15 Father's Day Crafts That the Kids Can Make for Dad

Family Map Scrapbook

This can be a family project: Commemorate those summer vacations spent together by gathering maps, mementos, and more from your favorite getaways, then compiling everything into a bound book for Dad to browse through when he's feeling sentimental.

To make this craft, start by cutting the map to fit, and glue it in place along edges oof the album's inside covers. For the photo frame, cut a rectangle larger than the photo, and cut slits into the corners to hold the image.

Next, create the envelope pocket by unfolding an existing envelope; trace around it on a double-sided map. Cutting out around the outline, and then fold and glue the map to match the shape of the original.

For the photo corners, cut a small rectangle (ours are one-by-two inches). Fold the edges to the center to create a triangle and glue the seam side to the page.

Rock Paperweights

Kids will have fun using découpage on rocks that Dad can use as paperweights. Help the kids print family snapshots onto thin rice paper, then let them adhere the images onto the stones of their choice. Printing the images onto thin rice paper lets the texture of the rock come through, so the image appears painted-on. The best part of this craft? Your whole family can reminisce about how much your vacations have "rocked."

Keepsake Book Box

Dad will pore over this year's gift: a wooden "book" with a secret drawer for keepsakes or knickknacks. To begin, stain the entire surface of a modern book box (available at crafts stores and online) with diluted paint; let dry. Then use undiluted paint to add designs like stripes (use painters' tape for straight lines).

Once the box is dry, dress up the compartment: Line the inside with velvet or decorative paper, secured with craft glue. Start Dad's collection by dropping in a few shells from your last beach trip, a new set of cuff links, or his lucky golf tee.

Shirt Cuff Cards

Fashion a card to look like a dapper shirt cuff, and then use it to present a gift of cuff links (make a set out of shank buttons, or buy new or vintage links).

Cut a 3 1/4-by-9-inch rectangle from construction paper and round two corners, as shown. Rubber-stamp a greeting on one side. Gently bend paper in half and cut four slits for cuff links.

To make cuff links, hook 24-gauge wire onto a button's shank, securing with needle-nose pliers. Cut wire to half an inch and loop through a second button's shank; repeat.

Father's Day Coupons

Dad loves a deal, especially the kind tailored specifically to him. Offer a free car wash, lawn mowing, breakfast—or anything else your little ones can dream up—with do-it-yourself designs on customized coupons.

Let the kids' creativity run wild: Use construction paper, craft paper, or card stock to make the coupons, and decorate with stamps, markers, crayons, glitter, and stickers. Once kids make a cover, they can fasten, staple, or sew the booklet together.

Magnet Bookmarks

With any of our shirt-and-tie templates, kids can give Dad a well-dressed bookmark. When secured with magnets, the fold-over page holder will remind Dad how sharp he really is.

Print any of our bookmark templates. Cut out image, and make slits along solid black lines for collar. Fold along dotted lines. Unfold, and place wrong side up. Adhere a magnet to one end, then adhere a second to opposite end, so magnets will align when the bookmark is folded over.

Father's Day Cutout Frame

Kids can spell out how much they love Dad using photos of their faces, our easy frame template, and a little help from another grownup. To make this prop-up paper craft, you will only need heavyweight construction paper or card stock, scissors, and pictures showcasing some favorite portraits or memories with Dad.

Day With Dad

Kids love to be in charge, so let them take Dad on a Father's Day "date" of their choosing. Ask them to consider what Dad would like best: a movie, a museum, or a baseball game? This can be a perfect way to surprise their father and offer a chance to plan an activity the whole family can join. Kids can buy or draw the "tickets;" another adult (or older sibling) can cut a slit to hold the tickets in the card.

Fin-Tastic Fishy Card

Draw inspiration from weekend trips to the lake to create a fishing-inspired card that will charm dad hook, line, and sinker.

To make the card, cut a piece of paper 7 by 10 inches. Using the mini scoring board, score the piece of paper at five inches on the 10-inch end. Fold at crease. Use a paper trimmer to cut another piece of paper and cut half-circles along one 5-inch edge to make wave shapes.

Punch two hearts with the heart punch. Cut one heart down the center to make the two fins. Score the other heart down the center with the mini scoring board. Use the jumbo circle punch to punch one circle. Then take that circle and punch again to create an almond shape for the fish's body. Cut out the eye. Make a tiny triangle shaped cut with detail scissors to make the mouth. Bend a small piece of wire like a jewelry wire or a paper clip to make the hook and attach some baker's twine for the line, and secure with glue.

Dress Shirt Gift Package

Add a homemade touch to a store-bough gift with DIY Father's Day gift wrap made from a worn-out dress shirt and accented with a paper necktie.

To begin, cut off sleeves at the seam. Fasten the buttons, turn the shirt inside out, and place your gift inside so you can pin where you need to sew. Remove the gift, sew the bottom and sides of the shirt, and trim any extra fabric. Slip your gift into the new wrap, fasten the buttons, and fold the shirt's collar. Cut out a tie shape from card stock paper, cut a slit and a circle at the top of the tie to fit around the top button of the gift-wrap, and secure it around the top button. (Don't forget the hand-written message, too!)

Painted Leather Coasters

Projects for Dad can be practical masterpieces just as much as they are creative. To recreate the stripes and paint splatters on these leather coasters, block off a pattern using masking tape in various widths, then brush the exposed sections with craft paint. Allow to dry completely before removing the tape. Spray with clear sealant and let cure for 24 hours before allowing dad to rest his morning coffee or after-hours cocktail on your masterpiece.

Denim Tech Case

DIY felt sleeve tech protectors scratch-proof Dad's tablet or e-reader and require only basic sewing skills (the sleeves shown here are machine-sewn, but you can hand-stitch them instead).

Choose a button-and-string or an elastic closure; add a small pocket for earphones. Fold felt and position a 14-inch length of elastic. Pin felt and elastic in place, then sew the side seams and elastic.

Nuts and Bolts Snack Mix

For dads who like to snack, create salty-and-sweet mix he can enjoy all Father's Day long (no sharing required). This recipe is one that kids—and Mom—can create in a little over an hour. You will need the main ingredients of corn cereal—like Chex, bite-size pretzels, and dry-roasted peanuts to cook up the yummy creation.

Father's Day Notepad

Add a custom touch to Dad's home office with a DIY notepad that even the youngest artists can create. To begin this craft for his special day, wrap a rubber band around a notepad cube and have kids write greetings and make drawings on two sides with a broad, pointy marker. (Fine tips will get caught between the pages.) Move band, and decorate the other two sides. Tie the notepad with a colorful ribbon. As an added gift, slide in a pen.

Ice-Dyed Shirt

Who doesn't love tie-dye? This technique results in beautiful table napkins—but we have a feeling that's not really his speed. Instead, have the kids make Dad an ice-dyed shirt for a stylish new item of clothing he'll wear with pride.