(Photo credit: Bumble Bee's Craft Den)'Tis the season for entertaining. And what kind of holiday party would it be without a party favor to remind guests of the fabulous party you threw?
There are so many different party favors to consider, but whether you're buying cute Christmas ornaments or monogrammed napkins for each party guests, those take-home goodies can add up.
Don't let expensive party favors keep you from throwing the holiday party of the year. Instead, craft your own DIY-treats that put a smile on your guests' face — and keep more of your money in your wallet.
Remember Rudolph. Everyone knows the Christmas song featuring Santa's most famous reindeer, so bring him to life for your guests this holiday season. Purchase brown washcloths or cloth napkins and bars of scented soap from a dollar store, one for every guest of your party. Then, wrap the soap in the washcloth following the tutorial on Bumble Bee's Craft Den.
Once you've created ears and a face, add googely eyes, a red nose and antlers made of brown pipe cleaners. Then, attach a place card with a warm holiday greeting on one side and your guest's name on the other. Use the reindeer to designate where guests are sitting, or place them on a hall table for guests to grab on the way out.
Give your guests s'more holiday cheer. Create your own DIY s'mores kits and send your party guests home with a little something sweet. Packaging options are endless — use store-bought cookie containers, clear plastic boxes tied with festively colored string or plain boxes wrapped with holiday paper.
Fill the container of your choice with everything your guests will need to make s'mores at home: marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. Add a set of instructions and a gift tag for a party favor partygoers can't wait to open.
Deck the halls — with custom ornaments. Personalized Christmas ornaments are a fun way to get your guests in the holiday spirit. In fact, these ornaments are so easy to personalize that friends and family can enjoy them any time of year — and no matter what holiday they celebrate.
(Photo credit: The Plaid Owl)The craft blog The Plaid Owl suggests decorating white or clear round ornaments with washi tape, a type of decorative masking tape from Japan that's hot with DIYers from all across the globe. Get creative with designs — zig-zags, stripes and plaids are all great options — and experiment with color. You can stick to holiday colors like red and green, or go bold with colors that reflect the personality of each partygoer.
Keep it traditional. If DIY crafts are too much to handle during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, don't be afraid to stick to the old stand-by: cookies. You can make them from scratch or buy tubes of cookie dough in a variety of flavors. Simply cut them into holiday shapes using cookie cutters, bake and decorate with sprinkles or frosting. Package your decadent desserts in store-bought holiday containers and top with a hand-written note addressed to each family member or friend.
If you're really pressed for time, get your friends and family involved. Instead of a traditional dinner party, invite guests to enjoy drinks, appetizers and an evening of baking holiday cookies. At the end of the night, each guest can take some cookies for the road.
Ilyce Glink is an award-winning, nationally syndicated real estate columnist, blogger and radio talk show host, and managing editor of the Equifax Finance Blog. Follow her on Twitter @Glink.
