Chocolate Covered Pretzel Stick Favors

INGREDIENTS:
10 oz. bags of Pretzel Rods (plan to get about 20 per bag, which allows for broken/unusable ones)
12 oz. bag of Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips or melting bark (1 bag will cover three-fourths of about 40 pretzels)
12 oz. bag of Nestle white-chocolate chips
Shortening
wax paper

Optional: sugar crystals, chopped nuts, flaked coconut, or sprinkles can be substituted to coordinate with your affair

Materials (from craft store like Michael’s)

Wilton brand pretzel bags (20 cellophane bags per package – each bag can hold 2 pretzels)
fine-tipped plastic bottle (like the hair-dye bottles)
Ribbon
Scrapbooking paper for favor tags or use ready-made tags (I incorporated the paper I used from our DIY invitations purchased at Target. A box of 50 invitations cost about $35. Visit www.gartnerstudios.com for samples.)
hole-punch
paper-cutter
scissors

Notes and Instructions
Use Microsoft Publisher to design and personalize our favor tags. Cut out the tags in a simple rectangular shape and affixed them to a solid paper for a visual border. (I’m sure there are fancier tags that could be made, but I am more tech-savvy than scrapbook-savvy. Use your strengths when creating your DIY projects and your personality will show through.) Double hole-punch the tag to feed through ribbon.  Make in advance and set aside.
To melt chocolates, use a TALL coffee cup to accomodate the depth needed to cover most of the pretzel.  Pour the chips into the mug with 1 Tablesppon of shortening.  Microwave 30 seconds.  Stir and continue to
microwave in 30-second intervals until almost melted. (Be sure not to overheat as this will ruin the chocolate). Put the mug in a pan of warm water to keep the chocolate fluid and warm.  Dunk your pretzel leaving enough of a tip to use as an edible handle.  If you want to add sprinkles, do it before the chocolate melts.  If you want to drizzle with white chocolate, place your pretzel rods on wax paper to dry after dunking.  Melt the white chocolate and pour into drizzle bottle.  Move left to right and right to left with the pretzels in a line, making a fast and easy way to decorate your pretzels.  You can also color your white chocolate. 
Let pretzels dry overnight and place in cellophane bags.  Tie bags with your favor tags.