Green Birthday Party Goodie Bag Favors: Make Mini Flowerpot Kits

If you are hosting a birthday party for your child, consider giving out green goodie bags at the event. At most birthday parties, kids receive goodie bags filled with candy and cheap, plastic toys. These party favors often end up in landfills as they are thrown out after a few days.

You can make fun, kid-friendly green goodie bags by choosing items that are biodegradable or are made from recycled materials. One great idea is to make mini flowerpot kits to give out as green birthday party goodie bags.

Supply List (per goodie bag):
Small clay pot (2 or 3 inch size)
1/3 cup garden soil
3 or 4 flower seeds
Small paint brush
Small container of craft paint
Assorted flower stickers
2 small baggies (jewelry size)
Black marker (optional)
Biodegradable goodie bag or recycled materials paper bag
Printed instructions for each goodie bag

How to Assemble the Mini Flowerpot Green Birthday Goodie Bags
1.Decorate the recycled materials paper bag. This is a great pre-party art project for your child.

2. Add 1/3 cup of soil to a small baggie.

3. Add 3 or 4 flower seeds to a small baggie. Use the black marker to label the baggie with the flower name. Use seasonal flower seeds. For example, you could put sunflower seeds into the goodie bag for a summer birthday or sweet peas for an early spring birthday.

4.Add one of each of the following items to each goodie bag: clay pot, garden soil baggie, flower seed baggie, small paint brush, small craft paint container, and several assorted flower stickers.

How to Make the Mini Flowerpot
You can choose to do this craft during the party or let the kids take it home with them. If the kids are taking the goodie bags home, then be sure to print up the following instructions on recycled paper and include them with each goodie bag.
1. Paint the clay pot and allow to completely dry.

2. Embellish with stickers.

3. Use a black marker on the bottom of the clay pot to indicate planting date and child's name.

4. Add the soil to the decorated clay pot.

5. Add the flower seeds.

6. Water and let your seeds grow!

Helpful Hints for Green Birthday Flowerpot Goodie Bags:
You can purchase these supplies at local craft stores such as Michael's, JoAnn's, or Holly Lobby.

Once the seeds begin to grow, pull the weaker seedlings to allow more room for the strongest seedling to mature. You can transplant the flower outside and reuse the clay pot.

You can find little craft paint containers in the art section. These containers usually come in sets of 5 or 6 little paint pots per set. Use scissors to cut them apart, and place one per goodie bag. The kids only need a very small amount of paint.

Instead of flowerpot kits, you could make herb kits instead.