After my big Halloween Parties, my next favorite party to throw is a White Elephant gift exchange party. I do one every year in mid december for our close friends, and if you’ve never done one, they are a lot of fun. A great icebreaker type party if people don’t know each other well, and even more fun with a group of friends who have inside jokes! We do ours prior to the holidays, but this is even better to do in January so everyone can regift the crap they got from Aunt Hortense! … So here’s the deal:

A White Elephant gift exchange, sometimes called Dirty Santa, is where everyone brings a gift of a set dollar amount (extra credit for re-gifts!) and you pick and steal the gifts from one another. Detailed rules & hosting hints are below, as well as an invitation you can feel free to use, numbers ready for printout, and a “Steal Tally” sheet..

The Rules:
-Basically, everyone brings a WRAPPED GIFT, of whatever dollar value you set. $15-20 is a good amount, but you can go higher or lower.
-Gifts can be anything, newly bought or regifts that the person received previously (going over the $ limit is allowed with re-gifts). Fun and silly gifts encouraged, but remind your people that crappy ones aren’t. If in doubt, alcoholic gifts tend to be popular!
-All the wrapped gifts are put out on display so everyone can see them.
-At the beginning of the gift exchange, everyone draws numbers from a bag. This is the order they will choose their gifts in. #1 goes first.
-Whoever gets #1 will also get a chance to steal at the end.
-#1 picks a gift from the table. They are stuck with that gift, unless someone steals it from them, (or they have their chance at the end)
-#2 can either pick a gift from the table, or can steal #1’s gift. If they pick from the table, it moves to #3. If #2 steals from someone, that person then gets the option to either pick from the table or steal.
-Play continues in this manner. Each guest can either pick from the table or steal. And if someone is stolen from, they get the same option.
-Each steal should be recorded in the Steal Tally. Once an item has been stolen 3 times it is LOCKED (ie the 4th person to touch it gets to keep it). Once it is locked it should be noted on the STEAL TALLY.
-You cannot steal from the person who just stole from you! So if Person A steals item from B, then B cannot immediately steal it back. But if C steals it from A, then B can grab it back.
-When the last # comes up, that person can steal or choose the last gift. If they choose the last gift, move to next step. If they steal, then continue the steal process till someone has chosen the last gift.
-The person who had #1 then gets to steal a gift if they wish. If they don’t game is over. If they do, then stealing continues until either all gifts locked or the person who is currently up is happy with their gift.

Host Hints:
-Have an extra gift or two on hand for that couple who only thought they needed one gift, or the slacker who forgot. It makes it more fun if everyone plays. Have extra gift bags for anyone who shows up without their gift wrapped (unlikely, but possible).
-Either print out numbers before hand and cut onto slips of paper, or handwrite on slips of paper – 1 number for each gift.
-You’ll need seating in the gift exchange area for all guests.
-Make sure you set a ‘gift exchange start time’ after the party start time. We know how people are fashionably late– let them know that if their too late, they’ll miss the fun.
– When everyone arrives there should be a place for them to put their gifts. No one should know who brought what.
– Appoint one guest to keep the Steal Tally (provide tally sheet and pen)
– Remind people that stealing is fun and encouraged!

Invitations, Tally Sheets, and Numbers – these are all CC licensed, so feel free to use. Though credit is appreciated!

Invitations (3 options)

Steal Tally Sheet and Numbers (up to 36)
Steal Tally: Numbers:

Alternate rules for big groups: I’ve organized these several times for office holiday parties, and with big groups I recommend (for time reasons) reducing the steals to 2 (ie the third person gets the item) and labeling each gift with a number (1-n number of people). Each person must receive the gift with their number (if they chose to not steal), rather than picking a gift. This saves time on the initial gift choosing. Everything else continues as normal.

Hope you have fun with this!

PS: Welcome those from various places, including Tip Junkie :) And if you’re doing a White Elephant, I’d love to see your own tips, comments, and pics – post ’em in the comment section!

Like this blog? Add it to your feed reader! or get via email!

Originally published Nov 2008

The Little Game box downloadable/printable was such a hit at Christmas for stocking stuffers, I did a new cover for Easter!

All the cards and instructions can be downloaded here.., then just print this for a new cover for an Easter/Spring look –Easter Cover PDF.

This is a great little NON CANDY treat for the Easter basket, and it is great for taking with you on dinners out when you need kid amusement. I’ve included (almost) everything you need to make one for yourself as free downloads! Just grab the file, print, and add your own Altoids tin for a cute little gift.

You can make 2 different games with this set, both a “Treasure Hunt” game &  “Memory” game (your standard Concentration type card matching game).

The free download set includes 3 sheets of cards (60 cards in all — yup, 60 original Dot drawings! I think I’m insane.), instruction sheets, and labels perfectly sized for sticking on the top of an Altoids tin.

Get it:  cards and instructions can be downloaded here

(oh, and if you just want it for spring, with no “happy easter”, let me know and I’ll upload a copy with Happy Spring too.)

Christmas Gift Label Downloadable Tags

I was looking back at some old posts, and I thought these deserved some front page space!  Download these adorable (if I do say so myself) little gift tags for your Christmas gifts… Click here to download as a pdf or from flickr!

Make a “Little Game Box”, with an Altoids Tin and these cute downloadable cards

Here’s a great little stocking stuffer you can make yourself. A pocket sized game is a great little ‘handmade’ Holiday gift. I’ve included (almost) everything you need to make one for yourself as free downloads! Just grab the file, print, and add your own Altoids tin for a cute little gift that fits perfectly in a stocking!  … Download the instructions and all the cards here:

A holiday gift from me to you… Thanks for reading Dabbled!

You might also like:

The matching Thank You Note templates for kids downloadable:  Just download the thank you note and let them fill in the blanks!  Either full color, or with a snowman the kids can color themselves…  Go get the Downloadable thank you note template

To start things off… Awesome color changing creepy martini (Full how-to at Instructables!) (via the always awesome Mental Floss, who was kind enough to link to Dabbled’s creepy cocktails!)

Also via Mental Floss: Show Me Vegan’s Eyeball Martini

Here’s an adorable Jack-o-lantern Cocktail, made with OJ and Cognac at Creepy Cupcakes

Bloody Brain Shooter via Craftzine

Including the world famous Instructable Winner:

Creepy Bubble Cocktails – the secret ingredient to these adds a delightfully eerie look!

and…

The Brain Hemorage from TangoPango.

From Talk of Tomatoes:   Black Widow & The Maggotini!

And you need an interesting bar…

More clever ways to label your halloween drinks.

Everyone loves Halloween… Here’s what’s popular right now on Dabbled!

• Halloween Couples Costume Ideas
• The Perry The Platypus Costume
• Halloween Food: The Mummy’s Hand..
• Halloween – Even Creepier Cakes
• Halloween Cocktails – Creepy Bubble Fun!
• Halloween Costumes, part 3 – Homemade Kids Costumes (plus more links)
• Halloween Food – Delicious Eyeballs
• Halloween Wrap-up – Party Food
• Halloween Food – Flayed Skin Cheeseball
• From Funny, to Geek, To Scary… Pumpkin Carving Ideas

You can make 2 different games with this set, both a “Treasure Hunt” game like the one The Boy liked so much (explained below), and also a “Memory” game (your standard Concentration type card matching game).

The free download set includes 3 sheets of cards (60 cards in all — yup, 60 original Dot drawings! I think I’m insane.), instruction sheets, and labels perfectly sized for sticking on the top of an Altoids tin.

Little Game Box Download Set

Wanna see what you get? Click on a pic below to view larger or as a slideshow.

To play the Treasure Hunt game:
Lay squares out in a 5×5 or 6×6 grid–or whatever size you want. One player hides a dime or other small marker under one of the squares. Remaining players try to guess which square by asking questions, and all squares not matching the answer are removed from the grid. (Example: “Does it fly?” If the answer is No, then all flying things are removed from the grid. If Yes, then all things that DON’T fly are removed.) Players take turns until the marker is found. Winner gets to hide the marker for the next round.

*I have no idea of the name, but it was more complex than this… this is a simplified version suitable for small ones.

Enjoy!

PS… I did spend WAY too much time doing this, so if you like it, I’d love a blog link, a tweet, a stumbled or a facebook or whatever to this post, to share the love :)

Sorry for the light posting, I’ve been resting up from Halloween month!

I did promise a picture of the Flayed Skin cheeseball from the Halloween Party, so here it is. I added the mozzarella ball slices behind the olives for a more eye-popping look!

By the way, I wrote the how-to on this project up as an instructable, and it’s entered in the Halloween contest over at Instructables.com (great website!)- so if you like it, go vote for it!

And, here is an even more disgusting take on this idea that was left in the comments section over at Instructables, by jfearnside… I love this idea!

“In mine I made some eyes using mozzarella balls and painted then with food coloring. I then took a really sharp knife and cut a slit where the eyes should be and scooped out some of the cheese ball underneath and popped in the eyeballs. Then pushed the “skin” back down to make eye lids.”

Great Job, sir!

While you’re off voting…

(You can also vote for my creepy bottle labels – Original Post Here. Vote for the Instructable Here)

I really should post some more pics from halloween… the party was a big success despite the rainy weather and the fact it was actually on Halloween night.  I’ll try to do that this week!

Cheers!

Dot

When I went to the Dollar Store to pick up items for my Dollar Store Crafts guest post earlier this month, I picked up enough for several projects–the creepy ravens & the bottle labels were 2 of them. Here is the final one!

For this project you need a glass container that will look good upside down (I picked a straight sided vase). You also need handmade paper in a dark and a light shade (Mine was purple and off-white, with leaves embedded in it for texture. Finally, you need faux votive candles, with a realistic flicker. I picked up all of this at the dollar store for $3 total!

Make an Elegant Halloween Luminary

First cut out spooky shape.. like an old tree, or a creepy hand like I did.. out of your darker paper.
Either free hand it or print off something off the internet and trace it.

Then glue the shape to the inside of your jar. Remember, your jar/vase will be upside down at the end, so place accordingly. And your shape can even extend on to the bottom of your jar, as that will be the top.
(I just used white glue, you could also use decoupage medium)

Let dry somewhat, and then cover the entire inside of the jar with your lighter colored paper. Use small or large pieces, ripped or cut, and glue to the inside of the jar. If you use too much glue it will take a while to dry (mine did!).

After it’s totally dry, turn it over on top of a fake candle. The faux candle flickers just like a real candle (which you can’t use with the upside down vase, because a real candle needs air!) and gives a soft glow.

Do a whole bunch of these for outdoor luminaries, or for elegant halloween party decorations!

Pictures (click to see larger):

Today I’m over at Dollar Store Crafts, blogging about my nifty cheepy spooky labels for your Halloween bottles and jars! Go check it out…

The key to this project is embossed foil stickers, which are used in scrapbooking. I found a sheet of 6 at the local dollar store. These are shiny silver foil, and sticky on the back.

The only other supplies needed are spray paint, paper, and glue!

Project Estimate:

Embossed foil stickers, $1
Spray paint, on hand
Paper, on hand
Glue, on hand
Recycled jars and bottles, on hand
Total: $1

I decided to use them to decorate bottles and jars for my Halloween party. The examples here are liquor bottles for a creepy bar, but you can of course use these for all sorts of labeling! Other ideas:

Create an Evil Mad Scientist lab or a Witch’s Kitchen, with jars of things that look creepy:

A cauliflower in a fishbowl can double as a human brain, white grapes in a jar of red food coloring give an eyeball impression.. be creative with vegetables.
Toy snakes and frogs and such in jars of water tinted with food coloring.
Halloween head in a jar.
Or even use your labels on things other than jars… affix to folded cardstock to make place cards for dinner or to label food on a halloween buffet.

I’ve written up all the instructions here as an instructable. Go here!

I had a great time! Hope you did too… and if you want to keep playing along for may, especially if you started late, go for it!

How to…. do something: How to make something cool everyday in April

If you did a wrap up post, like this great one from “How to… do something” leave a link to that as well!

Edit: PS, do go check out the Pinata tutorial, by one of our MSCE April participants!

I’m off to make my cool thing for today,(Update: My Cool Thing 4/2) but if you’ve decided to attempt to participate, add a link to your blog (or flickr, or whatever) here…

You can also see some of the other things people are doing, here: #MSCEApril
And here are some of the cool people who are already involved! (not everyone, I’ll add more later!)