Mailable (flat!) party favors
October 22, 2021 11:41 AM Subscribe
I have been tasked with finding a few mailable party favors for our volunteer appreciation party. I will probably be assembly 75-100 of these. Help!
Snowflakes:
(1) It's a Zoom party, so things that can go on/around the head and shoulders, or are consumable would be best.
(2) I want to send these in a flat envelope, not a padded envelope or box.
(3) I'm thinking just 1-2 items, plus an explanatory note.
(4) This isn't their recognition gift; that will be sent separately. We are looking specifically for something to send the people who will attend the party, to help them participate and feel festive.
(5) The volunteers do all sorts of work, from fundraising to peer support to data entry, so this gift should be generalized to all of them, not role-specific.
I was thinking maybe crowns like the ones in a Christmas cracker? A little mini bunting? I have a very small budget, a Cricut and lots of craft supplies, and a medium amount of time to devote to creation and assembly.
Please no advice on how this is silly or embarrassing and people won't want to do it. These volunteers (at least the ones who opt in to the parties) really do like and ask for these types of interactions.
Snowflakes:
(1) It's a Zoom party, so things that can go on/around the head and shoulders, or are consumable would be best.
(2) I want to send these in a flat envelope, not a padded envelope or box.
(3) I'm thinking just 1-2 items, plus an explanatory note.
(4) This isn't their recognition gift; that will be sent separately. We are looking specifically for something to send the people who will attend the party, to help them participate and feel festive.
(5) The volunteers do all sorts of work, from fundraising to peer support to data entry, so this gift should be generalized to all of them, not role-specific.
I was thinking maybe crowns like the ones in a Christmas cracker? A little mini bunting? I have a very small budget, a Cricut and lots of craft supplies, and a medium amount of time to devote to creation and assembly.
Please no advice on how this is silly or embarrassing and people won't want to do it. These volunteers (at least the ones who opt in to the parties) really do like and ask for these types of interactions.
Try searching for pop-up card/craft options -- looks like there are a bunch of suggestions out there for Cricut!
posted by erst at 11:51 AM on October 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by erst at 11:51 AM on October 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
I also came in to say pop-up cards, because they are a fun surprise in the moment that they're opened -- and, if your volunteers love the organization, they might be kept for a long time.
Like, can you make the logo be the part that pops up, or some figure that's relevant to your work?
It doesn't have to be as complex as the commerical ones (which are mind-blowing!).
posted by wenestvedt at 11:57 AM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Like, can you make the logo be the part that pops up, or some figure that's relevant to your work?
It doesn't have to be as complex as the commerical ones (which are mind-blowing!).
posted by wenestvedt at 11:57 AM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
The runaway hit at one of my work parties a few years was face coasters that double as ridiculous half-masks. There could be a guessing game or just the shock and awe of seeing grumpy cousin fountainofdoubt in a glittery Santa beard with a deranged Santa grin.
posted by fountainofdoubt at 11:59 AM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by fountainofdoubt at 11:59 AM on October 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
These look adorable:
https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/61689634794f490001b1f6ee - would need volunteers to assemble them beforehand.
https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/60e5d0a4e96d4f10b07d5349 - they can all hold it up in the video for a nice group shot.
posted by lownote at 3:30 PM on October 22, 2021
https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/61689634794f490001b1f6ee - would need volunteers to assemble them beforehand.
https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/60e5d0a4e96d4f10b07d5349 - they can all hold it up in the video for a nice group shot.
posted by lownote at 3:30 PM on October 22, 2021
Would an array of cut-out cardboard animal shapes that can be assembled by the recipient be fun? You'd have to do the cutting for everyone, unless you feel people can handle dealing with scissors, in which case send a flat thin cardboard with the shapes drawn on?
I was also imagining customizable badges. Conferences often have unique ribbons people can add on. Perhaps people could have the choice of "Team Project A/B/C/Z" or something sillier like an animal plus an occupation: Ostrich/Capybara + Accountant/Farmer? You could include a strip of paper labels so people can affix them to their shirts.
posted by spamandkimchi at 5:30 PM on October 22, 2021
I was also imagining customizable badges. Conferences often have unique ribbons people can add on. Perhaps people could have the choice of "Team Project A/B/C/Z" or something sillier like an animal plus an occupation: Ostrich/Capybara + Accountant/Farmer? You could include a strip of paper labels so people can affix them to their shirts.
posted by spamandkimchi at 5:30 PM on October 22, 2021
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posted by zamboni at 11:49 AM on October 22, 2021