Idea for a Paper Lantern Goody Bag

Accordion-style paper lanterns make colorful goody bags.

Goodie bags serve as popular party favors — especially for children's birthday parties — and generally contain small toys and candies for guests. Homemade or store-bought paper lanterns offer a creative option for goodie bags. For an idea for a paper lantern goodie bag, explore options for coordinating the lantern colors and decorations to go with your birthday party or event colors.

Preparing a Paper Lantern

You can save money and make paper lantern goody bags.

Most paper lanterns are open on the bottom to allow light to shine out, although certain models have a cap on the base. To create a simple bottom for the goody bag, cut a circle of lightweight cardboard, bend it in the shape of a taco shell and insert it in the lantern so it covers the hole. The diameter of the lantern is larger than the hole, so you don't have to glue the cardboard. Shirt stiffeners, manilla file folders and gift boxes work well for making a bottom for paper lantern goody bags.

Birthday Goody Bags

Small ready-made paper lanterns, such as accordion-type lanterns with wire support inside, are a convenient size. These paper lanterns have a wire across the top for hanging the lantern that can serve as the goodie bag's handle. Pulling 2-foot strands of curling ribbon over the edge of a scissors creates cascades of curls. Tying one curly ribbon to each end of the wire lantern holder creates a quick goody bag for a birthday party.

Homemade Lantern Goodie Bags

For inexpensive lantern goodie bags, drawing a template or using a stencil to create two pictures of a lantern out of paper for each goody bag provides a convenient way to decorate plain paper lunch bags. For example, use glossy red gift wrap or reuse the plain side of colored fliers to draw basic paper lantern shapes. Gluing one lantern cutout to each face of the paper bag and taping a piece of yarn or ribbon to the bag for a handle gives you a paper lantern goodie bag. Homemade goodie bags save money and reduce waste.

Goodie Bag Tips

Colorful lanterns, such as polka-dotted lanterns, offer a festive look for birthday goodie bags. Goodie bags are also called treat bags and work well to entertain guests and add color to the party table.

Kids can help make paper lantern goodie bags as alternatives to candy and plastic toys. Thus, you can fill the goodie bags with miniature boxes of raisins, crayons, craft supplies and stickers. Avoid very small items such as miniature toys or gum balls for goodie bags for small children as these may present a choking hazard.

Resources

• Public Broadcasting Service: How to Throw a Green Birthday Party