Banners, Pins, Magnets for the future

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Just a little info to file away--not to take away from the lovely ribbons you'll be wearing at PIR, but you might want some of this info for the future.  If you're craftier than me, you can come up with other things, but I tend to order from the internet!

Build A Sign  (http://www.buildasign.com/Troops) will allow you to order a free banner.  You pay only postage and extras like special grommets.  When I ordered ours for my son's homecoming from Afghanistan, I didn't use my son's name, just "Welcome Home, A true American hero."  We've used it with homecomings at the airport with the Patriot Guard Riders for other military members.

http://www.DesignsonDemand.com provides dog tags, car magnets, banners (expensive, better to use Build a Sign), and tons of things you can customize.  My granddaughters wear dog tags with their daddy's picture.  I made mine into a pin by adding the ribbon--it embarrasses my son!

 

I've also ordered customized items from Vista Print. 

You'll find lots of internet businesses that cater to military families.  I've never had a bad experience, but recommend these especially.  I'll bring a few of the items on Thursday.

 

Lastly, these are "daddy dolls" I've made for military families with daddies who are away.  I use a t-shirt transfer with a full length picture on 100% cotton and stuff it like a little pillow.

 

 

[ColoradoConnie]

I have heard of and have seen the Daddy Dolls. We had one made for my little grand niece and grand nephew! These are all great ideas! Thanks Ruth!

[Brandis_Mom]

Ladies, I have found another great gift idea for maybe when they get to their first duty station or graduate A school. My neighbor she makes custom 8 1/2x11" "Special Days to Remember" (holiday, birthday,anniversary date) books, they are custom made to what ever type of picture or graphics you want on the front of the book (for Brandi, I am having a collage of her pets put on the front, it was either that or something military and the pets won out), then on the inside is pocket with the month and days and then inside the pocket you can put the cards for that months birthdays, anniversary's or whatever important date you want in there. This way, they don't have to try to remember cards and the special dates on their own and especially if they go on a ship right away, if they already have the cards in this book, they are 99% of the way there, they just need a stamp and put it in the mail. Oh yeah and in the back of the months is a place for names and address's which makes this very convenient, but also the monthly pages has a place for names and address's as well.

 

I will take a picture of the one I got from her right after we got here, she only charges $15 + 3.00 postage,  and she will customize it to your own dates you want and the front cover, which the front and back cover is laminated it is very durable. And if you want a special type font she will do that for you as well.  She will practically do anything that a person wants, I got the one for myself in this picture I am including, plus got one for my mother and mother-in-law for Mothers Day and I filled them with cards and stamps for them as well. On my moms, I had her put quilt designs on the front, since my mom is into quilting and my mother-in-laws I had pictures of flowers since she is an avid flower grower.  If any of you want one, just let me know and I will tell her.  Depends on how many orders she gets and the graphics, she can usually get them out within a week she says.  And if you buy more then 1 she said the shipping will be free on all of them.  Almost forgot the other thing, she will also put the names in the book for you and the year of the event, that way it will save you some writing. Or the book can just be sent straight to your Sailor if you want.  Almost forgot she will be gone for about a week, starting Thursday so if you want one, she won't be able to start on it until next week.

 

If you want to email her direct, you can contact her at [e-mail]