Graduation marks the end of years of hard work, and it deserves a keepsake with a personal touch. That might be a memory box of small treasures, a beautifully framed photograph, or the certificate itself on the wall.
A well-chosen present, such as a smart silver picture frame, adds elegance and keeps the memory safe. At the party, a memory table with framed photos, yearbooks and mementoes of student days gets the guests reminiscing.
Whether you choose a printed photo book or a handmade scrapbook, the key is to pick things that mean something to the graduate.
Making a graduation memory box
Style and materials
Choose a box that reflects the graduate's personality. Wood has a handmade, timeless feel. Metal is sleek and modern. A felt lining protects delicate items, and a clear acrylic box lets the contents be seen.
Personal touches
Fill it with things that stand for the journey: photos, handwritten notes, ticket stubs, the order of ceremony. A label or an engraved message adds to its meaning. So does a favourite quotation that kept them going through revision.
Making it last
Choose a sturdy box, and use compartments or padding so that nothing gets crushed. Keep it somewhere dry, and wrap photographs and papers in acid-free tissue.
Capturing the day
Choosing the photographs
Look for the pictures that show the achievement and the joy: the graduate in cap and gown, the moment on the stage, and informal shots with family and friends. A mixture of posed and candid photos tells the whole story. The posed ones record the formality of the occasion, and the candid ones catch the real emotion.
Preserving the certificate
The degree certificate is the proof of all that work, so frame it properly. Use an acid-free mount and backing, which will not discolour the paper, and UV-protective glazing, which stops the ink and the signatures fading.
A mount in the university's colours is a nice touch. Measure the certificate before you order, because they are not all A4. And never trim, fold or glue it. It should be held with acid-free hinges or corners so that it can be removed undamaged.
Collecting mementoes
Keep the programme, the tickets, the hood or tassel if it is yours to keep, and the cards of congratulation. They can go in the memory box or a scrapbook, or into a frame.
Framing and presentation
Box frames
A box frame, or shadow box, has depth, so it can hold objects as well as paper: a certificate with a photograph, a tassel, a medal or a prize. Everything is protected behind glazing.
- Keep the layout balanced and uncluttered.
- Use different depths for a more interesting display.
- Choose a backing and frame that suit the theme.
An album or a collage
An album sets out the events in order. A collage, or a multi-aperture frame, shows several photos together in one eye-catching piece.
- Use acid-free materials, to prevent yellowing.
- Add captions or notes, to say who and where.
- Choose a well-made album or frame that will last.
Finishing touches
- A double mount, with the inner one in a university colour or a metallic finish, adds sophistication to a framed certificate.
- A small engraved plaque with the name, degree and date makes it unique.
- A good frame protects everything and shows it off.
Graduation presents with a difference
The best graduation present is not something off the shelf. Handmade and personalised items, of the kind sold by independent makers online, carry far more meaning: engraved jewellery, an art print of the university, a personalised sweatshirt.
Personalising turns an ordinary present into a special one. A framed photograph from the day, an engraved pen or a memory box will be kept and valued for years, and shows the graduate how proud you are.
EasyFrame offers a wide range of made-to-measure frames, including frames for certificates, and with long experience we can advise on the right frame. Call us on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are always happy to talk, whether or not you want to buy.