Category: General Food Recipes

Do-It-Yourself Party Favors

Holding parties for different occasions can be difficult financially. The cost of hosting events and parties are skyrocketing, take weddings for an example. The wedding industry is earning millions of dollars every year from flowers, cakes, catering, and party favors. Yearly occasions like holidays or birthday parties are also affected with continuous rise of prices.

One great way of saving on party expenses are looking for alternatives. So instead of buying ready-made party favors, you could start making your own. Not only are they more inexpensive, you could also give your gifts a personal touch. Party favors are given as a way of saying thank you to people who have celebrated with you and nothing would be better than to give thanks to them in a very personal way.

Party gifts do not have to cost too much. With a little bit of creativeness and enthusiasm, you would surely be able to make something for the party.

In wedding celebrations, you could always have the groom and the bride make or design party give-aways. This would be a great outlet for your creativity and at the same impress your wedding guests with your style and creativity. There are simple party favors that would not require too much of your time. For example, you could give away dream or aromatherapy pillows or mini-glass candy jars. You could put them in stylish boxes with ribbons and labels.

Candies are great party give-aways. With candies, you could buy them in wholesale, which will help you save on costs. You could put them in treat bags. You could personalize these treat bags by using stickers and rubberstamps related to the theme of the party. You could tie them with colourful ribbons. Aside from party hats, you could look for different templates on the internet that can be worn during the party. This is a wonderful idea for childrens party and would even work for some adult parties who would like to have walk back in memory lane.

Another great idea is making photo calendars. Everything is digital nowadays, it is rare to find actual pictures being printed. After the party, you could look for interesting pictures and great shots from everyone in the event. You could ask help from other guests who also brought their camera and took some pictures.

Actually, photo calendars are not that difficult to make. There are software and programs being offered online where you could choose the calendar template that you want. You could just insert the pictures and print them. You could also visit the local printer and have it printed there. You could easily finish it within a week and send it out to your guests. A personal note thanking them for coming to your party would surely make it touching.

Candles and candleholders are also great party favors. You could easily use them in a room to lighten up its atmosphere. You could give away unique and personal made candles, you could put them in wine, champagne or even martini glasses. There are candle making kits which would provide what you need, including wax color and scent. Pick out the best design that will match your partys theme.

Party favors do not have to be expensive or brought from an exclusive craft store. Party favors are gifts that hosts give to their guests as a sign of saying thank-you. Whether they were bought or handmade, it is the joy of sharing with other people your happiness is what is important.

Delicious Party Favors

Seldom do people realize that food can be a special party favors they can give out during occasions. When talking about “handmade” items, foods are probably among the top choices this is because there is no way to prepare them but to use one’s hands. Come special seasons such as parties, this is the top handmade gift choice to many people since these are potential staple items on the table.

Although it is still months before a party that you are about to prepare, its never too early to think of the food items you can give out as party favors. As early as now, you can look for special sweets, tarts, candies, breads and bottled treasures in specialty stores or you can start learning how to make special homemade cookies that you can give to your spouse, friends, relatives, teachers, clients, associates or officemates when they attend your party.

Possible food ideas or items that you can give out as party favors include boxes of chocolates in various shapes, a selection of fruits, different arrangements of fruit baskets, traditional hampers that contain specialty foods and sweets such as breads and tarts in different shapes and sizes, and bottles of wine like sauvignon blanc dry white wine.

Delectable treats

If you want the party favors that you are about to give, choose more personalized or intimate that you can customize. Variations for food party favors include variations such as Wine and Gourmet food basket that contain gourmet pepper and poppy crackers, pacific smoked salmon with gourmet cheese spread with wine or a Sesame Crackers food gift which include a selection of garlic and cheese mix and chocolate drizzled almond biscotti and dark chocolate mint sticks with gourmet holiday coffee or bottle of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

But, among the so-many possible food items ideal as party favors, cookiesin different shapes, flavors, and sizesare always on top of the list. Here are some of the cookie basics you need to know before giving out as a party favor:

– Choose your recipients’ favorite cookies. Knowing your recipients’ favorite cookies will make it easier for you to buy or prepare your party favor. If not, opt for standard cookies favorites such as fresh ginger cookies, fruitcake cookies, holly cookies, and chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies.

– Make the presentation attractive. Be creative in packing your cookies by embossing it with ceramic, metal, or plastic stamps or molds or by adding special add-ons to the finished product such as colored sugar, finely chopped nuts, or colorful sprinkles. Make that you decorate the outside of your cookie container with distinctive labels, unique cards, and colorful stickers or wrapping paper.

– Maximize your effort. In making this handmade items as a party favor, try to give all you’ve got. If you are baking the cookies all by yourself, make sure that you prepare to bake a large selection of cookies by freezing several rounds of this dough in advance to achieve best output and best taste.

Choosing and buying a party favor

If there is anything that would make a Christmas party stand out from the other Christmas parties held all over the world, it would be the party favors being given away on that event. From plastic toys and puzzles in birthday parties, party favors have rapidly evolved. Now, party favors have become a loot bag full of nice and expensive stuff. This is especially true with parties and events for adults. This however brought an image of expensiveness to an otherwise simple gesture of giving souvenirs for a party. And with the high prices of organizing a party, creating a costly swag bag is just not the priority. In fact, many do not give any at all.

But you dont have to put expensive stuff in your swag bag if you dont want to. For simple parties, you can give simple gifts that will just help make your guests remember the occasion. For instance, a party favor that consists of freshly picked flowers from your own garden will definitely be a hit in a Sweet Sixteen party. A mask made from paper plates and cans can be part of a childrens party swag bag. A fish in a small bowl can be a nice take away present for guests and entourage in a wedding reception. There are many things that you can give without adding significantly to your costs.

The key is in the budgeting. First, you need to consider what the party is for and what it celebrates. That will give you an idea on what appropriate gifts to buy as your party favor. If you can, you can choose stuff that will either remind the guests of the person who is celebrating an occasion or remind them of the occasion itself. A gift that will symbolize the occasion is also another way to think when looking for ideas for party favors. For instance, with a wedding reception, newlyweds can either give a compilation of their favorite songs together in a cd or potpourri wrapped in white cloth and veil. They can also give a pair of lovebirds or doves as party favors as these animals symbolize togetherness and love.

Another important thing to consider is the function of the piece. Gone are the days when party favors consist of tiny glass sculptures and porcelain figures that will only rot in a box with the rest of the figurines that you got from other parties and reception. Because these are remembrances of occasions, few people will want to throw them however useless they are. Thus, they only serve to clutter houses. If you are going to give a party favor, make sure that it is something that the guest will be able to use in his or her daily life or in the immediate future. That way, your gift has a use besides serving as a souvenir.

Fortunately for those who have one too many figurines with names and dates on them, the trend towards giving these kinds of party favors is slowly fading. Now, people are more practical. Probably because they need to.

Cheap Party Favors

Handmade items are among the most popular choices for people who want to give out party favors these days. This is because these items reflect more effort and sincerity from the organizer like you. But, handmade items don’t necessarily mean that they are cheap. In fact, there are many handmade items that are more expensive than the regular ones.

In this time of crisis, one of the things that people on a tight budget should learn is maximizing their resources. For those who have knowledge on baking, one of the good party favors for them to bake a cake, cookies, or bread for them. This is quite practical because you need not spend time and money in finding the item after the party. To make your handmade party favor more presentable, you can place it in a personally-crafted colorful box or wrap it in a nice cookie jar.

If you have talent in cooking, you can the cook dish or create your very own specialty dish or dessert for and give it out as a party favor. This is also quite practical because it can add up to the food that you have prepared for the party.

If you are into crafts, one of the party favor ideas is personally-crafted items. Handmade items such personalized cards; a painting, a portrait, a sculpture, or even a hand-sewn piece of clothing can be a party favor. Those who are inclined to photography can give out printed photo of the celebrant and place it in a nice picture frame. This would definitely one of the gifts the celebrator would not forget because she or he can display it. Those who are literary inclined can write a simple poem or short story about the celebrant and print it in a nice paper to be read during the party.

Maximizing your resources

If you dont have the knack for any of the mentioned above, dont despair because there are still lots of good party favor ideas out there. What you can do is organize your budget and scout various bazaars and stores on sale inside the malls to find a good yet cheap party favors. The following are some good party favor ideas available for you when you search malls and stores:

1. A set of unique decors and ornaments. This may include a set of angels, figurines, and other items that are nice to display but not so expensive. If you have decided to give this, make sure that you choose something that the recipient likes such as his or her favorite cartoon character or something that can add up to his or her collection, if any.

2. A food basket. This should contain all the favorite food of the attendees. If they are figure conscious, wrap up a wide selection of fruits and veggies as a party favor. If the attendees are into healthy foods, try to wrap up items that are healthy or if they are into wines, wrap up at least two to three bottles of cheap wine that comes with small crystal glasses.

3. A box or basket of sweet treats. This is the perfect party favor for those that have “sweet tooth”. One great party favor idea for attendees is a box or small basket of sweet treats including candies, tarts, and different kinds of chocolates.

An Extraordinary Party Favor

More and more people are into giving personalized presents these days because they feel that these are more meaningful especially if these are meant to people that matter to them. If you are throwing a party and you’re thinking of an extraordinary party favor to give out, then try making a quilt.

One of the most sought-after handmade presents these days are special items such as quilts because of its uniqueness. In fact, quilts have been converted into so many things and in most art stores and galleries, more and more items are being inspired from quilts.

One of the most popular quilt designs out there that are being given as part favors are the t-shirt quilts. In fact, this has become a trend not only to artists but also to people who would want to give something unique and beautiful. Aside from being its unique concept, t-shirt quilts also became a popular gift when it is turned into a memory t-shirt quilt.

Many people are fond of giving memory t-shirt quilts because these exude personal touch and sincerity. Since it contains personal items such as pieces of cloth and fabric that have sentimental value, t-shirt quilts have become a very touching gift to be given and received.

Making one

If you want your part favor to be more personal, it is best if you make it with your own hands. Making a t-shirt is easy as long as you have materials that you need. These include a set of pins, a set of rotary cutters, a box full of sewing needles that come in different sizes, different-colored threads, special quilting needles, extra fabric that will be used for backing, a pair of scissors, different types of fabrics and shirts, cardboard, batting, rulers, a sewing machine, irons, and a quilt frame. Here are step by step directions that you can follow:

– Know the size of the t-shirt quilt you want to make. This can be determined by how many t-shirts you would want to include in the quilt.

– Collect the t-shirts to be used and clean them. Once you have collected the shirts you want to include in the quilt, segregate them according to size, color, and design.

– Place the t-shirts according to size and design. By doing this, you can establish order and create a final design for the t-shirt quilt.

– Draft a square template using the cardboard and make an initial layout. This template will be used as a pattern on how the t-shirt should be cut.

– Finalize it. Using ties, quilt hoop or quilt frame, you can now make the final steps in the t-shirt quilt before giving it away.

If you are making a t-shirt quilt as a party favor, bear in mind that you should always plan the design ahead before you begin. This is to ensure that no material or fabric will go to waste and always consider the preferences of the guests that will be attending. If you dont have time to know all their preferences, opt for the more basics designs, colors, and styles.