FATHERS DAY CRAFT?

My son and I are gettng a stepping stone kit from Michaels to make for father's day. We are going to put his little hand print in it!

If I remember correctly, your children are still pretty young, right?

If you go to a hobby store, you'll find beginner model cars. Some of them don't even need glue; everything snaps together. Some require paint, but others are pre-painted and just provide stickers. You can buy both non-toxic glue and non-toxic paint if need be -- just ask the people who work there. Dad can take the finished product to work after everyone has played with it. To make the whole project more enjoyable, buy a boatload of inexpensive paintbrushes, so that they can just be discarded.

Another thing Dad can do with the kids is put together a puzzle that has a picture on it that fits him. Craft and hobby stores have a spray you can use to fix the pieces together; once that's done, you can frame it like a photo.

If you're on a tighter budget, it's easy enough to make a pinata. Cut a newspaper into strips, and blow up a balloon. Make a paste of flour and water, dip the newspaper into it, and slap it on the balloon. After a couple of layers, cut some plain paper into strips, dip them into the paste, and cover the newspaper. One it's dried, pop the balloon, and Dad and the kids can decorate it with markers, crayons, or watercolors. Fill it with goodies -- it doesn't have to be all candy, and string it up. Let everyone take a turn blindfolded swinging the bat at it until it bursts.

Even if the kids want to produce the gift to give to Dad, all three can be fun -- especially if you hit the dollar store to fill the pinata for Dad.

If the kids really want to make something for Dad on their own, you can help them gather great photos of him (age 2, age 30, whatever) and copy them to plain paper. Craft stores have the equivalent of cigar boxes. The photos can be trimmed and then decoupaged around the outside of the box and on the inside of the cover. The inside box itself can be lined with felt. Each child can contribute one "treasure" to put in the box: a crafty thing or a note or poem (even if narrated) or a hand-drawn picture.

Your hubby is one lucky guy, you're one special wife and Mom, and your kids are very lucky to have you both.

We have a tradition every year that my kids make their dad photo frames. They change every year too so he doesn't get the same type every year. (And trust me, they remember what they made last year!) He really looks forward to it every year.
Each one picks their own picture with Dad and picks their decorations. None of them are the same, guess it brings out their individual artistic side, plus there is no fighting over who's is better.
We have used popsicle sticks, shiny smooth stones, beads, plaster casts and molds with paint, even sticks and leaves. You can use anything that can be glued onto a frame, or make your own with cardboard backing with the picture glued on and decorate. We have even added magnets to the backs of some, just depends what each child wants. They hang them on the fridge, rearrange them all the time and look how they have grown with Daddy. My son last year made him a keychain with their picture and it is so cute.
With four kids, this has been a fairly inexpensive over the years money wise, but priceless for him.
My husband has kept every single one and cherishes them!!
Have fun! I really enjoy doing crafty things with my kids.

Last year at my daughter's day care, they bought wooden blocks, printed pictures of my daughter and glued them on the blocks and on the bottom end of the block they wrote "Happy Father's Day 2007". It was really cute.

jesshod is a mommy to 2 girls (ages 6 and 1) and is an arizonamoms.com discussion leader living in Surprise.

We're doing the Stepping Stone craft from Michael's, too! Although my husband is so hands on I think he would like actually doing the craft with my children so we're not doing it ahead of time.

also I got this great idea from a friend:
We're going to send my husband on a scavenger hunt. We bought several small gifts that can be used to spend time with the kids. (ie: coloring books, magnet doodle, etc.) and we're going to hide them around the house and include clues as to where he can find them. I'm super excited about this one, too.

Catherine Phillips
SHAKLEE~ Creating Healthier Lives
www.shaklee.net/vitamin_c
602-952-8496