How to Make Baptism Party Favors

Since a baptism party celebrates a landmark event, it is especially important that the favors you choose are attractive and memorable. You can, of course, buy these items ready-made at party stores and on the Internet. But making your own is less expensive and also adds a personal element to your decorations that guests will appreciate. And it may not be as hard as you think.

Things You'll Need

• Friends and relatives to help
• Craft materials

Instructions

Make Baptism Party Favors

1. Select a theme. It should center around babies and/or the religious significance of the occasion. For example, "Las Vegas Night" is probably not appropriate, while "Babies: God's Gift of Hope" is.

2. Do some research by looking up commercial and craft sites on the Internet and asking "crafty" friends for ways to make similar items to the ones you have seen. Combine and alter ideas to suit your purpose. Buy a few special materials, such as ribbons with the baby's name and date of birth printed on it, or circles of tulle, and make the rest of the craft yourself.

3. Seek inspiration. Look at craft materials that have to do with baptism, such as tiny cross charms or religious pictures. Look at basic materials such as ribbon, bags, boxes, pipe cleaners, little magnets or votive candles. Think how you can use these items to fit in with your theme.

4. Make sure the favors are appropriate for everyone. Choose a generally used item to give to everyone (a bookmark or magnet notepad) or else make separate items for men, women and children. The DIY Network Web site has a selection of books and crafts to give you plenty of ideas (see Resources below).

5. Take into account how many favors you need and how much of each material it will take to make them. Add in time (how long they will take to construct) and cost to make up your mind about what is practical to do.

6. Recruit friends and relatives for a party-favor party. While they help you put together your favors, keep them refreshed with food and drinks.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep it simple. You will have plenty to do, and you don't want to let one small part of the preparations take up more than its share of time.

• Know in advance how much you are willing to spend. Don't fall in love with something expensive and convince yourself that you can't live without it.