Bridal Shower Favours

One of my best friends is getting married here in the next couple of weeks and she asked me to be a bridesmaid which of course I said "Yes!" to. Her Maid of Honour is getting married the week after she is so she's kind of swamped with her own stuff - which means that I get to take on a little more than a bridesmaid normally would.

Like organising the bridal shower.

Even though I've been planning it from the UK (and the bride is getting married in the USA), I feel like I've been pretty much on top of things. The planning has been going well. But there's been one thing that I've just been struggling with and that's party favours.

I haven't really liked any of the favours that I've seen. They're either too cheap and gawdy or too damned cute and make me want to puke. I was starting to worry that I would face a mad dash to buy favours when I got to America next week but then, while reading The Ultimate Bridal Shower Idea Book: How to Have a Fun, Fabulous, and Memorable Party, an idea came to me. (Actually, it was spelled out in black and white but never mind that.)

A craft bar!

The bride is a crafty girl, most of the attendees are crafty girls (slash women) so why the hell not let them craft their own favours? Plus, the party starts a bit early and we'll be waiting for a few of the guests to arrive so we can make the favours first - and maybe ask people to make an extra one for people showing up late - and then move straight into food and games as everyone else arrives!

I think the easiest craft bar to do would be a bath salt bar. I've made them before and they're ridicously easy to do (no need to freak out the non-crafty people) and the supplies won't cost all that much. (Plus, a reason to go to Hobbycraft. Bonus.) These little jars from IKEA are the perfect size for taking the salts home:

I'm sure there are other things we can work into the craft bar - like maybe having two going at once? One for bath salts and one for... bath bombs? Or home made soap? Or lip gloss? The possibilities are endless...