Party Favors

[tnatalia]

Do any of you give party favors? If so I need some ideas!

[suejande]

I don't do favors, but I do supply the trays for the take-home cookies, so I guess that is a favor lol. I would suggest hitting the dollar store, or Target (check out things in multiples that you can break up, such as holiday dish towels). I guess it would depend on how many you have to get. Candles, little soaps or lotions, candy...just look around and use your imagination. Buy some holiday mugs and put in a packet of cocoa. You can put just about anything in a cute cello bag and tie with a holiday ribbon and a candy cane. Put them in a big basket by the door and tell people to take one on the way out.

[jolouise]

I only have 12 ladies at my CE and they all bring their cookies pre packaged. I got large Xmas bags at 75% off in 2009 for favors for them to use them to carry their cookies home in. They all liked the idea and
I also tied a hot pad on the bag..Cost $1.50 for each.

[playroom730]

I've been doing an ornament that supports the theme for the last 7 years. unfortunealty I didn't think of dating them until 2 years ago. oops!

[capecodcookie]

I set up a goodie bag table in my garage and guests take one on their way out. I usually have small items that match the theme of the CE. (for last year's diva-theme, I had high heeled shoe bottle openers and diamond ring key chains along with a candle and some candy)

For this year's Bridesmaid and wedding guest theme I have purse-shaped compact mirrors and resin purse key chains.

I shop year round for favors so that the expense is spread out throughout the year. I love the post holiday sales!

[Kim_B]

Last year I made a very simple, quick, and AFFORDABLE favor for the gals at my Cookie Exchange; all I did was purchase a set of Christmas cookie cutters and I filled them in with homemade peppermint bark (I blogged about it here including step-by-step instructions - www.thepeachmartini.com/?p=329). They LOVED it!

The cookie cutters came in a package of 4 or 5 for $1.00 or so; they were the Wilton plastic cutters which I figured would hold up to the freezing/refrigeration better than the metal ones. Plus they were just darn cute

[shabus]

1 year I made each guest a Xmas CD with MY favorite carols. I turned the cover (that slips into the front of the CD jewel case) into a recipe book containing each guests recipes. BIG HIT!

Last year I made little sparkly Xmas ornament recipe book that works welll as a keepsake.

My theme this year is Retro, any suggestions? LOL

[pugmom]

For my Winter Wonderland theme, I did tealight candles in snowflake candle holders and last year, my pralines didn't set up (after 3 batches ) so I gave up and didn't do one. This year, I'm going to make a personal pound or sponge cake for everyone. I've found some Victorian recipes online and plan on using one of those.

[pookie]

I have done hot chocolate on a stick with homemade marshmallow last year that went over very well. I am not sure what I am going to do this year.

[Robin]

Fab ideas from everyone, I'm so impressed with all of your creativity!!!!

[Tasha]

I usually put a few things in a cute little Christmas Bucket. This year, I found Christmas themed takeout containers and made my own flavored sugars (vanilla and orange cinnamon) in small mason jars. I also usually include an ornament and some candies. Other years, I have added cookie scented candles or small foam craft kit.

[bumblebeas]

These oven mitts were my most popular gift. Occasionally I still get requests for them. Since it has been four years since I made them I began knitting in January and have a stash of them already for the party. As I am a hardcore knitter it is a perfect project to use up leftover wool accumulated through the years. This year they will serve as a holder for some sugar cookie hand soap I have already purchased.

Attachments:

[Vicki Ford]

One year I hit the dollar store and bought everyone a kitchen whisk...then I attached a red bow and a hand made tag that read I whisk you a Merry
Christmas.....they loved them.

[Maureen]

I've done Christmas CD's of my favorite music. (I did this a couple years in a row, it was a big hit)

small purse size christmas kleenex, pad of paper and a fun pen

I've done a bath salt ornament, wrapped in fine mesh with a festive bow.

Christmas gift tags, a spool of red ribbon and scotch tape, with a chocolate bar for when they start their wrapping.

This year I am going to give small 5oz bottles of limoncello that I made starting back in March. I'm including a recipe book that I have created collected to use the limoncello, anything from cookies to savory dishes.

[pamw]

I want all the guests to know that I really appreciate the fact that they all participate in the cookie exchange, with out them I would have nothing. So I feel the need to have party favors as a thank you to them. I have given different party favors since the start of my cookie exchange, the first one being in 2005. I have embroidered with my embroidery machine a design like an ornament and put such as Cookies 2007 on a dish towel and given them to each guest. I did that two years in a row with different kind of towels. Then the next year instead of playing games, we made gift tags and a paper bag photo album at the cookie exchange. I used them as my party favor. Each guest took home 6 hand made gift tags and one photo album that they decorated and also a note book that we covered with Christmas paper so to use like for Christmas Card list. Some girls wondered where the dish towels were. So the next year I went back to the dish towels. Last year I made aprons to sell at a craft fair and didn't sell many, and I had enough left to give each guest at my Cookie Exchange an apron. So that worked well. I really enjoy giving something that I have made or at least personalized a little.

[cbomba]

Last year, my mom was at the Dollar Tree after the New Year and she found a holiday novel they were trying to sell after the holidays. She picked up 26 copies. This year, everyone is going to get a copy of the "Candycane Murders" as a gift for attending the party. It cost $1.06 per book. I decided to do this instead of making the recipe books this year.