Are you thinking about throwing a Halloween party this year? Do something a little different and host a Halloween BOO-k exchange party. With a few simple DIY details, you can throw a party the kids will remember and love … and you can keep it super simple which is perfect for this busy time of year! And if you want some other ideas, keep reading! Six of my blogging friends have shared party ideas as well and the links are all at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check them all out but enter the giveaway first … if you win, you can party in style with goodies from Oriental Trading!
The great thing about hosting a Halloween party is you can throw together a pile of things in a black and white theme and call it a party. I love a black and white Halloween tablescape and it works well for a kids’ Halloween tablescape too!
For this Halloween book exchange, I grabbed everything I could find that was black and white or had ghosts on it and then added a few simple touches with book pages to carry out the theme. Grab seasonal partyware and mix and match to create a fun, patterned table.
The most important part of any party is the people so don’t forget the invitations! You can download this halloween book exchange invitation, fill in the blanks, and embellish it any way you want. I placed it on patterned scrapbook paper and added a ghost cut from a book page.
You can create placemats out of old book pages …
… and add a simple ribbon placecard to mark the spots. I added some cream colored items to tie in the vintage book pages but if your pages are true white, you can stick with a true black and white color scheme.
Add patterned wooden utensils {you can paint or glitter your own plain utensils or add a little washi tapey} …
… and set book page ghosts on top of napkins for an extra touch.
I dug my old push pop pumpkin out of the attic and reinvented it as a centerpiece, adding lollipops …
… and setting it on top of a book page table runner.
Kids can eat some snacks, exchange their Halloween books, and play! Easy, right? Totally manageable for this busy time of year!
Be sure to enter for the chance to win an Oriental Trading gift card!
And now check out these other fabulous parties for Halloween entertaining!
What’s Your Halloween Fortune? from Fern and Maple
Death by Chocolate Halloween Party from Fun-Squared
The Purr-fect Halloween Party from Giggles Galore
Boo Halloween Party from A Pumpkin and a Princess
All the Fun without the Fright from The Celebration Shoppe
Halloween Boo-k Exchange from Dukes and Duchesses
Mystery Menu Party from The Crafting Chicks
I love this idea so much! This is one of the best ways I’ve seen to get kids excited about reading. Great!
What an amazing idea! It’s like a Christmas/Halloween mashup! I think a book exchange like this is an excellent way to encourage kids to read by making it super fun. I love it!
OMG so many great things in this! Thanks for the giveaway – I LOVE Oriental Trading Company! And I love that Boo-k Exchange idea!
This would be SUCH a fun idea! What a great way to get some new books and some great reading!
Combining a party with a way to so get kids interested in books is a great idea for Halloween. It is fun to get candy and treats but reading is so much more important.
This is such a fun idea for a Halloween party! I love the black and white colors. It’s a great way to get kids excited for reading.
As a book lover myself, I love everything about this idea! I never thought to approach Halloween with a book theme but it’s genius!
This is such a great idea! I think my kids and I need to do this for Halloween this year!
What a great idea. Books and Halloween. I never would have thought about it. The decorations and such are perfect.
I love the black and white theme idea! You’re right, it totally works without fail!
What a great party idea! I am loving the round up you posted at the bottom of the post too!
This is such a cute idea for a Halloween party! How creative.
This is such a neat way to celebrate Halloween. I am really into reading so I would certainly enjoy something like this.
I really love the idea of a book exchange. The decor is so easy to make as well.
What a great idea!
Aw, how cute! I’d do this with my adult friends – almost all of us love to read.
Love the ghosts in book pages. The whole party is Fab. Found you at Wow Me Wednesday Link Party