Handmade Birthday Party Favors

I am having fun getting you all caught up on my projects for the So You Think You’re Crafty competition. I am in love with these handmade birthday party favors. I hope you love them just as much as I do and they would even make great birthday gifts (love things that could work for dual purposes). They take a little bit of effort but they will last much longer and get more use than other party favors.

Here is what you will need:

• 1/2 yard each of two coordinating fabrics
• 1/4 yard of chalkboard fabric (I found mine at Joann’s)
• Iron-on vinyl cut outs and strips for the tic tac toe board
• Ric rac
• Bottle Caps
• Ribbon
• Chalk

My disclaimer: I’m not a seamstress (I barley know how to sew). I was just trying to stretch myself in this competition. I might not have done everything right or know the exact terms, but this is a great tutorial for someone learning to sew (or barley sews like myself).

I wanted to make a boy and girl version to share with you. I found all this cute fabric. I am so in love with the prints.

I started by making the handles. Cut out two strips of fabric 4 inches x 10 inches. 

Fold and pin it so the patterned sides are touching and sew a straight stitch on the edge. Start sewing a little and be sure to back stitch before continuing down the handle. Again at the end back stitch. This keeps the ends from coming undone.

Turn each handle so the patterned side is facing out. Iron so that the seam goes down the middle. I use a dowel to turn sewing projects to the right side.

Set aside the handles. Cut out the lining and the outer fabric for the body of the bag. It is easiest to cut out one long piece and fold it in half.

Cut the two sides to about 7 1/2 inches by 18 inches. 

The handles should be pinned to the outside of the bag. Find the middle and then find the middles on each side to place the handles in the right spot. Pin down to the outer fabric so that they don’t get in the way when sewing it all together.

Then pin the right sides of the fabric together with the handles inside. Stitch around the entire rectangle, leaving a small opening to turn the bag to the right side. It is also a good idea to add any embellishments before sewing the two pieces together. I should have added my ric rac wave now, because I had to unstitch it and add it later. Easier to do it right the first time.

Sew a straight stitch around the whole rectangle without it folded. Leave a small opening for turning.

Don’t forget the back stitching.

Here is my little opening to ensure that I can turn it to the right side. 

Pin the rectangle together to form the bag and pin.

Again back stitch and sew down each side with a straight stitch.

Take the corners and pin them as is in the next two pictures. Try to create a diagonal line to sew in each corner.

This will help the bag have sides that are deeper than a small slit.

Sew a straight stitch being sure to back stitch along the line where pinned. Flip bag right side out and you have completed the favor bag! Now on to the favors.

I am in awe with this chalkboard fabric. It just seems that technology does so many cool things these days like making chalkboard fabric (not sure that is a technological advancement but it seems like it!). Be sure to “season” your chalkboard fabric before sewing it. Season the chalkboard by rubbing chalk all over it going up and down, then side to side. Wipe off and repeat.
For the chalkboard I cut the chalkboard fabric to 10 inches by 10 inches. Then the outer backing fabric to 12 inches by 12 inches. I sewed the boarder using a mitered corner. This is above my ability to explain!

You can learn how to sew a mitered corner here. I think it is easier to watch it in a video than for me to try to explain it to you in my minor sewing lingo, but I do have some pictures to help you see what I did.

I made a small drawstring bag for the supplies to fit in. Cut a piece of fabric to 3 inches by 8 inches. I used  a surger to finish the the top and bottom edges.  Fold a small flap over at the top and bottom and sew it with a straight stitch. Surge up the sides. Poke a small hole in the folded over top to place the ribbon in. Then add another hole and the other side. so that the ribbon goes all the way around. Tie a knot in the end and then it will cinch up and open.

Next I made a wipe to clean off the chalkboard. Cut a 5 1/2 inch by 11 inch rectangle. Fold it so that the right sides touch. Sew around the edges and leave an opening to turn right side (don’t forget to back stitch). Iron and then top stitch around the square (back stitching at the beginning and end). 

On the back side of the chalkboard, I wanted to create a tic tac toe board. I used iron on vinyl cut into four equal strips. 

Place each strip on the board and place a piece of fabric over it and iron on the vinyl. Do this individually with each strip.

I wanted something funky for the markers. I had purchased some painted bottle caps and had some that I painted myself. I just spray painted them.

Put everything all together in the favor bag and get ready for some fun! Play tic tac toe. Draw some pictures. Enjoy!

I love how they turned out and I’m going to be giving them to some special people in my life.

What are your favorite birthday party favors? 

Linking up with: Linky Party Palooza, Time to Sparkle, Craft-o-maniac