Some nifty gifties for dear ole Dad, reblogged from: http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/five-excellent-diy-fathers-day-gifts/
Excellent Diy Father’s Day Gifts
by Melissa Summers
"This year my husband got a new grill for Father’s Day. Yes, I realize it hasn’t been Father’s Day yet but we have a lot of meat and other things (have you ever had grilled pineapple?) that need grilling and a short season where it’s enjoyable to cook outside so we gave him his present early. Because of this he’ll be getting a nice card from the kids and [me]. I love this stitched card from Make and Takes. Most kids can handle this project once you make the holes for them to follow, think ‘Lacing Puzzle’.
This super simple, very usable idea will be easy for small hands to create. Take a simple square notepad, have your child color it and write a message to their dad on it with broad point markers. Thank you Martha, for not making me feel like a crafting failure all the time.
This gift idea is one of those ‘Needs Mom Help’ I mentioned. Photo JoJo shows you how to manipulate your photos and use them to create a stamp-like image on almost anything with ink jet transfer paper. You could use this technique to make a personalized card or a unique picture of your kids to frame. My husband goes through dozens of notebooks each year so I may use the technique to decorate a moleskine for him. (For his birthday, see above with the grill. No more gifts.)
This miniature smores grill at OhDeeDoh was originally meant as a fun thing for kids, but I think it would also make a fun little gift for Dad. Who doesn’t love smores anyway? Check out the simple supply list, a cedar plank, 4 bolts – 1/4 inch and 2 and 1/2 inches tall, 4 nuts – 1/4 inch, 4 optional washers for the bolts, 1 2.5 oz stainless steel condiment cup, and 1 box of toothpicks. Pair this with all the fixings and you have a fun after dinner treat for the family.
When I first saw this Car Wash Bucket at Martha’s site, I thought to myself, “Wow, that’s a stretch. Cleaning supplies as a gift?” But the more I thought about it the more fathers I know who have an undying passion for their cars and keeping those cars clean is a hobby. This gift is less a craft and more a DIY gift basket but still very thoughtful and useful if your Dad enjoys seeing his own reflection in his clearcoat.
Last Minute Great Father’s Day Crafts!
"I came across this idea at this little Father’s Day site. A site where you can create coloring pages for Father’s Day, I wonder if they have images of a dad about to have an aneurysm after stepping on yet another lego? Or a Dad fiercely determined not to stop and ask for directions? You know, true to life pages. No, instead they suggest bottling your favorite bbq sauce recipe and creating a custom label for it. Here is a favorite sauce we use at our house, perfect to go with the beer bottle container. To make the label have your kids create something, scan it resize and print on label stock.
I have a fondness for small bowls and containers which hold things on tables and dressers. My husband has a fondness for small things which clutter up tables and dressers. I found this craft which the kids will love doing and Logan and I will enjoy using. These plaster cast catchalls are made with plaster of paris, a mold and some paint. It’s a little more involved but I’m including it because it’s so cute, besides you have until Sunday so get cracking.
I love getting picture frames as handmade gifts from my kids. They’re cute and usable, especially if the artist has taken their time and done their very best work. I have an artist in my home who has been known to conk out halfway through a project and call an undecorated piece of cardboard a ‘frame’. I think this DAD cutout frame is cute and easy to put together. What say the dads, are handmade picture frames the equivalent of a tie?
This gift reached through the screen and grabbed me by the face saying, “Have the kids make this for your husband so you can stop answering, ‘Have You Seen My Keys?’” This key holder is easy to make and instead of names each member of the family is represented by a wooden spoon replica. We might use actual photographs laminated, I haven’t decided yet.
I love when people give gifts which are really just gifts for themselves, still I like the idea of the Date With Dad card. Kids make a card, cut a slit in the paper and insert two tickets good for a fun Dad/Kid activity. Martha reminds young gift givers to think hard about what dad likes to do. I’ll likely have to help the kids with their outing ideas because I have a feeling Maddie might suggest a really “fun” for grown-ups trip to Build A Bear at the mall."
Thanks Melissa!
