Cheap Homemade party favour ideas?

samborambo

My twins birthday is coming up and we've got a large amount of children coming. I don't want to give out bags full of cheap plastic toys (that will cost me a fortune!) and I was toying with the idea of using coloured popcorn but am struggling to get the recipe right. Using sugar and water it goes too soggy or too sticky. Firstly, does anyone have a recipe for coloured popcorn or a better way of colouring it?

And failing that does anyone have any fab ideas for party favours? I'm a pretty good cook but a lousy crafter so something along the sweetie line would be great.

Thanks in advance!

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karren

one year i bought bars of choc, like kit kats but cheaper, printed out labels with hsm and thank you for coming to my party and it cost hardly anything!
no one ever wants the toys so ive diched that idea, and use a single cupcake each in bag, and handful of sweets, and asda do lollys for pennies you could print out labels to go on top?

Aarons_mummy

Over on the occasions board there was a thread about this. Mainly alternative idea's such as a cupcake with the child's initials on, a pick and mix type bag (you can make them up with a few wee sweeties, buy a sharing bag from £1 shops/Asda and add a few of each in), a sunflower seed in a pot, cake baking kit (ie a bag with dry ingredients pre-weighed and mixed into a convenience type bag with a label attached with instructions how to bake cake).

No idea about the coloured popcorn though sorry

Determined_2b_Debt_Free

Great ideas already, also:

Cookies - individually wrapped in decorated bags
Salt dough fridge magnet (craft magnets are pretty cheap) - would the twins be able to do this?
or
Make and colour some salt dough and put balls of it in bags adding a tag for instructions
Little bags of homemade fudge

samborambo

Thanks for all the ideas. Will have to do a bit of experimenting and see what works best. Will check out the occasions board too - forgot about that one!

chubbster_1

depends partly on the age of the kids, but how about:

printed colouring sheets from the internet.
gingerbread men/shapes are easy to make and decorate and don't damage easily in a bag.
slime - look for recipes on the net, but it's pretty easy to make and kids LOVE it! (there's one here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2006/dec/23/familyandrelationships.family3 )

lolly_896

We did cones of sweets using piping bags from ebay tied at top with curling ribbon and then a cupcake each. I hate tat, so refuse to buy those poor toy things.

They looked like http://www.heavenlysweets.co.uk/shop/150%20_Party_Cones.jpg x

samborambo

Thanks for the links everyone. Those sweets look fab! Lolly what sweets did you use? Pic n Mix would be rather expensive. I've got a few bags of the lollies but think not sure they would look very full and would have to buy tons.

squeaky

Google sugared almonds

Pick a recipe that you can do

There are lots of threads on favours across on the Special Occasions & Other Celebrations board and, while admittedly most are wedding based - you might be able to pinch an idea or two

tuttifruiti20

shame your not into crafting, there are lots of lovely things you can make for kids party bags llittle crocheted drawer string bags and crocheted flower broaches go down well with little girls I've found.

samborambo

Oh I love crafts Tutti - I'm just absolutely awful at them! I've been trying for years to create things but I don't have an artistic bone in my body I'm afraid!