These friendship necklace kits make fun (and frugal) party favors that the kids can make with very little grown-up help! I’ve included a printable template for the bag toppers sized for standard zip lock sandwich bags as a nice finishing touch, which has space on the back for “To:” and “From”.
Emily really enjoyed this process from start to finish! I dumped a bunch of pasta (about 2 boxes) into a large mixing bowl, and she spooned it out into several large zip lock baggies, one for each color she wanted to make.
Next, I added a few drops of food coloring and about 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to each bag. I sealed up the bags and let Emily work the dye into the pasta until it was brightly colored!
We dumped the colored pasta out onto some paper towel lined plates to air-dry, and while it was drying off, Emily got to practice some measuring skills! She cut pieces of string to be 30 inches long each, and tied knots on one end.
Once the pasta was completely dry, Emily was SO happy to start spooning it into zip lock sandwich bags to give to friends!!
Two boxes of pasta made enough “beads” for several friendship necklace kits (about 15 or so), and the colors are sure to brighten anyone’s day!
I added the string, printed out the bag toppers, and stapled them to the tops of the bags — quick, easy, and fun!!
I’ll be on tomorrow’s 10! Show to demonstrate some other easy and frugal party favors that kids can make — you won’t want to miss it!
Have fun!!
January 6th, 2011 on 2:40 pm
Very cute idea!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:36 pm
Thank you, Maryanne!
January 6th, 2011 on 2:41 pm
Very cool. She looks so happy making them too.
January 11th, 2011 on 10:37 pm
She can’t wait to give them to her friends — fun!
January 6th, 2011 on 2:58 pm
I bet the recipients will be very happy.
January 11th, 2011 on 10:37 pm
I hope so!! They are fun to make!
January 6th, 2011 on 3:18 pm
This is a great idea for my daughter to give out as valentines! Thanks:)
January 11th, 2011 on 10:37 pm
Yay!! Have fun! xoxo
January 6th, 2011 on 3:55 pm
A great party-favor idea. I’ll be saving that for M’s birthday in March!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:38 pm
Perfect!! I’m sure M would love to help put the kits together too!
January 6th, 2011 on 4:20 pm
Great idea! I love favors/gifts that are consumable vs just little junk just because it was the cheapest thing @ the party store!
http://justlikeflipflops.blogspot.com/
January 11th, 2011 on 10:39 pm
Me too! Plus, we used things we already had on-hand. Enjoy!!
January 6th, 2011 on 5:26 pm
Another great idea to file away! Happy New Year!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:40 pm
Thanks — and best wishes for the new year to you and your lovely family too! xoxo
January 6th, 2011 on 6:31 pm
Those are cute!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:40 pm
Thank you, Jenny!
January 6th, 2011 on 7:23 pm
LOVE this, love it love it
January 11th, 2011 on 10:41 pm
Thanks, Sarah! Have fun!!
January 6th, 2011 on 8:13 pm
great idea! might make this for valentine’s for the Pea’s preschool buddies!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:42 pm
Yay!! That makes me SO happy!! Have fun! xoxo
January 6th, 2011 on 9:24 pm
this is really nice, valerie! really admire your creativity!
happy new year from your hong kong fans!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:43 pm
How sweet — thank you! And best wishes for the new year all the way in Hong Kong!!!!
January 6th, 2011 on 9:40 pm
Anna loved the pasta kit that was in our giveaway package. Eventually we might make some of our own too.
January 11th, 2011 on 10:44 pm
How fun! I love that you can pick exactly what colors you want, and what shape pasta you want to use too. Enjoy!! xoxo
January 6th, 2011 on 10:33 pm
What an awesome idea and a great gift for their special friends.
January 11th, 2011 on 10:45 pm
Thank you, Debby! We hope they like it!
January 6th, 2011 on 11:36 pm
That would be a huge hit here too! Straws cut up also make great beads.
January 11th, 2011 on 10:46 pm
Agreed!! We have some really colorful straws here too!
January 7th, 2011 on 9:03 am
As we have a party coming up, thank you! We’re doing it!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:46 pm
Awesome!! Have fun!!
January 7th, 2011 on 12:21 pm
OK, now I am craving Mac ‘n Cheese…
January 11th, 2011 on 10:47 pm
LOL The pasta that we dyed yellow TOTALLY looks just like mac & cheese!!!
January 7th, 2011 on 1:53 pm
‘Lil Emily is one lucky and happy girl!!!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:47 pm
Thanks so much, Diane! xoxo
January 7th, 2011 on 3:28 pm
cute idea to use those as party favors!
January 11th, 2011 on 10:48 pm
Thanks, Jenny! I love that it was something simple that Emily could put together (mostly) on her own. Have fun!
January 9th, 2011 on 11:01 pm
the timing could not be better! after i was done checking in with my fav blogs, i was planning to look for party ideas! ours will be a princess party ~ pink and purple necklaces??? PERFECT
January 11th, 2011 on 10:49 pm
How perfect!!!! I’m so happy you’re doing this! Have fun!!
March 9th, 2011 on 7:22 pm
Those kits are superb, now anyone can make a personalized friendship necklace to share with your best friend.
Superb for kids.
Regards,
Tiffany @ Prayer Necklaces
March 10th, 2011 on 11:28 pm
Love this idea. Was trying to come up with ideas for DD’s birthday. This one is so fun!
April 1st, 2011 on 8:25 am
Hi Valerie,
I am trying to make bag toppers for a bake sale my church is having this week end but I am having no luck, could you please help
Maiwenn
April 1st, 2011 on 9:26 am
Hi Maiwenn,
What is the issue you are having? Are they not printing out for you?
Valerie
April 3rd, 2011 on 5:21 pm
they are printing great with the friendship necklace wording I would like to change the wording on them but I can’t seem to be able to do that…
April 9th, 2011 on 12:23 am
Wish I could be of more help, Maiwenn, but you would need another template for that. This one is not editable. Good luck w/the bake sale!!