fresh
living
S
wap parties are popping up
all over as a fun, free, and
green way to get rid of what
you no longer want and take home
something you do. Here’s how it
works: Invite a few friends and ask
them to bring items to swap. Lay out
the loot, allow browsing time, then
take turns choosing one new item
for each item you brought. The only
rule is that everything up for swap is
clean and in good condition.
SWAP ZONE
A dining room,
page 20,
is an ideal site for a swap party.
Protect the table with a wide runner
of kraft paper and use a few sturdy, clean
cardboard boxes to display the
merchandise at different heights for
easier viewing. At the end of the party,
pack leftovers in the boxes to donate.
SIDE SHOW
Use dining chairs,
right,
for even more display space. Scoot them
back from the table and lean, drape,
and stack swap items on and under.
4
U
m
i
o
p
3
R
0
ie
ready, set,
1 INVITE GUESTS
and let
them know how many items
they can bring. Five guests, each
with 10 items in tow, is a good
size for a party. Our invitation is
a large cardboard tag dressed
up with decorative paper and a
printout of the party details.
swap
2 TAG EACH ITEM
as it arrives.
Have a stash of tags ready and
invite guests to write a
description and “selling point”
for each item. The tags are cut
from cardboard, hole-punched
at the top, and topped with an
adhesive mailing label.
3 SET UP A CLAIM SYSTEM
by giving each guest a set of
clothespins monogrammed with
stick-on letters. To claim an
item, clip a pin to its tag. If
multiple people want the same
item, put all the clothespins in a
hat and draw a winner.
4 BOX UP LEFTOVERS
at the
end of the party (recruit guests
to help) and donate them to a
local charity or shelter.
22
JANUARY 2010
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
