Easy DIY Summer Party Favors for Lake Days, Beach Trips & Pool Parties 

Need an easy DIY summer party favor that comes together in just a few minutes?

These free printable hair tie cards are an easy DIY summer party favor idea for lake weekends, beach vacations, pool parties, girls’ trips, and summer birthday celebrations.

They’re inexpensive to make (about $0.50–$1 per favor, depending on the hair ties you choose), practical, and a fun way to make any summer gathering feel a little more special.

I love giving small gifts that feel thoughtful without being expensive or complicated.

This year, I designed these Lake Hair, Don’t Care printable hair tie cards for a girls’ weekend at a friend’s cabin.

My besties and I take a lake trip every summer, and although I’m never the host, I always love bringing a little surprise for everyone.

These printable hair tie cards were the perfect little welcome gift to kick off our weekend.

They’re cute, useful, easy to pack, and perfect for tossing in a tote before a windy pontoon ride.

The best part?

I didn’t stop with the lake version!

I also created Pool Hair, Don’t Care and Beach Hair, Don’t Care printable designs, and they’re all completely free to download.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon and LTK links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. This helps support my blog and allows me to continue sharing helpful content.

Supplies Needed to Make These DIY Summer Party Favors

These DIY summer party favors couldn’t be easier to make.

You’ll need:

• Free printable hair tie cards (download below)
• Cardstock
• Printer or local print shop
• Scissors or paper trimmer
• Hair ties
• Glue stick

I recommend printing the cards on cardstock since it gives them a sturdier, more polished look.

Each 8.5 x 11-inch sheet includes eight printable cards, so you can easily make enough favors for your entire group.

Don’t have a printer at home? No problem!

I like to send my printables to my local UPS Store for printing, and they turn out beautifully on cardstock.

You can also use any local office supply store or print shop.

How to Make These DIY Summer Party Favors

Time: 10 minutes
Cost: About $0.50–$1 per favor
Skill Level: Beginner

1. Download your favorite printable design.
2. Print it on cardstock.
3. Cut out each card.
4. Slide hair ties onto the center.
5. Bring the ends of the card together to wrap around the hair ties.
6. Glue the overlapping ends together.

I used an Elmer’s disappearing purple glue stick because it goes on purple so you can see exactly where you’ve applied it, then dries completely clear.

That’s it!

If you can print, cut, and glue, you can make these easy summer party favors.

The Best Hair Ties for These DIY Summer Party Favors

I used inexpensive bulk hair ties from Amazon, and they come in so many fun colors.

You can choose a color palette that coordinates with your printable design or mix and match for a colorful summer look.

I’ll link the exact hair ties I used here.

I like these because they come in lots of colors, are easy to customize with each printable design, and are something guests will actually use.

How Many Hair Ties Should You Add?

This is totally customizable depending on how you want to use them.

I found that five to six hair ties per card was the perfect amount.

It felt generous without making the card bulky.

You can:

• Use all the same color hair ties for a coordinated look.
• Mix different colors for a fun summer feel.
• Add more or fewer depending on your budget.

The hair ties are also cute enough to wear on your wrist, not just use in your hair, which makes them a fun little accessory too.

Ways to Use These Summer Party Favors

These printable hair tie cards are a fun, inexpensive favor for all kinds of summer celebrations and getaways.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to use them:

Pool Party Favors

These hair tie cards make fun party favors for backyard pool parties, neighborhood swim parties, or any summer celebration where everyone is bound to get their hair wet.

Summer Birthday Party Favors

Looking for an easy, affordable birthday party favor? These printable hair tie cards are a cute take-home gift for summer birthday celebrations, especially for tweens, teens, and adults.

Girls’ Trip Welcome Bags

Surprise your friends with a practical little gift tucked into their welcome bag. It’s a simple way to make your annual girls’ getaway feel even more special. If you love putting together little surprises for your friends, you might also like my DIY mini gift boxes for friends blog post. These hair tie cards would be such a cute addition tucked inside for your next girls’ trip!

Lake Weekend Gifts

These are perfect for cabin weekends, lake vacations, and relaxing days by the water. The “Lake Hair, Don’t Care” design was actually created for my own girls’ trip!

Beach Vacation Welcome Bags

Welcome everyone to your beach getaway with a useful favor they’ll actually use while spending the day in the sun and sand.

Bachelorette Party Welcome Bags

Planning a beach or poolside bachelorette weekend? Add one of these printable favors to each guest’s welcome bag for a thoughtful touch that’s both fun and practical.

Download Your Free Printable Hair Tie Cards

Ready to make your own summer party favors?

Choose your favorite design below and download the free printable PDF:

Whether you’re hosting a pool party, planning a girls’ getaway, celebrating a summer birthday, or heading to the lake, these free printable hair tie cards are an easy way to make everyone feel a little extra special.

Download your favorite design below and start making these easy summer party favors in just a few minutes!

Magic is in the details,