Invitation Ideas

[Rena]

I do a cookie exchange for my daughter & her friends every year, last year, we went to the Dollar Store & bought Christmas Teddy Bears (arms were attached)& rolled the printed invitation up in his arms. We left them in the mailboxes. This year, I got these great 4 inch cookie jars at the Dollar Store & we'll deliver them with the invitation in the cookie jar. For a party favor this year, I'm going to bake cookies & put them in a festive container with some icing in a small bag & some sprinkles in a small bag with a popsicle stick for spreading.

[huffjoann]

Although I do not say no children, I just kind of think it is understood. One year I had someone bring a brand new baby, which didn't bother me too much. Last year a friend brought her teenage daughter, I wasn't that thrilled, but it worked out. Well this year, the same person wants to bring her teenager again. I firmly said, no other children will be there, are you sure you want to bring her? (hoping she would get the hint, which she did NOT). I would think Moms would want to be away from their kids & husbands for 2 hours, but I guess that is not the case for everyone.

[Bonnie]

I've only had one person ask to bring her teenage daughters because they had never been or even heard of a cookie exchange. I just told her that this was really a time for the ladies to be away from kids, husbands, etc. She understood and actually ended up doing one for her kids.

[sandy]

I was just wondering if this would work for a cookie exchange. Really, it's to late to find out because I sent my invitations day before yesterday and have already gotten three positive rsvp's. I asked my guest to bring four dozen cookies, wrapped in packages of eight cookies, (six packages.) I asked that one package be done up pretty enough to win the "prettiest cookie package" and the rest can be in ziplocks or foil or whatever. To do the exchange, I thought everyone could just pick six packages to take home. That way, no one in particular can pick the best looking cookies first because you won't be abe to see them. I'm also having a prize for most "festively dressed" and playing the pass the present game that I got from this website. I'm thinking it's gonna work out pretty well. Does anyone have any other suggestions or foresee any problems with my idea?

[Sari]

I just found this site and love it, I love the different invite ideas, I have already sent the invitations out this year but will for sure keep in mind some of these for next year, here is my story about someone bring there kids.
Last year I took over hosting the Cookie exchange) that women from the church have been doing for the past 5 years as a Ladies afternoon, it has always been no kids except for the occasional newborn, an to my knowledge no husband has ever been interested in attending (not that we could have allowed them anyway LOL) Every Year there new people so we always send out a “rules sheet” One of the ladies that had just joined the bible talk my husband and I lead was of course invited, her RSVP said that she was bring a l family recipe cookie that was unique but did not have a name, I should have asked her more about it but I did not, then a few days before the party she called to ask if she could bring some “Barney” videos to keep her kids busy, I explained to her that no other children would be there and that Children were not invited She was okay with that however the day of the party she showed up late with all three kids in tow, a 11 year old a 3 year old and 18 month old. Okay I thought I can handle this however the kids were running around everywhere while she was visiting one of them pulled the table cloth and knocked 3 trays of cookies on the floor, I am very grateful that she was not hurt however the cookies that fell on the floor were ruined and with a few kids it just did not seem a relaxing. I felt really bad as it was my first year hosting. As a side not one of the rules is no store bought cookies her “A family recipe cookie that was unique” turned out turned out to be, Oreos with peanut butter spread on the top Christmas sprinkles on top of that. LOL Hoping for a better party this year!

[Joni]

I am sooooo Happy I found this website. I am doing my first Recipe Exchange at the beginning of November. I know its some time off, but if I dont start planning now I will not get everyone to come! And using a recipe card is a great ideal! I have a software that has pretty recipe cards on it that I use to create my own recipe card book. I am going to use them as my invites. I am also going to send one recipe along with the invite to start people off. Maybe give them a bust to want to come. Although mine isnt just cookies. its any recipe. I think for my next recipe exchange party I will do cookies. I am going to use the rules that are listed on this web site though. This way everyone understands everything! Thank you again for the great ideal!

[Joni]

I guess I should had read on more. I am going to do the new unwrapped toy as well on my invites! Its at the beginning of November (I thought the people I knew would have a easier time to come) so I can drop off the toys at Thanksgiving when they start collecting in my area. Another great ideal! Please keep them coming. I am hoping that people really enjoy this. No one I know has done this before! Thanks again!

[terrileeg58]

Chris was asking how do you tactfully say don't bring your kids and husbands...

Hi, my invitations are ladies only when it comes to my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. I write

"...On this occasion it will be a ladies only get together. Your family will be glad to see you come home as you will have a lovely selection of Christmas cookies from your friends. These cookies would be a lovely addition to your family’s Christmas treats or they would make lovely gifts to give..."

I hope that helps!

Koala hugs

Terri in Australia

[Jennifer in Oregon]

Hi, the first year that I hosted an exchange, I used plain colored paper, red and green, for my invitations. My invitations were three pages long!!! WE used fun graphics and personal drawings, too! Last year we used Evite because we found that people were more likely to RSVP to an email that to a phone call or paper invitation. I live on the west coast and people are lacking proper RSVP etiquette here--we're pretty mellow and laid back here. Irritating for a hostess!

Jennifer

Ps-- I searched online last year for a great paper invitation--found a cute one with cookies and baking stuff but it was $1.50 per sheet! YIKES!

[Jennifer in Oregon]

Hello again!

We tried to have a 'no kids' party but that did not work at all! I had a new nursing baby so I knew that my son would be there and I just didn't feel comfortable saying No to my friends.

Here's what we do. We invite everyone we wish to attend--that includes my male friends who bake, and my friends with kids (I have 2 of my own). Everyone brings their kids, some bring husbands, my father-in-law comes over and the men watch the kids, break any ties that may result in our voting and they do ALL THE CLEAN UP!!!!!!!!! My daughter has tons of friends to play with, my house is clean and we're all happy!

WE found that most of our guests would not come if they had to find a sitter--seriously, the good cooks could not leave their children with their husbands because their hubbys had 'play dates.' I know, gimme at break, but we have so much fun with our kids that we really enjoy them being around!!!!

J

[TaylorMade]

[tr][/tr]My invitations read "Girls night out"(Sixteen & up!) , But you can assure your bunch you will be bringing them goodies home. Then I send home goody bags to each one of my guests children. Since they aren't opening them in front of one another, I can send different age approperate gifts to each child, no one sees the others gift & might get their feelings hurt. I have gotten The gingerbread man board books or My first Christmas bibs for small children, Candy cane lip gloss & holiday fragrances from Bath & Body works for middle & teenage girls. One year I found Candyland card games, great for boys or girls! We don't indulge in adult drink, so I don't have a problem with 16 year olds, they actually get into it & some time bring cookies themselves!! The girls under 16 will get their chance, I will ALWAYS have my exchange!! Oh, & for the guys, their "surprise" you bring them home will be cookies! (& if they have been babysitting, you just coming home will be treat enough!) P.S. if you usually invite the same guests, you know who your buying for! You can shop for these gifts the year before & get them MUCH cheaper!

[Theresa]

i had an awesome idea for our cookie exchange this year... I decided to make my cookie exchange this year, a BENEFIT cookie exchange. I worked at a West African Orphanage for a couple of months, and I know Christmas is very expensive for them, and so I thought it would be a great idea if I offered all the people invited to my exchange the opportunity to make a donation to the orphanage, letting some less fortunate children enjoy what we take for granted in North America.

anyone interested can use this idea, as Christmas is the season for giving.

[Mallory]

On my invitation last year, in large red letters across the top I put "You're invited to a cookie exchange" then I put a paragraph that included the words " "Come and enjoy a sumptuous appetizer buffet, mulled wine and a little girl talk" and I had not one person even ask if they could bring husbands, or children.

[Renee]

Hi Everyone.....I have been working very hard at coming up with a creative poem invitation. This is my 1st year hosting a cookie exchange. I have gone to several and now it's my turn. I think you will like this....please feel free to use my poem and adjust to your liking if you so choose. In the poem, I incorporated "girls Morning out" to give the clue of no men/kids etc. hahaha. I added some cute graphics and I'm printing it on some nice paper. I also made a nice sheet up of "Guidelines" I called them which has all the rules listed as we want them. Hope you enjoy! It looks really cute. I have 25 people invited...I think about 1/2 to 3/4 of them will attend...should be fun.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through our house
All the aroma’s were stirring, but of course not the spouse
The smell of baking cookies is almost here,
We hope you will come to our cookie exchange this year;

When out in the kitchen there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from the bed to see us mixing batter;
Why are you baking in the middle of the night?
Because we need 10 dozen for the cookie delight

It is the time of the year when best cookies are made
I’ll help you make extra in order to trade

Please come on December 18th with only your best
Bring 10 dozen cookies, and then you can rest!

Exchange yours for others and so will each guest
Don’t worry about anything, there won’t be a mess

We’ll have some hot cider and a little fun chat
As well as some appetizers and we won’t count the fat

Forget the shopping and the sales at the mall
Let’s crowd around the table and stack the cookies tall

It won’t be long before you are wrapping the toys
So take advantage of the girl’s morning out and relax and enjoy!

You are welcome to bring a friend if you like
Please RSVP if you are coming for a bite
If you are unable to make it but still want the sweets
Just drop off your cookies and we will make you a platter of treats

Just follow the rules and we’ll have lots of fun
As you will see the party has just begun

Holiday trays will be given to collect your treats
Just come as you are and we will have friendly greets

Away you will go with a cookie platter that’s out of sight
Chanting:
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT
DATE: Sunday, December 18th, 2005
TIME: 11:00a.m - 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hosted by: XXXXXXXXXXXX
RSVP- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
by December 4th

Renee

[Sunny]

This is our 5th Annual Cookie exchange. When we began, we created invitations on the computer using all sorts of clip art. Each year we enhanced and improved, even creating envelopes and return address labels.

Last year we sent the invitations in a bottle -each bottle had "snow" in the bottom and several small Christmas ornaments. The invite was tightly rolled, tied with a ribbon that was threaded thru the invite so a small portion stuck out on top to pull the invite out. Bottle was placed in a mailing box and taken to Post office. Really very easy to do.

This Year, we are painting desert plates with a snowman-"You're invited--Cookie Party 2005" is on the front of the plate. On the back will be a website directing each guest to a web site with details of the party. Next year. we plan on making a cup to match the plate for the invitation.

We normally send out 60 invitations. Last year 52 people showed up. NO men or children allowed.

We also have a "clean up" party immediately following the cookie exchange. We order pizza-everyone chips in and the house is cleaned, chairs put up, cookies bagged and frozen before I go to bed. The invite for that will be placed in a small Pizza box and hand delivered to the husbands. Last year, we had 4 couples participate.


Sunny

[Kara]

Chris,
I say it's a "Ladies Night" or "Time for Moms", "Exclusively for Moms", etc. and everyone likes it. I turn it into a little Christmas gathering of just us ladies to eat, exchange cookies and have a couple of hours away from the holiday stress. We did let kids come the first year, but that was also the last year that we did that- plus, doing it in the evening pretty much eliminates that. I have helped a friend get a sitter by offering my teenage daughter when she couldn't find anyone and her husband was working. I've also found that most men don't want to be anywhere near one of these, so it's not a problem- they just want to have first pick of the goodies the gals bring home. (My hubby takes the kids and goes to Grandma's).

[Lin]

I am hosting my first cookie exchange with a friend this year and we are really looking forward to it. Along the lines of the unwrapped toy idea, we decided to ask everyone to bring 1-2 non-perishable food items that we will then take to a local food bank. We figured that since we are fortunate enough to have all these treats, we should remember those who still need the basics, especially at holiday time.
I made invitations out of cardstock. I printed the information on one color paper and then mounted it on a slightly larger piece that I then decorated with festive stickers and some of those small wooden craft tokens you can get at any art supply shop. Even my husband admitted they were really cute.
Thanks for all of the other ideas. I agree with having everyone bring their cookies bagged or on trays, already in sets of a dozen so that everyone just has to take one bag from every other guest. Much easier that way it seems.
Thanks.

[NicksMommy]

I will be hosting my 2nd cookie exchange this year. Last year went pretty well considering I had never been to one before. I got all of my good ideas from this website! Renee--I loved your invitation so much that I plan on using it for my exchange this year. I tweaked it a little bit to make it fit my needs, and have already sent out a few by email. My 2nd exchange will be Dec.11th this year. I am hoping it will be as good as or better than last years. Last year I had 12 people and it seemed to work out great! Thanks again for all the great ideas on this site--couldn't do without it!!
Cindy

[Kerri]

HI! In my invitations I inclue a list of rules (Ex. Please make xx dozen cokies etc.) Ths last rule is always Please do not bring any children as this is a "Mom's Night Out."

[Mallory]

I always say at the beginning of the invitation "enjoy some girl talk, appetizers and mulled wine, etc." and they usually get the point.