Homemade Father's Day Gift Ideas

With today's economy, money is tight for everyone and that includes holidays. However, we do not want to slight that favorite man in our lives from his Father's Day gift. Here are a few ideas for you and the kids to do at home that costs next to nothing and uses materials that are most likely lying around your house right now.

Make a card. Take a piece of construction paper, poster board paper (for a larger card), or computer paper to start with. Fold the paper anyway you see fit for a card. Trace your child's hand on the front of the card (hands and feet if you have room) and write the date at the bottom. On the inside of the card write Happy Father's Day Dad and then let the kids draw pictures and sign their names. Do not forget to sign your name too.

Create a pencil holder, paperclip holder, small bowl, or use your imagination. Take 1 cup of salt, 2 cups of flower, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and 1 cup of water. Put dry ingredients in a bowl and then mix in water and oil. Once the mixture is holding together take it out of the bowl and kneed it with your hands until smooth. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin and then create to your hearts desire. Make something to hang on the wall, create something to place on Dad's desk, or even make a small picture frame. Ideas are endless. After you create your projects place them on a baking pan and cook at 250 degrees until hard (1-2 hours). Make sure that if you are planning to hang this project you poke a hole in it before baking. You can now paint your creations or use markers. Make sure to write the date and have the kids sign the backs or bottoms of the item. You can use cookie cutters, plastic knives, meat tenderizers, and other utensils to create designs on the item before baking too. Make imprints of your Childs feet or hands for a first time or new daddy.

Make a picture frame. Using the top from an old coffee can, can of oatmeal, sour cream, or yogurt container you can create your own photo frame. Poke a hole in the top and put a piece of string or ribbon through to hang the gift. Let your child use markers, glue, glitter, cotton balls pulled apart, and paints to decorate the frame. Then take a small picture of them, cut it to fit inside your new frame, and then glue it. This is easy to make and a lot of fun for kids. Dad will be sure to smile at this homemade gift.

Write a poem, write a family moment that you both share, or just a small note to let your father know how much you care. Sometimes something written from your heart is more important than anything you could have bought. Writing a poem could be a great example of how to get your emotions across. Do you and your dad share a precious moment together? Why not write down a little short story of how the event took place and how much those times meant to you. This is something that your father will stick in his bible because it means so much to him, trust me.

Create a Father's Day photo album or keepsake book. Using brown paper grocery bags make a back and front to the album. Take construction paper or computer paper for the inside pages. Tie everything together at the top or side with ribbon or string. Glue sticks, leaves, cut out words, just about anything flat to the top of the album. Newspaper or magazines are a great idea to use when cutting out words for the album cover. Write the child's name and date on the back of the book. Now you are free to create this into whatever you want. You could use it as a photo album full of pictures of your child and their dad. You can use it as a memorial keepsake book for this Father's Day and every Father's Day that will follow. Leaving blank pages only means new memories are going to be built.

Create a best dad certificate. Get a piece of paper, any kind. Make a border around the outside, write BEST FATHER on the first line, write a caption (example: World's Best Dad, For Always Being There, For Just Being Great) under that, and then put dad's name. Have you sign on one side at the bottom, and your child sign at the other. You could even go so far as to write your title under your signatures (The Mother, Wife, or Son/Daughter of Gregory Steven). Look up certificates online to get additional ideas.

Make a coupon book for dad. This Father's Day make a book that gives the dad in your life everything he wants. Include a night out with the boys, back rubs, get out of doing dishes, or anything your dad might enjoy. Let the kids draw a picture on each coupon and write who is going to fulfill them at the bottom so he knows who he is handing each coupon to if you have more than one child.