College Survival Kit

originally posted 6/17 ~ these make great graduations gifts:

I have made these in the past for my nieces going off to college - it's a practical, useful, and very easy to make gift. Find a container that has lots of dividers, and fill it up with all those little things that everyone eventually needs but never has.

I found this double-sided case at Hobby Lobby but usually I use one of the clear plastic holders like the kind that were originally meant for organizing embroidery thread and has customizable dividers.

Hit up the dollar store, grocery store, drug store, or even look around your house for (unused!) things that a college kid might need (and not even know they are going to need!). You can find most everything in mini travel sizes now which makes putting this together so easy.

Have fun thinking of things to put in the survival kit - some ideas:

• gift cards for (emergency) fast food - pizza, subs, Taco Bell, Starbucks
• cotton balls and q-tips
• small sewing kit with pre-threaded needles in basic colors, a couple buttons, safety pins
• tiny stapler, paper clips, rubber bands, sticky notes, tape, krazy glue, a sharpie pen
• phone cord
• tylenol, airborne, throat lozenges, rolaids, neosporin, bandaids, chapstick, sunscreen
• lysol, tide stick, lint roller
• hair ties, nail clippers, tweezers, nail file
• tiny toothpaste, mouthwash, floss sticks
• batteries, matches and a tea light
• gum, package of fruit snacks, package of almonds 

I found the "college survival kit" printable here and taped one on each side. Just 'cuz it's cute.

I wrapped it in tissue paper and made one of my favorite tissue flower bows for the top (click here to see how to make them!)

Mason Jar Graduation Gift

This might be too late for you to make this year since it's almost mid-June and most kids have graduated by now...but it's a cute easy idea if you still need a gift! Or if you are hosting a graduation open house these would be super cute decorations on the tables.  It's been on Pinterest for a while now, I have no idea who to credit for the original post! I'll try to remember to re-share this idea next Spring in time for you to make one ;)

Supplies:
black cardstock
embroidery thread
1 brad
hot glue
mason jar with ring

Directions:

1) from black cardstock cut out a 3.5" square and a 1" strip as long as needed to go around the ring that screws onto the top of your mason jar
2) glue the strip around the ring, then glue the square to the top of the ring.
3) make a tassel out of embroidery thread (whatever color you want but if you can make it the school colors that'd be nice!) that is about 3" long, leaving a 6" tail. If you need instructions for making a tassel click here but remember to find something to wrap the embroidery thread around that will give you the correct length of your finished tassel.
4) poke a hole in the top of the cardstock square and run the tail thru it, letting the tassel dangle off the edge of the square. I put a star shaped brad in the hole over top of the thread to make it look nicer, a round one would work fine. Or whatever you have that will cover the hole! Then trim any thread off that is hanging on the inside.
5) it's not necessary but I cut a circle out of the black cardstock to cover the underside of the cap where the thread and brad are, just to finish it a little more.
6) fill the jar with anything - I rolled up dollar bills and stuffed the jar full but you can fill with whatever gift you want that will fit! gift cards, candy, a mini survival kit...or just use these for decorations - so cute!

College Survival Kit

For Kenedy's open house I wanted to give her a gift instead of just handing her money, but obviously it needed to be something as useful and necessary as money haha...I have made these before for my nieces going off to college so decided to make one for Kenedy too. It's a very easy gift to put together and the kids seem to really like it - I found this double-sided case at Hobby Lobby but usually I use one of the clear plastic holders like the kind that were originally meant for organizing embroidery thread and has customizable dividers. Then hit up the dollar store, grocery store, drug store, or even look around your house for (unused!) things that a college kid might need (and not even know they are going to need!).

Here's what I included - make it personal and tailor the kit for your recipient:

• gift cards for ('emergency') fast food - pizza, subs, Taco Bell, Starbucks
• cotton balls and q-tips
• small sewing kit with pre-threaded needles in basic colors, couple buttons, safety pins
• tiny stapler, paper clips, rubber bands, sticky notes, tape, krazy glue, a sharpie pen
• phone cord
• tylenol, airborne, throat lozenges, rolaids, neosporin, bandaids, chapstick
• lysol, tide stick
• hair ties, nail clippers, tweezers, nail file
• tiny toothpaste, mouthwash, floss sticks
• batteries, matches and a tea light
• gum, package of fruit snacks, package of almonds

There might be more things in there but now I can't remember ;). Just wing it - it's fun to put together!

I found the "college survival kit" printable here and taped one on each side. Just 'cuz it's cute.

I wrapped it in tissue paper and made one of my favorite tissue flower bows for the top (click here to see how to make them!)