I know this is probably a long shot but...

[AOII Angel]

Recycle your own stuff. If it doesn't have your own name on it, pass it down. You can get some more XO stuff later when you have more time to save up some money. I had to take a little sis my senior year after taking one in each of the two previous years. It was NOT the tradition of my chapter to do so, but we had a huge increase in numbers. I love my senior little, but I hadn't prepared for a new little like I did with the others. She got a lot of things that I had gotten for myself. I looked at the things and realized that I didn't NEED them, and I'd rather give them away and make her happy.

[momof4girls]

Pardon my crash. I think you're best bet is to determine your overall budget first. If you're will to pay for shipping from fellow sisters, then you have enough to make a wonderful basket of goodies yourself.

Here are some inexpensive ideas:

If you have or know someone that can sew, ask if they would sew letters on a shirt. Maybe a fellow sister has a mom that's close and would be willing to sew the letters on. You do all the leg work, buy the t-shirt cut the letters. Joann's has good quality t-shirts 3 for $9 dollars all the time. It only takes 1/4 yard of fabric for the letters and a 1/4 yard of heat n bond. For less than $15 you can have three shirts or just buy one to lesson the cost.

Picture frames from the dollar store. Mod podge fabric or scrapbook paper to the frame. Embellish with flowers and rhinestones. The embellishment is optional, but if it's in the budget...go for it.

This gum ball machine would be adorable.
http://dandelionsanddustbunnies.blog...max-results=20
You can easily find a clay pot at goodwill or a thrift store or just buy new. Acrillic paint runs less than a dollar at walmart.

Canvases, walmart has a three pack of canvases for around $6 or $7 if memory serves me well.

If you know someone in the agriculture department, ask if they would cut wooden letters for you. You can buy a piece of wood cheap at lowes or home depot. Then paint the letters or mod podge fabric or scrapbook paper.

Scrapbook stores often put their rub on letters on sale for less than a $1 a package. Check their sale bins.

Buy a composition notebook and cover with scrapbook paper and cut out paper letters. Wonderful for taking to chapter or new member meetings.

Buy a cute basket from Goodwill or thrift store to package everything in.

Good luck!

[Still BLUTANG]

Make a no-sew fleece blanket in your colors.

very quick/simple to make, inexpensive, and CUTE as all get-out.

instructions:
http://www.instructables.com/id/No-S...ece-Blanket-1/
http://www.seventeen.com/fun/article...fleece-blanket

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by momof4girls

Buy a composition notebook and cover with scrapbook paper and cut out paper letters. Wonderful for taking to chapter or new member meetings.

^^^This was one of my favorite gifts. My SAI big got me a notebook and decorated the front of it with a Rosie the Riveter motif and covered it with modge podge. I'm a huge Rosie fan!

My other favorite gift was actually from my SAI little. She bought me a red and white stuffed dog and wrote "<3 your little sis" on the white ear with a sharpie.

Both of these things I still have.

One of my SAI family's traditions is to decoupage a glass bottle with pictures, scrapbook paper, etc. and write a letter to the little to put on the inside. It's a letter in a bottle!