by Joan Collins

Created on: August 27, 2009

Nothing says "I love you, Daddy," like a home-made gift created with love. Father's Day is the perfect time to help your children show extra love to their father by helping them complete a great craft to use as a gift. Some things can be duplicated by a store-bought gift.

Coffee mug - The local craft shop sells plastic cups that can be used to display artwork by your child. Take out the standard color sheets that come with it and use them to cut out a plain piece of white paper that has the same dimensions. Encourage your child to think about what activities or things his or her father enjoys. Draw a picture of it. A special hand-written message is also a great way to remind Dad that he is loved.

Paperweight - Whether it is a stack of papers at work or papers on his desk at home, a nice paperweight is just what every father needs. Make a batch of bread dough clay by mixing2 cups of white flour to 1/2 cup of table salt. Thoroughly mix in 1/4 cup of water. Then add another 1/2 cup and blend it well. Knead it until it is firm and not sticky. Give the children a "hunk" of clay and let them make a heart. Use a pointed object to write in the clay (Mikey loves Daddy is an example.) Bake the heart at 300 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes. Let it cool thoroughly. Paint it in Dad's favorite color or colors. When the paint is dry, spray it with a fixative like a clear lacquer to make it shiny.

Car Wash Kit - Buy a bucket and car wash supplies. Let the kids decorate the bucket with waterproof paint. Fill it with all the car wash goodies and include homemade coupons that say, "Use this coupon to receive help with one car wash." Dad will love the gift and the help!

Desk Set - Collect various jars or cans (with no sharp edges.) Using yarn in colors that complement Dad's office, cover the top fourth of the container with white glue. Wrap the container with the yarn. They can be solid or variegated or you can use different colors and make stripe patterns. Make a pencil holder, scissor holder or letter opener holder and a holder for paper clips.

Stadium Seat - Every man loves duct tape and it can be used to create a unique gift. Duct tape comes in many colors, so go to the store and choose the colors you want to use. You will need about 44 pieces of 22-inch long duct tape. It is best if you cut them one or two at a time. Lay one piece flat with the adhesive side up. Lay the next one beside it, overlapping them about 1/4 inch. Continue doing this until you have eleven overlapped pieces. Now, take another strip and, putting the adhesive sides together, lay more strips on top of these to make a cover side with no stickiness showing. Repeat this process and make two cover sides. Lay one sheet on top of the other and seal three sides by taping it together with more duct tape. Take a 12" pillow insert and put it in the middle of the two covers. Tape the last side shut and attach the handle. Make a handle from a 20" piece of duct tape. Fold it, sticky sides together, and tape it to the outside of the bottom cover. Now, cut out shapes from contrasting colors of duct tape and create a picture on the top. Smooth the tape down so that so stickiness can be felt. Dad will love taking it to the next ball game he attends.

Learn more about this author, Joan Collins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.