Beginner’s Guide to Printing Party Favors at Home

Printing party favors at home is one of the easiest ways to create personalized decorations for birthdays, baby showers, and other celebrations. Whether you’re making chip bags, cake toppers, water bottle labels, or treat wrappers, this beginner’s guide will show you how to get professional-looking results using the right printer, paper, and settings.

When I first started creating printable party favors, I quickly realized that getting professional-looking results wasn’t about owning the most expensive printer. The biggest difference came from understanding a few simple basics—using the right paper, choosing the correct printer settings, and knowing which materials work best for each type of project.

Over the years, I’ve tested countless papers, printers, and templates while designing party favors for birthdays, baby showers, graduations, holidays, and more. Along the way, I’ve discovered what works, what doesn’t, and the small changes that can make your finished projects look like they came from a professional print shop.

Whether you’re creating decorations for your child’s birthday, making party favors for friends and family, or starting a printable party business, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. You’ll learn how to choose the right paper, set up your printer for vibrant results, avoid common printing mistakes, and confidently create beautiful party favors from home.

Let’s get started!

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Why Print Your Own Party Favors?

One of my favorite things about printable party favors is that they allow you to create decorations that feel truly personal. Instead of settling for generic party supplies from a store, you can customize every detail to match your celebration—from the colors and theme to the guest of honor’s name, age, and favorite characters.

Printing at home also gives you flexibility. If you need one more chip bag for an unexpected guest or decide to add matching water bottle labels the night before the party, you can simply print what you need without placing another order or waiting for shipping.

It’s also a great way to create a coordinated party setup. When your chip bags, candy wrappers, cupcake toppers, favor boxes, and drink labels all feature the same design, your dessert table instantly looks more polished and thoughtfully planned.

Another benefit is that printable party favors grow with your creativity. Many people begin by making decorations for their own family celebrations and eventually discover they enjoy the creative process enough to make party favors for friends, relatives, or even customers.

Here are just a few of the party favors you can create at home:

• Chip bags
• Candy bar wrappers
• Rice Krispie treat wrappers
• Water bottle labels
• Juice pouch labels
• Popcorn boxes
• Favor boxes
• Cake toppers
• Cupcake toppers
• Hand fans
• Invitations
• Party signs
• Welcome signs
• Stickers

What You’ll Need Before You Start Printing

One of the biggest misconceptions about printable party favors is that you need a room full of expensive equipment to get professional-looking results. The truth is, you only need a handful of quality supplies to get started.

As your skills grow, you can always add more tools to your crafting space, but these basics are enough to create beautiful projects from day one.

Essential Supplies

Optional Tools

These tools aren’t required, but they can add decorative finishes and make certain projects even more polished.

My Tip for Beginners

If you’re printing your very first party favor, don’t feel like you need to buy every crafting tool at once. Start with a quality printer, the correct paper for your project, a paper trimmer, and one printable template.

As you become more comfortable, you can add tools like a paper crimper, pinking scissors, and a scoring tool to give your projects even more professional-looking details. These finishing touches aren’t essential, but they can make a noticeable difference in the final presentation.

Best Printer for Printing Party Favors

If there’s one lesson I wish I had learned when I first started making printable party favors, it’s this:

The paper you choose has a bigger impact on your finished project than the printer you own.

When I first started printing party favors, I assumed any glossy paper or cardstock would work. After plenty of trial and error—and more wasted paper than I’d like to admit—I quickly realized that every project requires a different type of paper. The right paper makes colors look richer, images appear sharper, folds cleaner, and finished projects feel more polished and professional.

Think of your paper as the foundation of your project. Even the most beautiful template won’t reach its full potential if it’s printed on the wrong material.

The good news is that choosing the right paper is much easier once you know what each type is designed for. For most printable party favors, you’ll only need three paper types:

• Glossy Paper for wrappers and chip bags
• Glossy Cardstock for projects that need extra strength and structure
• Glossy Sticker Paper for labels and stickers

Each one serves a different purpose, and using the correct paper will make assembling your party favors easier while giving you the professional-looking results you’re after.

Quick Paper Guide

Don’t worry if you’re not sure which paper to choose just yet. In the next few sections, I’ll walk you through each paper type, explain what it’s best used for, and share examples of real projects so you can confidently choose the right paper every time.

Glossy Paper: The Best Choice for Wrappers and Chip Bags

If you’re new to printing party favors, glossy paper is the paper you’ll probably use the most. It’s perfect for projects that need to wrap around treats and favors while providing the shiny, professional finish you often see on custom party decorations.

Unlike regular copy paper, glossy paper has a smooth, coated surface that helps colors appear brighter, images look sharper, and designs really stand out. It’s lightweight enough to fold easily without adding unnecessary bulk, making it ideal for wrappers and party favors that need to be assembled.

Best Projects for Glossy Paper

Glossy paper works best for party favors that wrap, fold, or cover packaged treats, including:

• Chip Bags
• Candy Bar Wrappers
• Rice Krispie Treat Wrappers
• Mini Cereal Boxes
• Treat Bag Wrappers
• Bag Toppers

These projects require a paper that’s flexible enough to wrap smoothly while still holding vibrant, professional-looking colors.

Why I Recommend Glossy Paper

After printing hundreds of party favors over the years, I’ve found that glossy paper consistently produces beautiful results for wrapper-style projects because it offers:

• Rich, vibrant colors
• A smooth, professional finish
• Sharp, high-quality images
• Lightweight flexibility for easy folding
• Quick-drying performance when using the proper printer settings
• A polished look that’s perfect for birthdays, baby showers, graduations, holidays, and other celebrations

The glossy finish also helps make colors pop, which is especially important for themed party favors with bright graphics and colorful designs.

Pro Tip

Always print on the coated (glossy) side of the paper. Printing on the wrong side can result in dull colors or ink that doesn’t dry properly.

Before printing multiple copies, print a single test page to confirm your printer settings and paper orientation.

Best Printer Settings for Glossy Paper

To achieve the best results, select settings similar to these before printing:

• Paper Type: Photo Glossy Paper
• Print Quality: Best or High
• Print Size: Actual Size (100%)
• Color Mode: Color

Using the correct settings allows the printer to apply the right amount of ink for glossy paper, producing vibrant colors and crisp details while helping prevent smudging.

Good to Know

While glossy paper is excellent for wrappers and treat favors, it isn’t the best choice for projects that need extra strength, like cake toppers or favor boxes. For those projects, you’ll want to use glossy cardstock, which we’ll cover next.

If you’re making chip bags, glossy paper creates the shiny finish people often associate with professionally printed party favors.

Glossy Cardstock: Perfect for Sturdy Party Decorations

While glossy paper is ideal for wrappers, some party decorations need a little more structure. That’s where glossy cardstock comes in.

Glossy cardstock has the same vibrant, professional finish as glossy paper, but it’s thicker and more durable. It holds its shape well, making it the perfect choice for projects that need to stand up on their own or be attached to sticks, ribbons, or other embellishments.

If you’re creating decorations that guests will hold, display, or keep as souvenirs, glossy cardstock is the way to go.

Best Projects for Glossy Cardstock

Glossy cardstock is ideal for:

• Cake Toppers
• Cupcake Toppers
• Favor Boxes
• Popcorn Boxes
• Hand Fans
• Invitations
• Gift Tags
• Party Signs
• Centerpiece Decorations

Because it’s thicker than glossy paper, cardstock adds strength and durability while still producing bright, vibrant colors.

Why I Recommend Glossy Cardstock

When you’re creating party decorations that need to stand upright or hold their shape, regular paper simply isn’t enough. Glossy cardstock offers several advantages:

• Durable and sturdy
• Bright, photo-quality color reproduction
• Smooth glossy finish
• Holds its shape without bending easily
• Perfect for layering and dimensional projects
• Easy to score and fold for boxes and other 3D decorations

Whether you’re making decorations for a birthday party, graduation, baby shower, or holiday celebration, glossy cardstock helps your finished projects look polished and professionally made.

Pro Tip

Before folding cardstock projects like favor boxes or popcorn boxes, lightly score the fold lines with a bone folder or scoring tool. Scoring creates clean, crisp folds and helps prevent the paper from cracking along the edges.

Printer Tips for Cardstock

Because cardstock is thicker than regular paper, a few printer adjustments can help you achieve the best results.

For most home inkjet printers, I recommend:

• Paper Type: Heavyweight Paper or Photo Paper (check your printer’s available options)
• Print Quality: Best or High
• Print Size: Actual Size (100%)
• Feed Method: Rear or manual feed tray, if your printer has one

Using the rear feed helps thicker cardstock travel through the printer more smoothly, reducing the chance of paper jams.

Good to Know

Glossy cardstock is designed for projects that need strength—not flexibility. While it works beautifully for cake toppers, favor boxes, and signs, it isn’t the best choice for wrappers like chip bags or candy bar wrappers. Those projects require a lighter, more flexible paper that wraps easily around treats without creating bulky seams.

Glossy Sticker Paper: Create Custom Labels That Complete Your Party

No party setup feels complete without matching labels. From water bottles and juice pouches to favor bags and treat containers, glossy sticker paper makes it easy to add those finishing touches that tie your entire theme together.

Unlike regular paper, sticker paper has an adhesive backing, allowing you to simply peel and stick your designs onto bottles, pouches, boxes, jars, and other party favors. It’s one of the easiest ways to make your celebration look cohesive and professionally designed.

Best Projects for Glossy Sticker Paper

Glossy sticker paper is perfect for:

• Water Bottle Labels
• Juice Pouch Labels
• Party Stickers
• Favor Bag Labels
• Thank You Stickers
• Envelope Seals
• Gift Labels
• Treat Container Labels

Adding matching labels to your party favors creates a coordinated look that instantly elevates your dessert table or party display.

Why I Recommend Glossy Sticker Paper

Sticker paper is one of my favorite materials because it’s incredibly versatile. Whether you’re creating personalized labels for a birthday party or branding products for your small business, it gives you a clean, professional finish with very little effort.

Some of the benefits include:

• Bright, vibrant colors
• Smooth glossy finish
• Strong adhesive backing
• Water-resistant surface
• Compatible with most inkjet and laser printers
• Great for Cricut Print Then Cut projects

Once printed and trimmed, simply peel away the backing and apply your labels to a clean, dry surface.

Pro Tip

Before applying your labels, wipe bottles or juice pouches with a dry cloth to remove any moisture or condensation. Labels adhere best to clean, dry surfaces and will lay flatter without bubbles or wrinkles.

If you’re labeling water bottles, apply the stickers before placing the bottles in a cooler or refrigerator. This gives the adhesive time to bond properly.

Printer Tips for Sticker Paper

For the best print quality, use settings similar to these:

• Paper Type: Glossy Photo Paper or Sticker Paper (if available)
• Print Quality: Best or High
• Print Size: Actual Size (100%)
• Color Mode: Color

As always, print a test page first to confirm your settings before using your specialty paper.

Can I Use Sticker Paper with a Cricut?

Absolutely! If you have a Cricut machine, glossy sticker paper works beautifully with the Print Then Cut feature. Simply print your design, let the ink dry completely, and allow your Cricut to cut each sticker with precision.

It’s a great option for creating custom sticker sheets, favor labels, or intricate designs that would be difficult to cut by hand.

Can You Use the Printer You Already Have?

One of the biggest questions I hear from beginners is:

“Do I need a special printer to make printable party favors?”

The good news is, probably not.

If you already have a quality inkjet printer, there’s a good chance you can start printing party favors today. In fact, many of the projects I’ve created over the years were printed on everyday home printers.

The key isn’t having the most expensive printer—it’s using the right paper, selecting the correct print settings, and taking the time to do a test print before printing your final project.

Good to Know: Party & Confetti Glossy Paper and Glossy Cardstock are designed for inkjet printers. Our Glossy Sticker Paper is compatible with both inkjet and laser printers.

Printers I Recommend

Over the years, I’ve used several different printers, and these are the ones I recommend most often for printing party favors at home.

Epson EcoTank

If you print party favors regularly, the Epson EcoTank is my top recommendation. It produces vibrant colors, works beautifully with specialty papers, and the refillable ink tanks can save money over time.

HP Envy

The HP Envy is a great choice for beginners. It’s affordable, easy to use, and produces beautiful prints for birthdays, baby showers, holidays, and other special occasions.

Canon PIXMA

Canon PIXMA printers are known for producing rich colors and sharp image quality, making them another excellent option for printable party favors.

Printer Compatibility at a Glance

Start with What You Have

Don’t feel like you need to buy a new printer before creating your first party favor. If you already own a quality inkjet printer, start there. As your skills—and perhaps your crafting business—grow, you can always upgrade later.

The most important factors in achieving professional-looking results are using the right paper, choosing the correct printer settings, and practicing your technique.

Coming Soon: I’ll be sharing a complete guide comparing my favorite printers for printable party favors, including the pros and cons of each model and how to choose the best one for your needs.

How to Print Party Favors at Home: Step-by-Step

Now that you have your printer, paper, and template ready, it’s time for the fun part—printing!

Don’t worry if this is your first time. Once you’ve printed one party favor, the process becomes second nature. Follow these simple steps to get the best results every time.

Step 1: Personalize Your Template

Most printable party favor templates are editable in Canva, making it easy to customize them for your celebration.

Before printing, double-check that you’ve:

• Added the guest of honor’s name
• Updated the age or event details
• Checked the spelling of all text
• Selected your preferred fonts and colors
• Removed any placeholder text

Pro Tip: Zoom in to 100% before downloading your design. It’s much easier to catch small spelling mistakes on your screen than after you’ve printed several copies.

Step 2: Download Your Design

Once you’re happy with your design, it’s time to download it.

For the best print quality, I recommend downloading your template as a PDF Print file whenever it’s available. This format preserves the sharpness of your text and graphics and helps ensure your design prints at the correct size.

If you’re using Canva:

1. Click Share.
2. Select Download.
3. Choose PDF Print as the file type.
4. If your template has multiple pages, select the pages you want to print.
5. Click Download.

Pro Tip: If your template includes crop marks or bleed, follow the instructions included with the template before downloading.

Step 3: Load Your Paper Correctly

Before printing, load the correct paper into your printer.

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is printing on the wrong side of glossy paper.

Remember:

• Print on the glossy coated side of glossy paper and glossy cardstock.
• Make sure the paper is loaded according to your printer’s instructions.
• If your printer has a rear paper feed, use it when printing on thicker cardstock.

If you’re unsure which side your printer prints on, do a quick test using a sheet of copy paper before loading your specialty paper.

Step 4: Choose the Right Printer Settings

Before clicking Print, take a minute to review your printer settings.

I recommend using:

• Paper Type: Match your paper (Glossy Photo Paper or Heavyweight Paper)
• Print Quality: Best or High
• Paper Size: Letter (8.5″ × 11″)
• Scale: Actual Size (100%)
• Color: Color printing

Every printer model is slightly different, but these settings provide a great starting point for most inkjet printers.

Step 5: Print a Test Copy First

I know it’s tempting to print your entire project right away—but trust me, always print one test copy first.

A single test print lets you check:

• Color accuracy
• Print alignment
• Image quality
• Sizing
• Text placement

Making small adjustments now can save paper, ink, and frustration later.

Step 6: Give Your Print a Moment to Set

One of the things I love about using Party & Confetti Paper is that it’s instant dry, so you don’t have to wait several minutes before moving on to the next step.

That said, I still recommend setting your print aside for just a few seconds before handling it. This gives you a chance to make sure the ink has fully set and helps prevent fingerprints or accidental smudges while you’re trimming and assembling your project.

Once it’s ready, you can move on to cutting and assembling your party favor.

Step 7: Trim and Assemble Your Party Favor

With your design printed, it’s time to bring your party favor to life.

Taking your time during this step can make all the difference. Clean cuts, crisp folds, and neat assembly are what transform a printed sheet of paper into a polished party decoration.

Trim Carefully

Start by cutting out your design using a paper trimmer for straight edges or scissors for detailed shapes.

If you’re making multiple party favors, I recommend cutting one sheet at a time. This helps keep your cuts accurate and prevents the paper from shifting.

Pro Tip: Replace your paper trimmer blade regularly. A dull blade can leave rough or jagged edges, especially on glossy paper and cardstock.

Fold and Assemble

Many printable party favors require a few simple folds before assembly.

For projects like favor boxes or popcorn boxes, lightly score the fold lines first using a bone folder or scoring tool. This creates crisp folds and helps prevent the cardstock from cracking.

Once everything is folded, assemble your project using your preferred adhesive, such as:

• Double-sided tape
• Tape runner
• Hot glue

Choose the adhesive that’s best suited for your project. For wrappers like chip bags, I prefer double-sided tape because it creates a clean, secure bond without visible glue.

Add the Finishing Touches

This is where your party favor really comes together.

Depending on your project, you may want to add decorative details like:

• Crimp the ends of chip bags with a Paper Crimper for an authentic snack bag look.
• Use pinking (zig-zag) scissors to create decorative edges.
• Add ribbon, bows, or twine.
• Attach cake toppers or cupcake toppers to paper straws or lollipop sticks.
• Embellish with gems, glitter, or other decorative accents.

These extra touches aren’t required, but they can give your finished project a more polished, custom look.

Common Printing Party Favors Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Even experienced crafters make mistakes from time to time. The good news is that most printing issues are easy to fix once you know what to look for.

Most printing problems can be solved with a simple adjustment, so don’t get discouraged if your first print isn’t perfect. Every project is an opportunity to learn something new.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print party favors on a regular home printer?

Yes! Most printable party favors can be printed on a home inkjet printer using the appropriate specialty paper and print settings.

What paper should I use for chip bags?

Glossy paper is the best choice because it’s lightweight, flexible, and produces vibrant colors with a professional finish.

Can I use a laser printer?

Our Glossy Sticker Paper is compatible with both inkjet and laser printers. However, our Glossy Paper and Glossy Cardstock are designed specifically for inkjet printers.

Why doesn’t my print look like it does on my screen?

Screen colors are displayed using light, while printers use ink. Printing with the correct paper type and the highest print quality setting will help you achieve the best results.

Do I need a Cricut or Silhouette?

No! Most printable party favors can be cut with a paper trimmer and scissors. Electronic cutting machines are helpful for some projects, but they’re not required.

What’s Next?

Now that you know the basics of printing party favors at home, you’re ready to take the next step. Whether you’re personalizing your first template or creating your first finished project, these beginner-friendly guides will help you continue your DIY party favor journey.

🎨 Learn How to Customize Your Designs

Before you print, you’ll want to make your party favors uniquely yours.

• How to Upload Fonts into Canva: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide
• How to Edit Canva Party Favor Templates: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide

✂️ Create Your First Party Favor

Ready to put your new printing skills to work?

Start with How to Make DIY Party Favors at Home (Beginner’s Guide) to learn how to turn your printed designs into beautiful, professionally finished party favors.

🛍️ Get the Supplies You’ll Need

Using the right materials makes all the difference. Explore our collection of specialty papers, printable templates, and crafting supplies designed to help you create professional-looking party favors at home.

• Party & Confetti Glossy Paper
• Party & Confetti Glossy Cardstock
• Party & Confetti Glossy Sticker Paper
• Printable Party Favor Templates

🎉 Keep Creating with Hanging with the Kiddos

As you become more comfortable printing and assembling party favors, you’ll be ready to explore even more creative projects, seasonal celebrations, and DIY tutorials here at Hanging with the Kiddos.

Every project is a chance to build your confidence, try something new, and create memorable celebrations for the people you love.

Happy printing!

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