graduation lei (i need your help!):

[steppie.livejournal.com]

creative folks, i need your help!

so here's my situation:
my boyfriend is graduating from college in a couple weeks. i was thinking of buying him a lei off of etsy, but started to realize that i should just make it myself! i wanted to make something different from the ordinary flower or ribbon lei, and something a bit more personal instead... something that can commemorate his achievements + remind him of his memories from college!

i don't know how i'm going to go about it just yet (it's all thoughts and ideas right now), but thought you guys could help stir some ideas or might even show me projects that you guys have created yourself!

as a tidbit, he actually made me a lei when i graduated last year... and keep in mind, he's not a very "crafty" person, so it was an extremely thoughtful gift. and in addition, it was a MONEY LEI. yes, you heard me. here are photos to prove it:

and he made that with his own two hands!
considering i'm supposed to be the "crafty" one in the relationship, how do i top that?! lol.

i neeeeed ideas!
( thank you in advance )

xo,
steppie