Tag Archives: Games

Farewell 2020, the Deco Way

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Ring out the old, ring in the new (photo: flickr)

As the year winds down, it’s time to say Farewell 2020, the deco way! As we continue practicing safe social distancing, large New Year’s gatherings are out of the question.

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Small partys are preferred (photo: adventuresinatlanta.com)

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However, for those of you staying with family, let’s welcome 2021 with gay frivolity as they would in the day.

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Joan Crawford in Our Dancing Daughter, 1928. Party like it's 1928.

Ready for a fun night? (photo: prohibitionparlour.com)

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Turning to my trusty, The Party Book by Mary Breen, she states that this is one party where the host gets to inflict their own ideas of what their guest’s resolutions should be.

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Billie Burke in Dinner AT Eight, 1933. She is looking forward to throwing the best party of the year.

It’s going to be a delightful evening! (photo: glamamor.com)

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Starting with the invite, include the date and time, instruct them to “bring along something to get rid of” besides their bad habits.

 

A fancy party invite is always a hit.

Make your party invite as fancy as you’d like (photo: Pinterest)

 

And, “wrap it up so no one knows what you are trying to dispose of.”

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What could it be? (photo: sporcle.com)

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You can see where this is going.

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Cut hourglass shapes out of stiff paper and write various times units – minutes, hours seconds, etc. – on them. Hide them all over the house before the party begins.

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Simple hourglass shape (photo: kids-drawing.com)

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Next, prepare a name tag for each guest and on the back, write a “resolution” the individual must adhere to the entire night. For example, the person who interrupts has to count to ten before responding to any statement made. An opinionated person cannot voice their viewpoint during a conversation unless asked for their opinion. A couple may not say anything endearing to their beloved.

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Any dry bean will do. (photo: alibaba.com)

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Each guest is given 30 beans. And, each time they are caught failing to follow their resolution, they pay a one bean penalty to the person who catches them. If someone loses all their beans, they must perform a stunt later in the evening.

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A party favorite, the famous bean game in an elegant setting.

You keep her distracted while I grab her beans. (photo: gettyimages.com)

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“Swaps” is an opportunity to get rid of, I mean re-gift, the present they brought. However, it is also an opportunity to get them to break their resolution during the bargaining process.

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Using the beans as cash, players bargain each other for the gifts. Announce that a prize is given to the person who ends up with the smallest gift, largest gift and the person who ends up with the most beans. Players can keep bargaining as long as the gift is not unwrapped. Several people can barter for the same package at the same time. There is no limit in the bean price. And gifts can be swapped multiple times but everyone must end up with a gift.

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The person with the most beans starts the next game, Preferred Personalities.  They pretend to be someone, living or dead, and the others have to guess by asking yes or no questions. The person who guesses correctly goes next. And so on.

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In the meantime, prepare slips of paper each with a guest name. Guests randomly select a name and writes some “friendly” advice on the back. Collect the slips and redistribute them giving each person the paper bearing their name.  In turn, each guest reads the advice to themselves, declares what they think of it and what they intend to do about it. And then, they read aloud the uncalled-for advice.

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Oh, the hilarity of it all.

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Assuming your guests are speaking to each other, the next game is a pip!

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The person who lost all their beans, or with the least beans, leaves the room. While absent, the other guests come up with some simple task they must perform. It can be something such as dancing with a chair or get on all fours and bark like a dog. The trick is, when the person returns, they have to figure out what they are supposed to do through trial and error. Clapping means they are cold. But foot stamping means they are warm.

 

Suggest dancing like Fred Astaire, you'll be the life of the party.

Suggest dancing like Fred Astaire (photo: pinterest.com)

Remember those hourglasses you hid? This is a party game that would be great for kids.  Players hunt for the hourglasses and the winner is the person who collects the most time, not hourglasses.

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Small prizes are awarded to those with the most beans, and to those who collected the most time.

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Being creative with food enlivens any party!

Get creative with Natalka UA on youtube.com

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It is suggested that sandwiches be served decorated with thin slices of sweet pickles and a pimento stem. Cookies and cupcakes are decorated with citron “holly leaves” and red candy “berries”. Beverages can be coffee / hot cocoa and hot spiced punch.

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Hope these games inspire you to have your own deco New Year’s party. Let us know if you tried any and how it went.

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Marie Dressler and Billie Burke in Dinner At Eight, 1933. Billie Burke's party plans didn't pan out the way she expected.

I had a ball, my dear. We must do it again! (photo: deathlessprose.com)

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Stay safe and see you all in the 2021. And support your local arts!

 

Keep the party small and have a swell time.

1922 actors fund (photo: flickr.com)

Happy New Year!

Chris & Anthony (the Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)

A Deco Valentine’s Day Party!

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February is almost upon us and you know what that means! A deco Valentine’s Day Party.  According to my vintage party go-to book, The Party Book by Mary Breen, “This is the one day in all the year when you may indulge in unabashed sentiment.” (You go, Mary!  Wait, I didn’t mean the way it sounds.)

 

Needless to say, the theme will be red and white balloons and hearts. Lots and lots of hearts. Big hearts, small hearts, broken hearts and mended hearts. Hang them from the ceiling and hang them on the walls. Miss Breen suggests, if you are rather ambitious, you can stretch a large paper heart with a jagged tear down the middle that your guests can make a “heart-y” entrance through. (Her words, not mine.)  My suggestion is to augment the heart theme with color copies of vintage Valentine cards.  I’ve sprinkled a few examples throughout for your enjoyment (and horror!).

 

I thought this was a sweet way to start.

I thought this was a sweet way to start.

Start off the festivities by having each guest randomly pull a heart cut from card stock from a bowl. Each heart has the name of another guest. Supply crepe-paper, ribbons, doilies, scissors, paste and anything else you can think of for them to create a “special” valentine for their “love”. (Which in our more liberal times could be quite entertaining.) Each person is encouraged to write a poem, or sentiment to their intended – be sure not to sign them! The finished valentines are collected by the host (that would be you) who “delivers” them. In turn each valentine is displayed and read aloud. The other guest have a delightful time guessing who sent it.

 

Hmmm! What exactly does this mean?

Hmmm! What exactly does he mean?

For those of you who have ever had your hearts torn out by past love (something that I have never experienced – cough, cough!) here’s the game for you. Each person is given a piece of red construction paper. With their hands behind their back, they tear out a heart shape. No paper folding and no peeking! The results are examined and the person with the beast torn heart wins a small prize!

 

Although there are several more games given for your guests to enjoy I’ll only give you one more.  This one is for the ladies and a partner of her choice.

 

This isn't suggestive at all.

This isn’t suggestive at all.

Hang a wire across a room about 6 feet off the ground. From it, hang hearts from strings at various lengths. In turn, each lady is given safety scissors (no Lorena Bobbits please!), blindfolded and spun around several times. She is then handed one end of a piece of string several feet in length and her partner holds the other end. The object is, with only three snips, to try to cut down a heart. The partner may not speak but can tug on the string to assist the player toward success. Any lady who succeeds in cutting down a heart, wins a small prize. (I’m thinking a few pieces of chocolate – yum!)

 

After all this fun, refreshments are served. Sandwiches cut into heart shapes. Sponge cakes iced with strawberry icing, red Jello molds with whipped cream (the real stuff, please) and fruit punch (soft and hard). The table can be set with – you guessed it – the ever easy deco-rations outlined in previous post. Just substitute a red heart or if you are feeling really fancy, a red heart against a doily.

 

Whatever you elect to do this Valentine’s Day, be sure to let someone know you care about them. Hugs to all and Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

This one's for Anthony.

This one’s for Anthony.

Chris & Anthony

“The Freakin’ ‘Tiquen Guys”