The Making of a Paddle

As I've talked about a lot, I'm in a sorority. And in sororities, it's extremely common and super exciting to make paddles for each other.

Now I know what you're thinking...that paddles are used for not so nice things. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Paddles in sororities are kind of like one of the biggest, most special, heartfelt presents a sister can give. They are usually given for the Big/Little Pillow/Paddle exchange (Littles make their bigs a paddle and bigs make their littles a pillow!).

But as a cute in-house bonding thing, my sorority decided to do it just for the girls that live in the house. And of course, I was excited. See, I love love love crafting. And there are so many different paddle ideas that I want to try! And not nearly enough occasions for it either.

For reference, last November, this is the paddle I made my big! She loves snowboarding and skiing, so I decided to do a snow theme!

 

 

So when I learned that I had the opportunity to do another, I jumped on the chance.

 

 

My secret sister that I was given only gave me one thing to work with, and that was her favorite color: red. Which is pretty easy since it's my favorite as well!

 

I knew that I wanted to use pearls and lace. And my masterpiece was created!!

 

 

This paddle was so much fun to make and was really easy actually. And it was a hit with my secret sister and the rest of the sorority (both paddles that I've made have been on display for recruitment, which makes me beyond happy).

 

So in case you are wondering, some paddle making tips I have:

 

-Have a plan in mind! It sounds simple, but it's easy to get overwhelmed at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. So draw pictures, spend hours on Pinterest, and think about what you want to do.

 

-Making "pretty" paddles are fun, but the ones that impress people the most, are the personal ones. So if you're big loves giraffes, slap some cute giraffes on it! If she loves cupcakes, do that! Don't just do a simple paddle that's not personal. If you're big loves Snoopy, she'll be more impressed with Snoopy than some pretty fabric.

 

-Give yourself plenty of time! Make sure the paint is dry and the glue has settled before you present it to your sister.

 

-Do it with your strengths. I'm not a painter, so I'm not going to paint a mural of the Rocky Mountains on my big's paddle. I'm good with more crafty/scrapbooking things.

 

 

So there you have it! If you have any questions or want me to go more into depth about the paddles I've made, let me know! But overall, once you get started, you'll get the hang of it! Plus, it's so much fun!!