House Party : Apply To Host A "Discover You CAN" Party

I love Houseparty!  I have hosted 4 parties so far and have received a ton of FREE items to help host the parties.  I have done one for pizza (Digornio- FREE Pizza and other items), one for game night (3 FREE Hasbro games + food), one for Star Wars The Clone Wars (FREE toys + more) and one for Jolee's Jewels (stuff to make bracelets + more). 

A new party offer has just opened up with Houseparty that I am very excited about.  It's a "Discover you CAN" party  where you will learn how to make strawberry jam and can it!

If selected to host this party you will receive the following items to help make it a success:

•Ball® Canning Discovery™ Kit
•Ball® RealFruit™ Classic Pectin
•Ball® RealFruit™ Instant Pectin
•Coupons for hosts, guests and friends
•Ball® Collapsible Funnels
•Ball® Dissolvable Labels
•Ball Blue Book® Guide to Preserving
•Berry mashers
•Canning flipchart with step-by-step instructions
•Gift bags made from 100% recycled material

They do ask that if selected to host the party that you have it on or around June 25th, 2011.  Go HERE to apply.  Good Luck!

Thanks, The Abundant Wife

Our Star Wars The Clone Wars Houseparty

We just recently hosted a Star Wars The Clone Wars Houseparty and had a blast.  We received the following Clone Wars items from Houseparty to help host this party (at no cost to us):

10 Action Figures (currently on Rollback at Walmart for $6.97each)
1 Game Play Mat
10 Codes to Play the Game Online for FREE for 3 Months
10 Sheet of Tattoos
10 $1/1 Coupons for the Action Figures
1 DVD of Behind the Scenes and Sneak Peek at the New Season

I have found that to throw a great party you don't need to spend a lot of money on decorations or put out 10 different kinds of food.  Keep it simple and everyone including the host will have fun! 

For the party, we decided to do a bbq and made "Death Star" Cheeseburgers, Yoda Soda (7up and lime sherbet), and Star Wing Fighters (Doritos).  As a treat, we also made pretzel "lightsabers."

Here is a breakdown of what we spent ourselves on the party:

Cheeseburgers-
$14.97 on hamburger and $3.47 on buns (purchased at Costco)
Cheese- FREE from a recent sale and coupon combo at Albertsons
Lettuce- $1.67 for a head
Tomatoes- $0.65 (purchased at Walmart and ad matched to another store that had them cheaper)
Condiments - out of the fridge (no extra cost)

Yoda Soda-
2- 2ltr.  7up on sale at Safeway (ad matched at Walmart) $0.77/each
Lime Sherbet- $2.47

Doritos-
FREE with coupon when I purchased FREE hot dogs a couple of weeks ago

Lightsabers-
$2.49 for Pretzel sticks
$1.99 for the candy melts (purchased at Michael's and used 50% off coupon)

Extra expenses:  We also purchased 12 Star Wars The Clone Wars puzzles on clearance for a total of $3 to add to the gift bags and the gift bags for $1.50.  To eat with, we purchased cups for $1.25 (on clearance and with coupon) and plates for $1.50.

Total we spent on this party:  $36.50  which fed 13 people and provided 2 hours of entertainment for my kids and their friends (plus gift bags to take home).

Lightsaber Pretzel Sticks

We just recently hosted a Star Wars Houseparty and I decided to make some cute "lightsaber" pretzels.  They are super easy to make and were hands down a favorite at the party.  To get started you will need to purchase some pretzel rods, melting candy (found in craft section of most stores), and aluminum foil.

1.  Melt your candy according to directions on the package.

2.  Dip the pretzel rod in and cover it up to about 2 inches from the top

3.  Let the candy harden and then wrap the non-dipped end with aluminum foil (I kept the dull side on the outside)

If you look at them from across the room and squint your eyes they really do look like lightsabers. =0)

Host A Houseparty

Several months ago I discovered a great site called House Party.  House Party works with manufacturers and creates party packages which you can apply for and get for FREE.  The manufacturers get advertisement and product demos and you get FREE stuff. =0)

When you apply for a party (and are accepted) you agree to host the event, invite your family and friends, take pictures, and post online about the party.  If selected, House Party will send you the party package at no cost to you! I have done 2 parties so far and am currently in the process of planning my 3rd one for the 17th.

Here is what I got in my last two party packages (these parties are no longer available):

Digiorno Champions House Party:
•1 Party Planner Booklet — with 6 host coupons for free pizza and 15 guest coupons for $4.00 off pizza
•1 Supreme Pizza Cutter
•15 Party Rally Beads
•1 Referee Apron
•1 Refrigerator Magnet
•16 Drink Coasters
•2 Trivia Table Tent Cards
•1 Basketball “Hoops” Beverage Can Game

Hasbro Game Night House Party:
•The latest version of TRIVIAL PURSUIT Bet You Know It
•ELECTRONIC CATCH PHRASE
•TABOO
•Coupons
•1 bag of Hershey’s Pieces candy
•1 Box Triscuit classic
•1 Box Reduced fat Triscuits
•1 Box Triscuit Thin Crisps Quattro Formaggio
•1 Box Triscuit Thin Crisps Parmesan Garlic
•1 Box Wheat Thins

Current parties available are:

Tombstone Pizza Haunted House Party will include:

For Host:
6 Free TOMBSTONE Pizza coupons
2 Free NESTLE® Toll House® Refrigerated Cookies coupons
2 Free NESTLE® Candy or Wonka® coupons
Pizza cutter
Oven mitt
Plates and napkins
Halloween decorations

For Guests:
TOMBSTONE Pizza coupons
NESTLE® Toll House® Refrigerated Cookies coupons
NESTLE® Wonka® coupons

Simple Holiday Pleasures House Party will include:
 
For Host:
3 Packages of NILLA Wafers
3 Packages of MAXWELL HOUSE INTERNATIONAL CAFÉ
1 MAXWELL HOUSE INTERNATIONAL CAFÉ latte mug
1 MAXWELL HOUSE INTERNATIONAL CAFÉ reusable grocery bag
1 NILLA Wafers spatula

For Host and Guests:
16 Coupons for MAXWELL HOUSE INTERNATIONAL CAFÉ
16 Packages of NILLA Wafers
16 NILLA Wafers recipe cards
16 Grocery notepads and magnets
Plates and napkins

Brew Station Cup of Creativity House Party will include:
 
Hamilton Beach® BrewStation® for host
Hamilton Beach® BrewStation® coffee mugs
Special offers for guests
Bag of coffee
Coffee filters
Coffee cups for sampling

Sabra Share the World House Party will include:

Sabra Hummus product coupons for the hosts
Sabra Hummus bamboo spatula
Sabra Hummus recipe card holder
Sabra Hummus special offer coupons for the guests
World Music CD
And More!

I am currently planing a Star Wars The Clone Wars House Party for the 17th.  My son was super excited to get this one- he is a big fan!  I will share in another post about what was included in our package and how we make it special (food and activities) without breaking the bank.