Creative paddles
 

What are some of the creative ways you have heard to decorate paddles? I want to make a really unique paddle for my big sis and am looking for some interesting options.

I have heard of using wood cuts, paint, dry glitter attached by aerosol hair spray, and decoupage.

Thanks for all your advice! :)

PS - Does anyone know whether I can decoupage photos or magazine clippings or both?

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ight=decoupage

That was a thread on decoupage that you might find somewhat helpful.

Otherwise, I would just say to think outside the box. Some people like natural wood paddles, others like completely painted paddles.

The sky's the limit. Good luck!

Do you and your big have a unique connection in some way or do you guys have some type of inside joke? For example, this semester my roommate and I have been suffering through calc-based physics together. Our teacher is terrible and subsequently we study physics all the time. We always talk about how much we hate physics. We made eachother î physics paddles (î, read i-hat, is a physics term indicating the x direction). The one I made Steph is black with clouds and stars, representing the late-night hours we spend studying physics. It turned out to be really cute and super personal because it has a special meaning. We have decided it will be a new Alpha Chi tradition to make î physics paddles for all the girls who have to take physics (we have several science majors who will be taking physics next year).

On a side note, you should definately invest in paint pens. You can get them at WalMart or the like (I assume anyways). I've always painted the paddles I have made, but I've seen some that have been decoupaged that are really cute.

Good luck!

Thanks!
 

Thank you all for the help so far!

I just read the decoupage thread, and the starry night physics paddles is so sweet!

The theme is a great idea.

I love paint pens too.

If anyone else has more tips, please, keep em comin! ;)

I'm totally jealous of my brother's paddle, it's in the shape of one of his guitars, considering he both 1) plays guitar, and 2) plays air guitar on a regular basis.

My dad is highly skilled at wood-working. My one little's paddle has a K and a Delta carved out into the top of the wood, my other little's paddle is in the shape of a dagger. My best friend who was an art major painted white roses on my big's paddle. They all turned out really nice, and everyone in the chapter was jealous because they all just buy standard paddles at the greek store.

glitter paint. its the best. it makes it either shimmery or sparkley, depending on what you choose to use.

Different shaped paddles?
 

Thank you everyone for all your ideas so far! I have decided to make a paddle for everyone in my family (5!). :D This is big, since our colony hasn't really made paddles before this semester.

Does anyone know where I can either buy a pre-cut different-shaped paddle or ask for a custom-shaped paddle? I cannot make one, and I don't have anyone to ask.. thanks again! :)

Any Greek store like Greek101 or Something Greek that sells paddles also sells boards that are cut out in shape of sorority's symbols so they have an anchor.

t3h 5\/\/337/\/355
 

Thank you, Daisy. :)

No problem but what do the numbers at the top mean?

I feel like a jerk for not giving my little brother his paddle yet. He gave me mine when I came back to homecoming. I need to bring him his over his winterbreak. It 's cool it is white with red letters.

it's Hackor speak and it spells out "the sweetness"

Optimist I'm sure your bro's paddle will be great! :)
 

Lol.. thank you, Phoenix. I was just feelin kinda silly when I wrote it... I ain't no hacker. ;)

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.