Grad Gifts

June means Grads & Dads, right? I've already discussed Dads, so on to grads. My daughter has been making her rounds at graduation parties recently. Parties mean lots of fun but you can't show up empty-handed... What's a poor high school student to do? Well, I say College Survival Kits!


College survival kits include all the things kids never think to pack when they go off to school: scissors, tape, band aids etc.

I received mine when I graduated from HS in 19... well, let's just say it's a reunion year and leave it at that...

When I opened it I thought it was an odd assortment of stuff (mine also included needle and thread but kids today seem to think clothes are disposable). I put on my happy face and said "Oh! it's perfect!" On the inside I thought "?????!!" But once I got to school I found myself digging into that box more than I expected and ended up needing everything in it over the years. Genius!!

When my son attended his parties he put the supplies in a tupperware and included scissors, band aids, duct tape, a deck of cards and a screw driver, too. My daughter is throwing in a hand-crafted key chain for dorm room keys, post-it notes, a self-addressed stamped envelope : ) and a bottle of fun nail polish in addition to the above mentioned.

The box she chose is a photo box. They have such a fun selection these days so she could taylor the pattern to each recipient's personality.


Duct tape comes in so many different colors and patterns now too! One of her crafty friends gave her a tie-dyed duct tape flower recently so I suppose the tape can be used as a study break if not an emergency fix!!


Here are the key chains that were hand-made with love for each graduate's new dorm key.


It's just a pre-drilled acrylic "Fragment" from the Tim Holt collection at Michael's *other craft stores, too, I'm sure* with scrapbook paper Mod Podged on, an inspirational metal charm layered in front. They were linked together with a medium sized jump ring and a key chain attachment on top. {note: to reduce the tackiness of the Mod Podge you can put a clear coat of nail polish on top or some other acrylic coating}

My daughter was able to assemble her boxes for under $15/box. I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew graduating from high school this year *you remember I'm an aunt 31 times over, right?!* and I'll be making them boxes too but I'll also include some kind of gift card - Itunes, Starbucks or a restaurant GC for those Sunday night dinners. Other items to consider adding are water bottles, an extra t-shirt to stretch laundry 1 more day or a laundry bag when they just can't wait any more...

Blessings!

MLE

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Clear Vision

My daughter is a collector. She saves all kinds of treasures *cr@p* but it's mostly stashed in corners and crevices where she will never see them again! If I, *hypothetically speaking*, happened to dispose of something while she was at school or out of the house she may or may not ever know...

She's worn glasses since she was 4 yrs old and has gone through several pairs since then *probably cause she's 14 now*. Anyway, she never wanted to part with the old pairs even though I suggested she donate them so some other lucky girl could see all the wonders of the world with crisp vision. I've always struggled with her many *Many* collections until I saw this post at The Sassy Duo check it out!



The second I saw it I knew it was the perfect solution!! She liked the idea of seeing her treasured objects too. Together we scoured the isles of Michael's looking for a shadowbox, the perfect scrapbook paper to use as the background, which accessories to include in the box and I got to milk it for some mother/daughter time *it's becoming more scarce!*.

I actually really adore the way this turned out! We marveled at how small that first pair of glasses is. When I first attached the top pair I was kicking myself because they were a little askew and it bugged me, but then I thought about how those glasses were ALWAYS crooked on my little cutie's face and then somehow it seemed perfect! : ) It's the little cherubed-faced things sometimes, isn't it?

Since she was so vested in developing the look she is agonizing over THE perfect place of honor to display it. And the gears have been turning in her head deciding which collection to display next!! That's ok with me - as long as it isn't her collection of dust bunnies hopping about : )

Blessings!

MLE


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Almost Designer Pillows

Did you know that when JoAnn Fabrics discontinues a special-order, designer fabric they sell the samples? Some of these scrumptious fabrics can retail at $35/yd (or more)! *and you don't get to use the 40%-off coupon on special orders* you just have to wait til they go on sale.

Well, during one of my visits to JoAnn's I discovered several racks of these discontinued sample squares. They were marked down to $2 a piece but were placed in the 50% off area. So I got each one for $1!! AAAAAAAH *I sang that... with vibrato!* They measure about 17" X 17". I was working on the mad bench makeover at the time and thought a few decorative pillows would look nice on it.

I picked through each option, my eyes all a-glitter, selected 6 that seemed to coordinate but not be too matchy. My FAVE is this red paisley by Waverly.

And the back is by Liz Claiborne!! : ) I just stitched them together on the machine & stuffed them.

On this one I used leftover trim.

And on this one I used leftover piping.

If I get tired of one side I can simply flip it and it's a whole different look! And the final cost for each Almost.Designer.Pillow was under $4.00!!! Now that makes me smile *with teeth*!! Isn't it funny how sometimes the little things can do that to you? : )

Blessings!

MLE


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