Five easy Father’s Day gifts

Make Dad a present this year to show how much you care

By Anjali Kapoor

Sometimes the most memorable gifts are those that had a lot of thought put into them. This Father’s Day, make a present for Dad that is unique and personalized. Here are five gift suggestions that can be created quickly and easily on your computer.

1. Burn a music compilation to CD
2. Make a memory box
3. Create a helping-hand coupon book
4. Cook up a personalized barbecue apron
5. Foster family memories with a photo calendar

Burn a music compilation to CD

Does your dad have a favourite band or artist? Why not compile different songs that remind him of a point in his life on CD? Add to that a funky CD label and a case cover with a memorable digital photo and you have a personalized present in under an hour. Or turn his record albums into CDs that he can carry with him on a jog or in the car on the way to work. For detailed information on how to burn a CD, click on CD burning basics.

Make a memory box

If your dad is a golf aficionado or indulges in a certain hobby, he is sure to enjoy a customized memory box. Look for deep picture frames or shadow boxes at craft supply stores or some IKEA locations. Boxes are the perfect place to store mementoes of family vacations and can be adapted to any occasion. Follow our steps to produce a golf-themed memory box.

Step 1: Using a photo-editing program, open your golf image and add a border and text.

Step 2: Print and trim your photo to the appropriate size to fit inside the shadow box.

Step 3: Cut Astroturf to the size of the shadow box and plan the layout.

Step 4: Glue Astroturf to the shadow box frame.

Step 5: Glue the accessories in place, making sure they’re securely affixed.

Step 6: Mount the photo onto the 3-D stickers, affix to the Astroturf, and then frame.

Create a helping-hand coupon book

Offering to wash the car and clean your room are a couple of ways to give Dad a break this Father’s Day. Our easy coupon book template allows you to tailor the tasks and household chores to suit your family. Create coupons for taking out the garbage or helping with yard work, and give your dad some much-needed free time.

For this craft, look for brightly coloured cardstock on which to print the coupons. Then follow our easy steps below.

Step 1: Save the template to your computer and then open it in Word.

Step 2: Each coupon can be customized for different chores: insert photos and text for each new task. Once you have created enough coupons for a book, print them.

Step 3: Cut the coupons along the lines and stack them together to form a book. Use a hole-puncher and ribbon to tie the book together or staple the coupons along the top.

Cook up a personalized barbecue apron

Give Dad the perfect accessory for his new barbecue — his own special apron! It’s a practical, fun gift that is simple to make. Buy durable fabric aprons at a kitchen supply store and print an image — such as a photo or themed Clip Art — from your computer using T-shirt transfer paper. Iron the image onto the apron, and your new Father’s Day gift is ready.

Foster family memories with a photo calendar

Make Dad a year-long reminder of fun family times with a calendar created with regular or digital photos. Just open Word, select Calendars > 2008 Calendars, scroll down to find the picture calendar option, and fill with your favourite photos.

All styling and inset photography by Julie Stoyka of Zariel Creative