DIY Father’s Day gifts are always so special, especially from the youngest kids. (Once we hit voting age or so, those handprint mugs just don’t really cut it in the same way, huh.) So for our next installment of our 2016 Father’s Day Gift Guide, we’ve put together two dozen of the most creative, sweet DIY Father’s Day gifts including crafts, cards, and printables — some new and some favorites from years past.
We hope these become treasured keepsakes in your family. Except maybe the food ideas. Those we’d suggest you don’t treasure or keep for too long.
More Father’s Day Gift Guide Posts:
*13 awesome Father’s Day gifts for dads who love camping
*13 of the coolest personalized Father’s Day gifts
*22 fantastic Father’s Day gifts under $25
1. Simple DIY Photo Gift Tags
We often describe ways to make a store-bought gift or tech gift more personal, and we think this lovely idea from Bloom Designs Online does the trick. Click over for the simple instructions — don’t you love the result in black-and-white?
2. DIY Father’s Day Key Chain
If he’d prefer a DIY Father’s Day key chain made by the kids to one made by a big store, this tutorial at Hello Bee may be just the thing. And it’s easy!
3. DIY photo bookmarks
We are so charmed by this sweet photo bookmark craft from Nearly Crafty — who seems pretty darn crafty to us. Click over for the simple instructions.
4. A Small Succulent with a Free Printable Father’s Day Thank You Tags
We saw this neat idea from Anders Ruff on the Cool Mom Eats roundup of free printables for food gifts and realized it’s a perfect message for dads, and not just teachers. After all, dads definitely help us grow too. Let the kids pick the plant, plant it, and decorate the pot too. He’ll love it.
5. DIY Donut “Cake” with Handmade Dad Cake toppers
Homemade food gifts for Father’s Day are always welcome, and we loooove this DIY donut “cake” spotted at Oh Happy Day, right along with the fun cake topper that kids can make themselves with just a wee bit of help.
6. DIY Father’s Day Olympic Gold Medals
Last year we shared 20 fantastic DIY Father’s Day gifts that included these easy DIY medals from And We Play. With the Rio Olympics coming up, it’s the perfect timing to let younger kids try their hand at this simple craft.
7. Free Printable Father’s Day Survey
Tiny Me always has the coolest printables and freebies, like this survey that allows kids to jot down favorite memories and descriptions of Dad. It would be great framed, or just print and turn into your own DIY card.
8. A Jar of His Favorite Childhood Candies with Free Printable Father’s Day Hero Labels
Whether your dad or grandfather has fond memories of Atomic Fireballs, Licorice Allsorts, or Mary Janes and Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews — which are Liz’s dad’s favorites — make it more special with this sweet free printable gift tag from Tater Tots and Jello. If you don’t have a candy shop near you, you can order from Old Time Candy, which carries 600 varieties of vintage treats sorted by decades and going back to the 1920’s.
Related: 15 of the best free Father’s Day printables from the kids
9. Printable Papercraft Photo Frames
Last year we found these cool printable frames from Sky Goodies on Etsy. For just $4.99 you have one awesome, semi-homemade Father’s Day gift that really stands out on a desk or night table.
10. Personalized Softball Craft
Since kids love turning anything into a canvas we love this idea from Melissa Allen for Kiwi Crate that we shared in a cool DIY Father’s Day gift ideas post a few years ago. All you need are some inexpensive softballs and permanent markers. And maybe a stand for display, since he’s unlikely to want to go out and play with this one.
11. DIY Decoupage Comic Photo Frame Gift
If you really want to do a from-scratch frame for a favorite photo of the kids or special artwork, kids can always decorate a plain frame with stickers, sequins, paints — you name it. But this decoupage vintage comic frame from Anything Except Housework is just awesome. Click over for the really clear, detailed instructions. It’s easier than you think!
12. Free Father’s Day printables pack
You’ll find everything here from a very cute tie banner, to candy wrappers, cards, pancake toppers — even a breakfast in bed menu from our friends at Tiny Me. All you have to do is register with them, which you won’t mind because everything they make is so fantastic.
13. DIY Embroidered Father’s Day Note from the Kids
Among our roundup of handmade craft gifts kids can make themselves from a few years back, we’re still huge fans of this amazing keepsake DIY Father’s Day gift spotted at Urban Comfort. We imagine any dad or grandfather would absolutely adore it.
14. DIY wood-mounted photo wall art
Another cool photo gift, this one spotted at Project Nursery — a clever way to turn just a few supplies and a favorite photo into a treasured piece of art for Father’s Day.
Related: 6 amazingly sweet keepsake photo gifts + tips to make them extra special
We love dad photo shoot idea | Crafty Gator
15. Creative Father’s Day Photo of the Kids
Why just give him a framed family photo when you can give him one made just for Father’s Day? Click over for 7 easy, clever Father’s Day photo ideas including this brilliant one from Crafty Gator.
16. Free Printable Father’s Day Coupons
We’re always looking for nice, modern Father’s Day printable coupons and we found that very thing with these from Elegance and Enchantment for Remodelaholic. The expiration date is a fun touch — though knowing how busy families can get, you might want to set a date about 20 years from now.
17. Father’s Day Adventure In a Box
Whoa, such a creative idea! Check How Does She for instructions on filling an inexpensive bin with a treasure map and fun activities to help the kids create their own memories with Dad for the day.
Related: 13 awesome Father’s Day gifts for dads who love camping
18. DIY Travel Journal (and maybe a couple of tickets?)
For something a little more advanced — maybe for teens or even you — A Pair and a Spare offers this beautiful travel journal craft. So great if you’ve got a family vacation coming up, or you’re surprising him with a weekend out of town or plane tickets somewhere far away.
19. Father’s Day Breakfast in Bed with a Printable Menu Card
Of course you can’t skip breakfast in bed if he’s the breakfast in bed type. Also from Tiny Me, download a Father’s Day breakfast menu, some coupons, and then consider serving it all up with one of the awesome Father’s Day recipes on Cool Mom Eats, shared with us by our favorite dad food bloggers. Hey, no one knows what dads really want more than other dads.
20. DIY personalized initial letter photo collage
Another creative photo gift, this time by Kenzie Mastroe for eHow. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves a bit, grab a blank wooden letter, print a ton of photos and go to town. If you’re really ambitious, you can even spell out D-A-D.
21. DIY Father’s Day Spinner Card
As an alternative to coupon books, I love this Father’s Day craft project at Make and Takes that the kids will have the best time creating. Imagine what they could write on there — a backrub? An extra slice of cake? A knock-knock joke? 15 minutes of no whining? The possibilities are endless.
Related: Great ideas for last minute Father’s Day gifts
22. DIY Instagram Picture Frame
If he’s a social media fan, it’s hard to resist this DIY from Michael’s, which we also included in our list of terrific homemade holiday gifts from the kids (another resource worth checking out for DIY Father’s Day gifts, by the way). All you need is your favorite square photo, and something tells us you have quite a few to choose from.
23. An Easy DIY Father’s Day Video
On Cool Mom Tech we shared 6 cool video editing apps and services that let you easily put together a DIY Father’s Day gift that’s sentimental and wonderful. Whether you want to create a montage of favorite photos or video clips, or create something new from scratch, there are plenty of apps for that. Shown here: The Animoto Video Maker app.
24. Custom Dog Tag or Key Ring from a Child’s Artwork
While it’s not a DIY Father’s Day gift in the sense that you’re forging the metal and doing the hand-stamping yourself, we’ve got the next best thing with Metalmorphosis. They’re one of our longtime faves for bringing to life children’s own drawings, scribbles, and shakily sketched notes. And it’s guaranteed to last, even after the original is starting to yellow. Sniff.
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