Craft 1 - Fathers Day Crafts: Me and You Book

MATERIALS

Cereal box

8 1/2-by-11-in. white paper

Hole punch

Ribbon or string

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut a 9 1/2-by-6-inch rectangle from the cereal box and  place it picture-side up.

Fold it in half

Stack white paper, fold the sheets into quarters, cut along the top, and set the paper inside the cardboard.

Punch three holes through the paper and cardboard and thread ribbon to bind.

Now, brainstorm topics for both giver and recipient. If it says on the left page "My Favorite Animals," then print on the facing page, "Your Favorite Animals."

Your child can draw or write in his answers, leaving the other side blank for the recipient.

The child can fill out the remainder with the recipient.

2. Hand Print Father's Day Crafts

Parents always say their children grow up too fast. This gift, which can be repeated annually, will show just how fast. It involves making a simple dough that you then press your hand into and bake to preserve the handprint. (Young kids can do this with their parents’ help.)

MATERIALS

Food coloring

Flour

Salt

Water

INSTRUCTIONS

To make the dough, start with a cup of water and a few drops of the food coloring of your choice.

Mix up two cups of flour with one cup of salt and add to the water mixture. This isn’t an exact recipe.

Mix it up and see if it feels stiff. If it’s too soft and runny, you’ll get air bubbles in your finished project, so add more flour if you need to.

Once you have a good workable dough, take a handful (about the size of a softball) and form it into a nice, smooth ball.

Then form that ball into a flattened disk, using a rolling pin or your hands. It should be big enough for the child to make a full handprint, but not so big that there’s a lot of excess dough. It should also be about half an inch thick. If you need more or less dough, adjust now.

Press your hand into the dough. If you’re helping a small child, make sure that each finger goes firmly into the dough but not all the way through.

Poke a hole or two in the top of the dough so you can run a ribbon through to hang the hand from

Bake at 200 degrees for two or three hours. Don’t let it burn. When it’s cool, add the child’s name, age and the year and tie on a ribbon or some other means to hang the handprint.

Craft 3 - Father's Day Gift Baskets from Your Kitchen

Surprise Dad with some great gifts that you make yourself, right in your own kitchen. Start with a fun container, then stuff it with some favorite treats and small gifts. Sure, you could spend more for a Father's Day gift, but it wouldn't have more heart.

You could use a basket for the container, and if your Dad particularly likes wicker, you probably should. Otherwise, why not get creative and choose a unique container to better fit your Dad's personality.

SOME POSSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

a metal lunchbox

an insulated lunch bag

a small plastic cooler chest

a tool or tackle box

a picnic basket

a galvanized bucket or watering can

a new portable barbecue grill or hibachi

flower pots

an ice bucket

any variety of cooking pots, pans or bowls

INSTRUCTIONS

Once you've decided on a container, fill it with some of Dad's favorite treats, or stick with a theme.

For instance, if your Dad loves to barbecue, you might fill a galvanized bucket with some barbecue utensils, add a bag of mesquite wood chips and decorative jars and bottles of spice blends, meat rubs and home made mustards and vinegars (see recipe links below).

Mix, match and package in decorative containers and jars to make the perfect gift basket for your favorite father

Craft 4 - Keep Sakes Hand Print

MATERIALS

Crayola Model Magic (White In Color but other light colors will work)

Your Favorite Color Of Paint

Small Bowl Or Plate

INSTRUCTIONS

Get a small handful of Model Magic and spread out to a little bigger than child's or adults hand, use the bowl or plate to use as a guide for the shape.

You can also use this idea for a footprint. Press the hand into the model magic to make an impression in the clay.

When you feel you have made an impression peel of hand and set out to dry for at least 24 hours.

When Model Magic is set or hard to desire, paint the handprint or footprint in favorite color.

You can also paint the outer edges of hand a different color. Let paint dry and give as a great keepsake gift.