Clever & Frugal Party Favors

Posted on Feb 1st 2016

Birthday Party Favor Ideas

If your party loot bags look like "Kiddy Litter", then you'll enjoy this list of frugal party favor ideas that children enjoy and can use. Other ideas include "Non"-Favor Bags, "A to Z Treats", "Candy Shoppe Pizza ideas", "Tea Party Treats", plus recipes for Wizard Dust, Wizard Wands, Little Ladies Lip Gloss, Bubble Bath and Bath Salts, Boy-Boy Gooey Gunk, and Little Mens cologne and shaving cream to make and save money. Enjoy!

A favorite with with parents!
Candy, toothpaste and a toothbrush

An 'A to Z' Party Favor Bag
(visit your nearest Dollar Store for most of these inexpensive items and
create your own special bags -- below is just a list of ideas to brainstorm with...)

A is for art supplies (paint sets, markers, crayons, colored pencils)

B is for bubblegum, Band-aids with pictures on them, bouncy balls, bubble blowing toys, baby bottles for dolls

C is for clay (incredible edible playdough recipes ), combs, coloring books

D is for cards (playing cards, trading cards)

E is for erasers (funny shapes)

F is for frogs (mini rubber ones), fake money

G is for Gummy fruit snacks, glitter jel, gift certificate

H is for hat (baseball caps, visors)
I is for instruments (whistles, plastic slide flutes), insects (plastic spiders,ants, etc.)
J is for jewelry, jerky, jelly
K is for keys (key chains)

L is for lollipops, lip gloss

M is for masks, magnifying glass

N is for notepads

O is for Oreo cookies! (mini snack packs)
P is for paper hats, paper airplanes,paper dolls, puzzles, (mini jigsaws, puzzle solving books), popcorn, purses, pouches
Q is for queen (Burger King crown turned inside out and let the kids decorate them.)
R is race cars (mini metal car)
S is for stickers, sachet, spiders, snakes, stamp/pad, sand toys
T is for t-shirts, tattos (removable kind), trucks, taffy, teacups
U is for ukulele (mini stringed uke or guitar)

V is for virtual Gia (the stone shape that when you add water grows grass...)

W is for wind toy (mini kites)

X is for X-ray (stencil of a skeleton on a black sheet of construction paper)

Y is for a yo-yo

Z is for zebra (photo, mini stuffed toy, zebra-striped balloon)

A "Non" Party Favor Bag
This idea is to fun for children 6 years and older:
Instead of filling goodie bags, stuff a small prize into balloons and blow them up. Tie off with colorful curly ribbon. Using a large box or childs wading pool, stuff all the balloons into it. (If you helium-fill your balloons, group them together like a bouquet and let them rise to the ceiling with the ribbons hanging down). Occassionally throughout the party, blow a whistle. Each time the whistle is blown, all the guests can chose a balloon, pop it and keep the prize. (Have a safety pin available for ease). If some prizes are too large for the balloons, insert a note telling them they can choose anything they wantProvide a colorful paper lunch bag with their name on it for them to put their prizes in to take home from a "Prize Basket". (Warning: Balloons that been popped are dangerous to small children and pets...)

Candy Shop Pizza Favors
A jar filled with Dessert Pizza ingredients with the recipe attached so kids can make it at home. Truly a clever twist on the Pizza Party theme!

Pizza Dessert:
In a jar, layer the dry ingredients for sugar cookies. On top of the dry ingredients, layer red M&M's (pepperoni) and coconut (Mozerella cheese). Cut out a red/white checkered material circle that overlaps the lid, tie off with red or raffia ribbon around the neck of the jar and attach a card with "other ingredients to add" (such as vanilla) and "directions" on how to make their own special dessert pizza.

Chocolate Pizza
Ingredients:
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
2 tablespoons water

Directions
Melt 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup shortening in a double boiler and let cool. Stir in flour, sugar, eggs, and baking powder with fork. Spread crust evenly onto a well greased pizza pan. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes and let cool. Combine 3/4 cup chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons shortening and water. Melt in a doubler boiler, stirring until smooth. Spread this mixture evenly over cooled chocolate crust. Decorate as desired with candies.

Chocolate Pudding Pizza
Ingredients
1 (17.5 ounce) package peanut butter cookie mix
1 (12 ounce) container softened cream cheese
1 3/4 cups cold milk
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup miniature Nestle' semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Prepare cookie mix dough according to package directions. Press into a greased 12-in. pizza pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until set and let cool.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth and spread over crust. In a separate mixing bowl, beat milk and chocolate pudding mix using medium speed for 2 minutes. Spread this mixture over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until set. Spread whipped topping on top and sprinkle with Nestle' chocolate chips. Chill for 1-2 hours. Makes 12 servings

Pizza Popcorn
Mix a pinch of oregano, basil, and parsley in melted butter and add to popcorn and toss. Spread popcorn in single layer on cookie sheets and let dry for an hour or so before bagging them in clear cellophane bags and tying off with colored curly ribbon.
More-than-you-can-believe popcorn recipes

Pizza Toss Favors
Cut out "toppings" such as pictures of mushrooms, tomatoes, pepperoni out of colored construction paper and a large round of brown construction paper that fits into a real pizza pan. Glue them individually to light cardboard. (These pieces will be tossed so if you want them to fly a little better, tape a penny to the back of each piece). Lay a real pizza pan on the floor a few feet away from all the guests. Give each child an equal number of toppings and have them toss them onto the pan. Whoever gets the most toppings in the pan wins and goes to the SURPRISE PIZZA PAN (another pan filled with assorted prizes) to select the prize they want to take home. Once the winner selects a prize, a new game begins until all the guests have won "one" prize. The winners do not play.

Tea Party Favor Treats

Little Ladies Tea Party

1 plastic cup and saucer
1 bracelet
1 pearl necklace
1 ring
1 lip gloss (see recipe in this article)
1 tea bag (optional)
1 sugar cube (optional)
Place all the items in a clear cellophane bag and tie with ribbon. Print out a card (shaped like a tea bag) written with a "Thank you" or the name of the guest.
(Dollar stores have these items and they are very inexpensive)

Little Ladies Peach Preserve Shower Gel
Ingredients
1/4 Cup Foaming Concentrate
3/4 Cup Water
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Apricot Kernel Oil
1/4 Teaspoon Peach Fragrance Oil
Orange Food Color (or red and yellow)

Directions
Mix Foaming Concentrate and water in a bowl, stirring gently until well blended. Add oils and color. Stir. Add salt, if you'd like it thicker add salt a 1/4 teaspoon at a time until the mixture is the consistency you desire. (A plastic bottle or plastic bottle with pump works great.)

Little Ladies Black Cherry Bath Salts
Ingredients
Cup Rock Salt
1 Teaspoon Liquid Glycerin
1/2 Teaspoon Cherry Fragrance Oil
Red Food Color

Directions
Stir rock salt and glycerin together. Add fragrance oil and coloring. Stir well until color and fragrance are evenly distributed. Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper, spread salts out evenly on it and allow to dry for at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours. Package and store in a closed container. (Use about 1/4 cup of bath salts per bottle. Glass bottles work better than plastic). Tie pretty ribbon around neck of jar. Add a tag with directions (sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoon under running water.)

Magic/Wizard Party Favors

Fairy Dust Glitter Gel
Ingredients
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
1/2 teaspoon glycerin
1/2 teaspoon ultra-fine polyester glitter (any color)
5 drops perfume oil (optional)
1 drop food coloring (optional)

Directions
Place aloe and glycerin in a small bowl and mix well. Add glitter and gently stir till mixed well. Slowly add food coloring and fragrance and mix until well blended. Store in a small screw top glass container. (Suggestion: mix one color of food coloring with a different color of glitter). Add a gift tag that reads, "Add sparkle to your life!". This sparkling gel is a wonderful skin treatment.

Warning
This gel is harmful to eyes.

Fairy Wands
Materials
1/2-inch diameter clear plastic tubing (one-foot per wand)
Modeling clay (colors to match party theme)
Crazy Glue

Directions
Cut plastic tubing into 1-foot lengths. On one end of the tubing, insert a small piece of modeling clay and seal with Crazy Glue. Fill the tube partially with glitter and seal the open end of the tube with clay and seal with Crazy Glue. (Warning: Crazy Glue should be used with extreme care by adults only).

Wizard Mist
Material
1/2 Cup EverClear (156 Proof Grain Alcohol, purchase from pharmacy)
1 Teaspoon Liquid Glycerin
1/2 Teaspoon Fruit Fragrance Oil

Directions
Place all ingredients in a glass spray bottle, tightly seal with the cap and shake well. Add a tag that reads, "Spray to chase away bad wizard spells away".

Wizard Shower Gel
Ingredients
2 oz. Foaming Concentrate (purchase at your pharmacy)
3 oz. Distilled Water
1/4 Teaspoon Fruit Fragrance Oil
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Drop Blue (or any color) Food Coloring

Directions
Gently stir the foaming concentrate and water together until completely mixed and add fruit fragrance oil and food coloring. Stir gently until well blended. Add in the salt in small amounts and stir well with each addition. Use glass or plastic bottle with pump and a tag that reads, "Wash away the bad so you can dream about the good!"

GIRLY-GIRL Stuff Party Favors

Lip Gloss
Ingredients
1/2 cup Crisco solid shortening
1 package sweetened Kool-Aid
A tiny piece of lipstick (optional)

Directions
Melt Crisco shortening and lipstick in microwave in a glass or ceramic bowl. Slowly add the Kool-Aid, stirring constantly. Using small plastic jars with lids or small plastic cups with lids (ask your local deli for 1 ounce size) and cap tightly.

Bubble Bath
Ingredients
1/4 cup clear "unscented" (non-fragrant) shampoo
3/4 cup water
1 tsp salt
Fragrance oil (optional) -- 1 to 2 drops

Directions
Mix water and shampoo slowly until it is well blended. Add salt and mix thoroughly. Pour into squeezable plastic bottles and label.

Bath Salts
Ingredients
1 cup Epson salts (from your pharmacy)
15 drops Fragrance oil
Food coloring (any color)

Directions
Place all the ingredients into a Ziplock bag, seal tightly and massage to work the ingredients together. When well mixed, pour into plastic or glass jars or bottles.

Peppermint Milk Bath
Ingredients
1/2 cup Powdered Milk
1 Tablespoon dried peppermint leaves

Directions
Finely grint peppermint leaves by placing the leaves in a opened Ziplock bag and crush by hand, with the back of a spoon or with a rolling pin until it reaches a very fine texture. Mix the ground peppermint and dried milk together and pour into a plastic or glass jar.

BOY-BOY Stuff Party Favors

Goopey Gunky Goop
Ingredients

Part One
1 cup water
1 cup white glue
10 drops of food coloring

Part Two
1-1/3 cup warm water
4 tsp. Borax (laundry section of the grocery store)

Directions
Using all Part One ingredients, mix together in a medium-sized bowl. In a separate medium-sized bowl, mix all the Part Two Ingredients until well blended and all of the Borax is completely disolved. Ever so slowly, pour Part One mixture into the Part Two bowl -- DO NOT MIX -- instead, roll the bowl around in your hands four or five times. Gently lift out the mixture and knead it (like bread dough) for several minutes. Place mixture in a Ziplock bag or container and seal tightly to keep out the air. (Air will dry the mixture out and it will crumble).

Little Men's Bay Rum Cologne
Ingredients
2 Ounces Bacardi 151 Rum
1/2 Teaspoon Bay Rum Fragrance Oil

Directions
Mix together and shake well. Bottle and label with instructions to shake
before using.

Little Men's Shaving Gel
Ingredients
2 Ounces Foaming Concentrate (local pharmacy)
3 Ounces Distilled Water (grocery store or pharmacy)
3/4 to 1 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Bay Rum
5 Drops Green Food Coloring for Bay Rum

Directions
Place Foaming Concentrate in a medium-sized bowl, add water and stir until well blended. Slowly add fragrance and food coloring, stirring constantly until mixed. Add salt a little at a time until the mixture is thick but pliable. Place in plastic or glass bottle and cap tightly.

Thanks to everyone for their recipes... Deanne, Shawn, Diane, Eliz Melody & Jenn
kidspartiesandshowers@yahoo.com