what should i get my mom for a graduation present?
606105
a gift certificate to a nice day spa. she can spend the day getting a facial and massage. then maybe you can take her to dinner that night...
859993
Gift certificate to her \nfavorite store, and a \nmushy sister-card.
228546
You can give her a framed picture of both of you.\n\nYou could buy a nice economic wood picture frame (could be 4" x 6" it won't cost more than $5.00) and paint it or decorated in an unique way.  If you could not buy one you could make one yourself with cardboard or wood stiks.\n\nYou could also see if the bookstore you work at is something you like for her and ask you boss if he could take the money out of your pay in several installments.\n\nIf you had no money, go see if you could find some pretty flowers and make her a bouquet.\n\nThere are lots of ideas you could use. But it wont matter what you get her. The best gift a son or daughter could give to their mom is their love and to let her know she is being the best mom you could ever had.  That's all moms care about
1024901
The customary notion would be to get her something she likes with a certain immediacy, like a gift certificate.  That is quaint.  To give a gift certificate or money, however, it won't be remembered years from now.\n\nOn the other hand, I believe that the best gift on the occasion of one's grauation is something lasting and memorable, and when she looks at it years from now, she will allways be reminded of the landmark occasion and of who gave it to her.  I also believe in giving very unique gifts.\n\nIn your city, do you have those companies that can take a 3D image of a person, and then carve it into a glass cube?  Here in Las Vegas, they are all over the place, particularly at shopping malls and casino resorts.  When one of my oldest friends visited here two years ago, she and I went and had a portrait of the two of us done.  We received a discount for having two made, so now we each have one to remind us of our 36-year friendship.  Our cubes cost about $120 for two.  O don't know your area, so I can't say for sure if it is available.  My thought was to borrow someone's cap and gown (unless she has hers already), and to roll up a tube and tie a ribbon around it.  Take her, along with these props, to have a beautiful portrait of herself done in a glass cube to commemorate her graduation.  Have a second one made to give to her parents.  This would be a wonderful, desirable, and unique gift!\n\nAlso, there are companies who will work from a photograph, without the subject needing to be present!  Have a headshot photo taken of her like a graduate, and send that in to be etched onto glass.  I was able to locate a mail order company in Pennsylvania that does this work.  With them, you can even add a special date or signature.  The cost is $99 for the first piece, and $19 for each duplicate:\n\nhttp://www.photo-etched.com/\n\n\nI also located a company that will do the laser portrait etching into a cube from your photograph!!!  (Wish we had that when my friend's sister was here.  I may do that with a photo of my mother, sister, and myself!)  The company is in Orlando, FL, and they also sell the lighted bases seperately:\n\nhttp://www.laserthis.com/3dHead.htm\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\nI know that you'd like to have the gift immediately, but if you'd like to give her one of these just do this.  Order the gift, and at the party, present her with a hand-made certificate (or one that you create off the computer) for a very unique and personalized gift from you, which is on order!  (If this doesn't help you now, perhaps you'll take advantage of it in the future, or someone else looking for a unique gift will enjoy it.)\n\nBest wishes!
475162
Anything that you know will make your mother happy. If you can't afford a whole lot get you a jar with a lid and paint it than place slips of paper in it with little things she can request you do. Like one free hug,freedishwashing,freeday out,anevening to her self with a hot tub waiting
419295
If she is going away for post-secondary then things for her future are always an option. \nThings like appliances... I know that's what I wanted when I graduated, but then again, I was terrified with moving out and stressed to the max about having everything I needed. This may not be the case with your sister!\n\nI don't know what kind of person your sister is, if she likes things like jewelery, or if that is even in your price range, but there are alot of really nice charm type necklaces/bracelets etc. that you could find and have engraved with her graduating year. It doesn't have to be the token cap/scroll type charm either, it could be something that meant alot to her especially over her high school career.\n\nYou could give her something I know I apreciated after my graduation, which was the supplies for my scrapbook/photo album for the evening/ my high school career. I was given a set of decorative paper, a scrapbook, stickers, picture mounters, labels, etc. and then copies of as many pictures as everyone could find of me in high school and me at my grad, after my grad, all that fun stuff. It was given to me seperate to put together myself, but it might also be something you could put together for her and give to her. \nAnother sugguestion along those lines is starting it from her childhood years and up, just a picture from each grade, something like that, your parents would have them I'm sure, and they would have some idea of the things she liked each year, that you could use as themes. This takes alot of time and energy though, so it might not be your best option.
968005
Will she be going away to college or moving out into an apartment of her own? You could make her a hopechest type basket with essentials she'll need for living on her own. Say kitchen utensils, dishtowels and a cookbook for example. \n\nYou could also get her a small item that she can use now. I don't know what her interests are though. You can't go wrong with books or perhaps there is a dvd she may be interested in.
919086
stuffed animals, gel pens, sparkly/girly stuff, CDs, chick flick movies, gift cards, makeup, nail polish, bath gels or soaps, hair stuff like barrettes, scrunchies etc., if you know her size - clothes (they can't have enough of those!), photo albums or picture frames, jewelry, earrings if she has pierced ears, concert tickets for her favorite group.  Something to complement her room, wall hanging, candle, cute stuff for her desk\n\nIf she doesn't already have a digital camera, I'll bet she'd love one. If she does how about a new memory card, or if she has a computer, how about a computer game like Sims.\n\nHas she decided where she will go to college (or wants to go?) how about a sweatshirt or t-shirt to that college or from her favorite sports team\n\nI could go on and on.......
674304
Putting in a personal note would be great.  You can send them prior to graduation even if they aren't invited to the ceremony.  Your parents may want to host an open house, you should talk to them about that now to avoid any hurt feelings.  The personal note could say "Hey--I'm graduating with honors!  Whoo-hoo!  Celebrate with me on May 27th starting at 4 PM at Ma's house.  Help me start next year (at college/at technical school/starting my career/being a bum for awhile) off right!"
1078186
you can get her a purse, wallet, watch, earrings, necklace, or make a special dinner and surprise her. she will love it. good luck.
280299
I think graduation gifts are sometimes the hardest to shop for.  Do you get the grad a fun gift they will enjoy, or a practical gift they need and will use?  Though impersonal, gift cards are sometimes the best option so they can get what they want.  My friend's mom coordinated his gifts by registering at a store for things he would need for college life.  The cool part was that most of his gifts were wrapped in new bath towels or washcloths that he would need as he moved out on his own.  Another gift he got was like an assorted gift basket of different items, but put in a new laundry basket.  If your friend is planning on moving to a college dorm or out on his/her own after graduation, household items might be a good idea.  One gift I got when I graduated high school was personalize stationary with envelopes and stamps and a phone card so I could "keep in touch".  I don't know if a guy would go for that though...  Whatever you decide, make sure there is a lot of thought behind the gift.  You can even "dress up" a gift card by putting it in a CD you know he'll like.  Good luck!
489919
You could get her a copy of "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss. It's fun and very encouraging. Traditionally it's a gift for graduation but it kind of sends the message that you're very proud of her accomplishment.
1153444
Have a potluck dinner...maybe people could make dishes that remind them of her, were her favorites or ones she was famous for.  Have lots of family pictures around everywhere, even blow up some of your favorites.  Have a cake with 100 candles.  Have everyone write about their favorite or special memories with your mom. Then have people change papers and read the stories out loud.  Have a slide show (using PowerPoint, home movies, digital camera, etc.) of your mom and family members.  Do some research on what was going on the world when she was a kid and teenage...play that kind of music.  And instead of gifts, ask people to make a donation to your mom's favorite church or charity or take up a collection as a family college fund (or other cause).  Have fun and God bless.
833761
How about a framed picture of you in front of your home and a thank you card.\nA gift certificate to something relaxing say a dinner and a movie, a pedicure. Spend how ever much you can afford.
511926
Depending on your budget... Get her a gift certificate to a clothing store that she likes.\n\nMaybe a personalized gift. check out this site\n\nwww.personalcreations.com
420602
The letter & the photo ideas are nice ones. As a mother, I can tell you that the best presents are always those that come from the heart. They needn't cost much (if anything at all). just so long as it's given with all the love you have for your mother. My daughter has given me "World's Best Mum" certificates & stuff like that, but the best thing ever from her, was a photo of her at her school prom with a poem that she'd writen herself, about how she felt about our relationship. Stuff like that is totally unique, a keepsake, memories that you can look back on with love in years to come. Give her something that shows how much you love her - I know she'll be more pleased with that than if you spent loads of money on something that any daughter could buy for her mother.
195405
My church hands out single red roses to the women. you could give every mom a simple pretty flower or dishtowels or something like that. chocolate, the like. Flowers are a good cheap gift. you could even buy small potted flowers, just shop a bit, see what looks good.