I Need ideas for "favors" - QUICK!!

[Carla]

Hey ladies! I'm hosting my 2nd annual exchange next Friday, Dec. 10, and I'm still at a loss as to what to give each of the ladies as a favor. It needs to be something fairly inexpensive, and preferably homemade, because I have invited 32 gals. I'm sure they won't all come, but I'll need enough favors for that many in case they do! I'm started to stress a little b/c I haven't come up with anything yet, and have only a week to think of something and make it, if necessary.

Thanks!TEXT

[caroline3]

I havent' decided what I am doing yet but I was orignally thinking of a cookie cutter, ornament, spatula or something like that. Then I sort of realized that if it was me - I have so much of that stuff already. So, I asked for everyone's recipe in advance and I am making a little book out of it to give out. I am also doing grand prize - maybe a glass cookie jar/canister.
I'd like to give something more, but I can't afford it and I don't think anyone expects it anyway. Let us know what you decide!

[Jen]

Don't know if this would work for you but I was thinking of making candy ornaments. You use those starbrite peppermints, the red and white round ones (or green), put 8 in a circle/wreath shape on a cookie sheet and bake it for a few minutes. They melt enough to adhere to each other, tie a bit of ribbon through, and you have an easy, cheap ornament. Or you can also bake them inside all metal cookie cutters then poke a hole with a toothpick to put the ribbon through. (I think you can also use jolly ranchers or lifesavers for more color options.) That way is a bit more high maintenance but just an idea.
Good luck, Jen
ps. also fun for kids to help put them on the cookie sheet or tie the ribbons.

[Carla]

TEXTWell, here's what I decided for a favor - a package of "snowman soup"! I got the idea from a magazine called Papercrafts. You put together the following items in a cellophane bag:
Single serving package of hot cocoa
mini marshmallows in a ziploc baggie
candy cane
and chocolate kisses - opt.
THen, you make a tag for the bag that has a snowman on it, and print this poem to go on the tag as well:

I was told you've been good this year
Always glad to hear it
with freezing wather drawing near
you'll need to warm the spirit
So here's a little "Snowman Soup"
Complete with stirring stick
just add hot water and sip it slow,
it's sure to do the trick.

It's really cute! And, it won't be very expensive, either! I'm also doing a recipe booklet with everyone's cookie recipe - providing that they get them to me in time...only a few did last year! Thanks for the ideas, though, gals! Maybe I'll use one of them for next year!

[J Godbold]

I just had my 1st exchange Friday night and gave away cheese spreaders...I got them at the Dollar General for $2 for 4 (50 cents each). I wrapped a ribbon around them with a note of thanks. I put them in a pretty basket.

[SJayneW]

I found the cutest copper Christmas Tree cookie cutters at Garden Ridge for .25 each! I plan on putting a ribbon, a candy cane and a little note on each one.

[Jeanine]

my "decor theme" this year is silver stars - last year's was snowflakes ... so i ordered tin star cookie cutters from a website for only 50c and wrapped 2 cutters together with a sheer white & silver ribbon. i also included a little vellum tag that i printed off my computer that said "Third Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange 2004"

[nicole]

Hi there! I am having my 2nd exchange and my favor last year was a snowman ornament I made. This year I bought cookie cutters shaped like Christmas trees and I will fill them with green chocolate and decorate them. It is quick and easy and sticks with the theme.
Good luck!

[Heather Wilson]

Here is an idea for "favors".
I just gave my 3rd cookie exchange. Every year I try to give them something that is personalized and waiting for my guests in the same place on my table, so every year when I greet my guests they know exactly where to put their platters. Last year I made gum drop trees and put stars on top with their name. These can be freezed and reused every year. This year I found nice Christmas Cookie cook books in the $1.00 section at Target I wrapped each in pretty ribbon with a wooden spoon using a gold paint pen and wrote their name, It was a big hit!

[Claudine]

I just got finished putting mine together for my 1st exchange on Sunday. I found little xmas tins at the dollar store. I filled them with Hershey's varietbag of xmas foiled wrapped candies(miniatures, kisses, pb cups). Then I burned a compilation CD of all my favorite xmas songs and made 11 copies(the number of guests that will be coming). I then put the tin on top of the cd cover with the xmas cd inside and then tied them together with raffia. I put a little sticker on the cd cover that read: I hope you enjoy these xmas songs as much as I do. Thanks for coming. Merry xmas and Happy New Year! I also put togther a little booklet of all the recipes of the cookies at the exchange that each person will get. We are playing the WHO AM I game with xmas dish towels as prizes, the right/left game with yankee candle car air fresnhers as prizes, xmas trivia quiz with russel stover xmas tree shaped box of candy as the prize, pictionary with xmas carols as the theme for all the answers and lottery scratch offs as the prize for the winning team. We are also doing a contest for the Best Tasting , Best Looking cookie and the best Holiday Attire. Then I am having a door prize of a cookie sharing plate. It's a plate that reads someting about giving a treat to a friend with this plate and then passing this plate to another friend filled with a special treat for them. I hope it goes well.

[Anne]

Hi there,

My favor one year was a cookie cutter. I wrapped them in cellophane bags and tied with a ribbon.

But every year, I go to the Container Store and buy a holiday bucket for the guests to take there cookies home.

Anne- Houston, Texas

[Kirsten]

HI I am doing "snowman Soup" for my guests. It is not all that expensive. I went to Wal-Mart and bought mugs for 50 cents a piece. Then you fill it with the ingredients below. I have 15 woman so far coming with up to 18 more who have not yet responded. So I wanted to get something cute and cheap. A friend of mine did this one year for her swap and it was a HUGE hit. Everyone asks for the "recipe." So I thought I would try it out at mine!
Snowman Soup!
You put together the following items in a cellophane bag or put in a cute cheap mug from Christmas Tree or Dollar Store!
Single serving package of hot cocoa
mini marshmallows in a ziploc baggie
candy cane
chocolate kisses - opt.
make a tag for the bag (option make the tag shaped like a snowman)
print this poem to go on the tag:

SNOWMAN SOUP
I was told you've been good this year
Always glad to hear it
with freezing weather drawing near
you'll need to warm the spirit
So here's a little "Snowman Soup"
Complete with stirring stick
just add hot water and sip it slow,
it's sure to do the trick.

[Jennifer in Oregon]

The first year of my exchange, I found a box of tiny kitchen themed ornaments from Meier and Frank (now Macy's). I think the whole box was $10.00 and contained about 12 ornaments--I bought two. WE also bought a large c ontainer of really pretty ornaments--I think they were etched silver, for about $10.00. Last year we bought English crackers--the tubes filled with fun stuff! We bought them at Cost Plus but you can find them at mostshops this time of year. I scored last January by going to Old Navy and buying all their wooden ornaments, tree candles and holiday socks for about $0.25-$0.67 each! My sister also found a whole bag of brand new large metal cookie cutters at Goodwill for a dollar.

If you want to spend extra money, you can also buy personalized M&Ms printed with any message you would like. I did this for my daughter's 5th birthday party. It's kind of expensive but it would be cute!

One more thing, Target has a cheap line of cookie scented lotions, lip balms, etc in the dollar section that would make a cute favor. I bought some of that stuff for a prize.

[Grits girl]

I love the Target dollar spot. I bought cookie recipe books there for my favors.

[grits girl]

I love the Target dollar spot. I bought cookie recipe books there for my favors.

[Renee]

Once for a parting gift I used a metal whisk and filled it with hershey kisses and tied a bow to the top. Perhaps a holiday poem or wish attached to it