Make my holiday surprise bags for a special meal or party! They’re like custom party crackers except you have far more freedom as to what you can put in. The best part? These holiday surprise bags are the perfect project to do with your kids and they open with a POP!
For me, the holidays are all about being hands on. They’re a chance to get more quality time with my kids and of course to do a craft project or two…or five. At the ripe old age of three, Blake has already embraced my love of scissors and twine. Meanwhile, Kayla at eight loves wrapping gifts and making holiday magic for others.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in Pinterest perfection, especially at this time of year. But these bags? They look festive and are easy enough for Kayla to make by herself.
Here is what we used (adapt as you see fit!) the beauty of this project is there is no right or wrong way to do it.
- kraft paper bags
- baker’s twine
- crepe paper (2-3 rolls)
- jingle bells (if you don’t have guests young enough to choke on them)
- fun, nostalgic toys (I love these mini versions of classic toys)
- scissors
- holiday greenery (optional for a finishing touch)
We started by shredding some crepe paper. If you hold the ends of your colors together and fold them back and forth in 6-8inch lengths, you’ll be able to cut it in bulk. I cut the length of the crepe paper into 4 strips there were about equal in length.
By doing this we were left with long, thin strands of crepe paper that works well as bag filler without leaving the mess confetti or traditional paper shred would. You just scoop it up easily and toss it in the recycling bin when you’re done with it. We filled each bag about half way with shred, tossed in some jingle bells and then added trinkets.
Kayla and I made combinations like a whoopee cushion and a google eye ring, or a miniature version of Tangle and a foam Rudolph nose.
Then we added a piece of nostalgic candy. I found things like Charleston Chews and Razzles (hello childhood) in my local party store and was so excited to include them. The idea was to find small items that would entertain guests for a few minutes while I as the holiday hostess ran around like a nut getting food on the table. Because, mom life!
And here’s the thing. The holidays are the time to be hands on. Hands on with your kids. Hands on with wrapping, baking and cooking for the ones you love. But there are moments in life when we need to be hands off.
Did this video get your attention? Sometimes in the chaos of running around from store to store, drop offs and pickups, we forget. We get too comfortable and forget that It Can Wait. It really can. The text messages coming in. The emails. Those comments from Instagram. It can ALL wait until we’re not behind the wheel. It’s the time of year to keep our loved ones safe by not driving distracted!
We’re not just driving around groceries and presents. We’re driving our most important cargo, our children. Others on the road are driving their most precious cargo as well, even when we are not.
As they grow up, we’re sending them messages with how we behave in a car. If they see mom or dad using their phone to text, check social media, etc. while driving, do you really think they’re going to take us seriously when we tell them not to do the same as sixteen year olds? Probably not. It starts with us.
This holiday road trip season, choose to keep your loved ones safe and protect others by putting your phone away while driving. So make it your 2018 resolution to put your phone away while driving – and stick to it – because distracted driving is never okay. Take the pledge with me at ItCanWait.com and keep that promise to yourself, your kids and everyone else on the road. After all, we all want the same thing- another holiday to be hands on with the ones we love the most.
