Here are some DIY blind bag ideas, you can put together with what you have lying around the house!
let's reflect!
I remember back in the day when you could buy a lucky bag!
This was largish colourful childrens bag that contained a mixture of items with a theme running through it, although you didn’t know what you would get!
Inside the bag, you would find an excellent collection of children’s, toys and fun and interesting artefacts rounding it up with a few treats!
WHAT’S WITHIN THE BAG?
For example, if this lucky bag, formerly known as a ‘blind bag’ or ‘surprise bag’ was for girls, it would include dolls, jewellery, a colouring book, pens a storybook and some treats!
You wouldn’t know what the bag contains, so it would be a surprise, further known as the mystery bag, or lucky dip as well as a blind bag.
What’s inside the bag, the speculation, anticipation and surprise!
MY INTENTIONS!
So in this post, I will show you some easy DIY blind bag ideas!
These bags can be designed purely on a theme, such as any type of vehicle, car, road map, make-a-car and so on.
Although I will make it universal and include items suitable for both girls and boys!
Here’s what Jason Howlett has to say about blind bags, or surprise bags!
My vague recollection of these bags was called Lucky bags, with similar goodies in them! From tattoos to plastic toys!
THE STORY BEHIND BLIND BAGS!
Let’s rewind back to Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867) when the history of lucky bags began.
A New Year’s tradition called Fukubukuro was where mystery bags were sold at a discount!
A BIT MORE HISTORY!
The tradition of Fukubukuro may have started in the early 1860’s in Tokyo where merchants sold bags of fabric off-cuts at a discount to clear out old stock, as it may have been seen as bad luck to start off the New Year with old stock.
So in honour of one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods, they would offer customers a chance to enjoy good fortune!
TRADTION AND POPULARITY!
This tradition of Lucky bags grew as other shops joined in and Fukubukuro became a permanent part of Japan’s New Year celebrations!
Popular department stores are known to sell well-filled Fukubukuro, and some would sell ‘spoiler bags’ that are see-through where there would be a list of the items printed on the outside of the bag!
The anticipation to see what Fukubukuro bag has to offer
TODAY AND FUKUBUKURO!
Today Fukubukuro, is a highly anticipated shopping event, with thousands of people queuing for hours to get their hands on them!
BLIND BAGS IN THE UK!
Today in the UK companies sell lucky bags, surprise bags or boxes such as Lucky Dip Ltd, Amazon, MX Wholesale, Japan House London, Etsy UK, eBay and a very popular children’s affordable toys, Poundfun!
All provide lucky bags, in different formulations, from kids’ party bags, party bag fillers, fun lucky bags, festive bags, mystery bags, or boxes!
Seeing the excitement on kids’ faces is worth a million words, to see them tear open a bag or box!
BACK TO DIY BLIND BAG IDEAS!
Coming back to the project at hand, I shall be crafting a lucky bag style with kids’ small fun toys inside.
I will fill it up according to what I already have, some odd kinder egg toys, balloons and easy giveaways.
So in theory I will be recycling unwanted small toys that would be just right for a blind bag!
WHAT TO DO NEXT!
LOOK FOR…
- You will need to find something that would make a good surprise bag.
DESIGN ONE…
- Make one yourself or if you have a fun small carrier bag that could work too.
FIND SMALL TOYS.
- Gather your odd bobs, toys, balloons, nik naks, or anything that you feel would be suitable for your child, and some treats.
POPCORN OR POLYSTYRENE CHIPS?
- As an added bonus I can fry or buy ready-made popcorn in a bag, alternately add polystyrene chips. this will make a good filler for the bag, then I will hide the toys inside the bag.
HOW TO MAKE A SURPRISE BAG!
POPCORN BAG.
- Purchase a large bag of ready-made popcorn approx. 22 X 31 cm. This would be a ready-made bag where you can use the popcorn as the yummy filler, and you just cover up text with your version!
PAPER VERSION.
- Grab 2 A4 sheets of paper, fold over all edges and tape them up, so you seal all openings apart from the top end, or use saved wrapping up paper, a large amount where you can fold and make it into a bag.
FIND FUN PICS, TEXT OR DRAW.
- Write your title, cut it out and draw question marks to cover the bag making it more interesting.
- Cut out fun graffiti or pictures or draw some fun text to stick on the bag that you would like to represent the surprise bag, fill it up with your goodies, and seal it up on top!
CHOOSE A SUBJECT!
- That’s it—simple. You can make different kinds of surprise bags, either for a boy or girl or one suitable for both with neutral items.
LET’S GET GOING!
RESOURCES.
Bright coloured papers.
1 large bag of popcorn.
1 large sheet of coloured packaging paper folded in half.
Polystyrene chips.
Different coloured felt pens. Pencil/Rubber.
Scissors large or small.
Glue stick/double-sided tape/strong glue.
Small toys/sweets.
ARE YOU READY?
FUN TO EAT!
I thought it would be fun to eat the filling of the ‘Lucky Bag’ while you are searching for the toys.
However, if you prefer, you can also use polystyrene chips which could also work.
Whichever one you choose, it helps to puff out the bag and conceal the mystery goods!
SOME TIPS!
TOYS MAY GET STAINED.
- Popcorn may be slightly greasy, and toys can get stained, you could cover each toy with tissue paper so they don’t get marked.
COVER TEXT UP.
- Once you have concealed all the advertising, you have the perfect base to add your own text and question marks.
USE YOUR PAPER!
- If you have colourful packaging paper you can use it instead. Fold in half and create whatever size bag you like.
TRIAL RUN TEXT STYLE.
- Experiment with large or smaller text that suits the size of your chosen bag.
TRY DIFFERENT GLUES.
- Because of the material used for the popcorn bag, you may need strong glue to hold your paper text in place, otherwise it may ping off if you use a glue stick.
BOY OR GIRL, OR GO UNISEX!
- Decide on the theme and find small toys you may have saved from other giveaways or party bag fillers that suit your theme.
Hey there, when you click on links in this post and you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission that l can use towards resources (other than throw-outs) for project making within my website😀
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING EVEN BIGGER?
I came across these spectacular Surprise Mystery boxes that are at discounted prices!
They are full of different themes, each box with the right collection of toys, that would suit any child that’s into fun characters, art, popular brands and more!
So checkout PoundFun, while stocks last!
Jump in and check out what else they have in store!
Here is one example of what to expect that PounFun offer within their spectacular Mystery toy boxes!
They are at an incredible knocked-down price and you’ll get more than you bargained for!
So, if your kids like surprises then this is the way to go!
TO CONCLUDE!
FUN BAGS!
In this post, I show you how to put together some DIY blind bag ideas, better known as ‘Lucky bags, or Mystery bags!
WHAT TO USE!
This is a fun activity which you can do together with your kids and surprise someone else!
RECYCLE!
Recycling all those little neglected give-away toys, with some sweets in a bag of popcorn!
MUNCH AND SEARCH!
In this way, it is fun for kids to eat their way through until they find the ‘Mystery toy’ or sweet!
So hold on to your little gifts like party bag fillers, and odd sweets and use the DIY blind bag ideas!
CHECK OUT ANTOtHER SURPRISE BOX ACTIVITY! ⇓
Here is a previous post, that shows another fun-type of surprise box project!
Only you will know what’s in the box, and you get to surprise your audience with all your lovely creations!