13 DIY Party Favors for Your Next Backyard Bash
Show your appreciation for your party guests by sending them home with a creative, handmade keepsake.
Who doesn’t love a late summer outdoor party? Whether it’s a potluck, picnic, cookout or campfire, there’s nothing like spending a whole evening with great people, great food and great backyard fun. Keep the party going long after the last guest leaves by sending them home with homemade trinkets they're sure to love. Check out a few of our favorite DIY party favors you can give out at your next backyard get-together.
Single-Serving Pies
There’s something so delightful about having a mini, single-serving pie all to yourself, especially when it’s wrapped in a pretty floral handkerchief. Pick a summery fruit pie flavor or two and bake them in miniature pie crusts for an unforgettable gift.
Make This: Take-Home Mini Pies
Watermelon Drinkware
Kara Allen, Kara's Party Ideas
Washing up isn’t anyone’s favorite part of throwing a party. With these cute watermelon-themed glasses from Kara’s Party Ideas, that’s one less glass you have to clean, and your guests leave with a clever favor.
Make This: Watermelon Mason Jar Glasses
Tiny Terrariums
Photo by Melissa Caughey
Succulents make great party favors any time of the year, summer included. These multi-textured plants require very little maintenance, can stand up to the summer heat without needing a lot of water and can transition into fall when kept in the right indoor conditions.
Make This: Succulent Terrariums
Citrus-Themed Drink Protectors
Jason Kisner
Remember making crafts with Perler beads? Your guests probably will too, and they’ll get a kick out of these brightly colored, fruit-inspired drink protectors that they can reuse. Bonus: You can also use this craft as a coaster!
Make This: Perler Bead Drink Covers
Natural Mosquito Spray
Photo by Debbie Wolfe
Nothing disrupts a great outdoor party like mosquitos. When the weather’s hot and humid, it can be hard to escape them. Give guests homemade mosquito repellent for a favor they can use during and after your party. The best part about this DIY spray is that it’s made with all-natural ingredients like rosemary and lemongrass essential oils.
Make This: Herbal Mosquito Spray
Mini Infused Liquor Bottles
Infused Liquor Party Favors
As easy as mixing together a few common kitchen ingredients with standard liquors, these three festive flavors make delicious holiday cocktails and party favors.
If you want to give a gift your guests won’t be expecting, make these delicious infused liquors. Choose big, bold flavor combinations that will wow your guests and establish you as the hostess or host who really knows how to throw a party.
Make This: Infused Liquor
Tassel Keychains
Jason Kisner
These DIY tassel keychains are colorful, customizable, easy to make and best of all, your guests can use them on a daily basis. Get creative with the beads and thread so that no two party favors are alike.
Make This: Tassel Keychains
Bright Painted Planters
Rebecca Lopez, The Crafted Sparrow
These vivid, cheery planters from Rebecca at The Crafted Sparrow are sure to bring a smile to your guests’ faces. With paint, paint markers and a few other supplies, you can easily create fruit-inspired pots for your summer party.
Make This: Summery Planters
S'mores Kits
DIY S'more Party Favors
Encourage guests to continue having s'more fun at home long after the party ends. Gift them with favors that are reminiscent of summer campfires like these s'more take-home boxes which are the perfect way for guests to end their night on a sweet note.
Photo by: ALX Creatives
ALX Creatives
S’mores and summer go together like, well, chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. If your backyard party includes a marshmallow roast, let guests take away a reminder of the event with them in the form of a DIY s’mores kit.
Make This: Take-Home S'mores Kits
Mosquito-Repelling Bracelets
Flynnside Out Productions
Sprays aren’t the only way to keep mosquitos from annoying guests and disrupting your party. Pass out paracord bracelets infused with citronella essential oil to help guests spend less time swatting bugs and more time enjoying your party.
Dressed-Up Jam Jars
She-N-He Photography
For a summer party favor with a southern twist, try your hand at these cute (and easy) jam jar gifts. Even if you don’t make jam, you can still hand out these charming favors using store-bought varieties.
Make This: Pretty Jam Party Favors
Potted Herb Pails
Tomas Espinoza
You’ve got to love those party favor ideas that serve more than one purpose. These herb planters, for example, can first direct your guests to their seats, but later be taken home as favors. Even better, these favors are living, so they’ll keep providing fragrance and greenery long after the party's over.
Make This: Individualized Herb Planters
Firefly Jars
Melissa Caughey
Many people have fond memories of catching fireflies in glass jars. This nostalgic firefly jar with fireflies made out of LED lights, sheer fabric and glow-in-the-dark paint makes the perfect favor (or party decoration) for an outdoor get-together.
