paddles and nonpaddle paddles

[dorkydeanna]

In our chapter, we just give paddles to our bigs.

Here's the one I just got from my little!

[nittanygirl]

Originally Posted by dorkydeanna

In our chapter, we just give paddles to our bigs.

Here's the one I just got from my little!

Cuteee!!!! I love paddles and can't wait to have one. I really want to make myself a mini paddle with all of my new member class info on it and paint it like I did for my big (pictures on the previous page!) but I want my first paddle to be from my future little so I'm going to try to wait.

[Senusret I]

I finally have my paddles (and shields) in one place!

[SilverTurtle]

I don't know why I didn't look through this thread any sooner. Some very, very cool paddles/nonpaddles!

When I was in college, paddles were a big thing for every organization (even the professional ones like mine).

We actually made our own paddles during our probationary period. My chapter had a 'paddle party' where the chapter provided all of the materials. Our probationary educator & most of the bigs were there to oversee and offer suggestions. But we just made them in a couple of hours.

I can only think of one sorority on my campus where they didn't get paddles until they had a little, actually. All of the other oragnizations I think I recall members having them by the time they were initiated. Which is different than what everyone else seems to have posted regarding their paddles/nonpaddles.

ANYWAYS, I just snapped a quick photo of mine:



Originally it was just bare wood with the greek letters and a few symbols painted on. After the fact I decided I wanted to make it look way more awesome. I actually used paint markers for all of the coloring. In the photo you can really see some of the puffy paint underneath, although in real life it's much more subtle (and kind of a cool unintentional effect).

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I finally have my paddles (and shields) in one place!

Pledge much?

[ProudandTrue]

I don't mean any disrespect, but why do you have so many paddles? We usually only got a paddle from our little sister, so a sister would usually have only one -- maybe two -- by the time she graduated.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by ProudandTrue

I don't mean any disrespect, but why do you have so many paddles? We usually only got a paddle from our little sister, so a sister would usually have only one -- maybe two -- by the time she graduated.

Why do you have so few? Maybe I'm just that loved?

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I finally have my paddles (and shields) in one place!

*slow moment* Took me a while to figure out where your APhiO ones were. hahaha

You have some damn impressive paddles!

[ProudandTrue]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Why do you have so few? Maybe I'm just that loved?

I wish I had that many! I think they're great -- just wondered if they were for certain things, or if you just really enjoyed making them. The one with the (founders?) is really unique.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

*slow moment* Took me a while to figure out where your APhiO ones were. hahaha

You have some damn impressive paddles!

Thank you :-)

I am waiting on my split SPE/APA paddle. Hand carved, of course. lol

Originally Posted by ProudandTrue

I wish I had that many! I think they're great -- just wondered if they were for certain things, or if you just really enjoyed making them. The one with the (founders?) is really unique.

Some are gifts, some were purchased because of the style. I guess you can say I'm a collector/supporter of the craft.

[shannakate]

this is probably the wrong place to ask, really stupid, or a mixture of the two. i'm making a paddle for my one sister who doesn't have a little, and i kind of want to use scrapbooking paper on it. what's the best way to go about putting the paper on there, especially if you have to use more then one piece of it on the paddle? also, do you prefer the paper over paint?

[victoriana]

You can use spray adhesive or modge-podge to glue the scrapbook paper down. Make sure you press down evenly so there won't be any air bubbles. Once that is done, you should apply a few layers of modge podge over the top. If you look back through this thread, I believe there are a couple examples of scrapbook paper on paddles. Good luck!

(Credit to Smile_Awhile and CarolinaPhi for their tips)

[GreysObsessed]

Originally Posted by jennyj87

When I get stressed out I paint. I decided to make my little something wooden.

sorry its blurry

LOVE LOVE LOVE how the font is fading as from gold to white!!

[sigmagirl10]

We are a brand new chapter (and the Nu chapter, haha!) so we've done all of our paddle and plaque exchanging at once. Some of them were so beautiful and I hope my sisters will come and post pictures here.

Everyone else made plaques for their littles, but because my little dropped, I made one for my grandlittle and one for my "niece"--as a founding mother, my charter class is matched up in "co big" pairs so that we could all have the big/little week experience with each other (I think other sororities sometimes call this twins?) and thus my "co big's" little is my niece.



Here is the paddle I made for my big

[littleMOpenguin]

This is the paddle I made for my Big Sis. She LOVED it & this summer she is working on mine I cant wait to see what it lookes like