It’s that time of June again: when we celebrate all the incredible dads, pops, grandpas, gramps and the like in our lives. But finding the perfect gift can feel tricky to say the least. For one thing, how did all the dads we know somehow end up that special mix of goofball and critic that make them really hard to shop for?
So this year, why not make your old man — or the father of your own kids — proud and make him something with your own two hands? Bonus points if you involve your oh-so-crafty kids in the process. After all, it will be quite satisfying to let your 8-year-old take all the credit for your DIY genius — and Dad will be super-impressed you guys didn’t all burn the house down in the process. On the other hand, you could 100 percent pass off all these DIY gifts ahead as store-bought; Dad will never know.
Either way, we’ve rounded up 13 of the chicest (and most dad-approved) DIYs for you to make this Father’s Day — all guaranteed to leave your dad really grateful that he let you use his hammer that one time when you were 5.
As one wonderful dad once said (Obama. It was Obama.), “Any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.” So roll up your sleeves, crack a few dad jokes to get psyched and show that courageous man you care with these fantastic DIYs.
Glass Windchimes
Do you have a dad who uses “porch” as a verb? These glass windchimes from Apartment Therapy are minimalist, look expensive and are easy to make. Want to bring your dad’s porch lounging to a whole new level? Pair the chimes with a six-pack or a growler (or a harmonica or a pair of spoons, depending on his level of porch seriousness) for the perfect Father’s Day gift.
DIY Watch Stand
Plenty of dads have a timepiece they treasure, so why not give yours a way to display his watches with this DIY watch stand? It's classy and rugged, and the wood, marble and pipe give it an industrial vibe. And bonus: When the watch is hanging out here, it doubles as a bedside clock.
Hand-Stamped Handkerchief
I don’t know about your dad, but my dad always carried around handkerchiefs and insisted that I did too. Customize those boring hankies with this hand-stamped handkerchief DIY from Paper N Stitch. With absolutely minimal effort, you can jazz up your dad’s handkerchiefs with a meaningful symbol or even his initials. 'Cause if you’re going to blow your nose into something and hang onto that, it better be adorable.
DIY Tie Rack
For some reason, the international sign for "dad" seems to be a tie. Even if your dad only wears a tie when he attends weddings (and if even then it usually winds up tied around his head) chances are, he still owns a considerable number of them. This DIY tie rack from Craftaholics Anonymous is a perfect storage solution and has the added bonus of doubling as a shelf.
Bathtub Caddy
Perhaps the best thing you can give a dad for Father’s Day is 15 minutes of peace and quiet, especially if that dad has small children who seem to require a crowbar or some sort of aggressive nonstick spray to detach them from his legs. This bathtub caddy DIY from The Merrythought is a gift that everyone in the family can use, but which dad will really appreciate, especially when it means he can take an ice-cold beer into the tub. (Fair warning: He might start complaining of a bad back a little more frequently if it means he gets some uninterrupted lounge time and a good soak.) Pair the caddy with an Epsom salt soak for the perfect relaxation kit.
Watercolor Mug
Make dad's morning even better by DIY'ing him this watercolor mug from the folks at Poppytalk. It's super-simple and has stunning results — plus you can customize it with his favorite color. (You might want to make a few.)
Camping Stool
Got a dad who’s a fan of the great outdoors? Not only are camping stools usually heinously ugly, they're also pretty uncomfortable. So do your dad a favor and make him this camping stool from Design Sponge. The soft leather is cozy, and the carrying strap makes it compact and easy to transport. Your dad’s butt will thank you. (Weird.)
Guess Who? Board Game
This DIY is awesome. Flat-out awesome. Game night will never be the same. A guess-who board game? Are you kidding me? You’ve done it again, Almost Makes Perfect. This is the ultimate gift for dads who like board games — and it’s so straightforward, you’ll be shocked at how easy it is to make. Plus, it’s so much fun to play with tiny cutouts of your family and friends' heads on the board. Game night every night, amirite?
DIY Tea Light Photo Frame
For a last-minute gift, this DIY tea light photo frame from the sister team behind A Beautiful Mess elevates the old framed-photo-of-us-doing-something-cute gift to the next level. Leaving the wood raw gives it an earthy vibe, but feel free to stain or paint it. You can use real tea lights (don’t forget to blow them out at night!) or electric ones, but either way, this stylish DIY is a surefire hit.
DIY Concrete Designer Lamp
This DIY concrete designer lamp from Brit + Co. uses concrete and plastic bottles to make this contemporary light source. Yes, you read that right: plastic bottles. You can make more than 15 lamps from a single $6 bag of concrete! These are the perfect lighting source for a man cave, and they have the designer look without the designer price tag.
DIY Wrapped Cords
Lots of dads have piles of cords lying around. And for something you use every single day, cords are pretty ugly. Problem solved: These DIY wrapped cords from Almost Makes Perfect are beyond easy to do and look great. (Seriously, this will take you five minutes, tops.) Pro tip: Use different-colored ropes so your dad can tell his chargers apart at a glance.
Shrinky Dink Tie Tack
A tiny Shrinky Dink tie tack of you! What more does a dad need? This Oh Happy Day hack will probably be the smallest gift he receives, but it will also give him the biggest smile. Use photos of you, your kids, your dog, your dad’s favorite president, whomever — to make these itty-bitty adorable tie tacks. You can also make a matching key fob while you're at it.
Concrete Photo Holder
This concrete photo holder from Paper N Stitch is functional, sophisticated and artsy. Get some concrete and wire, and voilà — a place for Dad to store all his favorite photos (and ticket stubs and to-do lists and notes from his favorite kid… I could go on). It's the perfect versatile desk accessory.
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