Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 21. Have you figured out how you’re going to honor your dad yet? Or maybe you’re celebrating a grandfather, husband or uncle this weekend. Either way, it’s a great time to thank the father figures in your life for all that they do!
With only a few days left, consider a gift idea that won’t require you to spend too much time or money. You can cook dad a meal or take him out to a restaurant. Look online for coupons and check his favorite restaurant’s social media pages to see if they have any Father’s Day specials. It’s not about the money you spend; chances are he will be more interested in the thought you put into a gift, or if he gets to spend some quality time with you.
A great way to personalize a gift for the dad in your life is to create something. It’s especially fun for kids to get involved and make something with their own hands.
The thought of DIY projects can be intimidating — not only can crafts be challenging, but what about the mess left behind? In the spirit of being frugal and saving time, the following Father’s Day DIY gift ideas are easy, inexpensive and (mostly) mess-free.
Decorate a T-Shirt
The blog Small + Friendly (smallfriendly.com) puts a great spin on letting kids personalize a T-shirt for dad. With a little masking tape and a black fabric marker, this easy project lets young children be creative while resulting in a stylish and personalized T-shirt.
Style Me Pretty Living (stylemepretty.com) offers a free “Best Dad Ever” template that’s easy to iron on to a T-shirt. This DIY is simple and perfect for any age.
Beer or Soda Can Cake
If the dad in your life is a beer or soda lover, this idea from the Itsy Bitsy Paper blog (itsybitsypaperblog.com) really takes the “cake.” This project just requires a round pan for the bottom, and then cardboard cutout circles for each layer. You can personalize the gift with whatever canned beverage is his favorite, tie each layer in ribbon to hold it together, and then add as many personal touches as you like.
Personalized Office Supplies
This idea from Martha Stewart (marthastewart.com) is so simple you’ll be surprised you didn’t think of it first. Pick up a notepad cube from your local office supply store, and secure it together with a rubber band. Have the kids decorate each side with markers and messages to dad — then switch the rubber band and do the other two sides. Tie it up with a nice ribbon and a new pen, and you’re done.
DIY Bookmarks
If you have a dad that loves to read (and still appreciates physical books as opposed to an e-reader), personalizing a bookmark can be a gift he’ll enjoy again and again. Magnolia Homes (magnoliahomes.net) came up with a creative idea for readers who also love to fish — a fishing lure bookmark. This project requires a bit of adult supervision due to cutting hooks and string. Another fun idea from Come Together Kids (cometogetherkids.com) suggests making bookmarks from adorable photos of your children that will literally have them “hanging off the page.”
Photos with a Message
This is another fairly simple idea, but the result will be sure to make a big impact. Blogger Lynnae McCoy (lynnaemccoy.com) came up with this idea for a “We Love our Dad” photo collage of the kids, and the second best part is, it cost less than $20.
Color a Mug
I Heart Arts n Crafts (iheartartsncrafts.com) put together this easy and inexpensive idea for a customized mug illustrated by your kids — or even you. All you need is a set of painters’ pens and some stickers to design and color the mug. After you bake the mug in the oven, the design will last forever — and so will dad’s memory of this Father’s Day.
No matter what you give your dad this weekend, make sure to tell him how much you appreciate him, too. That message pairs well with whatever gift you decide to give him, whether it’s a DIY or not.
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Easy DIY Gifts for Father’s Day originally appeared on usnews.com
