It’s officially June! I can hardly believe it. For a lot of you, that means graduation is coming up. It also means that many adult heads will be spinning with potential gift ideas. Get them a card with $50? A check to cash in? That’s old news! Ditch the pen and checkbook. Say hello to these handmade and handpicked gift ideas! These are gifts your graduate will treasure forever or at least make them feel fancy for a day!

7 Things To Make And Give A Graduate

As you might know by now, we love a good DIY for all occasions and graduation is such a momentous occasion that deserves something thoughtful. Graduation is an exciting milestone that marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Celebrating the accomplishments of a graduate with a heartfelt gift can make the occasion even more memorable. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

1. Charm Bracelet Graduation Lei 

This charm bracelet paper necklace is one of my favorite ideas and a great alternative to a traditional lei, which is super popular here in Utah with our large Pacific Islander population.

I love the idea of cutting out shapes of things that are personal to the graduate and presenting it as a story to their lives. They could even cut off the tokens and keep those for after as a scrapbook.

2. DIY Paper Flower Lei For Graduation

Speaking of leis, fresh floral leis are pretty common around these parts, but maybe not where you live so how about some paper flowers? While live flowers fade and die overtime, our excitement for this graduation paper lei does not! Such a great reminder of an important step!

3. Money Graduation Lei

 

The age old graduation gift is either a nicely made out check or a few bills. How about bills with a twist? This money lei is the perfect way to give some money to the well-deserving graduate with style! And if you’re looking for something even fancier, we did a special money necklace in my book, Craft the Rainbow.

4. Time Capsule

Create a time capsule filled with items that reflect the graduate’s current interests, achievements, and dreams. Include personal letters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and small mementos. Seal the time capsule and mark a future date for its opening, perhaps five or ten years down the line. This gift allows the graduate to look back on their accomplishments and see how much they have grown since their graduation day.

5. Paper Flower Graduation Tassel

You know the story…same old boring cap and gown. Add some flair with a paper flower tassel! This is a memorable graduation keepsake that will leave their fellow students green with envy – ha!

6. Paper money plant

The Chinese money plant is a popular plant to give because it’s also known as the friendship plant. It also symbolizes abundance, prosperity, and good luck, all things that are perfect for a graduate. You can find the tutorial in Corrie Beth Hogg’s Handmade Houseplants. Of you can send them a real plant here.

7. Memory Jar for the graduate

Capture cherished memories and moments with a DIY memory jar. Decorate a mason jar with colorful ribbons, stickers, or paint. Encourage friends and family to write down their favorite memories, inspirational quotes, or future aspirations on small pieces of paper. Fill the jar with these notes and seal it. The graduate can open a note whenever they need a boost of positivity or a reminder of how far they’ve come.