Help Please!
 

Hey guys..I need a little quick thinking/damage control.

A certain online greek company screwed up my chapter's order of 12 lavaliers...they are going to re-do them but now we aren't going to have them in time for our Initiation on Sunday...

Does anyone have any ideas on something really quick and cheap that we can come up with to give our NM's on Sunday as an initation gift? Traditionally we give them some kind of letters that they can wear, be they stitched or jewelry...

Keep in mind we are located in a place with little to no Greek life, so the option of running to a local Greek store and picking something out is not an option.

ANY help is appreciated!

You can't wear it, but a picture frame decorated with letters would make a good initiation gift. Just make sure each initiate has her picture made!

Sweet Talk :-P
 

I had this problem once...if you call a greek clothing company, and let them know your situation, nine times out of ten they will make sure you have what you need by the time you need it. Seriously, just call a few places up. You might pay out your behind for it, but it works.

If that's not an option, check out a craft store for little wooden boxes or frames or a wooden something that can be painted with your letters on it. A box is a great idea because you can promise them the lavalier to put in it :-D

I like the box idea....now if I only knew where to get wooden boxes around here :-(

Usually craft stores, like Hobby Lobby or Michael's, will have wooden and/or paper mache jewelry boxes. I decorated one for a Lil, and if I remember correctly the box wasn't too pricey.

Hey hun. There's an AC Moore in the Bergen Mall that sells all those wooden things and wooden greek letters. It's really easy to get to. You need to go to the GW Bridge Bus Terminal (take the A train to 175th) and from there take a bus that goes to the Bergen Mall. When you get off, it's right there.

Go to Michaels and buy paint, glitter, fabric, stuffing, thread, needles and small wooden boxes.

Sew squares of fabric to create a pin pillow and stuff with the stuffing.

Paint and decorate the boxes. Paint pens are wonderful for personalization.

Michaels, or any hobby store, will have tons of wood gifts-- boxes, plaques, shapes, you name it-- get creative--- paint a shelf with your colors and personalize your letters and the NM's name with a paint pen.

You can also put together goody bags for the NM's with stuffed animals to represent your mascot, candles decorated with ribbon or stickers, snacks, stationary in your colors or with your flower, etc.

You can also make homemade shirts. Get plain white undershirts in the boys' section at Walmart, some fabric, squeeze bottle of fabric paint, and fuseable web (it's this no-sew stuff you can adhere to fabric with a hot iron!). Using the symbol font on your computer, type out your letters really large. Print them out and trace them onto your fabric. Transfer them onto the shirt with the fuseable web material and outline with the puffy paint. Voile! You have letters!

I've even seen those little unfinished boxes in the craft section at Walmart.

Yeah-- the Walmart Crafts section rocks!

We would decorate picture frames with paint pins.
The other day I was at Michaels and they had unfinished Letters that connected like a train. I was wishing I was still in college so I could decorate them for a sister:)

We have sisters scouring all of the Kmarts, 99 Cent Stores and discount stores in Manhattan and the surrounding areas...I wish we had a Michael's here or a Wal-Mart!

We are going to hopefull go with the wooden boxes or the picture frames...

there's a michael's in queens... not too far off the R train. all my gifts my big made for me are from michael's. and its pretty cute! get to it!

there are 3 greek stores that may be fairly easy to access for you guys from new york city, especially if any of you live in queens.

ADGREEK is located in Queens.

There is also Something Greek out in Hempstead which is not very far out on the island.

Plus there is .Alphabet Greek in East Meadow. I know that's in Nassau but not sure how far out it is.

They all have paddle making supplies so you could probably work with that to make something. And also being from tri-state area which is big on local greeks they might be easier to deal with when it comes to customizing things depending on your time frame.