When Jeff and I got married, I bought a box of 1,000 glassine bags to use as guest favors at our reception. It was more economical to buy a larger quantity, so I went for it.
We never actually used them at the wedding, though, so I’ve been gradually using them up over the past six years. After finding some pastel candies at a local shop, I decided to paint a batch of bags to use as party favors and little treat bags.
This is a simple, versatile project that works well for parties, weddings, and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas with just a few color changes. Here’s how to make your own painted favor bags.
Materials:
– glassine bags
– acrylic paint
– paint brush
Instructions:
The process is straightforward: paint patterns onto the glassine bags and allow them to dry completely. You can be as simple or as elaborate as you like—stripes, dots, brushstrokes, geometric shapes, or freeform marks all look great. Once dry, the painted bags are ready to use.
To give the bags a more solid look and to help keep contents food-safe, slide a second plain glassine bag inside each painted one. This creates a barrier so you can include loose cookies, unwrapped candies, or other treats without worries.
Concept, photography, and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff
Will you try these DIY favor bags? I’d love to hear how you would use them and which patterns you think would be most fun—pastel palettes for spring showers, metallic accents for weddings, or bold colors for birthday parties all make lovely variations.