Looking for fresh gift ideas that your dad will love? Give him something he made with his own hands this Father's Day. Whatever your hobbies, we have handmade gift ideas for dads of all personalities and interests.
Create a personalized apron or cutting board for your dad who loves to cook. Or impress your sentimental dad with a DIY scrapbook filled with keepsakes. If he's adventurous, emboss leather luggage tags with his travel plans.
Similar to the grade school cards and projects he's saved from when you were a child, these are handcrafted tokens of the next generation that he will display with pride.
Embroidered napkins
Does your dad love having family dinners together? Upgrade his hosting gear with these napkins. Embroider them with the names of your loved ones and they can double as place cards. Choose your dad's favorite color and embroider his name in your own handwriting for an added sentimental bonus.
Dip dye candles
Instead of giving store-bought candles as gifts, make them yourself to create something special. Here, we mixed crayon shavings with wax to create a homemade dye to color the base of our pillar candles. Use different shades to create a complete set.
Leather Plant Hanger
For hanging your favorite houseplant, wrap leather around the pot for a neat look. Poke holes in the leather and thread cotton string or leather through the holes to hang the plant in your office or bedroom.
Foaming Hand Soap
For the sustainability-conscious dad, this DIY foam soap reduces plastic bottle consumption and eliminates waste. Customize the product to suit your dad's tastes by scenting it with his favorite essential oils.
Recipe Cutting Board
Have fun transferring his favorite family recipe onto a handmade artisan cutting board. All you need is decoupage glue, a roller squeegee, a paintbrush, a cutting board, and your recipe of choice. It's a simple project that will make a big impact.
Painted Pottery
Give your dad a fresh look by transforming a simple piece of pottery into something truly spectacular. He'll be asking you where you got your artisanal pottery and delighted to know it was made especially for him by his biggest fan.
Chess Sets
To win the father's heart En passantgift him an heirloom chess set. For our unique DIY version, use a checkered stencil and spray paint to customize a plain wooden sliding box. Simple wooden shapes and blocks become a modern piece (we painted one half to match the board for contrast) that stores neatly inside.
Decorated game boxes
He's a pro at gin rummy and manages to win every game of poker. Gift him a special box designed to hold playing cards, poker chips, dice and the most important score pad. Decorated with paper cutouts of decks of cards, this box is easy to assemble and extremely useful.
To make one, measure the inside of the box to determine the length of each compartment, sand and paint each piece, then decorate with tissue paper symbols using the template. You can also add different numbers of compartments depending on Dad's interests.
Shirt and tie card
A shirt and tie might be the most traditional gift for dad, but a card artfully folded with these wardrobe staples feels entirely fresh and new. Opt for decorative paper in a menswear pattern, like pinstripes, polka dots or plaid.
“Nuts and Bolts” Snacks
Make a “basic” cereal snack mix for Dad with a flavorful blend of seasonings and spices. Pack these homemade treats in a parchment-lined tin and finish off with printable clip art.
Heirloom Apron
For the dad who loves to cook or grill, this custom apron will keep all his favorite tools at hand.
Embroidered “Secret Message” Tie
Belts and ties are essential Father's Day gifts, but they don't have to come straight off the store shelf and be stuffed into a gift box. Add your own personality to the package by embroidering dad's first name or last initial on his tie this year.
Photographic Glassware
Make a keepsake set of his cherished memories of a day at the beach, camping in the woods, or his first family vacation. Use ultra-thin, clear, printable decals on a paper backing. Apply a coat of clear varnish, then dip in water for a bit and they'll slide off the backing and be ready to stick. Wrap the decals around pale-colored glass jars or candle holders for an enchanting seagrass-like table decoration.
Decoupage Paperweights
These decoupaged stones would make perfect paperweights on Dad's desk, and by printing the images onto thin, textured rice paper, they give off a naturally weathered, vintage look.
Denim Tech Sleeve
Does he always work wherever he is? Now he can store his tablet inside this customized sleeve, a durable sleeve lined with felt and featuring a cool drawstring and leather clasp.
Family tree in a glass dome
Think of it as a unique twist on family trees: Your inherited keepsakes, from your grandfather's glasses to your baby's baptismal spoon, are encased in delicate glass domes for a uniform, purposeful, Victorian look.
personalized desk supplies
For dad who travels the world, a set of personalized items will remind him of where he's been and where he's going. Print the photos on matte paper, apply a dab of decoupage glue to each notebook (black cloth binding) and press the matte paper on top. Let dry and then trim the excess to fit the edges. A small canvas case with an iron-on image is perfect for mementos like passports, ticket stubs and business cards.
Map Coaster
Map-themed gifts are perfect for any world traveler. Collect maps of your dad's favorite vacation spots and far-flung destinations he dreams of exploring to create a handy set of coasters so he'll be inspired every time he reaches for a glass.
Souvenir Book Box
Dad's going to be crazy about this year's gift: a wooden “book” with a secret drawer for keepsakes and trinkets. Start by staining the entire surface of a modern bookcase (available at craft stores or online) with diluted paint and letting it dry. Then, using undiluted paint, add designs like diamonds or stripes to mimic a vintage hardcover. Fill it with a few of your dad's shared keepsakes, like cufflinks or a lucky golf tee, to start off his collection.
Canvas Log Bag
For the guy who never turns down a campfire, this quick-sew firewood bag is the perfect gift. Measure one piece of canvas 18 1/2 x 36 1/2 inches. Fold both sides of the canvas 1/2 inch and press with an iron. Fold another 1/2 inch to create a border around the perimeter. Using a sewing needle and waxed thread, hand sew a leather handle to the center of one short edge of the canvas.
Leather Luggage Tag
Luggage tags are the perfect gift for dad who loves to travel. Cut them out of leather and emboss his name for a timeless design. They're so much fun to make, you'll want to make one for every member of the family.
Homemade snacks
Our pop art-inspired labels make it easy to turn dad's favorite foods into custom gifts. Download and print the designs on plain or adhesive paper, then scale them up or down as needed. Stick the labels on cellophane bags filled with pistachios, jars of homemade pickles or candy, or store-bought sauces and salsas. (If printing labels on plain paper, use double-sided tape.)
Necktie envelope
Even if your dad doesn't wear a tie every day, there are plenty of special occasions that call for him to dress up. Make the gift even more special by gifting it in a handmade fabric envelope that's one-size-fits-all for travel and storage. Sew a bag out of traditional shirting fabric for a coordinated look.
Menswear-inspired packaging
The details on these packages resemble those of tuxedo shirts and other men's formal wear, but are made with folded paper, buttons and embellishments – the result is a finely tailored, timeless look.
For a tuxedo wrap, place paper on mat. Working from center outwards, make a series of evenly spaced accordion folds. Crease with a bone folder as you work. Repeat to crease other side. (For a shirt-front look, thread waxed twine through the row of buttons on a thin strip of paper.) Attach to packaging with double-sided tape.
To make the tuxedo bow, fold the ends of the ribbon towards the center and secure with fabric glue. Flatten the center and secure with fabric glue. Cover the center with a second piece of ribbon and apply glue to the back of the ribbon.
Sock Accessory Holder
A set of protective pouches will keep dad's electronics and personal accessories safe. This simple project is great for older kids who want to practice their sewing skills. Argyle or striped socks look especially nice, but any pattern or color can be used.
To make it, turn the sock inside out so that the cuff is at the open end of the holder. Place the device or accessory at the top of the sock and measure 1/2 inch down from the bottom (for seam allowance). Draw a line with a disappearing ink fabric pen. Cut out with scissors. Sew a seam with your sewing machine. Or you can sew a seam by hand. Turn right side out.
Mixology Add-in
Preserve your late spring harvest in our versatile brine to create delicious pickles, pearl onions, and more. Salty, sour, and slightly sweet, pickles make the perfect Father's Day gift when served in a jar decorated with our clip art designs printed on a clear decal sheet. You can also tweak the brine to suit Dad's tastes – if he drinks Gibsons, for example, add a dash of dry vermouth to his jar of pearl onions.
Custom Ties and Gift Boxes
Personalize a store-bought tie for Father's Day. Start with a tie with a simple pattern and use it as a guide for your embroidered details. Undo the hand-stitched seams that hold the folds in place on the back of the tie (you can sew them back together after embroidery) and begin sewing through the top layer of fabric. I used chain stitch and satin stitch for the stripes and French knots on my polka dot bow tie. Pack your ties in an easy-to-make box decorated with paper bands.
Patterned terracotta pots
If he's an avid gardener or houseplant lover, brighten up your existing terracotta pots with masking tape, stamps and craft paints. This is a great way to spruce up worn-out or weathered flower pots. Just be sure to apply a coat of sealant before you put in the main part of your gift (your new plant, of course) to keep the design intact.
DIY sleep mask
Does he rely on blackout curtains for the best sleep? Take his nighttime routine a step further with this hand-sewn eye mask. It's easy to make.
Paint Coaster
Start this coaster project a day or two before Father's Day, as the paints and sealants required require 24 hours of drying time. Once you have purchased a set of leather circles, tape off sections and shapes with masking tape of various widths and paint accordingly. Using a clear sealant will make them more resistant to drips from condensation.