Saturday, March 17, 2012

Minute to Win It Party

If you haven't seen the television show, Minute to Win It, you definitely need to watch it at least once.  It is a game show where contestants must complete random tasks that involve household items, and they have only 60 seconds to do so.  When I was looking for a theme for my next monthly dinner, my cousin recommended this show.  It was such a fun party!! It would be great for a birthday party, couples dinner, or just as excuse to have a party.  Below is how I put my spin on the theme...

Invite:  Create an invitation informing guests that they have been selected as one of the next contestants for the show.  I asked my guests to pair up in a team of two and come dressed in a matching color.  There are some cute invitations (for a birthday with this theme) on the internet for purchase as well.  I found one site that will give you a template for free as well, but I didn't do this, so I don't know how great it is.

Decor:  The show colors are royal blue, red, and white, so I went with that color scheme.  At the front door, I had a table set up with a first game just to enter.  It is called Breakfast Scramble and guests had 60 seconds to put together the front of a cereal box cut into 16 rectangles.  I set out a sand timer for guests to time themselves.

I set my table with a red tablecloth, white plates, and royal blue napkins.  I put two 12x12 pieces of card stock in the center to add color, and then I created a smaller version of the Stack Attack game as my centerpiece. I am providing direct links to these games in case you want to look them up for your party.  I also added some dice to add to the game feel of the table.

At each place setting, I created a label for a water bottle as my place card.  This is not a high-tech label.  I just created it on Microsoft Word.  I can email the template to you if you want to use this for your party.  There are websites that will sell professional-looking labels, but my monthly dinners attempt to be budget friendly (and my friends don't care how cheesy my additions look!).

Menu:  I created a menu card at each place setting so guests could see how I played up the "minute" theme of the night.  We started with a yummy "Minute"-strone Soup as an appetizer.  I served this with a buttery pita bread which is easy and delicious.

My main course was Minute Steak, Minute Rice, and "Minute"-ture Peas! The only issue I had with this choice of meal was the timing.  Some of my guests arrived super late, and this meant items cooked for longer than I intended. Unfortunately, I felt like the Minute Steak was a bit tough and not as tender as it should have been because of this. You may want to think about giving yourself even more time that you think you will need to prevent this from happening.

For dessert, I wanted to serve something with Minute Maid orange juice because this was the only thing I could think of that would still relate to the theme. I searched the internet for something, but couldn't find much.  So...I invented my dessert, and it turned out pretty good.  I have always loved 50/50 bars and shakes, so I decided to make this into a pie.  Yum!  Another thought would be to alter a dessert name like "Minute" (as in Mint) Chip Ice Cream if you wanted something simpler.

Games:  I looked at the Minute to Win It website and tried to choose games I thought looked fun, and that I had the supplies for.  I didn't want to have to spend too much money.  For the games I chose, I did have to purchase some items, but I found everything I needed at the Dollar Tree.  If you are thinking about doing this party, check out the Level for each game to make sure it isn't too advanced - especially if this is for a little kid's party.

To explain the rules of each of the games, I downloaded the blueprints.  The blueprints are the 30 second explanations for each game. I put them all on a DVD in the order of my party along with the 60 second countdown.  I found all the videos on YouTube for free.  One of my old students actually put the DVD together for me, so I am not exactly sure how she did it. Hopefully, you are more technically savvy than I am, and you can figure it out!!

Game #1:  Chocolate Unicorn
Stacking 7 Ding Dongs on your forehead.  They must stay there for 3 seconds.


Game #2:  Tear It Up
Shooting rubber bands at toilet paper attached to an empty soda can.  First team to break the toilet paper wins.


Contestant attaches a banana on a string around his/her waist so it dangles 12" from the ground in front of them. In 60 seconds, they must move an orange across the room and into a hula hoop using only the banana. This is another funny one...lots of thrusting!

Game #4: Ready Spaghetti
The pair of players must work together to transfer 3 empty soda cans to a nearby table using only a spaghetti noodle and their mouths. Try this one out before you do it. We had trouble with the weight of the cans breaking the spaghetti noodle. I would probably use a thicker noodle if I did this again.



Game #5:  Junk in the Trunk
Attach an empty rectangle tissue box around the waist and fill it with 8 ping pong balls.  Contestant must shake their rump to get all the balls out in 60 seconds.  This as hilarious! I've done this game at a high school assembly, and it was a hoot! (Note: I did cut a larger opening in the box just to make it a little easier.)

Game #6: On the Rebound
This is a partner game. One partner ties a clipboard around his waist and stands behind a small trash can. The other partner throws ping pong balls attempting to bank the shot off the clipboard and into the trash can. Team must get 5 balls in.

Game #7:  A Bit Dicey
Contestant must balance 6 die on the popsicle stick held in their mouth.  Stack must stay for 3 seconds.




Favor:  As a parting favor for all guests, I found another Minute to Win It Game, Mega Bubble, and centered my favor around it.  I created a tag with instructions for the game.  Then I just put the supplies, a jar of bubbles and a plastic cup, inside a favor bag and attached the tag.  Simple, but cute.


Again, this was a super fun party and would make a great theme if you are looking for an active party with a hilarious element to it!  I made a scoreboard to keep track of points throughout the evening. Give your winning pair Hundred Grand candy bars or a silly trophy made from household products!

104 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like such a fun party! Thanks for the ideas!

Spring said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all the ideas, decorations, and expressions. Can I be your friend? Thanks! (found on pinterest)

Whitney said...

Very cool! How did you attach the tissues boxes around their waist?

InviteandDelight said...

Whitney,

I just used a razor blade to slice a slit in both of the sides of the tissue boxes. Then I used a piece of ribbon that was about 1" wide and slid it through both sides of the box with a significant amount of ribbon on each side. Just make sure your ribbon is long enough to fit around all sizes of guests. Have fun!

km said...

your parties are killing me... it is 1am and I can't stop--- i want to see them all!

Anonymous said...

We have done this party for my daughter's 10th bday. It was sooo much fun. the adults who stayed for the party had a BLAST. Planning it for my first block party. Going to divide everyone up into family teams.

StrongStart said...

great fun - wow

Momsbusy247 said...

Way too much fun! I would love to try this, my friends would have a ball.

Four Buttons said...

wOW!! Just saw this on pinterest!! thanks for the great ideas, I can't wait to try them out!!! The banana one is a riot!!!

Shannon said...

I want to be your friend!

Anonymous said...

I am a cheer coach and will be using some of these ideas at Pep Rallies! Thanks!

Alexandra said...

oh my goodness this looks so fun! Thanks for the wonderful blog post!

Kat said...

I'm having an Olympics party for my birthday this year in August! I'm totally going to try some of these competitions for a great time! Thank you so much!!!

InviteandDelight said...

Kat,

I hosted an Olympic party as well, but haven't posted about it yet...I'll try to get to it in the near future. Maybe you'll get even more ideas!

Anonymous said...

I was racking my brain trying to come up with a special theme for my twin girls' "golden" birthday - they turn 12 on June 12th and with your help I just found it :). Thanks so very much for the great ideas - I am now looking forward to all the fun they will have with their friends!! You know how to have fun!

Anonymous said...

I love this! It is just what I am always looking for-------cheap, clean fun!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Planning my daughter's 13th birthday party. Simple, inexpensive, and practical but still so festive and fun! Great ideas that everyone can use. Googled minute to win it invitations and found your site.

Unknown said...

This is so awesome.

Louise said...

You could have had 'minute'tini's to drink!?
Love your ideas!
I hate it when people are late and your good food plans get ruined! Worse if they don't let you know they will be late. (I know there are always exceptions- sick babies and all that...) I am inclined to serve to my guests who are on time so they get their meal as I intended and the others can catch up. Harsh, but fair in my book!

Juggling With Kids said...

Thanks Carole for the fun ideas! My friends and I had a minute to win it game night and played some of these...we had a blast!

Anonymous said...

Brilliant! My family loves adult games at parties! This is inspiring :-) Great job
Nadja

Nicole said...

This is amazing. I was laughing to tears at the banana picture. I'm trying to figure out when I can put a party together like this!

Anonymous said...

go titans! :P

Anonymous said...

This is great. I thank God for people like you who are so creative.

Anonymous said...

Awesome, stealing these for my Olympic Party!

PeG56 said...

I used a variety of the games from the show for Team Building activities for my staff at work (also added a twist to it to raise money for United Way). It was so fun, so original and we raised a lot of money! I'm going to pin this to my pinterest so I have new ideas for the next time. Thanks

StacyR said...

Omg.... I love this..... Two questions...... How many teams maximum do you think? I am wanting to do an adult Olympics party but we have 12 couples I wanted to invite...... Do u think this would be too many people?? Also, how did you keep score? I saw the score board..... Did you just put an "x" in the box if they completed it in 60 sec?? How many games do you think??
Thanks and awesome blog!!!!!

InviteandDelight said...

I don't think there is a maximum, but with time, you may consider putting 2 couples together as a team. This would just allow you to play more games in your time period. If you purchase more supplies it wouldn't matter because everyone can play the game at the same time, but this can get expensive.

To keep score, I just put an "X" in the box if they were able to do it. Each game only takes 1 minute, so you can fit a lot in. I did two games in between each course. Have fun!!

Time2Partay said...

I have finally found some awesome ideas to try out! thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

thank you for sharing this! You are so creative!! i love all the ideas!!!

Anonymous said...

Very fun game ideas, thank you!

Anonymous said...

My husband and I have a couples Christmas party every year and have exhausted our party games. Your ideas will be a great addition to this years party and might be one of our funnest parties yet!! Thanks for the ideas!

Odinsblood said...

Fantastic site! I'm planning kids activities for a block party and have now expanded the activities to the adults based on your great ideas. You not only knocked yourself out on the party details, but your posting is so well done--clear, concise, and thorough. Many thanks for you ideas and effort.

eanerliffe@gmail.com said...

These are greeat ideas! I can never come up with fun games and this works for young and old alike!

Unknown said...

My husband and I love your pics! He is the supervising producer who created most of these games. He loves that you guys did them right!!! :) Looks like you guys had a blast.

Lovee@iheartclearance said...

Thanks for posting all the pictures. I'm planning my son's 10th birthday party around this theme and it really has my brain juices going. You have to love a great party on a small budget! Great Job!

Jackie said...

This is soo awesome! I'm always looking for a good way to get friends together and not just sit and drink all night .. I might have to hold a Minute to Win It party!

Cindy said...

LOVE this party idea:) I'm just wondering how you copied the video's from youtube and created your disk? I have windows movie maker and was trying to import them but am running out of ideas....if you have a moment I would love to hear your tricks:)

Ruben said...

Extremely funny :-)
Thanks for sharing!

Lori said...

I would love some ideas for a fun Christmas party!!

About a game said...

These are greeat ideas! I can never come up with fun games and this works for young and old alike!


About a Game

Anonymous said...

This is great!! thanks for sharing

Kellie said...

this looks like ti was so much fun!!!

Anonymous said...

I am planning a minute to win it party for my son's 12th birthday this weekend. I am trying to keep cost down also. Would you mind e mailing me your water bottle template? My e mail is tgc67@aol.com Thanks for sharing your party. Gayl

Anonymous said...

We are planning on doing a minute to win it game show. How did you get the clips from you tube on powerpoint? If you didn't use powerpoint, what did you do to create your dvd?

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I am also wondering how you made your video? You said it was a DVD. How did you get the clips from YouTube to the DVD? GREAT IDEA!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all these fun ideas! I had the idea to do this for the kids at the Christmas party since Christmas bingo had been done to death and just found your link on my search for games. You've just saved me sooo much time! Thanks!
Colleen

Jona said...

Nice. Also, fyi, dice is plural, die is singular. 6 dice is grammatically correct.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Thanks so much!

Significat said...

These are hilarious! Now I have some game ideas for the holidays... Thanks for sharing!

Kalipolina said...

Found this on Pinterest as well! This is AWESOME! I did the Junk in the Trunk for my nephews birthday party and it was the HIGHLIGHT of the games! :) Thank you for sharing even more games, now I have more to play at the next birthday party I plan :)Mahalo's again.

Anonymous said...

Looks like fun! Can I ask how to download youtube videos? Thanks :)

Kim said...

Some of our firemen and their wives will be doing this at our Fire Dept's. Christmas party this weekend. Can't wait to see how this goes!!!!

Kim said...

Some of our firemen and their wives will be doing this at our Fire Dept's. Christmas party this weekend. Can't wait to see how this goes!!!!

Anonymous said...

can you help me to know how to make the blueprint DVD as you did? I can't figure out how to download the videos from you tube, such a great idea!

Janelle @ Two Cups Of Happy said...

Great ideas. That ping pong ball one looks hilarious! I'll be using these for our Christmas Eve party this year. Thank you for sharing1

Anonymous said...

How do you suggest doing the teams and who does what game? I am expecting about 20 people for New Years eve! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I think I will suggest these ideas for a co-ed baby shower! Great, clean fun for guys & gals of all ages & sizes.

Anonymous said...

I did this party theme a couple of weeks ago, and it was a hit! All of my frineds loved doing all the activities and it was super funny watching them do them!! Thanks for all of your ideas!!

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

I had a nerd party and we played Minute to Win It games in our nerd outfits. Funniest thing ever!!

Anonymous said...

Could you email me the water bottle label? It would save me sometime for my daughter's 8th birthday party this weekend.

Anonymous said...

Can u pls help by suggesting some games for all groups in silver jublee celebration of my parents wedding.. i would really b obliged if u help me.. There would gathering of 80 -- 100 people including all age groups from kids to elders

J said...

I love Love LOVE this!! We were talking about doing this for a family reunion. I cannot wait to show my mom. #bestreunionever

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great ideas! I'm planning this Birthday for my son's 10th Birthday Bash!!

Anonymous said...

Can you email me the Favor Label... love your ideas... doing my 10 year old birthday this Friday... you are a life saver... I was at a loss on what to do.

Anonymous said...

Can I ask how you downloaded the blueprints?I can't find a site where you can??

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much! These are great ideas!

Unknown said...

This is such an awesome party! Thanks for the ideas. Are you selling the water bottle label? Please let me know thanks!

Anonymous said...

Awsome Ideas

Michele Watson said...

Can you email me the Favor Label... love your ideas
mwatson.watson1@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I was just wondering how you downloaded the youtube videos? We love your ideas and are doing them for a big 50th. Can you please help. thank you!

InviteandDelight said...

One of my old students downloaded the videos for me, and I have not been able to contact her to see exactly how she did it...sorry! I wish I was technically savvy, but I am not!

RhonnieK said...

Great ideas! could you please email me the labels? thank you. rhondakaan@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Your post is awesome! Would you kindly send me the labels? I would really appreciate it. I am planning a part for my twins. Thanks in advance. Address is aveso@yahoo.com.

Anonymous said...

I love your ideas..thank you

Anonymous said...

omg i actually love this such a good idea i am thinkning of doing this for my 12th birthday party not reallt sure if i should but i really like the idea of it

thank you for being so smart and thinking of this


BOB MALIK

Yvonne Macrae said...

We are having a game night and would you believe the theme is RED! So your ideas are very apt! Could you please send me the template for the Labels
Thanks heaps
yvonne.macrae@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Wow....That's a great fun out there ...See also here for the tip of the birthday kids birthday parties nyc

BollingWith5 said...

Do you mind sending me the printables for the water bottle labels and the additional minute it to win it games?

BollingWith5 said...

Whoops... forgot my email address bollingwith5@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Love your ideas! I'd like to incorporate them into my Vacation Bible School friday fun night ...I have all ages and won't know how many until event. Any suggestions...also can you email me the water bottle label. Thanks, badilabish@aol.com

Unknown said...

LOVE all the ideas! your ideas are very apt! cpbay.com

Anonymous said...

im saying fuck min to win it

Anonymous said...

god dame it your ideals suck monkeys ass

Anonymous said...

tell your children screw them

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Anonymous said...

I am doing this for my husbands birthday party. Great for couples. Can't wait. If I could please also have the minute to win it printable it would make this party perfect.

Luqman Khan said...

These are amazing games!
I like these games.

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hallo kitty said...

I love to watch minute to win it and amazed to play these games
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Unknown said...

What a great party idea. Thanks Kristti@http://www.specialbirthdaypartyideas.com/

Anonymous said...

My goodness. I LOVE this! I'm doing it for my birthday party (I'll be 29).

I wish scammers and "i-must-increase-sales-and-traffic-to-my-site....i'll-post-my-links-shamelessly-into-blogs" kind of people wouldn't clog your comments section.

Anyhow, you answered a lot of my questions --- especially what you used for the belt on junk in the trunk. Ingenious!!! ~sincerely, an appreciative reader!

Unknown said...

This is a great article. I have been looking for party ideas that are acceptable for adults but it is hard. I love the "minute to win it" idea, I think that would be so much fun. I like how you can incorporate different games and also great food. Every summer, I plan a big party just for the adults in my neighborhood and this year I really want to do something creative and unique. I also was told that the murder mystery company puts on a great show and would be perfect for a party. I know they travel and offer a lot of different games. I think the murder mystery game would be so fun because it reminds me of the game clue.

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I just used a razor blade to slice a slit in both of the sides of the tissue boxes. Then I used a piece of ribbon that was about 1" wide and slid it through both sides of the box with a significant amount of ribbon on each side. Just make sure your ribbon is long enough to fit around all sizes of guests. Have fun!
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Anonymous said...

I would love the template for the water bottle label.

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Anonymous said...

Oh man this is so great! I love going to a party where the games and activities were well thought out like this. My little boy's birthday party is next Saturday so I've been trying to gather game ideas and maybe track down that birthday party game truck in Los Angeles that I always see driving around. Hopefully it looks as well thought out as yours does!

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Unknown said...

Great post! I linked to it at my blog: LearningandLaughs.com

Ice Maker said...

oh my goodness this looks so fun! Thanks for the wonderful blog post!

Anonymous said...

So going keep this in mind for the party😀

PartyXYZ said...

Thanks for the game idea for my party.