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How to Decorate a Pledge Paddle

A pledge paddle is given to initiates of a Greek organization when they are asked to pledge the organization. This is a great honor for many college students, and therefore their pledge paddles are special to them. Many new initiates decorate their paddles to make them stand out. Common decorations include paint, Greek letters and the pledge's name. Sometimes a paddle is decorated by a senior member of the organization before it is given to the pledge.

Acrylic paint
Paint brush
Greek stick-on letters
Other stick-on letters
Other decorations (sequins, beads, ribbon)
Glue gun

Instructions

- 1
  Paint the paddle using acrylic paint and a medium-sized brush before applying any other decorations. Allow to dry after one coat and paint a second coat. Use the colors of the school or of the organization to make it stand out.
- 2
  Apply the organization's Greek letters to the paddle using sticky letters. These may be placed horizontally or vertically depending on the look you desire.
- 3
  Place sticky letters of the individual's last name on the paddle. These can go near the handle or at the end of the paddle. Make sure that you lay them out before removing the adhesive tape so that they are evenly spaced.
- 4
  Add other decorations such as sequins, beads or ribbons to the paddle with a glue gun. Allow to dry completely before using the paddle or presenting to the pledge.

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