Please give me some suggestions for Family Reunion favors

[fakereadhed]

Our family has really wierd reunions. There is always a theme- pigs, fish, transportation to name a few. Then they go all out with themed favors, games, etc. Like a carp toss for the fish theme.

I kid you not.

If you had picked a "theme" I could help you with many interesting ideas...

 

[kcouture]

We had everyone send in a special family photo. Scanned them into computer and made copies on a CD - like a little photo album. Put it into a nice gem case a viola!!

 

[lucyanna girl]

Why not voice record various older (and younger) members of your family telling stories, singing songs, etc. then use your computer to make a CD for everyone. Priceless!

Penny

 

[annsteere]

We had frisbees printed with "Smith family reunion and the date". These were handed out at lunch and served as the reinforcer for paper plates. We had an afternoon game with them where you had to land your frisbee as close as possible to designated targets. (Non strenuous, all ages can play). Then, each person took theirs home as a souvenier/toy.

We did this 6 years ago, when I was in charge of the reunion. Some of those frisbees show up every summer for casual pick-up games during the afternoon of the reunion.

 

[marjie8230]

A family tree, with everyones name on it, on a piece of parchement for each to have. Maybe an interactive one for the kids you that they can run around and get everyone "autograph" and what each person is famous for. Or maybe an autograph book.

Or maybe a photo book with a photo of each person as a baby / little kid and a current one. Then list where they live, how they are related, interests and a short bio. Each person could write their own so it doesn't fall on one person. This would be such a memory album that would be precious for each family.

 

[Newfie2000]

I have a couple of ideas which might help you. At first they may sound kind of wierd but I have done both of these on several occassions and people have absolutely raved about them. First there is the stand-by candy bar wrapper. You start off with a regular Hershey Bar or Nestle Crunch or whatever your prefernce, slide off the wrapper exposing only the silver foil. Then using any print program you can custom make your own labels. You can include the family name, location, date whatever you would like. With a little research you can find some really cute ideas on the web, on the back side you also create your own ingredient listing and again there are some awesome things on the web to use for this! The end result...very cheap but personalized and depending how much time you put into creating them they can look professionally made... and who does not love chocolate? The second item is personalized wine bottles. I have gone to the liquor store and looked for the most uniquely designed bottle which will fit my theme and colors (you can get some real neat and inexpensive bottles some with colored borders/decorations etc. (I never get expensive wine as chances are everybody will want to save this item and not drink it! I go strictly on looks!). I then use my print program and create my own personalized label. Again include whatever you would like to about the reunion and be creative! I then get laminating sheets and laminate the label before gluing it to the bottle. The lamination makes it look complete and professional. I have made these bottles for military retirements, graduations, milestone birthdays, etc. Just about everyone's house (we know) that we visit has a bottle created by me sitting in their curio or china cabinet. Just to give you an idea when my BIL retired from the military I mentioned this idea to my other SIL and asked if she would like to be a part of it, she laughed and told me I was crazy. I made the bottle on my own and it was his #1 gift and the absolute hit of the retorement party... everybody was awestruck and even my SIL came to me to apologize. The zippo and gold chain they bought was quickly cast aside. So these can come out beautiful even though they may not sound like much! Good luck and hope this helps you! If I can be of any assistance to you on either of these please feel free to give me a s hout!

 

[dcfromva]

Newfie2000,
I like your label idea. What type of software did you use to create the label? (Are there templates or did you have to guess on the size of the labels?)

-DC

 

[flakypuff]

Here are a few idea I did for summer parties but you can make a change to use for reunions
Bought beach towels at Target for $4.00 and brought them to a place in town that does embroidery (Joann Fabrics shh. they did a favor) They did 20 towels..you could have the family reunion name done..

Canvas bags at the dollar store: put in..
Sunglasses.,suntan lotion (make stickers with name and date) Water bottles..
mints (agian use your own label) mini fan (you can add a sticker here too!)Beachball, bubbles (custom this)
Then put the Family name on the bag. You can use that iron-on paper printed from the computer or use fabric markers..

Make custom covers for disposable cameras...

Good luck..

 

[flakypuff]

You could get plain white mugs...sometimes 2 for 1.00. Get a pack of markers that write on glass.
Print the Family name ..Then get little cello bags and fill with hot coco mix...place the mix inside the mug and attach a little card (you can make on the computer) that says..when it gets cold..let the warm memories of our family Reunion warm your heart...

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I am LOVING these ideas. I have seen those Hershey Bar wrappers but never thought of doing it myself!!! Told you I wasn't crafty!!

Such wonderful ideas, all of them!! Thank you all so much. I have a lot of reading and organizing to do!!

While I have all of you here, can anyone think of a cute centerpiece for picnic tables?? I need to decorate about 6 picnic tables, budget minded of course. I already have those red and white checked tablecloths, but think I need something in the middle.

 

[ceiligh1]

Newfie2000 can you please post a pic of the wine bottle labels, I really want to see what they look like.

I am thinking of doing a bottle of sparkling apple juice for my sons first birthday as a favor and would love to see what your result was.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

For the tables what about some dollar store vases with the pretty stones in them? With dollar store tea lights it could look quite spiffy!

If you are near an area that has lots of drift wood you could even use that to create table art (driftwood seashells etc each table unique).

Or the traditional flowers with a twist adding family names on flags etc.

You can also use picnic type things such as frisbee's to hold the condiments or do a basket for each table (again dollar store or garage sale finds) that have all the plates forks etc in them)

 

[In Luv with Disney]

For favors, what about a bag full of BBQ stuff, since it's a BBQ? (ie. apron, tongs, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, etc)

 

[THEDISFANS]

A few years ago we did a cook book. We used a lot of the really old recipes like great granma's. We typed them up on the computer and put them in a small photo albumswith a few copies of really old snapshots. Everyone loved it and it passes on this wonderfull old recipes and memories.

 

[Newfie2000]

Okay... I used Printmaster Platinum as this is one of my favorite creative programs. As far as size goes, simply measure the size of the wrapper that you are taking off of the candy bar and use the same dimensions. I know Printmaster has rulers on the sides and tops so you can plan accordingly. I have a sample of the candy bar wrapper that I created for my wedding rehearsal dinner but I have no idea how to post a picture here. If anyone can advise me I would be more than happy to give it a shot!

As far as the wine labels I have never kept a finished version...given some time I could probably contact a friend or family member and ask them to get me a picture of their bottle to show you all...if you are interested let me know!

I also have a neat idea for centerpieces. I make these and sell them quite well all the time - if I get the stuff on sale I can make them for under $3.00 each. Here it goes... Take a flower pot (I use the terra cotta pots 4" that Michaels sells, avoid the rose pots as the end result is not nearly as nice!) and also get the 4" saucers ( I get tboth of these at Michaels when they go 4-5 for a 1.00). Hot glue the pot to the saucer, centered. Then get some river rocks, small size or the glass or plastic colored pieces that you see - all of these you can get either at Walmart .89 a bag or Michaels (not sure of the price, I always stock up when they are on sale). You will 7 stick pens (Walmart also sells these for .50 for a bag of 10). And pick out some bunches of flowers (Walmart .88). Using a wire clippers clip the flower stems from the bunch leaving about 3". Hot glue the stems to the pens leaving some height differences, then wrap a layer or two of floral tape around the entire pen spiraling from top to bottom and then back up to top. (WalMart is the cheapest place to buy floral tape, I think they sell bags of three rolls for about 1.89). Now assemble the flowered pens into the pots. Finish the project by hot gluing a pretty ribbon around the rim of the flower pot and adding a bow! These will look like a pretty pot of silk flowers but the receiver will also be able to use the pens! These work great in offices where the public has a tendency to "walk away" with your pens all the time - it is a little harder to walk away with a pen with a flower on top! I use these as centerpieces and at the end of the event raffle them away or use them as prizes for a game. You can also include little numbers either on the bottom of the plates or rolled up inside of the napkins and then put a number on the bottom of the pot and whoever at the table has the number gets to take the pot home. I do not have a picture of one of the pots (never thought to) but if need be I can always put one together and take a picture if you are having trouble visualizing it!

OP... if you have any problems or do not have any creative software to use. If you let me know I can try and assisit you in making the candy bar wrappers and then send them to you... of course you would have to let me know exactly what you want on them!

Good luck everyone! Let me know if I can be of any help!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

OP... if you have any problems or do not have any creative software to use. If you let me know I can try and assisit you in making the candy bar wrappers and then send them to you... of course you would have to let me know exactly what you want on them!

Good luck everyone! Let me know if I can be of any help!

That is so generous of you to offer!! I couldn't possibly ask you to do that! I'm going to play around with my software tonight and tomorrow--I'll just PM you if I have a question if you don't mind.

Great centerpiece ideas folks, I'm going to have to take pictures and post them after the reunion (6/17) since I got all my ideas from you guys!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Just thought I'd update everyone with what I ended up putting in my families goody bags. The reunion was a hit--thanks to everyone for their suggestions!
In their bags I put a laminated wallet size list with everyones phone number & cell phone number on it, I also made another list laminated wallet size with everyones birth date on it (got these ideas from Disers!!) They were a big hit. I did the Hershey's bar with personalized wrappers, and bubbles with personalized stickers also (also diser ideas). Everyone got a water bottle, some snacky stuff, travel size Kleenex, pack of gum, and brochures about our area for out of towners.

A couple activites we did I can share: we had a badminton tournament. That was really fun, we paired an older family member with a younger family member--didn't let people pick their own teams. Was a great way to met members of the family you don't talk to very often.
I found a website that makes up word find puzzles for free (http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/) and put everyones name in the puzzle--that was a great activity for down time.
I found terra cotta pots on sale at Michaels---4 for $1. I had some craft paint at home so brought that......then everyone had free time to decorate their own pot. Winner (by majority vote) got to take home whoever's pot they wanted and the rest of us traded with each other for great keepsakes of the weekend.
I had everyone send in a baby picture of themselves, posted them all on poster boards and labeled them "Baby A, B, C, etc" and had everyone guess who they were. This was pretty hard but great fun.

thanks again for everyones suggestions!

 

[Newfie2000]

Sounds like you did a great job... and you didn't think you were creative! I'm glad to hear that everything worked out for you and that you had a good time! Thanks for updating us I was curious as to how it went!