10 Fun Ways to Reuse Graduation Gowns

Graduating, no matter what degree you are receiving, is an incredibly important moment that you will want to remember forever. When you finish walking across that stage, don't just toss your graduation regalia in a box to be stuffed under a bed or in the closet, never to be seen again. Reuse those special momentums, particularly your gown, as an every-day item to remember your success by.

1. Make a set of book covers! Cut out rectangles of fabric a 6 inches longer and 2 inches taller than the open book you want to cover. Fold the top and bottom down by 1 inch and glue or sew in place to leave a nice edge. Fold the ends in by 3 inches and glue just the sides down (leaving a flap open for the book edges to sit into). Grab a set of fabric paint pens and decorate away! Now every time you open your graduation scrapbook, journal, or favorite book, you'll have a reminder of your graduation day!

2. Make a set of bookmarks! Cut out strips of fabric, decorate with fabric pens, and place between lamination paper (found at your local craft store) to create as many bookmarks as you want!

3. Make a purse or tote bag! Visit your local fabric store to find a pattern for a purse or tote bag you like and use your graduation bag for the fabric! You can use it as the outer layer of the purse or the lining, and use the sleeves for a wallet or coin purse!

4. Make a scarf! While you're at the fabric store, grab a pattern for a scarf or scarf-belt and accessorize using your graduation gown!

5. Make a background for your framed diploma! Carefully cut a square out of your graduation gown, measuring 1 inch larger than your frame on all sides. Fold the fabric around the batting or backing for the diploma and use fabric glue to hold in place. Now your framed diploma will be surrounded by a background of your graduation gown!

6. Make patches! Patches on purses and pants are becoming increasingly popular, so grab the remaining fabric from your graduation gown after the rest of your projects are done and cut out a variety of sizes and shapes for patches! Use fabric paint pens to decorate and attach to clothing, or cut out quilting squares to remember your graduation day with!

7. Make a Halloween costume! Use your graduation gown, graduation cap and graduation tassels to dress up as a College Graduate next Halloween, or use the gown as part of a mad scientist costume! You could even bleach your graduation gown and cap to white and go as the ghost of a graduate!

8. Decorate a lamp shade! Cut patches to attach to your favorite lamp shade, or replace the fabric of the lamp shade and stretch sections of the fabric from your graduation gown over the frame to create a graduation-themed lamp! Attach your graduation cap at the top and use fabric paint pens to decorate away and personalize your graduation gown lamp!

9. Make a set of curtains! If you have a small window in your room or a cabinet or nook without a door, use your graduation gown to create a set of curtains! You could even dedicate a shelf of your bookcase to graduation memorabilia and create a set of curtains to frame or close off the shelf!

10. Make a tablecloth! Cut out a square or rectangle of fabric from your graduation gown, attach ribbon or lace around the edges for a decorative border, and use your new graduation gown table cloth to decorate an end table, night stand, or coffee table in your bedroom, dorm room, or new apartment!