10 DIY Father's Day Gifts That Will Seriously Impress Dad
1/12Sure, you can go to the store and grab your dad a new tie, shirt, or wallet for Father’s Day. But, you can also go the DIY route and add a level of sentimentality and personalization to your dad’s gift this year. And we’re not talking about the hand-drawn greeting cards, or popsicle stick picture frames you used to gift him way back in the day. Thanks to Pinterest and the ever-growing blogosphere, you have access to tons of unique DIY gifts that are both fairly easy to create and totally impressive to give.
2/12Cork Dartboard Cabinet
Even the best dart players occasionally miss the target — which is why this cork dartboard cabinet is so genius, and perfect for any dad who loves playing games in his man-cave. Though redditor mavantix crafted an extra-large version, you can adapt based on the wall space, and number of corks you can collect. You can either get some help building a wood frame from scratch, or buy a pre-made, large shadow-box frame. Then, follow the instructions to glue the dartboard and a bunch of corks to the back to create a uniquely awesome gift.
3/12Geo Cufflinks
We’d argue these DIY cufflinks from Almost Looks Perfect look even more chic than many of the ones you can buy in stores — and the process for making them is pretty simple. You do need to buy some basic gold cufflinks to use as the base; then, cut some polymer clay into small squares or circles, making sure they’re a little bigger than the cufflink surface. Keeping the clay cold, use an X-Acto knife to carefully cut small slices in various directions to achieve the unique geo shape. Bake the clay, let it cool, glue it onto the cufflinks, and you’re good to go!
4/12Leather Belt Picture Frame
We know, we know: This picture frame doesn’t look like it could possibly be a DIY piece, but we swear, it is! And it can be done on a serious budget. Pick up a leather belt and picture frame (SheKnows recommends hitting up a thrift store for the materials); just measure the width of the belt against the frame before you buy it to make sure it’ll cover the whole thing. From there, follow the instructions to cut the leather, glue it on the frame, and create your own engraved message.
5/12The Gift of Time Together Jar
It’s tempting to get carried away with elaborate and expensive gifts, but most parents just want some good, old-fashioned quality time with their kids — which is why this simple DIY jar from One Artsy Mama is genius. Cut up a bunch of strips of paper and write different activities on each: things like bowling outings, father-daughter breakfast dates, or family movie nights. You’ll give these to dad in a jar, and he can cash in on each one when he wants to hang out with you. To decorate the jar, simply glue some burlap, ribbon, and scrabble tiles to the outside. Does it get any easier than that?
6/12Leather Wallet
If you know how to use a sewing machine, you can make this seriously cool leather wallet or cardholder for your dad in almost no time. Follow The Merrythought’s tutorial, that involves nothing more than measuring, cutting, and stitching together leather, and you’ll end up with a stylish and impressive gift that dad will be proud to carry.
7/12Mini Pool Table in a Tin
If your dad works in an office, you’ll score big points with this adorable, tiny pool table that he can keep in his desk for much-needed work breaks. The tutorial, from ConsumerCrafts.com, does involve working with casting plaster to create the base of the pool table, but though it may seem overwhelming, the instructions for putting it all together are pretty straightforward. And the awesome end result is totally worth it.
8/12Photo Keychain
Let’s be honest: Photo gifts for parents never get old. And with this one, dad doesn’t have to find even more shelf or wall space to display it. Life Your Way provides a super easy tutorial to create awesome photo keychains, using nothing more than keychain pendant kits, adhesive, and square photos (that you can print at home on regular printer paper).
9/12Framed Silhouettes
This framed silhouette is a more artsy version of a photo gift, with the same level of sentimentality. All you need is a photo of yourself (preferably from your childhood for the aww factor), some colorful cardstock, a cool backdrop, and a frame, as well as some sort of glue and cutting tools. Then, just follow Homemade Ginger’s instructions to put it all together. Make it a solo silhouette, or go in on the gift with your siblings and include each of your images.
10/12Dad’s BBQ Bucket
Grilling gifts are pretty standard when it comes to Father’s Day, but this clever idea adds a creative and personal element to that theme. Grab a bucket, add some of Everyday Dishes’ printable labels, and fill it with cool barbecue tools, a fun apron, and some of Dad’s favorite sauces or condiments. Want to really wow him? Plan a family barbecue for the near future so he can enjoy his new gift and you can all enjoy some quality time.
11/12Grilling Prep Plates
These DIY grilling prep plates look so impressive, your dad just might think you had them custom made by a professional. The best part: You only need a few materials to make them (porcelain plates, a porcelain paint pen, and stencils), and the whole process only takes a couple steps. Follow These Little Loves’ instructions to create a few totally unique plates for dad that he can use for grill prep and beyond. Just be sure to take note of These Little Loves’ message on porcelain paint pens: Do your research on the pens you use to ensure they’re in line with food safety, or tell dad to use these as non-food-contacting plates (perfect for carrying and displaying wrapped burger cheese, mini condiment dishes, and the like).
12/12Want more Teen Vogue? Make sure to ‘Like’ us on Facebook to stay in the know!
