*Updated 2015+ Versions here: New Years Eve Activity Countdown Bags
*Update 12.28.2013–Download the 2014 version of the New Years Eve Countdown Activity Bags here: New Years Eve Countdown Activity Bags 2014
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*Update 12/27/2012–Download the 2013 version of the New Years Eve Countdown Activity Bags here: New Years Eve Countdown Activity Bags 2013
Last year I saw a bunch of people posting about these fun New Year’s Eve Countdown Activity bags. I didn’t have time to implement them into our New Year’s Eve Party for 2011 but wanted to make sure that I made some for this year’s party.
I loved the whole concept behind the activity bags and thought it would be a great way to keep the evening fun. We usually have a low key party with the family and their cousins. We play games all night and just enjoy ringing in the New Year in each other’s company.
The concept behind these Countdown Activity Bags is fairly simple. I took some mini party sacks that I picked up from Hobby Lobby and glued some tags with clock faces on them. I have provided them for you as a free download if you are interested. Click here:
For the scalloped “Happy New Year Tag” you can download them on this post I where I shared some…
New Year’s Eve 2012 Printables
Then you simply draw the clock hands on each bag to represent each hour of the evening you want to have an activity for the family and kids to do together. I started the countdown bags with the year 2011 at 5:00 pm and made one for every hour till 12:00 am 2012.
In each bag I added some fun activities to do on the hour. For example:
5:00 pm—Make/Eat Chinese Food
6:00 pm—Play a New Year’s Eve Game {I will be sharing one here soon}!
7:00 pm—Watch a movie with the family
8:00 pm—Intermission: Make some Ice Cream Sundaes & finish movie
9:00 pm—Make a New Year’s Craft—confetti, noise makers, hats, etc.
10:00—Play another game
11:00 pm—Turn on some music and dance
12:00 am 2012—Watch fireworks out the window, bang noise makers, toast the New Year!
The above list is just an example of what can be done. I am not posting our “true” list as my kids have been known to read my blog from time to time…! There are so many idea that you could add into the bag that would make your party lots of fun and ensure that you keep the party guests guessing. I know my kids and their cousins are going to be excited seeing what is in each bag.
Interested in our other New Year’s Eve posts? Check these out!
New Year’s Eve Photo Booth Props
New Year’s Eve Banner Printable
New Year’s Eve “Mint” Night Kisses (coming soon)
What activities would you place in your Countdown Bags?
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What a terrific idea!! I usually have great intentions of making NYE a special occasion, and then don’t get around to actually *doing* anything, but this is a great way to keep the excitement going throughout the evening.
I tend to have the same problem with NYE! I thought this would be a good way to keep the troops entertained this year!
Love your designs and ideas! I am hosting a Happy Noon Year party which will include all the Mommies from our playgroup as well as their children. We are beginning at 10:30AM for brunch and counting down to Noon for our celebrating. Childrens ages range from newborn to 6, so have a wide variety of ideas, but was looking for a perfect printable to tie it all together with a clock face and I found your design. I bought a large disco ball, which will play as a ball drop at noon as a pinata filled with goodies, but I was wanting something like you made on the bags for them to grab and go with their goods, so this is just the thing. Thank you for sharing and I cannot wait to hear about the game as we have a family night of just us in that night to play some time then. Happy 2012!
That is such a fun idea! Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate with the youngest ones!
What a fabulous idea Amy, Im sure this will make your evening even more fun.
Cheers!!
I really like this idea – sadly, no one stays awake in my little family to toast the New Year (maybe in a few years when the kids are bigger!). We celebrate when it’s midnight in Iceland, since they are 6 hours ahead of us – we can toast over dinner!
Ha! Great idea. When growing up my parents told us the the New York Times celebration was for where we were…which was really two hours behind!
Very cute idea Amy!
What an adorable idea! I love that the possibilities are endless and that you can modify the activities for a kids or adult party! Thanks for sharing! :)
Yeah! That is what makes it fun. You can adjust it for any group.
My kids are a bit older (preteens) so we fill the bags with different kinds of noisemakers, poppers, firecrackers, silly string, brainteasers (with one prize for the winner), etc. I started the bags when they were little and it’s been a fun tradition every year! Thanks for the printable :)
Great idea to fill them with some fun stuff too.
……..|___|…..
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……..|000|……
……..|000|……. PROSPERO AÑO NUEVO!!!
………0/…….. QUE TENGAS¡¡¡MUY FELIZ 2012!!!
………./………
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¡*ALEGRIA*SALUD*AMOR*!
(¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨)(¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨)
Looking forward to it!
Cute!
Happy New Year!
[email protected]
Thank you so much for the printable!!! I will link back to you when I post about it on my blog!!!
Can’t wait to see it.
I’ve never seen these. Thanks for sharing the great photos and printable. Your bags will be a hit. They look fun :)
-Molly
Thanks Molly! Hope you have fun with them.
Love this idea, thanks for sharing it. The clock faces seem to be for 2011 though?
The clock faces are for 2011 since most of the hours of NYE are still in 2011. There is one clock that says 2012 for midnight when the year changes from 2011 to 2012.
Very cute! BUT, I can’t print the free clock downloads because I can’t get around the advertisements!
Are you trying to print from Google Docs? That is where I have them downloadable from. Not sure where the ads are coming from. Email me if you still have trouble.
Very creative ! Fantastic ideas for 2012
Aww, these bags are so perfect for New Year’s Eve!
LOVE THIS!! I’m doing this this year. We are having a quite new years eve, just “us” and this is perfect!! It would be perfect for a big party too! Seriously…this is so cute! :) Pinned it! :)
Thanks so much Ami! Quiet NYE are nice! Glad you can use them for your little celebration.
Love these, and the printable rocks! I’m including this in a New Years Things to Try with Kids post on my crafty blog. Thanks so much for sharing!
Jaimee @ craft-interrupted.blogspot.com
What a cute idea! I am doing this for our party tomorrow night!
These are fantastic, and so clever! I wish I’d thought of them myself. ; ) But, I shared them on my blog –
http://www.chickabug.com/blog/2011/12/new-years-eve-clock-ideas.html
Thanks for the inspiration!
Heather : )
♥♥♥♥♥♥|000HAPPY NEW YEAR!
… … … 0 / … … .. have very happy 2012!
joy ♥ health ♥ love *!♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥bonne année
happy new year
♥♥♥
I love these! They are sooooooooooooo cute. They are also awesome like those glasses that have they year as the lense.
Loved the idea. I am planning to have a new year party for next year. It would be great if you can change the year for the printable. Thanks
These are, by far, the cutest Countdown Bags EVER!
Will you please update these printables for 2013???? Thank you !
These are adorable. Very fun idea. Any chance you did them for this next New Year’s Eve? Would love to use them.
Any chance you will update these for 2013? I just found these and they are adorable!
Fabulous! I’ve been looking for a fun way to build NYE excitement and engage my 7 and 5 year olds! Inspired! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for the printables. I love when people share :-). When I clicked on your 2013 link it still showed 2012. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Love your printables and darling New Year’s bags! I wanted to use them this year with my kids and cousins but when I click on the updated link for 2013 they stll show 2012. Am I in the right place?
I am a Lifestyles Director for Independent Living. I have a plan for New Year’s Eve, but I need something that will draw my Residents out on New Year’s DAY – something to make them want to take the short walk to the Clubhouse to participate. Any thoughts??
I am not seeing this yr’s version, just 2012. Is there a link I am missing? So tired
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