Kids' Party Favors

You can customize bubble containers for the party favors; their paper bands are affixed with double-sided tape.

Miniature lunch boxes make great cubbies for treasures such as beads and ribbons or nail polish and jewelry. Or, tuck a pretty snack of cookies or candies for guests to take home.

A Polka-Dot birthday party guarantees plenty of fun to go around. Guests can leave with goody bags made of shimmery bubble wrap and packed with more dot-themed surprises.

For a Movie Star birthday party, shop at party stores and novelty shops for sparkling faux jewelry. Feather boas boost the glam quotient (if boys are on the guest list, include top hats). Make plastic sunglasses sparkle by adding stick-on foil stars. You can also give away candy, as well as colorful pens and small spiral notebooks for guests to collect one another's autographs.

If you're throwing an Intial Party, try these fun favors.

At a Spa-Sleepover party, vinyl favor bags provide all the essentials for grooming on the go: a comb, lip gloss, soap, hair elastics, bobby pins, washcloth, and bubble bath.

Fold up the bottom of a 16-by-6-inch sheet of patterned vinyl, allowing for a 2-inch flap. Sew the sides. Place two Velcro dots on the bag for closure. Fill it with grooming supplies.

If you're throwing a Sprinkler Party, hand out these cute favors to help keep guests dry.

To make the fish pocket, you will need scissors and scalloped pinking shears, colored fabric (we used a cotton-polyester blend), eye buttons or adhesive-backed eyes, kraft paper, a fabric pencil, and green or other contrasting-color thread.

1. Transfer the template to kraft paper, then trace it onto a double layer of fabric. Cut out the sides and bottom of fish shapes with scalloped shears; for the mouth, leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance and cut with regular scissors.

2. Sew pieces together at the mouth, and turn right-side out.

3. Iron the mouth flat. Sew or glue an eye onto the side that will face out. Pin the fish onto the center of the towel.

4. Sew the fish to the towel using a zigzag stitch, leaving the mouth open. Tuck favors inside.

For a Flower Power birthday party, fill pails (available at party-supply stores) with candy, and insert a paper daisy with a lollipop poked through its center in each pail.

For a Space Odyssey party, glue silver or striped paper to red paper; cut a 6 1/2-inch circle. Cut a triangle from the circle and shape it into a cone; tape. Punch holes in the sides of the cup and bottom of the cone. Thread string through the cup and cone; knot. Glue triangular red tabs to the cup for fins. Add flag stickers and names with stickers.