Graduation Party Favors

You can share good luck wishes with the graduation party guests by giving them a bamboo plant in a little pot. Bamboo is thought to bring luck.

These mini graduation gifts are a wonderful way to send something home that will remind your guests of the special day long after the party.

You can get graduation mortar board favors done in chocolate, candy or cookies. There are even mortar board-shaped candles. With mortar-board shaped boxes, you can create a treat box filled with any number of candies.

There are even cap and gown-shaped gift bags to wrap your favors in. These would be great if you chose to go with chocolates in the school colors. Tasty graduation cookies are also always a hit.

There are so many interesting ways to personalize your graduation favors and your other graduation party supplies. You can have the graduate's name and their graduation date imprinted on any of the following:

• Mini picture frames


• Mint tins


• Chocolate bar wrappers


• Soda bottle labels


• Cookies


• Mini cheesecakes


• Candles


• Champagne glasses


• Luggage tags


• Pens


• Baseball caps


• Tote bags


• Mugs


• Gift bags


• Playing cards


• Sewing kits


• Notebooks


• Gel bracelets


• Lip balms


• Flashlights


• Umbrellas


• Beach towels


• Water bottles

If you or a friend is particularly good at baking, why not bake a huge batch of oversized chocolate chip cookies or brownies and wrap up two or three in pretty netting and ribbon? Or, dip some Oreos in white and black chocolate and hit them with sprinkles. They'll make festive and inexpensive favors.

Another idea for baked goods is to use the school colors in your treats. Use food coloring, colored sprinkles or icing to add sweet touches that the students will love. Too busy to bake them yourself? Order graduation cookies online. Having them as centerpieces or as decoration by the food will make for a gorgeous presentation.

For those with computer savvy, why not design a favor and print it off yourself?

For the cost of a few white T-shirts and a box of iron on transfer sheets you can print out whatever saying you'd like. Give guests personalized t-shirts to remember the party as they all go their separate ways.

If you don't have the time to do it yourself, there are plenty of places online that will print these for you, and they're relatively inexpensive too.

Or, take the graduate's photo and create a design you can print out and adhere to just about anything from chocolate bars to personalized candle favors.

Have the graduate get in on the planning. He or she can make CD's of their favorite music to give to each guest as a favor. Print off labels that thank the guests for coming and have the graduates name and date. This is an inexpensive way to give everyone something they'll really love.

The dollar or discount store is also a great place to score some interesting graduation favors. You may be surprised what you can find, and for a mere dollar, you can afford to splurge. At graduation time each year, diploma favors and mortar-boards will be on display.

When deciding on which favor is appropriate, think of the graduate. You may even enlist him or her to be involved in the selection. Is she a bookworm? Offer bookmark favors. Is he a sports nut? How about personalized baseball key chains? The favor should match the tone of the party and also the personality of the graduate.

The theme of the party will also help you choose favors. If you're having a luau, you could give out plastic coconut drink cups, leis, or floppy sun hats or sunglasses. If you're having a night under the stars theme, you could have glow in the dark magic wands or wrist bands for each guest. For an informal barbecue, you could even do personalized ketchup bottles in miniature.

No matter what you select, ensure that the favor is wrapped nicely to make the best presentation. And display the favors as part of the décor throughout the party. Set up a table just for favors or scatter them across the main table or at individual places. And, of course, don't forget to give them out as guests leave!