Custom Drink Bucket for Dad
Transform a plain drink bucket into an adorable Father's Day gift (complete with Dad's favorite drinks!) with just a few scrapbooking supplies. Die-cut small shirts and ties from patterned paper or cardstock, adding embellishments and drawn details to the shirts if desired. (You can always draw your own pattern and hand-cut the paper pieces, too.)
Attach the shirts and ties to a few bottles of Dad's favorite drink with adhesive dots, or punch two small holes on either side of the piecings and string with ribbon, thread, or baker's twine to hang on the bottles. Add extra flair to the bucket by spelling out "dad" with letter stickers.
Editor's Tip: Serve the gift to Dad before the bottles get condensation, otherwise the shirt and tie cutouts will get wet and fall off.
Travel-Theme Wall Art
Remind Dad of a favorite vacation with this easy wall-art gift that shows old road maps some love. Cut a map that you no longer use to standard printer-paper size. Create special words, phrases, images, and symbols with word-processing software, and print them in color on your map. Attach the map to a store-bought canvas with spray adhesive, then brush on two coats of decoupage medium to seal it.
Editor's Tip: Give a newer map a
Patterned Necktie Pillow
Line up several of Dad's retired neckties (or shop around for cheap ties at thrift stores) to create this simple, one-of-a-kind pillow for a creative Father's Day gift .
Cork Office Caddy
Keep Dad's office in tip-top organizational shape with these two-in-one upgraded pencil holders. Join two square pencil holders with permanent glue; let dry. Attach cork floor samples (available at local home centers) to the sides and ends of the dual caddy with permanent glue. Once dry, fill one side with pencils and create a planter on the other side. Line the bottom of the planter with a 1- to 2-inch layer of gravel or sand. Plant a succulent (or another plant that doesn't need a lot of water and maintenance) to green up Dad's desk.
Kitchen-Theme Silhouettes
For dads who love to cook, this set of framed silhouettes of common kitchen utensils is a thoughtful Father's Day gift . Cut out shapes of kitchen items such as spoons and spatulas, teakettles, pots, and blenders from dark-color cardstock. Back each cutout with photocopied pages from an old cookbook to contribute to the kitchen theme; set in crisp black frames for a sophisticated gift.
Simple Father's Day Coaster Set
Decoupage maps or special items, such as photos, ticket stubs, or artwork, onto square tiles to make a one-of-a-kind set of drink coasters for Father's Day. Back the tiles with felt to keep them from scratching any surfaces.
How to Photo-Transfer
For a special Father's Day gift , watch how to transfer Dad's favorite photos to wood or canvas with these easy techniques.
Embellished Fabric Paperweights
Help Dad keep his desk tidy with one of these colorful paperweights made from stones and fabric scraps. Gather a few smooth, round stones from the yard, and decoupage fabric scraps onto them; let dry. Embellish with letter stickers for added pizzazz.
Painted Musical-Instrument Coasters
This colorful coaster quartet is a great handmade gift for Dad. To make, download free clip art of instruments, and shade the shapes with a pencil. Flip the patterns over and trace around them to transfer the outline of the image to white ceramic tiles. Using a thin paintbrush and porcelain paint, fill in or paint around each silhouette.
Editor's Tip: To keep the coasters from shifting and to protect work surfaces, attach rubber cabinet bumpers to the backs of the tiles before starting the project.
Dad's Favorite Things
Put together a collection of essentials for dad with this cool Father's Day gift idea. A fun tech toy, such as the iPod Touch shown here, is tucked into the pocket of a new collared shirt, making a pair of functional gifts he'll love.
Editor's Tip: When selecting a protective cover for the iPod Touch, get a clear or plain white one and decorate it with fun stickers or paint to add a personalized touch.
Button Bouquet
Give Dad an everlasting bouquet of flowers to display in his home office . To make the button flowers, choose multicolor buttons and separate them into piles by size. Thread the buttons halfway down onto an 18-inch length of florist's wire, starting with the largest buttons and stacking them progressively smaller, using four or five buttons. Then add a bead and thread the wire back through the buttons. Hot-glue faux flower petals to the bottom of the largest button, and twist the florist's wire to create a stem. Arrange your blooms in a pretty vase .
Patterned Pencil Holder Gift
Help Dad keep his pencils within reach at work with this easy DIY pencil holder gift . Start with a block of 4x4-inch wood, and sand it to smooth the rough edges. Once sanded, paint the top any color you like. Cut the bottom of the block at an angle to tilt the base, then measure the sides of the block to determine the length of decorative paper needed to cover them. Soak the paper in water to make it pliable, then use a thin layer of watered-down decoupage medium to evenly attach the paper to the sides of the block. Line up the paper with the block's painted top; if the paper is too long at the bottom end, neatly wrap it around the base. Seal the paper with a top coat of the decoupage medium. On the top of the block, measure and mark pencil holes in an evenly spaced pattern; drill holes into the top at a 90-degree angle using a 1/2-inch bit.
Natural Throw Pillow
Stitch this pretty handmade throw pillow for Dad for a gift that will instantly add a masculine touch to his space.
Personalized Chalkboard Photo Frame
Update a plain wooden photo frame with colorful designs and a name using chalkboard paint. Prime the frame, then paint with chalkboard paint; let dry. Use chalk to update the design or caption as you change the photo?a unique, customizable touch to add to Dad's gift!
Painted Desk Accessories
Give Dad a set of eclectic office organizers for Father's Day, embellished with a porcelain paint pen. Pick out pieces of plain servingware to help Dad store his office supplies, such as a saucer, gravy boat, and other small dishes. Use a paint pen designed for use on porcelain to add a simple circle design to each piece, giving the plain set a colorful addition.
Monogrammed Fabric Wine Wrap
Personalize a bottle of Dad's favorite wine for Father's Day with this fun wine wrap made from fabric. Cut two strips of fabric to snugly fit the bottle, and use tacky glue to adhere them together. Add a monogram with acrylic paint, and attach a ribbon to cover the seam between the fabric pieces. Slip the wrap over the bottle of wine, and present
Office-Supply Holder
Help Dad keep his desk supplies neat with this eco-friendly organizer made from recycled chip canisters. Wrap clean, empty canisters with adhesive shelf paper. Apply a strip of contact cement or silicone-type adhesive down one side of a container, and adhere it horizontally to another. Continue stacking and joining the containers until the desired-size unit is achieved.
Vintage Magazine Art
Give Dad's den or office a makeover with artwork chosen especially for him. Browse antiques stores and flea markets for vintage magazine ads that match your dad's passion. Frame the finds and present the new wall decor on Father's Day.
Monogrammed Boxer Shorts
Jazz up Dad's favorite boxer shorts by monogramming them. Purchase iron-on letters at fabrics stores, and spell "DAD" on one leg of the shorts; iron.
Fishing Lamp
This reading light is a real catch for the dad who loves to fish. Select a colorful variety of fishing bobbers and sinkers from your local sporting goods store. Using heavyweight thread, sew them around the bottom edge of a paper lampshade.
Valet Tray for Dad
Give Dad a central location for corralling his essentials, such as his phone, MP3 player, wallet, and keys. Decoupage patterned paper to the sides and inside bottoms of two papier-mache boxes and lids. Embellish with nameplates. Type labels to fit inside the nameplates (or use letter stickers). Glue the boxes and lids together as shown using crafts glue.
Road Map Holder
If your Dad prefers paper maps to a GPS device, this is the gift for him. This slim fabric folder is designed to corral maps in an organized fashion, making it handy for summer road trips.
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