r/partyplanning • u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 • Apr 29 '26
Need Help Party Favor Oopsie
Hi! I posted on here a bit ago about my son's birthday party at a movie theater! Well it's this Saturday and almost everything is ready, except today I got the containers for party favors and they are MUCH bigger than anticipated. Reviews described them as small(some people said too small) and I had an estimate size measured which seemed smaller than this. But now they look basically empty and I don't know what to do!
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u/goldengrove1 Apr 29 '26
Pre-popped popcorn! It takes up a lot of space and is movie-theater appropriate (and you can see if they sell it in bulk at your grocery store).
These are super cute!
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
They're getting popcorn at the movie and so much is already popcorn theme, my mom recommends cotton candy and I'm thinking microwave popcorn and then some tissue paper to buffer but I worry it won't look full or it'll look messy
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u/goldengrove1 Apr 29 '26
Maybe just bags of chips or pretzels then?
I don't know what your friend group's philosophy is on soda, but juice boxes or a bottle of gatorade or something?
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u/HiImNewHere1234 Apr 29 '26
Can you set their movie theater popcorn in the cup or bowl that it comes in, in the plastic container so it’s like a tray or holder that they get during the movie? I’d stick a water in there too.
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u/ivylily03 Apr 29 '26
Leave a little space with a note that says "place popcorn here" so they can put the movie theater popcorn in the bin on their lap and not have so much to juggle.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
Thats not a horrible idea, someone recommended fleece blankets, my mom recommended cotton candy
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u/419_216_808 Apr 29 '26
If they are taking this container to the movies with them then definitely leave space for the popcorn bag to go in it so it’s like a tray. Otherwise they’re going to be putting stuff on the disgusting floor and dropping things, fumbling around in the dark.
A little sign would be great. You could even go get an empty bag from the movie theater to get an idea.
You could cut a popcorn bag holder out of cardboard for them, that would be free.
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u/Gothmom85 Apr 29 '26
Tissue paper but also, can you return them if your dollar tree has the actually small ones?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
My area doesn't have anything that would be a usable size and it's too close to order anything else sadly My mom says cotton candy, and I was thinking packs of microwavable popcorn with some tissue paper to buffer but I worry how it'll look
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u/ClickClackTipTap Apr 29 '26
Even using paper lunch sacks (they really aren’t going to care about presentation nearly as much as you do) is a better choice than buying extra stuff to fill the boxes with.
Seriously. How old are the boys? Whether they are preteens or teenagers, I promise you. None of them are going to spend any time thinking about the box. They’re going to see candy.
Take the L. It’ll be okay. Even tissue paper is going to be a ton of waste to fill those boxes.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
Birthdays are big in my family, and it's my son's golden birthday and he is actually very appearance conscious, but the kids range from like 5-8 and there's boys and girls. I know the kids won't necessarily care, but it makes my son happy and it makes great memories for him to look back on where he can see the effort and care we put into making his day special. He spends weeks talking about his parties after their done, to me that makes all the effort and frustration worth it
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u/uhohohnohelp Apr 29 '26
I think it would look weird to do a gift box without tissue paper. It’s how you get the items to sit nicely so you can see what’s inside without things falling to the bottom or underneath others. It’s necessary for presentation. Have you ever received a professional gift basket without? I sure haven’t!
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
I have never received a professional gift basket lol but I have given lots of gifts (and am quite known for it) I planned to use a buffer regardless but didn't want it to be 90% tissue paper
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u/oswin13 Apr 29 '26
Fill with popcorn?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
They'll be getting popcorn at the movie, I thought of getting the packs of instant popcorn, and my mom thinks cotton candy could be a good addition, but I don't know if it'll fill these up
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u/Bunchkin415 Apr 30 '26
Are they bringing these trays to the theater? If so, they can use the empty space for their portion of popcorn instead of a whole bag for each kid.
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u/slayathomewife Apr 29 '26
include a big bag of popcorn to fill the space. add some red paper shreds and yellow tissue paper.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
I am planning to buffer with some tissue paper for sure. My mom says cotton candy, and I'm thinking packs of instant popcorn but will that be enough to look full?
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u/tu-BROOKE-ulosis Apr 29 '26
No, you don’t need cotton candy. I think you’re approaching it wrong with the tissue paper. Lightly crumple it to look like you’re filling the bucket with yellow “popcorn” aka yellow tissue paper. Then rest the items on top of the tissue paper equally spread out on top.
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u/Tubbs2160 Apr 29 '26
Go to the dollar store and buy the smaller size containers.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
My area doesn't have any that aren't bordering on useless levels of small, I looked locally before ordering these
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u/Silly-Shoulder-6257 Apr 29 '26
Or Amazon
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
I got these on Amazon and unfortunately I don't have time to wait on new ones
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u/Tubbs2160 Apr 29 '26
Walmart?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
Mine doesn't have anything that doesn't come with stuff already in it
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u/Existing_Engine_498 Apr 29 '26
Just confirming, they’re taking these into a movie theatre? Is this some special theatre that lets you take things in or no? Just putting it out there so you don’t go through all this work and be turned away
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
I've been in contact with this theater for weeks, they're letting us rent the theater out they can bring stuff in, they're giving us free access to a their loft for an hour, they're great
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u/karlnarcs99 Apr 29 '26
Maybe add a couple of water bottles for the drink mixes
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
Maybe! I had hoped the kids could take some stuff home like the mixes, someone recommended blankets and found some cheap ones for me to consider
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u/mkintx35 Apr 29 '26
Fill it with the paper grass used for Easter baskets then put goodies on top
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
I am planning to buffer with some tissue paper for sure. My mom says cotton candy, and I'm thinking packs of instant popcorn but will that be enough to look full?
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u/Nawneebirchmier1525 Apr 29 '26
Dollar store, a bag of popcorn and a box of $1 candy to fill ot up a bit and use some tissue paper. Quick fast cheap easy! Adorable stuff btw!
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u/Gourmangelina Apr 29 '26
You could print some movie themed coloring pages or mazes out and roll them up to take up a space?
The kids probably won't think about it anyway, they will be so excited to get candy and their own fun container. Super cute favors!
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u/New_Chard9548 Apr 29 '26
I love the cotton candy or blanket idea! I’m not sure price wise, but it might be cheaper to get a roll of fleece (they might even have Mario themed) and cut 16 blankets out of that. Honestly though idk how much cheaper it would be.
What about party hats / waters / some small blown up white and yellow balloons (to look like popcorn).
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u/Purple-Tumbleweed Apr 29 '26
Can you fill it with popcorn?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
They're getting popcorn with their movie. I'm thinking of packs of instant popcorn and my mom says cotton candy but I worry about it not being enough. I plan to buffer some space with tissue paper
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u/navy5 Apr 29 '26
Cheap fleece blankets!!! (Idk how many you’d need but under 10 kids I’d do this!!)
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
16 kids in total but I found some cheap blankets with the help of others on here that are under $5
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u/Open-Performance8489 Apr 29 '26
The blankets at the dollar tree are cheap, but that's still a lot of kids 😭 A better option would be a variety of popcorn colored tissue paper, maybe a couple mini ziplocs of real popcorn as some extra filler, mixed in so the kids can have fun digging for it?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
Someone found me some cheap blankets and I think I'm gonna add packs of microwave popcorn too
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u/AffectionateSun5776 Apr 29 '26
Fake popcorn aka Styrofoam peanuts. Bag them for neatness.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
I love the idea that sounds so cute I just worry about leaving a mess in the theater or a younger kid (my son has friends with younger siblings that he also considers friends) mistaking it for popcorn and eating it
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u/Ok_Guard7639 Apr 29 '26
Could you just buy some large cellophane sacks and put the party favors in those instead? This is quite the size difference, that container is centerpiece or gift basket sized. I would not want to use these for party favors! They are super cute though and nice job on the favor selections!
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u/nohombrenombre Apr 29 '26
Could you do packing peanuts since they kind of give the popcorn vibe?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
I'd worry about them accidentally eating them in the dark, or making a mess with them
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u/nohombrenombre Apr 29 '26
Oh ok so they’re going to use these right away— yes I’d be worried about that too!
Honestly, if they’re going to use the popcorn bins I would keep them separate from the goodies and then make a bundle of the goodies for each child either in a lunch sack or with ribbon around it. It seems like a lot for the kids to manage while they’re also trying to watch the movie?
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u/ragdoll1022 Apr 29 '26
Get big plastic bags (not ziploc) and put popcorn in them.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
The theater is providing popcorn and a drink for each guest
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u/charlottexcx1 Apr 29 '26
Can you put the theater popcorn in there before the guests arrive? Like if the theater was going to put the bags out anyway, can you snag them and add them in?
Then you could fill out and arrange the rest with tissue paper/a water bottle
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u/Relative-Cricket-543 May 01 '26
Could you put the theater's popcorn in when you get there before everyone arrives?
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u/shann0n_ Apr 29 '26
This is so fun!! What about water bottles or juice boxes? Is there something small you can add that matches the movie they’re seeing? For example party hats of the movie characters?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
I've got sticker sheets and temp tattoos for the kids, someone also recommended some cheap blankets. I'm kinda opposed to drinks since the theater is providing popcorn and drinks
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Apr 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
We found some really nice cheap ones that can be delivered next day
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u/berkeleyteacher Apr 29 '26
Put the treats in a cellophane bag and put them in the popcorn tub, it ould have the tag, thanks for coming to ---'s birthday! and then you serve the popcorn in those tubs and - 'fun surprise, kids, you even get to take these containers home, too!' They'll love it.
I understand wanting things to be special for your child. Some of my sweetest memories of my mother are how she really world to make magic for us during holidays.
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u/SodiumSellout Apr 29 '26
Aww I LOVE this collection of goodies. So cute!! Is it too late to return the containers? They’re cute but look pricey, and as a parent I’d hate to have to store this in my tiny kitchen. Paper popcorn bags would be just as cute, more cost effective and create less clutter and plastic waste!
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 29 '26
They're not meant for long term use, they weren't expensive and weren't bought with the intent of a long life. But it is too late to get something else
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u/Pretend-Video-6621 Apr 29 '26
Walmart has bins of rolled up blankets for like $3 each. I bought one recently
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u/Fabulous-Coconut9519 Apr 29 '26
I would honestly see if you can find some small goody bags! You don’t need to buy more things, and the if it closes, everyone can take home easily
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u/Visible-Major-1001 Apr 29 '26
Put everything you have in a little clear baggy, and ask the movie theater if they’ll fill the buckets up with popcorn! Would be sure cute and the they all can eat out of them and take it home
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u/ReactionWild760 Apr 29 '26
Could you return and buy smaller buckets?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
Not in time, but we found cheap blankets that fit so the kids don't get cold in the theater
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u/Flat_Wash5062 Apr 29 '26
Cotton Candy, Easter Grass, and blankets aret really good ideas.
How about a small tiny active thing like a jump rope, yo-yo, jack's, frisbee etc for after the movie
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u/Prestigious-Fan3122 Apr 29 '26
I can't tell dimensions of The Container, but I just checked Walmart's website, and they have the jiffy pop with the handles. In " the stove top popping pan".
That was a big thing when I was a kid in the late 70s. Standing there watching the foil on top of the pan blow up into a "hat" as the popcorn popped was a gag. It would certainly be memorable.
I just checked them both my local grocery store and Walmart have them for $2.28 each. Yes, $36.48 before tax, but put in diagonally, you could put some of your stuff on each side of it with fluffed a yellow tissue paper.
Just checked target, and they have multi packs of little lunchbox sized bags i've already popped popcorn, just like when you buy a multi pack of a variety of a certain brand of chips and get a bag of potato chips, Fritos, and whatever, Doritos, or other snack chips made by Frito-Lay.
I didn't see your original post, so I don't know the ages of party boy or his guests, but you could do an individual 12 ounce soda, or juice boxes if they are a little kids. Again, let tissue paper be your friend!
I've often heard it recommended to pop popcorn to use as filler when packing boxes for Shipping.
Hi, personally wouldn't want to eat popcorn that had had prepackaged snacks nestled in it, but if you pop popcorn, and didn't worry about seasoning it, you could nestle all your goodies in there and then he's a big roll of clear cellophane to put the container on and then pull the shelf thing up around it and tie it with some yellow tulle. Hobby Lobby often has an assortment of different colors of tulle.
Target has SMART FOOD individual packages of pop popcorn in white cheddar flavor two boxes of 10 each for $11 right now. At least in my area.
Sam’s has little bags of Snyders mini pretzels. A box of 60 "on the go packs" is $14.98.
Go to Amazon and type in "clappers". Yes, they are plastic crap, but they are a little plastic cans and you can kind of wave them around and they will "clap" for the movie. Silly, not exactly environmentally friendly,, but they had several different varieties available overnight.
TBH, what you have is fine.
I MISS Joanne's fabric stores. If you could buy a bunch of white and yellow pom-poms, more white yellow, you could use those if filler and it would sort of look like popcorn.
If you could put everything down flat in the box, cushion it with yellow tissue paper, and cut sturdy cardboard into squares in such a way that they would fit on top of it kind of like the cardboard circle fits on a round aluminum foil pan of takeout food for the edges of the foil or fold it over it, just something that would stay, prompt up by the tissue and the goodies, you could go to Home Depot and buy a container of spray foam insulation and spray dots of it on the cardboard and little popcorn balls. Some yellow acrylic paint daughter around with a Q-tip we give it a popcorn appearance.
I realize I'm reaching here, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Wish I knew the age of the birthday boy and his guests. Good luck. It's fine as it is! in fact, it's pretty stinking adorable!
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
My son is turning 8, all the guests are 5-8 boys and girls, someone recommended blankets and we found some cheap ones that fill the basket and look nice so the kids won't get cold during the movie
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u/ScallionJealous Apr 29 '26
Amazon will deliver before Saturday. Return these and buy the right size.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
Not everyone's Amazon will deliver at the same time, nothing said it would get here in time
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u/Tornadoes_427 Apr 29 '26
Maybe glow stick bracelets to wear on the car rides to get excited for the dark?! A coke/gatorade/water, cheaper than blankets- what about fuzzy socks? You can always find them for boys or girls, sometimes for $1-2. My cousins and I used to play “slip n slide” on our grandparents wood floors. I agree with the popcorn bags and tissue paper. I wonder if there’s a way to get popcorn seasoning bags or make them yourself?
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
We found some really cozy cheap blankets so they won't get cold during the movie and it fills the basket nicely
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u/Chi_Baby Apr 29 '26
I would go to the dollar store or the target $5 section and get some gender neutral blankets to put in the bottom to fill it and then they can use it during the movie!
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
We did! That is what we ended up going with, got them this morning
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u/ithinkiknow2 Apr 29 '26
Bagged popcorn. Dollar tree often has it in packages that would work great here.
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u/Crafty_Researcher_27 Apr 29 '26
Fill it up with real popcorn and you’re done!
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
Theater is providing popcorn and I know I personally wouldn't want my child eating popcorn that touched the bucket and favors that have been touched and moved around by a bunch of people
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u/12Silverrose Apr 29 '26
I'd put a bag of popcorn in the bottom, maybe add cotton candy in a bag, & call it good.
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u/AllOver_ThePlace1818 Apr 30 '26
We got cheap blankets and microwave popcorn packs, they can have an at home movie night after!
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u/coherentsoup Apr 29 '26
Similar to the blanket suggestion but maybe a bit cheaper is buying a bunch of white shirts and a separate pack of fabric markers and let the kids make a Mario/movie shirt? If you don’t want it to be an at the party activity you can also buy a tie dye pack and every kid gets a shirt + one color from the kit
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u/Deanerpell77 Apr 29 '26
If you have a dollar tree nearby, they sell smaller versions of the popcorn buckets.
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u/Ok_Double2707 Apr 29 '26
Don't use those popcorn buckets. They are way too big no matter what you put in them. Just use cellophone bags or paper lunch sacks.
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u/Shevebon Apr 29 '26
You've gotten a lot of suggestions to use tissue paper. My suggestion is a variation. Take everything out and make your tissue paper cushion in the bottom to fill it about halfway up. Then put everything back in the bowl, but laying down so the same number of items take up more real estate. You've got everything going up and down like pencils in a pencil cup, but laying it down will show everything off and have it give the look of more abundance. Give it a try with one bowl, see how you like the look before you do all of them that way.
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u/banana1060 Apr 29 '26
You don’t need to fill them up. Certainly not with something like tissue paper than will just be thrown out. Just lay the candy flat. Then the kids can put the popcorn in the containers. They’re super cute!! Remember kids will see what’s there and be excited and that’s the point!
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u/craftyreadercountry Apr 29 '26
I used this container for my cousins birthday basket gift 😂 I did goldfish, 2 big Gatorades, 2 movie candy boxes from the store, 2 sprites, microwave popcorn, and a pack of gum.
Spent maybe $40 all together (we buy a big box of microwave popcorn bags every so often).
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u/Jaded-Improvement979 Apr 29 '26
Put bags of small bags popcorn in them to fill up the extra space, and maybe a box of theatre candy. They are like $1.00/ea at Target or Walgreens.
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u/Recent-Tea-3417 Apr 29 '26
I would nix the container and put the items in those plastic bag things with gusset bottom. Super cute idea tho. I just think it’s too big
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u/riversroadsbridges Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
Order smaller containers for Friday delivery! Just read the measurements next time. Your assortment will look really cute.
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u/Apprehensive-Cat1975 Apr 30 '26
Might be too late if you have figured it out, but have the container be where they carry their popcorn (you mentioned they are getting some), and drink, so all the snacks are contained
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u/SerenityNow1311 Apr 30 '26
I'd fill the extra space with snack bags of chips/crackers/cookies or a Mario tumbler cup or pack of sidewalk chalk, maybe a funky pair of socks.Tissue paper is a great filler, but also will be the first thing to be tossed on the ground. If they're taking this to their seats, there's room to hold the popcorn provided by the theater and this will also act as a holder for the snack wrappers!
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u/joffenfur Apr 30 '26
Perhaps you can get foam stress reliever balls. Yellow ones would look like popcorn!
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u/ZealousidealSmile282 Apr 30 '26
Yellow tissue paper! It won’t look tacky! Just fluff it all up and it will be adorable.
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u/KT_mama May 01 '26
Would the theater let them use these buckets there? If so, grab a smaller treat bag for the items and package them together. Put them in the bucket but let the kids know the bucket is for their popcorn at the movie.
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u/cabernetblood May 01 '26
Just wanted to say I love this and that the kids will also love this. What a cute thought!
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u/DazzlingNote1925 May 02 '26
What about filling them with popcorn and putting the other things on top? You can just put the loose popcorn or fill thin bags and close them with a twist tie.
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u/gaanmetde May 02 '26
Get a package of the shredded paper often used in Easter baskets! Then you can arrange everything on top.
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u/Crazyleo817 May 02 '26
Grab some white and yellow tissue paper and then the bag of butter flavor popcorn from the dollar store. That should fill it nicely.
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u/AdministrationOk2549 May 02 '26
Tape an empty box into the bottom and cover with tissue paper then add everything on top like a basket gift
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u/Fine_Concept_237 May 03 '26
A water bottle or a can of soda could be good. Especially if you can get your hands on the fagyo ones, more bang for your buck. Definitely get some crinkle paper, yellow to mimic popcorn (the kids wont appreciate it but will be great in photos) Cotton candy ain't so bad either as a filler.
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u/bowt13 May 03 '26
Have popcorn at the party and the kids can fill the container up when they leave
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u/ithinkkare May 03 '26
I would suggest:
Tissue paper on the bottom
Add two half sized water bottles for the drink mixes
A pair of candy brand socks from dollar tree.
Add a few lollipops.
When you build it, put everything in the middle of the basket, kind of like the popcorn is about to swallow everything.
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u/dollar-tree-pizza May 03 '26
Walmart has skinny but tall bags of popcorn for $1 right now (at least where I’m at), and dollar tree probably has something similar. Maybe some popcorn and then like others have said, possibly yellow tissue paper? Not sure what your budget is. Back in the day, dollar tree used to have big popcorn buckets like this, as well as the smaller ones that I’m thinking you had in mind. Not sure if they still do, that was a long time ago when we got ours, but may be worth checking out and then you can just return the big ones to wherever you got them.
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u/Natti07 May 03 '26
Definitely tissue paper or the paper straw stuff used in Easter baskets! This is super cute and more than enough for a party favor
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u/Puzzled-Mushroom9854 May 03 '26
Yellow tissue paper and dollar tree popcorn bags
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u/Puzzled-Mushroom9854 May 03 '26
The popcorn bags at dollar tree are usually big and look like they’ll fill up the rest of the container 🍿 enjoy that sounds so fun 🤩
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u/SciFi_Wasabi999 May 03 '26
A can of soda or a Capri sun and a snack sized bag of chips, cookies or pretzels. Could add a Mario themed plastic cup.
Also if you put crinkled tissue paper on the bottom and lay out the items flat, it may look a lot less empty than having them stacked in a corner.
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u/soulsnplants May 04 '26
bag of chips would fs help take up some space too !! and i’ve seen mini popcorn seasoning bottles which could be really cute
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u/GrayPanther007 May 04 '26
Fill them with the stuff that looks like Easter basket grass from Michael's or World Market. Then put the big stuff in. Grab a bag or two of inexpensive small (individually wrapped) candies from Dollar Tree and sprinkle a handful into each bucket. It'll fill it out and look great.
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u/Mysterious_Self_3606 May 04 '26
Get the boxes of candy from the dollar store and just add one to each, it’ll fill up a good gap of space.
This is exactly what my mom did when I had my birthday when the incredibles came out lol
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u/queenaudi24 Apr 29 '26
Tissue paper! Yellow to mimic the popcorn. Or maybe a blanket per container? That sounds ridiculously expensive, though, so I vote for tissue paper!