Fall recruitment is coming up for many chapters and that means it will be time to scope out your potential little. Remember, summer is the perfect time to craft for your future little! You have all the time to shop for the best deals and coupon your way to success because remember, as bigs, one of our jobs is spoiling them. So here is a list of 10 gift ideas to help you give your little a basket full of unique and fun gifts.
1. Bulletin board
Get a cheap bulletin board and a small set of wooden letters. Paint the letters using acrylic paint, in a pattern you like. Take the letters and glue them going down the bulletin board. Buy a set of tacks and you’re all set. This is a cute gift for your little to hang up pictures or even her bid day card!
2. Coffee mug
You will need Sharpie permanent markers and a plain white mug. You can find these mugs at Michaels, or Jo Ann’s. Even the dollar store sometimes has them! Using your sharpies, write or draw whatever you desire on the mug. Some ideas could be writing "little" and drawing a floral pattern, or using two color blues and writing your sorority’s name down the center of the mug in an ombre style. Once you have got your pattern on the mug, put the mugs on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven. Set your oven to 350’ and set the timer for 30 minutes.
3. Jumbo confetti balloons
You will need balloons, confetti, a funnel, tissue paper, scissors, ribbon, and hot glue or staples. Most of these items can be found at a party store. Using the funnel put enough confetti to cover the bottom of the balloon. When the balloon is filled take the balloon to the party story to be filled with helium, unless you have some. Once the balloons are filled with confetti, grab your tissue. Keeping the paper folded as it is packaged, cut the paper in half. Make sure they are 5-7” long with about 3-6 tissue papers in the pile. The more tissue you have the fluffier it will be. Make a fringe at the bottom of the tissue paper, about ¾” fringe. Cut about 4-5 ft. of ribbon. Working from the bottom of the ribbon up to the top of the ribbon, fasten each fringed tissue paper by twisting it around the ribbon. Secure the twisted fringed tissue paper with hot glue, or a stapler. Remember to leave enough room to tie the balloon. Once it is tied, fluff up the tissue papers and enjoy!
4. Pillowcase
Many Etsy websites sell pillowcases with different sorority letters for a variety of costs. If you want to save the cost, buy a white pillowcase or a colored pillowcase from the store and pull out the paints!
5. Pin box
A wooden pin box would be a great gift for a little! She won’t lose her badge, and it could be a cute little decoration for her desk! These boxes can be found at any craft store for a very lost cost. Use paints and get creative with the design!
6. Door wreath
This could be a great way to use your sorority’s colors or show school spirit. Start by getting a metal wreath from the craft store and lots of tulle and ribbon (choose a few colors). Start at one point, put a pin in the beginning spot and start to wrap the wreath clockwise with your tulle until you reach your starting point. Taking your second color, start at one point and repeat the process, only over lapping occasionally. A cute idea is to take the smaller ribbon and tie it on random spots in the wreath. You can paint wooden letters and attach as well.
7. Hair bows
These can be found on different Etsy shops, or you can easily make your own! To make your own no-sew hair bows, you will need a glue gun, scissors, and felt. Cut the felt into 3 different pieces, one being 2 ½ x 4 ½ , one being 1 ½ x 6, and one being 2 x ½ . First, pinch together the center of the biggest piece of felt. Second, cut triangles from the center and the ends of the second biggest piece of felt, and then pinch the center of the strip. Continue by wrapping the smallest piece of felt around the center and secure this with hot glue. Finish by hot gluing the metal part of the hair tie to the back of the bow!
8. Piggy bank
This could be a bank used to save money for dues. They have white piggy banks at craft stores or Wal-Mart. Many stores have kits to make theses. If you do not find a kit, using paint markers or sharpies work well!
9. Canvases
An easy way to fill your little’s basket is with different canvases. Whether you buy them from the stores or make them your own, there are endless possibilities!
10. Wooden letters
Local craft stores sell these in all different sizes, ranging prices, as they get bigger. You can use craft paper and modge podge, or use acrylic paint. A few ideas are ombre letters, cascading glitter, mirror letters, or chevron letters.
No matter what you make, make it with love and lots of glitter, and your little will love her basket of gifts!
