

My family and I created the AlbinoPhant online white elephant party to provide a way to share great white elephant gifts from any distance. We have played this game online for the past several years, and now we offer it for others to enjoy. The unique feature of this activity is that real gifts are delivered following the party. It is not a wimpy virtual gift application, but really mimics the actual white elephant gift exchange.

The AlbinoPhant experience includes several white elephant shopping markets that allow you to select fun and unique gifts to share with your friends and family. It is my job to select the gifts that are stocked in the marketplace, and because I see every gift, I thought that I would share with you some of my favorite white elephant gift ideas.

I will post my selections on this AlbinoPhant Blog regularly with the hope that they might inspire you to have some fun with your gift giving experience…

You are going to love this Party!

Caroling white elephant gift exchange rules

This is an opportunity to add a little musical fun to your regular white elephant gift party. You will need a CD player with a pause button and some Christmas Carol CD’s (make sure they have words and not instrumentals).

Place the CD player where the host or an appointed “carol-leader” can have access.

#1 Start the white elephant gift exchange as usual, with the presents in the middle of the group and with every player’s name in a hat for drawing.

#2 Draw the first name and start the first musical carol on the CD.

#3 The first player selects an item and opens it for all to see.

#4 The host or carol-leader randomly stops the music.

#5 Play who just opened the white elephant gift must “sing” the next 3 words in the Carol to keep the item.

#6 Any player who knows the words to the carol may stand and “carol for the gift” if the original player is not able to sing the next 3 words. (Host will say who was the first to stand)

#7 If the first person to stand and carol for the white elephant gift sings the next 3 words correctly they can steal the item from the original opener.

#8 All names must be returned to the drawing hat.

#9 Another name is drawn at random

#10 Another wrapped white elephant gift is take from the pile by the next player

#11 The gift is opened while the next Christmas carol is playing

#12 The host waits a moment while the item is displayed and discussed, pushes the pause button.

#13 The player that just opened a gift must sing the next 3 words of the carol in order to keep the item.

#14 If this player is able to carol for the itemthen they have the option of keeping the newly opened item or swapping with any other unopened gift. (see the 3-steal rule)

#15 If that player is unable to sing the words, then the host picks the first person to stand and “carol for the gift”.

#16 Any player who has an open white elephant gift and “carols for a gift” with the correct 3 words can swap for any other open gift.

#17 Whenever the swapping stops, the music starts and the next name is drawn to discover the next person who opens a new gift.

#18 The white elephant game continues until all gifts are opened and all players have an item.

Your going to love this party!

We suggest that you attempt this unique white elephant gift exchange idea at your next holiday gathering and bring Christmas music into the fun.

If you can’t get everyone together in one place because they all live in other towns, we suggest that you try a fun online white elephant gift party, AlbinoPhant.

For more great party ideas. → Unique white elephant exchanges