Homemade Fathers Day Gifts your Dad Won’t Forget
"I don't know how to make anything!" Does that sound like you? Well, here are five homemade Father's Day gifts your dad won't forget that almost anyone can make. They require some time and basic computer skills, but other than that, they are inexpensive and easy to make. Dad will recognize the time and love you put into creating any of these books as he relives the past over and over again.
1-"ME AND MY DAD"
Create a special book to show your dad how your eyes saw him through the years. Include as many pictures as you can of just you and your dad. Add captions to each picture explaining what you thought and how you felt that day.
Tell your dad how proud you were of him and that he was and is your hero. Thank him for the lessons he taught you and go into detail about how each lesson changed you as a person.
Mention all the things he helped you learn such as riding a bike, fishing, how to win at monopoly and card games, how to be a person of your word and how to choose friends wisely.
Starting on the first page, connect each page element with a golden thread or wire. Do this on each page throughout the book. On the title page, write, "The Tie That Binds", and on the last page, tie a bow of the thread and wrap the ends of it around a heart. Glue this down and beneath it write; "Your love held me securely through the years. Thank you for being my Dad."
2-"WHEN DAD WAS A CHILD"
Ask all family members and friends for pictures of your Father from birth to high school graduation. Start with his baby picture and a copy of his birth certificate. Add a picture of his Mother and father at the time he was born.
Make a "What Happened the Day You Were Born" page. Find what you need at: http://dmarie.com/timecap/step1.asp Just type in the date and click on Quick Page.
A hair clipping would be nice here as well as a list of his first word, step, tooth and so on, illustrated with pictures of the event or clip art you can find online. Divide the next pages into years and once he reaches school age start each page with his school photo. At the top middle of each page, add the year and how old he was in large text.
Make a nice mat for each picture and caption each school picture with school name, teacher, clubs and best subject. His report cards could follow this if they are available. If he played in the school band or in school sports or was in the ROTC, add pictures of him in his uniforms.
Add photos of important events and places such as the hospital where he was born, churches and schools he attended, baptism, graduation, vacation spots, birth of siblings, birthday parties, first date and where he lived to the appropriate years pages. Include immunization records, awards and prizes.
Also, include best friends, pets, cousins, Halloween costumes, plays he may have been in, early artwork, special interests and any organizations such as Boy Scouts.
3-"ALL MY CHILDREN"
First page: Create a title page using elaborate text such as calligraphy and print it on aged paper. You can make the page seem aged by dipping in a tea bath, allowing to dry and ironing. You might want to include a photo of your Father on the title page. You might also want to use this as a dedication page.
Second Page: Make a Table of Contents listing each family member's name. Place a small thumbnail picture of the person next to their name.
Third Page: Display pictures of your Father and Mother. Their wedding photo would be perfect.
Following Pages: Do pages for each child and grandchild. Start with the oldest child then add their spouse and then their children. First baby pictures and christening pictures are great for this. Let the pictures tell the story of each person from birth to the present. Use formal portraits as well as snap shots to illustrate their lives individually and as a family unit.
Leave a few pages blank at the end to add pictures of this Father's Day family gathering. A picture of everyone together in a group shot would be a nice last page.
Use clip art, stickers, pressed corsages, artwork by each person, birth announcements, awards, honors and newspaper clippings to trace important moments in their lives.
4-"DADS FAMILY TREE"
Do a Family Tree book for your dad. Talk to the oldest members of his family and gather names, dates and unusual stories from family that has passed on. You can also research online to find his family history. Make copies of old family photos and include them. Start as far back as you can and add each new generation, ending with your dad's descendants.
Include all birth certificates and copies of old census pages. Also, fill out and add the following charts, which can be found at: http://www.misbach.org/pdfcharts/
Pedigree charts-Five generations on one chart.Family Group Charts-Dates, names and relationship of each family unit member.Research Charts-where you looked and what you found.Family Trees-Various charts for family trees.Descendants Chart-Shows your father's descendants.
So, as you can see, "I can't make anything" is not what stands in your way. You can do this! Not only will you end up with a great homemade Father's Day gift your dad won't forget, but you will be amazed at how easy and fun it was.
