Alternative to party bags when you have a big party?

[glamourbadger]

I've got nearly 30 kids coming to my twins 4th birthday party. I usually do party bags but factoring in the cost seems crazy - even if only £2 a pop I'm looking at an additional £60. Just think how much more wine I could buy the grownups for this .

Does anyone have a cheaper alternative without appearing really tight?

Either get a boxed set of mister men books from the book people and wrap them with a funsize choc treat in cellophane and tie with ribbon.

Or just bag up sweets/choc in cellophane - tied tightly with ribbon so they can't scoff it all without mum helping them undo it IFYSWIM?

How about a small Easter egg each? Maybe go to a discount store and get 30 - should be able to get them pretty cheap.

A ballon and a piece of cake - get a big cake for 30 people

no need for party bags at al waste of time - they come home and get put on the side and never looked at

I've been to parties where there was some sort of craft activity and the children got to take home what they had made.

One was decorating cheap Ikea photo frames.

A balloon and a piece of cake

A glowstick if it's dark when they leave.

A helium baloon each and a bit o'cake. Sorted.

Lucky dip of things from hawkin's bazaar or pound shop multi pack.

Glowsticks -£1 for 20 (£shop)

Pencils with novelty rubbers on the end - £1 for about 10 (£shop)

Piece of cake and a balloon

If it's your twins' party then wine for grown ups is irrelevant. Whilst I hate the whole idea of party bags really, the kids do love them and IME tend to expect them by age 4.

There are alternatives, but not many that won't make you appear tight I'm afraid!

You don't need to spend quite £2 per bag though if you shop carefully.

A mini Lindt Choc bunny?

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3880382/Trail/searchtext%3ECHAD+VALLEY.htm

split and add to boys bags

A tub of bubbles each and some Haribos?

There's a company called craftpacks that does little toys for about 35p.I've ordered from them - they're fine.My sis used to take bags from the pick and mix and use them!

Thanks for all the fab ideas!

The Book People do multipacks of books which you can split. They work out at about £1 each.

boys

girls

either

As a parent who's home seems to be dedicated to small, cheap plastic crap, I'd be overjoyed if DS brought a book home from a party!!

Another idea -instead of helium balloons which are expensive, blow up and give out punch balloons.

These were so popular at DS's 5th birthday party that several Mums asked me afterwards where I'd bought them from (Wilkinsons IIRC)

make up a big batch of cupcakes with icing.. will be a definate winner each kid can pick one as they leave!

helium ballon
rent a helium filler hting

Yes we are having a party on Easter Sunday (gahh!) and they are all getting an Easter egg.

£1 and job done.

Alternative is a really nice thing from £1 shop - surprisingly easy to find and prob better than £2 of party bag tat (tho we do love the tat here ).

I have always included a Book People book actually, but I am scaling down this year as rather poor.

I do think it is important to give out something - of only to make it clear that it's time to go home

If you give a £1 gift, wrap them up and tell the kids to pick one out as they leave.

Just had a good idea for this thought I'd share it. I've got a load of alphabet cube beads and mobile phone dangle things lariats they are called, apparently?(ebay), and some bracelet thread. The whole lot cost about £10 and includes 500 beads so enough for lots of kids. I'm going to have a table for them to make their own names up and thread them onto mobile phone dangle so they can use them as zipper/bookbag charms or bracelets/necklaces. So acts as a craft activity at the party and they get to take it home too...also cost wise its pretty affordable and may actually get used! I quite like the idea of helping them make them and having something to keep me occupied instead of making small talk and repeating myself talking to all the adult guests IYKWIM?

That alphabet cube thing is a GREAT idea.

Sorry I've just stolen that for daughter's party next week :-)

at our wedding we had a pick a mix bar where sweets were in bowls and people could take some home in the paper bags we provided. Studio catalouge does cheap sweets