When I started planning K’s Ocotnauts Party, I had this big idea that the goodie bags should include a themed gift from each member of the crew.
But my big thing with goodie bags is no junk. Everything in the bags must be useable and fun. I have a big pet peeve with returning home from a party with a bunch of random candy and plastic toys I throw away within a week when my daughter tires of them. It feels wasteful to me, and I don’t like waste.
Initially my ideas included pirate eye patches (from Kwazi) and plastic cameras (from Dashi), but this was a party for six-year-old girls. While I was sure they would enjoy those favors for about five minutes, I was also sure moms would quickly sneak the precious treasures into the trash. It was a challenge.
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After some creative thinking, I love my eight crew gifts.
The blog that originally designed the bandages for Peso’s medical bag is no longer online. Download the blue bandages printable here.
After printing the bandages, I ran them through my Xyron machine to turn them into a sticker. You can also use a glue stick to adhere them to the box, but the Xyron machine made quick work of the project.
Kwazi’s Pirate Tatoo’s — What do pirates love? Tattoos! And so do Kindergarteners! I was super excited to find these fishy temporary tattoos, $144 of them for $4.71. Enough to include four per goodie bag plus extras. Another idea for Kwazi – pirate eye patches.
Captain Barnacle’s Creatures — Remember those little capsules that dissolve in water revealing a tiny animal-shaped sponge. Yep, those. Fun, right? Surprisingly, these were harder to find then I thought they would be. Amazon has mixed package from Ja-Ru Magic Grow, but not just sea creatures. Ultimately, I found them on eBay. (I bought a huge lot of them, and my extras are available on eBay if you are looking.)
Another option is giant growing sea animals also from Ja-Ru, I bought a couple for decorations, and they are really cool too.
To create Shellington’s notepads, I bought inexpensive mini notebooks and designed a new Octonauts cover for the notebook. Again, I used my Xyron machine to turn the new covers into stickers to easily attach them to the notebooks. (The notebooks I bought had sparkly covers, so I attached my Octonauts cover to the back cover — this way both sides are pretty.)
Download the Octonauts Notepad cover.
Tweak’s Gup Key Chain — If you know the Octonauts like we do, you know Tweak is the engineer in charge of the Gups. So I decided key chains were very fitting. Of course, Kindergarteners don’t drive. But how cute to see all of the little girls with Octoalert key chains hanging from their backpacks on Monday morning. K was thrilled!
To create Tweak’s key chains follow the directions in my Octonauts Key Chain Tutorial. <– coming soon
To create download and print the Tunip’s Fish Biscuits label (two labels print per page). Cut out the bag topper, fold it in half and staple it to the top of a plastic bag filled with Goldfish. (You could also use prepackaged individual bags, but a giant tub of Goldfish is cheaper.)
Download the Tunip’s Fish Biscuits label.
Download the Official Octonauts Certificate.
If you use everything from my goodie bag, you can download the Octonauts gift list.
For more Octonauts Party ideas check out my other Octonauts posts.
- Octonauts Birthday Party Decorations, Ideas, DIY Party Favors & More
- Octonauts Birthday Party Free Printable Bingo Game
- 108 Free Octonauts Printable Coloring Pages
Marci says
My twins are obsessed with Octonauts. This is great! I pinned for their birthday in November!
Desirae says
I just love your gifts from the crew idea! Thanks so much for sharing. Fortunately for me birthday express carries an octonauts party theme now but I’m still using several of your ideas from your site and pinning!
mariana says
Thank you so much for taking the time to post these great ideas!!! Go Octonauts lets create Ocean consciousness!!
jen says
You are most welcome! We love the Octonauts!!!
Yuan Weigel says
BRILLIANT!! I’m going to use this for my son’s 5th birthday party this year. Thank you!
Mandy says
How did you make the orange frames for the creature report?
jen says
Hi Mandy – The Creature Reports are a digital file I designed, the orange frames are cardboard spray painted orange. 😉
Alyson says
Your post was an *awesome find* for me, very very busy and with very little time to plan an Octonauts party for my daughter (and few ideas!). In one easy go you had the whole thing planned for me. THANK YOU.
I do have what really is a silly question: Are the treat bags just regular sandwich bags? If not, which ones did you order? I ordered something from Amazon that was very clearly the wrong choice, and don’t want to do it again!
Thanks again for saving this very busy mom!
jen says
So glad to help, the party was defiantly a labor of love. At first, I thought you were referring to the white treat boxes (the link to the ones I ordered is in the post if you need those), but I think you mean the plastic bags for the Goldfish? If so, those are just the “snack” size Ziploc bags. I just folded and stapled the paper tag part over the top. Let me know if that didn’t answer your question! 🙂
Linda says
This is lovely and just what I needed for my son’s upcoming 3rd Birthday. Any updates on The TWEAK’s GUP KEYCHAIN tutorial? Or any other ideas for a goody from her? And what about the Creature Report?
Thanks,
L.
jen says
Hi – I sell custom Creature Reports. If you are interested, please email me [email protected]. Thanks.
Denise says
Hey Jen,
Thanks so much for all the great ideas! My son is turning four and he loves Octonauts. I am making most of the decor and I’m working on the boxes now. I have a Cricut Explore and was wondering if you can tell me about your boxes (buy or make, if made where did you get the design?) Thanks so much!! Have a happy day! 🙂
Denise says
….nevermind. I’ve only been to your page six times. I’m like a child – I look at pictures and forget the words I read. 😉
jen says
This made laugh!! Sounds just like me, always distracted by pretty pictures! 🙂 Have a great party!
Heather says
Hi! I was wondering if the gift list was available as a pdf instead? Thanks so much!
jen says
Hi – I don’t have it available as a PDF, just as a jpeg. But the jpeg works just as well. If you want to print multiples per page, simply change the number of copies to page to 6. That will allow you to print 6 copies on one paper.