I used a real paddle AKA a canoe oar. It was very cool. I wrapped the neck with turquoise and gray ribbon and wound silk white violets into it.

I decopauged our crest and creed to it, and added our letters, my name and my big's name. Wish I had a picture of it - it was the 'talk' of the chapter.

My chapter didn't use the traditional paddles. We gave our bigs wood blocks that were cut into different objects. There was a greek store by the University that sold these types of paddles but they're no longer in business. I'm not sure where the girls in my chapter go now to get their paddles.

We had "Paddle Parties" where the new pledge class would gather together at this store to decorate their big's paddle. They had paint, glitter, and adhesive letters/symbols for our use.

My big is into synchronized swimming so I got her a paddle with a swimmer cut out. I collect stuffed animal pigs and other pig paraphenalia so my little got me a pig paddle. :)

Do you have any pictures of you and your big sis together? A friend's little sister got some pictures and made a collage pattern type thing for her paddle. I don't quite remember if she used the actually picture (that seems too thick to me), or used online pictures and printed in grayscale (seems the ink would run during schlacking) but it looked awesome.

Ooo that sounds nice! Thanks!

If anybody knows on what medium (computer paper? photo paper?) to print the photos, please reply to the thread. :)

Try enviro tech. Its so much better than decoupage. I made my lil a paddle like that. Its basically a plastic polymer that you pour over the paddle. It takes 18-24 hours to dry and when its done it looks awesome.

Re: enviro tech
 

That sounds cool... is it clear matte or shiny? Where can I get this? (Craft store, hardware store, Wal-Mart?..) Thanks

manners
 

You're rude. Why didn't you just ask nicely?

I don't have any pics though, as mine is in progress.

You can get Enviro Tech at AC Moore. Or any arts and crafts store.

Thanks, Matt. :)

Not rude. We're a fan of clever smilies.

ADPi chapter members don't give paddles, but the sponsoring sister presents the new initiate with a wood gift. At my chapter, this was a diamond-shaped wood board (I made one for my diamond sister in the style of our badge; covered with black velvet fabric, and spray painted gold our letters and symbols on the badge, and added our names.)

Other chapters I have seen give lion shaped wood boards, or other wood shapes, so long as they are not paddles.

I've seen girls get really creative with paint, fabric, etc., or some that go the traditional wood burned etched letters.

Keep it simple!

That is a beautiful paddle.

The ones that I gave my littles were fairly ordinary, though I did paint the letters and the rose so that it would be a little more colorful.

I was supposed to take 2 littles this semester one I knew was going to be mine from the second we met so she called her self thing 1 from the Dr. Seuss movie. She is making me a Thing1 paddle b/c it represents both of us.

We have had people with play boy bunnies Tinker bell butterflies are extremly popular. I unique paddle is always something fun to have.