Lilrain

I have belonged to my local guild for 30 years this coming Feb. Due to budgetary concerns they discontinued door prizes. I asked if I could do it. Everybody likes to win. I am of pretty limited funds myself. So, I need ideas for inexpensive door prizes. What fun things have you given?

lovingmama

Hanging organizers made with an embroidery hoop , by shabby fabrics. You can watch the tutorial on YouTube. Easy and inexpensive, yet nice to receive.

Chicken pincushions

QuiltnNan

fabric bowls and baskets

tallchick

Pin Cushions
Stuffed Animals (imho your never too old to get a stuffed animal)
Pot Holders
Candle Mats
Tissue Holder
Glasses case
Key Fobs
Mini wall hanging
Luggage Tags

Pagzz

I am fortunate to live in an area with lots of quilt shops. the two guilds I belong to in this area ask for door prize donations from the shops. One guild only asks once a year for the whole year but I don't know about the other one. They usually give a $10 gift certificate or a book/pattern or charm pack. Both guilds list which store's donated that month's prizes in the newsletter and my current guild includes a thank you card in the prize envelope for the recipient to send to the store.

Lilrain

Some good ideas here.

dunster

In one of my guilds everyone is expected to bring in a door prize in their birthday month, as well as an item for refreshments. Pretty funny, giving gifts to others when it is your birthday, but it works for us. This is a large guild, and this method probably wouldn't work for a small guild since there might be months with no birthdays.

ECUFAN

Our guild faced the same dilemma and we did three things:
1. contacted national, regional, and local LQS and organizations/manufacturers by personal letter and/or email to request door prizes. We received enough donations from these contacts to cover 2 prizes each month;
2. scoured the Dollar Tree and other local discount stores for things that could be used by quilters; and,
3. requested each member to bring something in that they had multiples of or did not use that could be donated for door prizes. A member could also make something to donate as a door prize, if they preferred. The latter led to several unique door prizes and several member-led classes and demonstrations for future meetings.

We managed to cover door prizes for almost 3 years in this manner and everyone was satisfied with what they received. Hope this helps.

Onebyone

It's nice of you for wanting to do this but if you do this without support from the guild members then there will never be support to fund the door prizes. We raised our dues by $5 a year to have a dedicated door prize fund. With careful buying of clearance items during the year we have a good supply of items. Also many members donate handmade items during the year too.

Tartan

My guild has 4 for a dollar raffle tickets you buy at the door. The money spent to buy the tickets buys the next months prizes. If you approach your guild for the first month money it should be self sustaining after that.