I've been thinking about this party since last spring. When my best friend Mac suggested we throw a party together with our other best friend Chelle, I knew this would be the perfect theme. Chelle is a graphic designer (who I'm trying to convince to open an etsy site) and Mac has great taste in decorating and is the most awesome baker ever - as one guest said when "our powers combine parties happen" - ha ha ha.
The idea of the party is to bring a book to exchange with someone else. We had the guests fill out this book plate (which we sent with the invite) and place it inside the book that they were giving away.
The book table decor. Behind the table are garlands strung with book pages and circles of scrapbook paper.
We gave book bags with a book journal and book marks to each guest. We played a little literature quiz that Chelle created, really cute and surprising how much you forget! For the actual book exchange we had each guest write their name on a piece of paper and then everyone drew another person's name to see whose book you would get. We had all the guests wrap their books before coming and so we each took turns unwrapping them and seeing what book we received. That created a lot of conversation and some of the guests left with a list of new books they "needed" to read.
Of course no party is complete with out delicious food:
I created the food labels from this
card catalog generator.
We did a soup and grilled cheese sandwich buffet. The grilled cheeses were to die for - parmesan sourdough bread from great harvest yum! We cooked them on the George Foreman grill which made it super quick and easy!
Mac made the deserts, pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting - her own recipe! Chocolate cupcakes with gnash centers and cookie dough truffles - heaven.
Water bottles wrapped in paper from a book.
Great party - thanks ladies!
Because we've had a lot of requests Michelle decided to give us a free download of the invite! Just open it in photoshop and add your text!
What an great Idea and you girls did a fabulous job of course! I loved the journals and all the labels. Great idea to do soup and sandwishes such a cozy dinner since reading is always cozy!
ReplyDeleteSuch a talented sister I have!
You always throw such great parties. I love your attention to detail. I especially love your invitations. I'm partied out, but I'm keeping this in mind for someday.
ReplyDeleteKalleen
what a great job, I love this idea!
ReplyDeleteI love that in the picture of the water bottle the page says "Holy Ghost" right for everyone to see. hee hee.
ReplyDeleteWe sure do put on a great party!
Wow! I absolutely LOVE that idea!!
ReplyDeleteI think I want to have a book exchange party!! Hmm..Yes. yes I will.. thanks for the idea!
This is an EXCELLENT idea! I'd love to put together a party like this myself.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic idea! - I wanna try this :-) Thanks so much
ReplyDeletewhat a fabulous idea. I love it. I so want to host a book party myself. I adore the invites and book plates they are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteOh, this is such a wonderful idea. I would love to do something like this for my book group. Can you tell me where you found the book plates for the invitation or is that your own craftiness at work?
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog via Pinterest and I simply LOVE this idea! It's brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled over this and thought I'd comment since I'm hosting a book exchange party tomorrow. It's for lunch, so I sent out invites asking everyone to attend a Novel Luncheon. :) I designed all the print items, and thought I was all set, but after finding this adorable catalog card generator, I couldn't resist adding some more things just so I could label them...haha. Thanks for the post and great party!!!
ReplyDeletewould you be willing to share the invite template as a free download? We are having a book exchange at our church and I thought this would be a fun way to announce it. Thanks
ReplyDeleteLove It!
ReplyDeleteNx
This is such an amazing idea-- so, so awesome--and executed in such a stylish, elegant way. many props! and thanks for the download :) -nicole
ReplyDeleteSoo.. how do I get invited!? ;)
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!!!!
I love this idea! So fun. Now I'm inspired to try it myself.
ReplyDelete(I came here via a link on Pinterest)
Omg I love this idea! I've blogged about it, and the post will be published in about a week, at http://www.elizaoverthemoon.blogspot.com
ReplyDeletelove it! I totally want to throw one! what a fun and unique idea!
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I am desperately needing a mom's only night and this is the perfect thing to do! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea ladies!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous party idea - I love it!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love this! We'll definitely be doing this for a RS activity! I've spent most of the afternoon re-creating everything in Photoshop. Pretty impressed with myself but more so with you cute girls and your creativity! Thanks for sharing with all of us!
ReplyDeleteLove this party. Everything looks fabulous. You've inspired me, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHow adorable!! I would love to put on this type of party...I have a few friends that are pretty big readers, so I think it would be enjoyable. Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
What a great idea! I would love to go a party like this. You are so clever!!
ReplyDeleteOh Wow! You are so creative and fun. Next time I want an invite ;)
ReplyDeleteLove this invitation-- can I feature it my blog?
ReplyDeleteI really adore this idea, and think I need to host my own!
ReplyDeletewhat a great event. love it all!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable! Thank you for your generosity in sharing this great idea with all of us :-)
ReplyDeleteSaw this on Pinterest. What an adorable idea! Love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks! We did a book party exchange. I'll be posting it on my blog and linking up to you soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
I love this idea and am thinking of hosting a party, but I'm curious what you would do if someone received a book they'd already read?
ReplyDeleteCan you put a link for the other items to download (i.e. book plate, Dr. Sueuss quote, etc.)? Love this idea!!! Thanks so much!
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ReplyDeleteI LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea!!!! Everything you did - the cards, the food, the gift station... everything is so beautiful! Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLesley
http://byporchlight.blogspot.com
LOVE this cute idea. I am for sure doing this one. One question, does your friend have a copy of the literature quiz she would share? Thank You, gelswood@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI know that this is an older blog post, and I hope that you are still monitoring it... but I was really wanting to find out where you got the book plates at, or what card stock did you use to create them. My girlfriend and I want to throw a similar party and she absolutely loves those book plates.
ReplyDeleteI am referring to the ones that you included with the invitation.
I love this idea!! We already got some library cards online to make the invites, but where di you get the bookplate cards?
ReplyDeleteI love it. What a great idea! Thanks for showing all of the details.
ReplyDeleteThanks you for sharing your invite- It's adorable
ReplyDeleteGreat selection! It's hard for me to pick a favorite out of these.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never! Nearly 3 years after this originally posted, a book party is still an awesome idea. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for SHARING your great idea! Some of us aren't great at being creative - so we appreciate your sharing heart!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this! Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeletewww.aspoolofthread.etsy.com
www.amyroachsenter.blogspot.com
Is there another way to personalize and print this? I would really like to use this for my party, but I do not have Photoshop.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Yes, I now use Gimp- it's a free program. It's similar to photoshop. Lots of tutorials on YouTube to help you use it too.
DeleteI like your sharing party idea :) It's time to start a exchange party in germany
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a fabulous idea. I am in a book club where we suggest books, but this might be a fun thing for our end of year planning party. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBook Lovers are we! This is one splendid idea and I cannot wait to host a party. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHOW DO I GET THE FONT TO MOVE AT AN ANGLE?
ReplyDeleteThank-you so much for the link to that card-catalogue generator! A really great resource.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute idea for a party! Would love to share this on our blog, if that is fine with you?
ReplyDeleteIs there any way the template for the invitation is still available? It says it is no longer available through the link. We are doing a book exchange and I have been searching for a library card invitation template. Any help would be so appreciated. Such a cute idea! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteMarisa
Epperson.marisa@gmail.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteGorgeous work. Is there a way this wonderful template is still available? I am hosting a book swap in two days and I absolutely love this design. Not to mention everything about the party that went up here. I will be scrambling to get even half as much done. deyvangi@gmail.com.
Hi! I love this party idea. Would it be possible to send me the invitation template? My friends and I do a "no-book book club" and a book swap would be a perfect idea before we take a summer hiatus. kendrapirk@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSuch a darling invitation! Would you be willing to email me the invitation template? The link from your blog is no longer working. Thanks! veatermi@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI know this is old, but I could really use this template for a party I'm throwing later. The link doesn't work anymore. Could I get that, please?
ReplyDeletelauren.chase11@yahoo.com
Lauren Chase
Hi, I also understand this is old, but every pinterest post that has these lovely invitations leads me back here, and the link isn't working. Even if we could just get the image of the blank document it would be helpful. Please!!
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if this is still being monitored but I would LOVE a copy of the “Literature Quiz” your friend used.
ReplyDeleteI throw all kinds of themed parties for friends and am always looking for ideas and suggestions.
Thank you for listening.
Laurahillgray@gmail.com
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