14 Creative Ways to Style Party Favor Bags

Choosing party favors has got to be one of my favorite parts of party planning. Picking party favor packaging is a close second! So I raided my craft stash and Target to come up with 14 easy, low cost ways to style party favor bags from simple lunch sacks and gift bags.

Before we get started, if you need party favor ideas, check out this post.

And if you need need even more party favor packaging ideas, then visit this post.

Party Favor Gift Bag Supplies

• I bought these colorful gift bags from Amazon.
• All the favor tags, scrapbook paper, doilies, washi tape, bows, flowers, tickets, tissue fringe and stickers came from my crafting stash.
• I found the yellow curly bow, coral flower, pink/green stickers, big black stickers and mini clothespins at Target.
• You’ll also need a stapler, wire cutter and glue dots or hot glue gun depending on which gift bag style you make.

Party Favor Gift Bag Ideas

1 – Make a scrapbooking paper flag

For this bag, cut a piece of scrapbooking paper into a long strip, about 1.5 inches wide. Fold the paper in half, and paper clip it to the folded bag. Don’t you love these gold paper clips?!

Here’s the finished bag — so simple!

2 – Add a flower plus a letter sticker

This bag is a little more involved but still really easy. Pick small silk flower — something lightweight. Use a wire cutter to cut off the stem as close as possible to the base of the flower. Fold over the top of the bag, Then attach the flower on the flap side of the fold with a pop-up glue dot or a bit of hot glue. Tuck the letter sticker a little under the flower and use it to seal the bag’s fold. The letter stickers let you designate a bag for each guest. “A” for Andrea, etc.

Here’s the finished party favor bag:

3 – Pick a fun party bow

All this cute red bag needed was a yellow ribbon corker bow. It comes with a sticky back so it really doesn’t get any eaiser. Fold over the top of the bag, and add your bow. Tuck the favor tag under the bow and secure it with a glue dot. (This favor tag is from Loralee Lewis and left over from my daughters’ Wizard of Oz birthday party.)

Here’s the finished favor bag:

4 – Add a pretty ribbon and fun stickers

Pick whatever stickers you like, then choose a bag and ribbon that coordinate. Fold over the bag top, then punch two holes through the fold, about 1 inch apart. Thread the ribbon through both holes, facing the back of the bag.

Pull one end of the ribbon back through the opposite hole. Repeat with the other ribbon end. Then tighten the ribbon.

Trim both ends of the ribbon. Apply stickers to the front of the bag.

Here’s the finished favor bag:

5 – Try a paper flower and letter sticker

The colored bags came with kraft circle stickers for sealing. I used those instead to frame a letter sticker. Fold over the top of the bag. On the opposite side, add the paper flower — it’s meant to be a gift bow, so it has a sticker back. Then add the letter sticker.

Here’s the finished party favor bag:

6 – USPS-inspired mail sticker bag

My kids were fascinated with the mail truck when they were little. So I started thinking that a Post Office Truck Party might be fun… and what better way to create a USPS party favor than to choose a blue bag and decorate it with Fragile stickers and stamps? Of course, I added another letter sticker to designate a bag for each party gift.

Here’s the finished bag:

7 – Add balloons

Nothing says “birthday” quite like balloons. Pick balloons and bags in your party colors. Fold over the top of the bag. Attach three balloons to the bag with pop-up glue dots. Secure the balloons to the fold with a painted mini clothespin.

Here’s the finished party favor bag:

8 – Decorate with a doily

This bag would be great for any party with a little vintage or country flair. Fold over the bag top. Fold a 5 inch doily in half on top of the fold. Clip the doily to the bag with a natural mini clothespin. Tuck a favor tag under the clothespin.

Here’s the completed party favor bag:

9 – Staple on tissue fringe

For this design, I cut out rectangular tags from white printer paper and asked my daughter to write names on the tags. Fold the top of the bag. Fold a long length of tissue fringe over the bag. Then fold the tag over the fringe and staple in place to close the bag top.

Here’s the party favor bag all finished; I love the tone-on-tone look:

10 – Let Duck Tape do the decorating

Choose a variety of Duck Tape colors. Apply a strip of Duck Tape to printer paper. Cut into tags that are about 3 inches long. Cut a notch in each tag. Choose two tags and paper clip them to the top of the gift bag with a natural clothespin.

(This is also an easy way to make a small party banner. You’ll see a Duck Tape banner in my Selfie Scavenger Hunt Party.)

Here’s the finished party favor bag:

11 – Add a pre-tied bow and thank you tag

It’s even easier to add a bow to a bag if you choose a pre-tied bow with a twist tie back. You can find these on Amazon in a variety of sizes and colors.

Fold over the top of the bag, and punch two holes about 1 inch apart.

Push the twist ties from the front of the bag through the two holes, then twist the ties so the bow is secure. Attach the thank you tag with a glue dot. (I made and printed the tag on Canva.)

Here’s the completed gift bag:

12 – Lean into washi tape

I couldn’t love washi tape any more. I use it to decorate water bottles and favor tags and here I’ve used it to embellish my favor bag. Just grab a collection of washi tape at your craft store, and pick three coordinating patterns. Apply three different lengths down both sides of your party favor bag. Secure with a natural mini clothespin because the tape probably isn’t strong enough on it’s own to keep the bag closed. It’s so simple, but probably one of my favorite gift bags!

And here’s the finished favor bag:

13 – Tickets, tickets, tickets!

Hosting a circus party or carnival party or movie night party? Pick up a roll of tickets at WalMart or from Amazon. Tear off two different lengths of tickets and clip them to your gift bag with a coordinating mini clothespin. (I folded my tickets over the back of the bag.) You can find pre-painted clothespins at Target or paint your own with acrylic craft paint. Use the rest of the ticket roll as a party prop or to elevate a dish on your dessert table.

Here’s the finished gift bag:

14 – Combine crepe paper and washi tape

Is there any party decoration more classic than a crepe paper roll? I have rolls and rolls of crepe paper in my party stash and I literally don’t remember buying it! Time to put it to use! This bag design couldn’t be easier. Fold over the top of your bag. Cut a long length of crepe paper — long enough to fold over the front and back of your bag. Notch both ends of the crepe paper.

Lay a piece of washi tape down the center of the crepe paper. Fold both together over the top of the bag and staple in place.

Cover the staple with a mini paper fan attached with a pop-up glue dot. (The paper fan is part of a paper bunting kit I bought ages ago at a craft store. There are no rules in crafting! Just repurpose anything you like!)

Here’s the finished party favor bag. Wouldn’t this be cute for a Frozen party?

I hope you loved this little series. I had fun making it for you!

P.S. Party favors are definitely a topic we cover in The Party Course. If you wish you could plan your party with an event planner at your side, you can inside The Party Course!