Fun and Memorable Birthday Party Favors

Every parent has that moment when planning a birthday party when the wallet is about to explode. There are so many things to purchase for the party, that cutting expenses in some areas must be explored. Birthday party favors can be frugal and memorable at the same time. In fact some items you may already have and just need to get a little creative to make a great party favor.

Birthday party favors are defined as a little bag that the guests take home at the end of the party. More or less a partial way of saying "Thank you for coming" and giving the guest a token to remember the party.

Goodie bags should be age appropriate for the child receiving the bag. Making sure that each child is safe with the items in the bag. Most bags consist of some type of candy, and a few token toys for them to play with at a later date. None of these bags ever seem to make it to the next day much less the next weekend.

The basic birthday party favors:

Start with bags.

1. Check the sales. If your child's birthday is in month around a holiday. Wait for sales and grab some of those holiday bags when they are 50% off. Red
hearts work for girl's party all year round.

2. Get some plastic bags that zip shut and have your child personalize each bag with a guest name and some stickers.

3. The Dollar Stores usually have gift bags too.

4. Paper lunch sacks work, again have your child do some decorating.

Put some candy in those bags:

1. Watch for sales after each holiday. No one is going to mind the tootsie roll pop wrapped up like Valentine's Day or the Snicker mini bar that is
for Halloween.

2. Don't overload on candy. Remember the kids already have had cake and ice cream. I am sure their mom and dad would rather see less candy.

Now time to put in a few favors in those bags.

1. Pencils - Yes they are cheap. During a holiday season you can find Christmas, Easter, Valentine's pencils at Walgreens on sale 8 for $1.00.

2. Pictures - Take a picture of each guest with the birthday child or take one group picture. Have a helper who can run to a One Hour photo and get you
copies. 29 cents per picture.

3. Crayons - for the younger ones. Wait you are not even buying those crayons. You have them already, just need to be creative.

Remember those pictures you are having printed at the One Hour photo. Have a craft area with frames already made out of Popsicle sticks, glue and old puzzle pieces. Have each child decorate a frame with the puzzle pieces for the picture. Now they have a frame for the picture and a memory that will last a life time.

The bucket of broken crayons that you just don't know what to do with - make fun crayons. Here how to make fat multi-color crayons.

1. Spray the tin very well.

2. Break the crayons up' to about 1/2-1 inch long and put them into the 'cup' but sort of 'overfill it' because there's air between that will 'go away' as the
crayons melt.

3. Put the muffin tin into a 'preheated' oven at about 250 degrees, and check the 'crayons' every five minutes.

4. Take them out when they've 'melted some' but not 'totally' and let them 'cool and harden THOROUGHLY in the cups before you 'turn them out.

There you have it a simple birthday party favor bag, which is inexpensive and fun for all involved. Each guest will walk away with the memory of a great party.