DIY Life

When I graduated from high school -- more years ago than I would prefer to admit -- the school had graduation announcements that we could purchase. They were simple and, well, a bit boring. But I've had several nieces and nephews graduate in recent years and the announcements they purchased from their schools were much more elaborate... and more expensive.

I'm not sure if my nieces' and nephews' announcements are the norm now-a-days, but if so, the cost alone would be reason for making your own announcements. Besides the money factor, DIY announcements mean you have a one-of-a-kind creation: something unique and wonderful for the grad in your life.

Shine has a beautiful and elegant DIY announcement idea. She used folded cardstock, vellum, a custom rubber inkstamp, and ribbon. Want more announcement ideas? Check out this post about Print Gocco, and this wedding invitation post, for ideas you can apply to grad announcements.

Graduation day is coming at us fast. For those graduating from college, and some from high school, this ceremony is the final hurrah before settling into the world of labor and taxes. Yuck. So it's generally traditional to get a little crazy.

At my high school graduation, the gimmick was this: the first person to fake tripping while strolling across the stage to accept his or her diploma would be awarded a jug of rum. Somebody beat me to it, darn it! Here's a great idea, though: make a spinning graduation cap.

To prepare for this nifty stunt, you'll need a CD-ROM motor, a switch, batteries, wiring, and a good sense of humor! Put it together and wow your friends. Um, you might want to be in physical possession of your diploma before activating the magic mortarboard!

The younger set is getting ready for new experiences as well. Preschoolers will be moving on to elementary school. Kindergarteners will be moving up the ranks to first grade. What better way to recognize this milestone than with an official graduation cap, complete with tassel? I'll tell you more after the break.

About this time last year, I stopped over at my sister's house. She informed me that my niece, the president of her high school class, was in her bedroom crying. I asked why and my sister sighed and said, "I tried to help her with her graduation speech." I went to my niece's room and helped her bang out an awesome speech to wow the crowd. (Sometimes kids are more willing to accept help from someone who isn't their parent.)

Though I think the speech my niece and I crafted was great, we could have used some of these tips on writing a memorable graduation speech. Your first step is to avoid the cliches. We've all heard the graduation speeches about how students are "prepared for their futures" and so forth. Instead of the same old, same old, try some of the tips that I'll list after the break.

In about a month, college students across the country will throw their caps in the air to mark the end of their campus careers. It's an exciting time of life that's marked by new jobs, new friends, and often new apartments.

Living on your own isn't quite the same as living with roomies or in a dorm, and even with a shiny new paycheck, things can be tight until you get on your feet.

Erin Doland of Unclutterer (a website which is now, officially, my best friend) recently wrote a guest post at Gen Pink on how to organize your first apartment. The idea here is not to run out to the nearest Container Store and buy every colorful plastic box in sight. Instead, Doland recommends that you:

• Spend some time thinking about how your kitchen will be used and unpack your boxes accordingly. Glasses near the sink, for instance, and pots and pans near the stove.
• Ask for household gifts as graduation presents. Since people don't get necessarily get married any more before setting up house, it's too bad we don't throw "first house/apartment" showers instead.
• Reuse items from your college apartment in a new way. Those milk crates, for instance, can become recycling bins.
• Prioritize what you need and focus on acquiring that. You'll be amazed by how little it takes to get by.
• Don't store your trash can under your sink where it can overflow and draw pests.

Let's hear it, DIY Life readers: what kind of advice would you share with first time apartment or home owners to get their living space in shape?