Text and styling by Esther Ottensoser
Photography by Felicia Perretti

Here are some fun and exciting mishloach manos ideas for the kids and the kids at heart!

Mini Ball Game

I love the idea of teaching children the step-by-step process of how to build and design a toy. A water bottle is recycled to catch the candy as it passes through the hole. This is a fun process from start to finish.

You will need:

• 3½-inch box with clear lid (available on Amazon)
• fish or clown design (free download available at Estherodesign.com)
• sticker paper
• empty water bottle
• razor blade or scissors
• hole puncher
• candy pearls
• glue gun

Print download on sticker paper. (The link can be emailed to your local printer.)

Using a razor blade or a pair of scissors, cut off the top part of the water bottle. Dry it and set it aside.

Using a hole puncher, punch a hole in one spot of the background. Enlarge the hole a little by carefully punching out a slightly larger area for the balls to fit through.

Place the background design inside the box. Do not stick it down yet!

Using a pen, mark off the spot of the hole on the box.

Use the razor blade to cut out the area of the hole. It’s okay if it’s slightly larger than the hole in the background. Check that the candy pearls can easily get through the holes.

Carefully remove the back of one corner of the background and cut it off. Continue doing this to all four corners so that the corners are all sticky. (Alternatively, you can use regular paper and glue down the corners. I like the sticker because it’s smoother and sturdier.) Apply to the box, matching up the holes.

Using a glue gun, glue the top of the water bottle to the bottom of the box.

Add the candy.

Close the box and play.

Mini Candy Sectionals

This is a great box that can be filled with any candy, chocolate, or nuts. It’s fun to give a variety of items, and this size box makes it affordable to do so.

You will need:

• 5x3.5x1.57-inch white sectional box (available on Amazon)
• candy of your choice
• Scotch tape or clear label
• ribbon
• label

Fill boxes with candy (see tip above) and close with tape or clear label.

Tie with ribbon and add label.

Note: How much candy you stuff into each section will affect the weight. If you stuff the sections tightly, you’ll need more candy. If you fill them more loosely, you’ll save on costs.

Tip from Confection Collection in Lakewood:

Fill each section of the box with the amount of candy you need and then empty each section into a separate bag. Weigh each bag. (Confection Collection has a scale in the corner of the store for customer convenience. If your candy store doesn’t, you can bring it to the counter to weigh.) Multiply the weight by the amount of boxes you need.

Clip It

This cute mishloach manos idea includes a useful and inexpensive wipe-off clipboard. You can personalize it as well. My niece has been making these for her students for many years and has always gotten great feedback on them, way after the candy is eaten. Besides the addition of a simple paper bag, no other packaging is required.

You will need:

• wipe-off clipboard with marker (available from Amazon)
• colorful paper bags (available from Amazon or craft stores)
• items to put in bag
• ribbon for bow
• markers, stickers, or names cut out with a Cricut machine
• label

Personalize the clipboard according to your preference.

Fill the paper bag and clip it to the board.

Glue a bow on top.

Add label.

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 832)