Homemade Father's Day Gifts Are the Best

What father wouldn't really cherish something homemade by their child? Recycle common throwaways and with a few low-cost items-a gift is born!

TIN CAN CADDY:

Make Dad a special place for his pencils, pens and notes. A cute addition to any parent's desk! Wash out an aluminum can (soup or vegetable size). Your child can paint it with acrylic paint or spray paint it with an adult's help. Make sure your child is painting in a well-ventilated place. To make the bird's face and message keeper, glue on a spring-type clothespin for a beak. Use two adhesive "wiggly" eyes, or glue on bottle caps. With a black permanent marker, draw eyeballs inside the lids, and any other facial features your child wishes. Clamp on a special note written by the child (or with younger children, just signed).

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK:

The idiom above means a child whose appearance or character closely resembles that of a parent. This craft idea is great for boys to make for their Dad. Take a small block of wood. Have the child sand it smooth and stain it with an adult's help. Invite the child to pick out a picture of him and glue it onto the block. Using a permanent marker, print the words "Chip Off The Old Block." Don't forget to place a name & date for a lasting memory. Add this note:

This wooden block is for you Dad,

It's sanded with all the strength I had,

Something made from me to you,

To say "Happy Father's Day." I love you!

FATHER'S PLACEMAT:

Here is a craft that is less structured. Invite your child to draw a picture of their father on a sheet of construction paper. At the top, print the phrase, "Father's Are Loved All Over The World." Give your child this list and let him/her write the foreign word for Father randomly across the paper. To preserve this placemat, cover with a sheet of clear plastic adhesive paper.

Der Vater-German

Padre-Italian

Pere-French

Padre-Spanish

Bah Bah-Chinese

Patera-Greek

PHOTO TIE:

Ask Mom for an old tie that Dad will no longer use. Have her help to knot the tie in a wearable fashion. Now, gather empty jar lids around the house. Either draw pictures of special events or cut out photocopies of photos to glue into these lids. Apply heavy glue to the backs of the lids and adhere these to the tie. Let the project dry thoroughly. Give this gift to father as a special photo collage to hang at home or in his office.

Dad will find these gifts something to cherish, as they will bring back memories of his special day each year and show how his children have grown.