Ornament Parties

Christmas season is here and I am loving it.  This is my favorite time of the year for so many reasons : The reason for the season, the shopping, parties, family gatherings and so much more. If I had to choose a holiday, it would be my top pick. 

Every year my mom and I kick off the season, the first Saturday in December  with a Ornament/Sweet Treat Christmas Party.  We have been hosting this for about 15 years now.  It’s always a huge hit. I’m so glad we started this tradition. 

Our parties are so much fun. Honestly, its probably one of the best Christmas parties we do. Our guest never leave with without prizes,  food  or goodies to take home and a special something from my mom and I.

Have you ever hosted or attended a Ornament Party? If so we would love to hear some of the things you do at yours. Be sure to share in the comments below.  Listed below is how we host ours: 

First off  what is a ornament / sweet treat party? Its a party in which everyone brings a gift of $10 value (or whatever value you choose) and a sweet treat to share. The amount of sweets you bring varies based on the party and who all is coming.  (Some parties have you bring a few dozen of the dessert you bring others don’t say) its all in how you choose. Our guest know by now to bring enough to share.  We generally have about 12 people at our party, so guest bring enough for that. First we eat some goodies / a small brunch  prepared by my mom and I. then we play a few games (see below) and after a little fun we exchange ornaments with the game we choose – it may be secret santa, dice game exchange , left right game. Just depends we try to change it up a bit . After our ornament game we all dig in for desserts. Everyone fixes a plate with desserts of all kind. We taste a little bit of them all because there will be a prize for the best dessert and our guest know that. 

Depending on the time and how long our Ornament exchange took we may do another game or to. Sometimes we just end the party after the dessert testing.  Before everyone goes home they grab a box or bag and fill up the container with the goodies they want to take.  In the meant time my mom and I make sure everyone goes home with some sort of prize. We generally find things on sale for 75 to 90% off after the holiday season. It may be a picture frame, a ornament, a picture , sign whatever we just add a little more cheer to the game. Then we also hand out goodie bags to all of our guest. This year our bags included hand soap that i got on sale. My mom threw in some candy and another small ornament. One year we did calendars, notepads. It all depends on the bargains we find. Since we host about 12 we try to find nice things, but make sure it stays in our budget If we buy it after the holiday we put it in our Christmas box and save it for the  following year. Then when it comes time for the party all we have to do is buy our own ornament that we exchange and the food. 

It sounds like a lot, and sounds like we spend a pretty penny on prizes for all and goodie bags but it really isn’t you would be amazed at what kind of Christmas goodies you can get after Christmas for 75-90 % off especially at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Walmart, Kohls, Pennys

Everyone does their party different. Over the years there have been a few things that we have changed but for the most part its still the same. 

• We always host our party the First Saturday in December. 
• We invite approximately 12-15 people, as long as we have been hosting the event we pretty much know who will attend and often invite one or two newbies.
• I design invites and email/facebook them out. We do mail those that don’t use facebook.
• We purchase lots of goodies after the holidays for 75-90% off that we can use as prizes for our party or even for the goodie bags we do.
• Our guest bring a ornament of $10 value and we stress to them to make sure its at least $10 in value, as in the past we have had people spend $10-15 on a item only to end up with someone bringing a $3 ornament. It doesn’t happen often now as everyone has become accustomed to what the others bring but people do it so stress to your guest it’s only fair to bring a item of $10 Value or whatever you choose.
• Our guest also bring a sweet treat. We started as a cookie exchange but our crew love the “Sweet” idea better and it gives them more options. This year i brought salsa and that was a hit. It may not be a sweet but lets just say i didn’t take any home.  So get as creative as you wish. Some parties I have seen guest bring a 6 dozen cookies or 12 dozen. All depends on how many guest are expected
• Our guest also bring recipes and share with the others. 
• We make goodie bags for our guest that include something small and a ornament ball.
• We have prizes for our guest. The last few years everyone has walked away with a prize thanks to the 75-90% off sales.
• We provide little bags/boxes to put the goodies in that we generally get 75-90% off after the holidays. 

Heres a few photos of my ornaments from our 2018 party.  Pretty cute huh.

If you love them as much as I do I was told they came from Hobby Lobby. A lot of us go to Hobby Lobbies 50% off sale so we can get $20 of goodies for $10. Some also do Michael’s, At Home, Home Goods just to make a few.

I hope you get to attend a Ornament Party or host one. If you plan on hosting watch for the sales this year after the holiday.