How to Make Party Favors for Kids? | DIY Ideas That Work

The best homemade options use a few craft staples — standard printer paper, a paper cutter, and the right glue — and skip the junk. Whether you are making chip bag wrappers, treat pouches, or decorated mason jars, the real secret is getting the dimensions right and choosing items kids actually want to keep.

What You Need Before You Start

Most DIY party favors start with the same short materials list. Nail these basics and every method below becomes straightforward.

• Paper: Standard 8.5″ x 11″ printer paper, printed in landscape orientation to fit two images per page.
• Cutting tools: A paper cutter for clean edges; 2-inch and 2.3/8-inch circle punches for label backing.
• Adhesives: Stamp and Seal Plus or tearing tape holds wrappers together while you work. E3600 glue is required for heavier items like figurines on jar lids.
• Design elements: Patterned paper in the party colors, a stamp set, and inks — Patunia Pop and Berry Burst are common matches for pastel palettes.

Method 1: Custom Chip Bag or Rice Krispie Wrapper

This method creates a single-serve wrapper that fits a Rice Krispie Treat or small chip bag. It looks professional but takes about ten minutes per wrapper once you have the template.

Place your chip bag or treat image in the center of an 8.5″ x 11″ landscape document. Make a copy of the image, delete unused elements (like decorative facts or artwork that won’t fit), and cut the whole printed sheet to exactly 5.3″ x 6″. A paper cutter gives the cleanest edge.

To assemble, bring the side without tape over the center first, then bring the side with tape over it. Line up the edges and press firmly. For the bottom seal, fold the bottom edge up to the crease, press down, fold the edges over, and press again. Repeat for the top. Trim any uneven edges for a polished look.

Common mistake: Applying tape to the wrong side first prevents the wrapper from sealing. The tape-bearing side must fold over last.

If you prefer buying ready-made kits and skipping the cutting, check our tested product roundup of ready-to-use children’s party favors that save time without skimping on quality.

Method 2: Birthday Treat Bag Pouch

This paper pouch holds small treats or toys and uses a decorative overlap for a finished look without sewing or heat sealing.

Start with a 6″ x 6″ piece of designer paper. Angle-cut the ends of the tab so the overlap sits cleanly. Overlap the tab on the side to form a pouch shape, then secure it with Stamp and Seal Plus or tearing tape.

For decoration, punch 2-inch and 2.3/8-inch circles from patterned paper (Patunia Pop works well). Stamp a daisy on the smaller circle using Berry Burst ink, then position the stamped circle on the white backing. The finished bag can be folded in half to fit snugly around its contents.

Fit check: If the pouch is too big for the item, fold the bag in half before sealing to keep the contents from shifting.

Three More Easy Favor Styles

These options require less precise cutting and work well when you need variety across a larger party.

Candy Favor Jar

Use mini mason jars or clean baby food jars as the base. Glue a small figurine — animals, army men, or mini tiaras — to the lid using E3600 glue. Once dry, spray-paint the figurine and lid to match the party color palette. Fill the jar with candy or small treats.

Coloring Book and Crayon Set

Pick a theme-related coloring book from Target’s dollar aisle (Justice League is a reliable find). Pair it with a box of crayons, tie with a ribbon and thank-you tag. Cost runs about $3 per person. For a more personal touch, order custom crayons with each guest’s name from Etsy.

Surprise Balls

Wrap small items — stickers, bracelets, tiny toys — in layers of crepe paper that match the party colors. Keep wrapping until you have a ball about the size of a tennis ball. Kids unwrap the layers to reveal the surprises inside.

DIY Party Favor Comparison

Common Mistakes That Ruin DIY Favors

The big ones are easy to fix once you know they exist. Skip these and your favors will hold together and look intentional.

• Orientation error: Printing in portrait instead of landscape cuts off the design. Always set the document to landscape before inserting your image.
• Tape placement wrong: Putting tape on the side that folds first makes the wrapper impossible to seal correctly. The tape side is the last fold.
• Wrong glue for heavy items: E3600 is not optional for figurines on jar lids. Standard craft glue will let them pop off.
• Too much candy: A favor full of sugar gets eaten in ten minutes and tossed. Focus on interactive items like Play-Doh, coloring books, or small puzzles.
• Allergy blind spot: If any guest has food allergies, skip candy and edibles entirely. Ribbon wands, bubble wands, and sticker sheets work for everyone.

Which Style is Right for Your Party?

Final Checklist: Six Favors That Actually Work

Here are the six favor styles that survive the party, get used, and cost under $5 per guest when you buy in bulk and use standard printer paper.

1. Custom chip bag wrapper — 5.3″ x 6″ dimension, landscape print, tape-side-last folding.
2. Birthday treat bag pouch — 6″ x 6″ paper, angle-cut tab, circle-punch labels.
3. Candy favor jar — Mini mason jar, E3600-glued figurine, spray-painted lid.
4. Coloring book and crayon set — Dollar-aisle book + crayons, ribbon tie.
5. Surprise ball — Crepe paper layers around small toys.
6. Hershey bar wrapper — Custom printable wrap, taped closed.

Pick the one that matches your party size and the kids’ ages. Skip the candy overload, check for allergies, and test one favor before making the full batch. That single test run catches the most common mistakes.