3 Creative DIY Goodie Bag Ideas for Any Occasion
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Goodie bags, swag bags or loot bags — no matter what you call them, they are an amazing addition to almost any occasion! Some occasions (like holidays) may spark certain ideas or warrant specific themes, but what about the rest? Whether the occasion at hand is an aforementioned holiday, an office party, a fundraiser, a birthday party or otherwise, goodie bags are welcome, and figuring them out can be a fun affair! The key is to:
- pick products that cross a range of price points, choose a few standout items and then supplement them with more affordable little things to make your goodie bag more impressive. Snacks, in particular, are amazing as low-cost add-ons — as are popular office products like funny pens, exciting wellness essentials like sleep masks and many other options! Just don’t forget to pick up a little something for yourself!
- bag the goodies gorgeously because when it comes to goodie bags, the bag is a big part of it! Consider DIY options like: hand-lettered brown bags with hand-cut scalloped edges and a nice ribbon seal, hand-sewn material bags with drawstrings or even triangular bags made out of stiffer materials.
- find a focus, whether that be the holiday at hand, something that everyone has in common or even just a color! This will not only make selecting the goodies much easier, but will make them feel much more cohesive. If you’re at a loss for themes that apply to your teams or attendees, consider these all-rounders!
1. fun and functional
A fun and functional theme is not only forgiving thanks to the foundation it’s based on, but it’s also easily catered to your crew. No matter what, though, good standout gifts in this category that everyone should love include unique loot like cute office accessories (think: leather cable holders, noteworthy notepads and pens that pop with personality), always-welcomed wellness items (from a travel water tumbler to a wicked cool sleep mask) and everyday essentials (whether they be on the tech-spectrum like earbuds, on trend like PopSockets or to help them be on time like a pocket calendar). From here, some sticky notes with a sense of humor, statement stickers, small snacks and either gum or mints will all make for great supplementary items that are sure to be used!
Check Out Our Cute Office Accessorieshow to bag: What’s more fun and functional than bagging your swag in something really cool and reusable? To do this, consider looking into simple three-seam drawstring bags that you can sew yourself! Not only does this allow you to personalize them perfectly to personalities, but to occasions, too — whether it be through pattern or size!
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2. fueled and fed
Good standout gifts in this category obviously include edible items, but where do you cross the line from supplemental snack to standout surprise? Small individual or sample-sized syrups, sauces, jams and spreads are always sought-after and feel exquisite, and so do gourmet baked goods and uncommon confections — calling our special cotton candy party sprinkles! When it comes to the fuel side of things, items like interesting teas and coffees, special sugars, cocktail mixes and cocktail garnishes should always be considered! To seal their standout effect in stone, consider pairing these pieces with equally exciting partners (such as adding a Belgian waffle mix in with the syrup or honey stir sticks in with the tea)! Aside from the food itself, fun goodie bag gifts for foodies that stand out include cool kitchen towels, obscure bottle openers, special spoons and straws and cool koozies. From here, small snacks, special paper napkins, food-flavored lip chaps, food-scented car fresheners and even simple (but sure to be significant) tins of mints make for great supplementary items!
how to bag: Most craft stores supply mini food take-out containers. When possible, purchase these as a base for your bag and personalize them as you please for a super fun effect! Similarly, brown paper bags will also make for a perfect and on-point base for your bags — especially if you’re running low on time or energy. Simply hand lettering everyone’s names onto the bags like classic brown paper bag lunches will be as charming as it is enticing!
3. apparel and accessories
Apparel and accessories are almost always appreciated as much as they’re adored. Good standout gifts in this category can be a lot of fun to find because they actually tend to be some of the most underrated apparel and accessory items in everyday life! If you’re aiming for the perfect apparel and accessory theme goodies, your any occasion swag bags should include funny socks, a unique bandana or gaiter, sunglasses, small and simple jewelry items or even keychains.
You’ll Love Our Funny Socks So Take a Look!how to bag: When it comes to bagging apparel and accessory goodie bags accordingly, consider a cute DIY bag idea like recreating retail shopping bags! One way to do this is by utilizing shorter and wider paper bags stuffed with tissue, and even amping them up by using your function's name as the “store” name on the bag and/or the recipient's name on a dangling “price” tag!
you’ve got this in the bag!
With the every occasion bags above, you’ll be able to make a big impact with just a little bag!
The only thing left to do will be to assemble them and adorn your bags. And when it comes to assembling them, remember that it's best to also assess your supplies and assemble a plan before you begin! This means that you’ll want to gather all your supplies, sort your goodies into groups and form a methodical filling plan. From here, you can begin filling them — first by adding your tissue paper or filler and then by grabbing an item from each goodie group. Seal, sign the function and/or recipient name and store them safely (in a transportation tub if necessary) for their exciting appearance.