What can the family do to make Dad's day special? Creating a homemade gift for dad always shows him how great he is. Of course, it depends on the dad. Some might enjoy a morning off and a round of golf, others might relish a game of Whiffleball with the kids, while still others might prefer to have their grill tools in one hand and a cold beer in the other.
Store-bought gifts are always welcomed; some fishing gear or a necktie (well, maybe not). But how long does Dad remember that those were Father's Day gifts? By far, the Father's Day gift that my husband has most cherished is the handprint shirt that I made with our oldest son eight years ago. Although it has now been moved into the stack deemed "shirts too ratty-looking to be worn out to dinner," it still gets worn around the house or for yardwork.
All you need is a nice white pullover or button-down shirt, preferably with a breast pocket, a bold color of fabric paint, a small paintbrush and your child's hand. First, you should practice the whole process on some paper a few times to make sure your child understands to keep his or her hand flat and not to smear it around, or your husband might just get a shirt with a blob on the pocket. Paint your child's palm with the fabric paint, and have him or her press the palm down firmly onto the shirt pocket, or where a logo would be. With the small paintbrush or paint pen, print your child's name either above or below the handprint.
Another craft that your child will enjoy making and that Dad will enjoy receiving is a collaged picture frame. At your local craft store, buy a picture frame that also has a mat that is about 1½ to 2 inches wide. Then collect some pictures of Dad. To make it even more fun for the kids, enlist your mother-in-law's help, and try to find pictures of dad when he was a kid. Cut the pictures so that they will be the same width as the mat, and try to create a chronological timeline of Dad around the mat. These photos can be adhered with rubber cement on the back (the rubber cement keeps the paper backing from wrinkling). On the inside, you can include a picture of Dad with the kids now. Children cannot fathom Dad as a kid, and sometimes Dad needs help remembering how to be a kid.
One last craft that children will enjoy making and Dad will actually find useful is a spare-change box. First, you will need a small wooden box, some fine-grain sandpaper, wood stain, Modge-Podge and a foam brush, all of which you should be able to find at the local craft store. You will also want a few photos of the children and Dad. First, sand the box to remove rough patches, and then apply the stain. When the stain is dry, cut photos and make a collage on the top of the box. You can use the Modge-Podge to adhere the photos, and then add a topcoat to seal them. After the Modge-Podge is dry, you may want to add another coat to ensure that there are no loose photo edges.
All of these crafts are ones that are not quite store-bought. They may not be as nice as, say, a new watch, but they are not the tacky knick-knacks that Dad will stuff into the top drawer of his desk at the office. Hopefully Dad will find them meaningful, and they will help him remember he is loved, not just on the third Sunday of June, but every day of the year.
Article provided by Homesteader
 | On Father's Day, how you celebrate might be more important than the gift you give. You can throw a BBQ or a Father's Day variety show, but bringing the family together to celebrate the occasion should be the top priority. |
 | In order to honor the important role that fathers play in a family's life, a special day was designated as Father's Day. Father's Day history began at the turn of the twentieth century, and the holiday developed into a full-fledged celebration with gifts and greeting cards. |
 | When it comes to thinking up the best Father's Day gifts, it really helps to know as much as possible about your father's hobbies, passions and interests. |
This collection of Father's Day sayings can be used to express how you feel or as inspiration to create your own meaningful quote. |
Simple Father's Day poetry can be a treasured gift, especially if you dress your poems up with a performance or photos. |
