How To Make A Graduation Ribbon Lei

Graduation time! Parties, speeches, and mountains of well-deserved praise are headed your way. But what's missing? A *fabulous* lei, of course!

Ribbon Lei: The DIY Graduation Game-Changer

Forget those boring flower leis that wilt faster than your motivation to write that final paper. We're diving headfirst into the wonderful world of ribbon leis – they're vibrant, personalized, and last practically forever.

Plus, making one is surprisingly easy. Trust me, if I can do it (and I once glued my fingers together attempting a simple friendship bracelet), you definitely can!

Gather Your Supplies (aka, Raid the Craft Store)

First, you'll need ribbon. Lots and lots of ribbon! Think school colors, glittery ribbon, patterned ribbon – go wild.

Aim for at least three rolls, maybe even four if you want a super-duper-full lei. You’ll also need scissors. Sharp ones are a must unless you want to spend the next hour wrestling with frayed edges.

Next grab some string or yarn. This is the backbone of your lei. Don’t use dental floss unless you want a minty-fresh graduation experience.

Finally, consider some embellishments! Beads, buttons, mini-graduation caps (yes, they exist!), the possibilities are endless.

The Braid: It's Easier Than You Think!

Cut your ribbon into strips. About 4-6 inches long is a good starting point, but you can experiment.

Think of these strips as your ammunition! Now, tie your string or yarn into a loop. This is where the magic happens.

Fold a ribbon strip in half, creating a loop. Place the loop around the string or yarn, and pull the ends of the ribbon through the loop. Tighten it up!

Repeat this process, overlapping each new ribbon loop slightly with the previous one. This creates that full, luscious lei look.

Keep going, keep going, keep going! You'll find your rhythm soon enough.

Eventually, you'll have a beautiful braided ribbon creation. It's almost like magic, or maybe just perseverance.

Spice it Up (Because Plain is Boring)

Now for the fun part! This is where you can really let your personality shine.

Add beads to the ribbon loops before you tighten them. Scatter them randomly or create a pattern.

Glue on those mini-graduation caps. If you can't find those, get creative! Tiny felt shapes, glittery stars, whatever strikes your fancy.

Alternate different ribbon types. A stripe of glitter ribbon followed by a stripe of your school colors? Yes, please!

Think about incorporating school mascot charms or small photos. This is YOUR lei, make it amazing!

Finishing Touches (Almost There!)

Once your lei is the desired length (long enough to comfortably fit around the graduate's neck), it's time to tie it off.

Carefully remove the lei from your work surface and secure the ends of the string together. A simple knot will do the trick.

Trim any excess string. You don't want the graduate tripping over their fabulous creation!

Presenting Your Masterpiece

And there you have it! A stunning, personalized ribbon lei that’s sure to be a graduation hit. Prepare for gasps of admiration and maybe even a few envious glances.

Just imagine the photos! This lei will look incredible in every graduation picture.

Most importantly, you made it! You poured your heart and soul (and a whole lot of ribbon) into this thoughtful gift. Congratulations to you and the graduate!

So go forth and create! Let the ribbon lei revolution begin!