Get Creative with Goodie Bags 

For guests, one of the highlights of a birthday party is the goodie bag they get as the activities wind down and it’s time to go home. But a cheap little plastic bag with a few gummy worms and a trinket or two can be a letdown. With a little creativity, you can make goodie bags that live up to their expectations.

Bag it
A clever bag makes a lasting impression and adds to the delight of each child. One simple idea is to get a plain paper bag (colored bags are often available at stationery stores) and decorate it in the party theme motif—with pictures, fancy handwriting, stickers, and glue-on decorations. You can trim and stuff the bags before the party, or you can make decorating them one of the activities at the party.

If you or someone you know has some talent with a sewing machine, try making up simple fabric drawstring bags. Fabric shops have beautiful and colorful choices that would be suitable for this, from chiffon to velvet to theme-printed calico. Not only do these bags look great, they can be reused and considered a party favor in and of themselves.

Now consider this: a goodie bag doesn’t have to be a bag. Get inspired and find alternative containers, such as pencil cases, small boxes, sand pails, teacups, Chinese take-out cartons, flowerpots, or baskets. If it has a bottom and sides, you can turn it into a goodie “bag.” You can even fill a rubber glove with jellybeans, or toss a few select items into a baseball cap.

In the bag
Candy, fun trinkets, or something useful—what you stick in the bag is up to you and your budget.

Wrapped candies or mini chocolate bars are traditional—and often inexpensive if you select wisely. If you decide to go with unwrapped candies, try to make choices that won’t melt or stick together. Children also appreciate fun and entertaining toys, like bubbles, colored pencils, finger puppets, high-bounce balls, Matchbox cars, stickers, or puzzles. Avoid anything that would break easily or end up in a junk drawer.

You can pre-stuff your goodie bags, ready to hand out at the end of the party, or you can have guests stuff their own by winning prizes at games and piñatas (just make sure everyone wins at something). Or have a self-selection bowl at the end of the party where each guest can select three or four items. These can be wrapped surprises (different types of toys distinguished by different colors of wrapping paper) or plainly visible.

Do not feel you must spend a lot of money to get an impressive goodie bag. There are lots of bag stuffers that won’t cost the moon. Raid the local dollar store or browse the wholesale lot page of eBay.com to find interesting yet inexpensive items that will please your guests.

Other options
If the idea of making up goodie bags leaves you cold, think about a “goodie gift” as an alternative. A single thoughtful party favor, such as a small book, a personally compiled CD, or a set of watercolor paints with a pad of paper, might be a better choice. Wrap the gift with a bow and a personalized name tag for a special touch.

A craft project or a food item that kids make at the party are other great take-home ideas. A picture frame with a Polaroid or digital printout photograph of the guest and the birthday child is a memorable gift, as is a T-shirt decorated and signed by all the guests.

1. A burned CD of music selected especially for the day
2. Book from a used bookstore
3. Gift certificate (worth a dollar or two) to a local fast-food restaurant
4. Small box of crayons, watercolors, or other art supplies
5. Small flowerpot with a packet of seeds
6. Bulk buys or wholesale lots (dolls, action figures, trading-card packs) from eBay.com
7. Personalized “giant” cookie
8. Travel-size bath items or hair ribbons
9. Water bottle with a packet of powdered drink mix inside
10. Mini flashlight or hand-held battery-powered fan