Clever Party Favor Ideas to Make

By: Jennifer Maughan

Give your guests a memento of the happy occasion by handing out party favors that will bring a smile to their faces long after the fun is over. Clever party favor ideas are everywhere, so decide the theme of the party and start planning.

Milestone Birthday Parties
When it's time to celebrate a birthday, grown-ups can be just as excited as kids, especially on milestone birthdays. Use these ideas for party favors to draw attention to the guest of honor and give close friends and family a chance to take a little bit of the happy day home with them.

Customized photo favors. The number of items that can sport a customized photo of the guest of honor is almost unlimited. Get your hands on a great old picture from their childhood and arrange to have it placed on the party favors along with all the important birthday facts. Try adorning mint tin cases, candle tins, mugs or coasters to let loved ones remember the guest of honor's milestone. Other ideas include small picture frames with photos of the birthday boy or girl. Guests can later remove those photos and use the frame for themselves.

Personalized party favors. Many companies will personalize party favors, and there is no end to the creative party favor ideas out there. Inscribe the guest of honor's name and birthday on everything from candles and key chains to pens and decks of cards. Match the trinket to their personality.

Delicious party favors. Chocolate is always a hit, so try gourmet chocolate roses or chocolate lollipops. It's easy to order customized or personalized chocolate bar wrappers or small boxes of the guest of honor's favorite candy. Some companies will also let you print messages on individual pieces of candy. Other food items are easy for guests to carry home, such as bags or small jars of gourmet popcorn, hard candies or nuts. Nicely packaged tea, coffee or hot cocoa packets are also appreciated.

Summer BBQs
Whether it's the 4th of July or a family reunion, a summer BBQ party is certainly memorable, but imagine the impact a party favor will have on your guests as they head home.

Assorted treats such as popcorn, cookies or candies are always lovely, but give the party favor a summer BBQ touch by wrapping the goodies in a bandana and securing it with ribbon, twine or raffia. If you really want to focus on the food, give each guest or couple a bottle of gourmet BBQ sauce so they can recreate the delicious food from the party.

Beyond the BBQ food, try personalized stadium cups. They serve a double duty as drinking cups for guests at the party and become a fun party favor to take home. Or, you can provide plain aprons, craft paint, puff paint or fabric markers so guests can make their own personalized aprons. Take turns autographing each other's aprons to really stir up some memories each time the apron is worn.

Bridal Showers
Celebrate love in style. It doesn't matter whether they've been married for years or have not yet said "I do," a creative party favor will have every guest dreaming of true love.

Anticipate romantic times ahead with silver corkscrews engraved with the word, "Love." They're just right for champagne bottles. Speaking of love, signify that love is blooming with seed packets and decorated flowerpots. Take it a step further and give already planted bulbs in delicate pots, especially if the tender green shoots are already visible.

Address the domestic side of marriage with recipe holders, a cook's best friend in the kitchen. Aprons are another creative option, especially if they reflect the party's theme. Or, present a gift bag with cookie cutters and a tried and true recipe. Even better, mix the romantic and domestic themes, and order letter cookie cutters that spell "L-O-V-E."

Baby Showers
Ideas for baby showers run from sweet and whimsical to silly and sassy. Amid the excitement for the upcoming little one, guests will remember fondly the party for Mom long after the baby has arrived.

Picture frames are perfect to give out, as guests can place a photo of the new baby in it down the road or use it to house other cherished pictures. More playful gifts include candy-filled baby bottles. Adorned with ribbon and stuffed with sweets, these clever carriers are wonderful party favors.

You can also provide favors that aren't explicitly linked to babies but will still serve as a wonderful reminder of the baby shower, such as personalized key chains, scented candles or small sewing kits.

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