Party Bags - does this sound a cheapskate option???

[Makinglists]

Am sorting out DS 4th birthday in three week's time. We've already paid quite a bit for an entertainer and the hall. Anyway vexed by the party bag thing - we're having around 20 kids to a local hall (the party is his first and I thought it would be nice to have one before all his pre-school friends get split up and go to different schools). Personally not over keen on party bag plastic tat and shocked at how much it will cost so I've spent the afternoon rummaging around in my sewing box and found some old cotton white fabric which I thought I could cut out large circles - dye a funky colour and fill with choccie gold coins (I found a website selling them even though its not xmas)and then tie with a ribbon at the top. I thought I could squeeze in a balloon or a sticker and the kids would have a slice of cake wrapped up seperately. The party dosen't have a theme as such (though ds has chosen pirate banner/napkins so the bags would be a bit piratey!). Anyway does this sound too basic/cheapskatey??(even though it is!!!)

no of course not

Thanks - just not very confident of party expectations!

Sounds perfectly fine to me.

I think this idea sounds great! There is nothing worse then getting a party bag for your lo with a load of plastic rubbish that breaks and goes into the bin after a day or so. I think edible stuff in party bags especially for young children is a really good idea.

Just another idea, You could blow the ballons up and tie ribbon to each of them,then attach the ribbon to the neck of the party bag, so that the ballon is floating in the air and is held down by the bag. In a cluster this looks quite spectacular and of this age I think love to be given a ballons and a bag of sweets to go home with.

I also think it sounds lovely.

I think a bag of treasure to go with the pirate theme sounds fantastic!
Anything you could use as a pirate's chest to put them in? Your sewing box??

Although I have to admit to loving the plastic tat type too

It sounds a great idea, i'd be thrilled if my ds was given that at a party (and I'm sure he would be too!).

That's a good idea, stilletoe.

Sounds fab to me!

my older kids only like sweets
they think the rest is shit
so YES
do just coins

Lovely simple idea .

Competitive party-bagging drives me up the wall.

I noticed some bags of chocolate coins in Thorntons the other day. I think they were only about 20p each.

Thanks all - I was really unsure but now I'm def going to go for it - off to the shops tomorrow to see what lurid shade of fabric dye I can procure!!

floating helium balloons idea is GENIUS!! Definitely going to steal that idea for next party!

Or try florists cellophane, cut into squares and tied with ribbon.

Do you know, I really like that idea!

Do you have to dye it though? Plain cotton bags sounds just as good to me. Maybe you could even let the children decorate it in the party with some fabric pens?

ooooo.....like the cellophane idea. You lot are full of wonderful ideas

excellent idea - they only want a bag and something to open so it's great. In my day they took cake home with them and that was considered a good deal.

The cellophane tied tightly with ribbon is a good idea cos they can't usually open them without adult help

Fill them with sweets but they have to be nice to their grown up in order to get to the goodies!

Thanks all - had a happy Sunday afternoon dying the fabric with a rather lurid witches brew in the garden. I've order the choccie coins and a friend at work is going to see if she can lend be a toy treasure chest to put it all - feeling much more confident about it all (even if DS said he wanted plastic bags - grrr!! - but I've sold him on giving his friends 'treasure'!!