2013: and the theme is.....

[bumblebeas]

Yes, it's only March. I can't help myself though. I start planning the minute I get done cleaning up from the last one. 2013 Theme: Have yourself a WICKED little Christmas! The theme is based around the musical WICKED but we have stretch to let everyone use the Wizard of Oz or Oz the Great and Powerful. I handed out save the dates with everyone's favors last year then on Jan 1 opened a Facebook event page for the cookie party. This way everyone can follow all the work I put in all year long. Bonus: a bunch started a book reading of Wicked all on there own! This next weekend brings a group trip to the new OZ movie and our Pinterest pages are filling up with WICKED cookie ideas. Anyone else started planning yet? If so, what is your theme this year?

[Kim_B]

Oh that's brilliant!

I too have started thinking of themes already, but I can't decide! It's been a very hectic 2013 so far, and I'm finding it hard to concentrate on planning - even though I know it's only March ;D

I appreciate you sharing your theme with us, as I sometimes get stuck in a rut with always starting with a Christmas theme, instead of taking a "regular" theme and adding some holiday cheer to it. That opens the door WIDE open

[Barb Grollo]

My theme this year is Santas workshop .the ladies at my 2012 cookie party picked the theme .They wanted to know then so they could start looking for deals for next years party.i do give prizes for Best presentation

[Kim_B]

I've decided on a Nutcracker theme - "The Nutcracker Sweet"

Attendees will choose an ingredient based on the themed dances during the 2nd act of the ballet. They of course can make anything else they way, but there will be a special category based on the theme.

That's as far as I've made it with planning. I have some more ideas, but need to sketch them out first

[bumblebeas]

What great themes you both have! I love the pun of the Nutcracker Sweet and Santa's Workshop should be adorable. I am still planning and buying goodies. I just love the year-long planning of this party!

[mweaver]

We did the "Nutcracker" theme this past year. Party City has 5' tall vinyl wall scene setters of two nutcrackers. I made "sugarplums" as my cookie. We're doing "Grinch" this year.

[Janell]

I am planing a "Safari" theme. Invitations and decorations will be in "tiger" or "leapord print . I can use moe ideas......

[snowbearsmom]

I like the Santa's Workshop theme! I also like nutcrackers.. I had thought of doing stations and each one having a different theme.. elves, nutcrackers, love the santa's workshop idea to add to the themes.. I have a lot of white/silver xmas decor.. i could do one station in that color theme, i have peacock themed decor, red and green would work for the elves and for the santas workshop, I also have grinch themed items.. i'm still thinking what else i could do. I had thought i may have to give up having a cookie exchange because i am now battling diabetes. But I will just make low carb versions. Not my top choice, but i have several friends who are trying to watch what they eat, so this might be good. I would love to hear more about the santa's workshop idea... i really like this.

[Barbara Grollo]

I bought a Santa with a tool belt last year and that will be my center piece . I also got some cute Elf's that stand on clearance last year .I also just bought a few little Elf's From Hobby Lobby the other day .I was thinking to wrap some boxes and maybe some toys around the table too depending on prices .Maybe even hang some toys from ceiling with fishing line .I might have fake snow quilting around presents ,Santa and Elf's with some white Christmas lights to brighten up.If you'd like to see my party's I'm on robins photos on this site and I'm on Pinterest and my board is titled Barbara Grollo's cookie exchanges .This year will be my fifth year . I love Robyn site and she gave me so many greats ideas !!!! Also Robyn posted some of my invite and save the dates for my cookie exchanges .I spend all year on this party .Last year I had over 3000 cookies at my party !!!!

[Anne Cringan]

Love the ideas. This year I've chosen 1950s as the theme. My Save The Dates went out in early September. Everyone received cats eye glasses. I'm now working on the invites.. 45 records. I've found so many neat Barbies to help set the theme as well as a vintage 1950s children's ovens that will be the centre of the table.

Can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!

[Barbara Grollo]

I love the 50s ideas.The toy oven such a great idea .Please post photo's on Robyn's site !

[brighteyes]

I am hosting my first CE this year and have decided on a Christmas Tree theme....looking for my save the dates to be ornaments going out next week then the actual invite will be Christmas Trees....

[pugmom]

After going through many different ideas, I decided on a Roaring Twenties/Jazz Era theme. I emailed my swappers asking for ideas to make the party more fun for everyone and only got back one response to do a scavenger hunt and I love that idea. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of it. The party is from 3-7 on a Saturday in December. I'm thinking about hiding an ornament in the Christmas tree, hiding another one in a small tree we have which will be on the back porch, having them find a copy of The Great Gatsby on the bookshelf, but am lost as to what else to do. I'd like to have something in each room downstairs and that leaves the dining room where all the food and cookies will be, and the kichen. Any ideas how to go about this? And how about for a prize? I always have something in theme but am not sure what to do for this one.

[Amy Romine]

We are going for fun (and a little trashy!) this year. Doing a combination of mustaches and aluminum trees, hot pink boas, etc. The Save the Date cards read, of course, "I mustache ask you to Save the Date for the annual cookie exchange...".

[Kim_B]

Love all the creative ideas!!!

Still plodding along with the Nutcracker…found some 3" tall Nutcracker ornaments at Michaels in the dollar section, so those are my favors (though, I don't think I have enough now as each person I invited as extended the invite to at least one other person! )

The guests seem excited about the different ingredients to use for their treats - they can make whatever they want, but if they want to be eligible for "Cookie Queen" they have to use one of the main ingredients from the Nutcracker (coffee, tea, chocolate, ginger, etc).

I have yet to decide what I'm making, but I was kind of thinking I'd sit this one out and let everyone else do the baking! I have my hands full with food and decorations!

[Barb Grollo]

I'm making mustache white chocolate suckers and putting a tag that says stachhing through the snow for my Santa's workshop themed cookie exchange .I'm also making Santa's magic keys for favors for the lady's .Ill probably have 35 to 40 ladies . Still working on table decorations .Any ideas I love to here them I'm on Pinterest and have boards about my cookie exchanges if anyone needs some ideas .

[janetgia]

It's 2013 and the theme is... "Holy crap, I hope people show up!" LOL This is my first year, and right now there is an 85% chance of snow on Sunday/party day. So we'll see!