I took a large round paper mache box and cut a square piece of cardboard to fit on top so that it looked like a graduation hat. Glue the square on the lid of the round box.I cut a slit in the top slightly off to the side, to drop the cards in. I painted the box her school color and made the tassle out of embrodery floss. I used a wooden plug to represent the "button" on top and put the "tassle" on top. I used 2004 stickers to decorate the bottom part. I hope this makes sense. She then used the box to store the cards in later. She has it packed away or I would take a picture of it. Any questions, please ask. Laurie

Another idea... Since the guests are folks who've know her since babyhood...when you send out the invites-include a page from a smaller sized photo album (one with 2-3 ring holes so it can be inserted by her the day of the celebration. The size of the album should have pages that will hold the photo & memory card on the 1 page. Print a'what to do' directions to include with the invite (send in a manilla envelope to fit the photo page)stating to please place a photo of her they have taken, and also include a recipe sized card for them to write down what the occasion was when the photo was taken and/or what special meaning it has for them. If they don't have any photo (from birth thru the present-perhaps you or another family member would give that person one to use. Then...(you still with me? LOL) place a ladder at the party location-place an 8x10 photo of her (Sr photo?) on the very top of the ladder with a sign under it saying : "___'s (her name) Ladder of Life". You can tie cording to each side of the ladder, with clothespins threaded on it (to hold the photo/memory cards that each guest brings. A little sign dividing the rungs of the ladder into sections (Babyhood, Toddlerhood, Elementary, High School)-guests would pin their page of the album into the section when the photo was taken, along w/their memory card. You can decorate the sides of the ladder with bows, school colors or party colors. You'd give her the empty album when she gets ready to open cards-have her read each & then place it in that section of her Memory Album. I've done this w/all 3 of my children & a couple nieces & nephews-well received by all and a treasured album for the graduate!

"I'm of the opinion that we just send a congratulatory card, but DH is upset because he feels obligated to send some money. He's more ticked off about this than I am...we had to look up the cousins info on FB to figure out this was her son. So this begs the question, at what point is it ok to say ENOUGH when the graduation/shower/wedding season starts?" I'd say the point at which you have to look a relative up on a social network site to know who s/he is. Seriously, I don't understand why your husband would feel any obligation to send anything to someone that distant. Really, why? If there is no social relationship, no interaction, and certainly no emotional warmth then what negative consequence does your husband foresee? As for graduations, my younger child is graduating from HS at the end of May. It's a milestone for us because we are now offically done with having kids in K-12. We have a somewhat unusual wrinkle too: because of an employment benefit my kids' college tuition is covered. Since they went to private school from Pre-K through 12 this means our tuition payments are now OVER!!! Much rejoicing as you may imagine. And you betcha we're celebrating. What we are not doing is sending graduation announcements. My daughter told me months ago she thinks they are tacky ways to ask for money or a gift and I agree. The people who are important in her life all know she will soon be a high school graduate. I've mentioned it to friends and colleagues. That's as much as we feel is appropriate or necessary in terms of an announcement. Since we've got a fairly large extended family I found a nice restaurant that serves one of her favorite dishes. I'm inviting the whole family, plus a friend each for daughter and her brother, for dinner after the ceremony. As our guests of course; we will not be sending anyone a request to pay for the meal, a solicitation for a gift, a jocular mention of a money tree or wishing well or any of that nonsense. I just put down the deposit on the meal: salad and empanadas as appetizers, choice of 3 entrees (fish/meat/chicken) and non alcoholic drinks are included. I'll be talking to the catering mgr about wine/beer options for those who might want that (NOT the grad girl :). They said I can bring my own cake. We'll be about 20 for dinner and both my daughter and I can't wait. It will be such a joy to have everyone there to enjoy a good meal and each other's company. We are making a family memory and celebrating a family milestone. And that's our graduation gift to her and ourselves. If we couldn't afford a restaurant I'd invite everyone to our house. The gift of having people she loves share her-and our-joy is the point, not, in the immortal words of Bernadette Peters, 'the stuff'. Ann

A little more background would help us give you more ideas, Lynne. What are your favorite methods of making cards... using die-cuts, paperfolding, pop-ups, embellishments, ribbons, painting, stamping, embossing, beads, ??? Will the card be hand-delivered or will it go through the US mail? Some of the suggestions below would have to be hand-delivered (or mailed in a box) because of the thickness (and fragility) of the embellishments. Minnie has given you a good idea to avoid going to the craft store and investing in a whole different bunch of supplies (LOL!! - not that you don't want to do that, but sometimes it is far less expensive to just [heaven forbid!!] buy a card than to get all the supplies to make one!). Are you giving her just a card, or a card with money or a check in it? A cute way to give $$ is to make a pop-up card with a hand that holds the $$ and "pops" up and out when the card is opened. Another way to give money is to make a diploma using a cardboard tube (from aluminum foil, saran wrap, etc.) covering it with parchment or other paper that has been aged with tea. Tie a red (or HS color) ribbon around the tube, seal with a gold sticker or sealing wax. Put the check or $$ inside the tube. Write a message of congratulations on the paper before sealing it! A third way to give money is to make a purse from cardstock. (If this idea appeals to you, email me and I can send you instructions.) A three-deep graduated petals card can be used as a holder for money, too, or just as a card with lots of messages of congratulations. Playing on Minnie suggestion of graduate stickers, use your niece's HS colors as the backgrounds, and for dimension add a bit of gold thread made into a tassel to the mortarboard. And maybe a black "button eyelet" to hold the tassel in place. Is she going on to college and do you know which one? You could incorporate that school's logo or mascot into your card, or maybe a roadmap from her home to the college. Does she like nature or the outdoors? Make the card with the cover message "Never stop chasing your dreams..." and decorate it with a subtle background of butterflies, perhaps overlaid with sheer vellum. Punch a hole about 2" in diameter in the cover and mount a little butterfly net inside so it is just visible through the hole. Put a couple butterfly stickers inside on or near the net, with inside verse, "Congratulations _ _ _ _ _ (niece's name)!" Here's a very simple one... Print and cut out (or use a sticker) of the world (Earth) that is just the size of a clear, flat-backed glass piece. Mount a plain white square on a textured card. Glue the Earth to the center of the square, then glue on the glass piece. Inside verse could be something like, "The world is waiting for you. Go for it!" Make an accordian pleat card with lots of die-cut hands mounted inside. Mount a single hand on the front on a couple layered rectangles (in HS colors).Tie a little tag to one finger on front hand that says "Clap Clap Clap." Put another set on layered rectangles inside with your message or just "Congratulations!" If you need further explanation for any of the above ideas, Lynne, just email me. Hope these ideas will inspire you.