by: Deborah Shelton
If you’re looking for alternatives to pricey goodie bags, here are a few ideas that will make your guestsand wallethappy.
Any Fun Party:
Take Polaroid photos of each guest with the birthday child, and decorate cardboard picture frames, or make frames with popsicle sticks.
Dance Party:
Let the birthday child create a mix CD of favorite music. Burn copies for everybody (and play it at the party too!).
Hawaiian Party:
Decorate inexpensive plastic sunglasses with artificial flowers. String together more artificial flowers for one-of- a-kind leis.
Royal Party:
Decorate paper crowns and make scepters from wooden dowels and plastic jewels.
Sleepover Party:
Decorate plastic light-switch plates with stickers. Allow your young guests to embellish white pillowcases with fabric paints for a take-home sleepy surprise.
Spring or Garden Party:
Paint flower pots and include a pack of flower seeds for children to grow at home.
Survivor Party:
Send the children on a scavenger hunt equipped with compasses and trail mixes that they can make before the hunt. The compass will become a new favorite gadget, and the trail mix is a lot healthier that candy treats.
Tea Party:
Let the girls decorate straw hats with artificial flowers, which they can wear for the party, and later take home. Complete the party with candy necklaces.
Have fun!