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Forget the tie. These gifts will make any Dad or Granddad a happy fellow.

Poor Dad! When I was growing up, his day was always an afterthought. For Mom, there were plans for flowers, breakfast in bed, and elaborate plots to surprise her with dinner or a special dessert. For Dad, we were likely to get a reminder from Mom the day before and run out to get a tie or handkerchiefs. (I dreaded both because I was the chief ironer.)

Unlike those hastily purchased gifts, these personalized presents are something that Dad and Granddad will use and enjoy every day. Make assembling these crafts a priority. Ask your grandchild to be your assistant and have fun working together.

Start with clear acrylic products from the craft shop or dollar-discount store. Take your grandchild shopping for the add-on materials like stickers and patterned papers. Use this as a teaching moment on interior decorating to consider the color scheme of Dad’s or Granddad's workplace.

For Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers:

FAVORITES PHOTO CUBE
A daily reminder of his most precious assets.

Materials:

• Clear acrylic photo cube
• Photos
• Lightweight patterned paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Border-trim stickers
• Phrase stickers
• Adhesive glue dots

Instructions:

1. Open the cube, as per the directions. Use the inner cardboard cube as a base for the project.
2. Using the ruler and pencil, mark the patterned paper to size to fit the six faces of the photo cube. Trim with scissors.
3. Using the glue dots, adhere the patterned paper to each face of the inner cardboard. Make sure the patterned paper will face out.
4. Add the photos on top of the patterned paper with the adhesive glue dots.
5. Reassemble the cube and add phrase stickers to the outside of the cube. Add border trim stickers around the top and bottom edges, overlapping it around the corners to create a continuous line, as shown.

For Grade-Schoolers:

THE WRITE STUFF PENCIL HOLDER
Every note he takes will remind him of how much he's loved.

Materials:

• Clear acrylic pencil holder
• Acrylic paint
• Wedge sponge
• Foam or plastic-coated plate to be used as a palette
• Letter stickers
• Plain card stock in two colors to coordinate with the paint and stickers
• Border trim stickers
• 5 Pencils
• 5 Pens
• Photographs
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Adhesive glue dots

Instructions:

1. Using paint and a sponge, brush paint on all edges of the pencil holder, as shown. Allow to dry.
2. Using a pencil and ruler, trim the photos to the proper size that will allow them to fit on the pencil holder. Adhere with glue dots.
3. Cut the plain card stock to fit each section of the pencil holder and add the words using the letter stickers. Adhere with glue dots. Make sure the letter stickers show on the outside of the holder and read from left to right.
4. Cut paper into 1 ½ “ x 5” strips. Cut three strips from one color of paper and two from the second color of paper. Fold each strip in half to create a 1 ½” x 2 ½” rectangle. Mark the center point at ¾” on the open end of the rectangle. Using the ruler, draw a diagonal line from the center mark to opposite corners. Cut along the line to create flag shape, as shown.
5. Use the letter stickers to decorate the flags.
6. Use the glue dots, wrap flags around the pencils and press tightly to secure them. Wrap border-trim stickers around the pens to decorate.
7. If desired, add a small bit of shredded paper or marbles to hold the pencils and pens upright.

For Older Grandchildren:

DEFINING MOMENTS DESK CALENDAR
Keeping track of his day and any last-minute to do’s will be easier with this useful desk calendar.

Materials:

• Clear acrylic 5” x 7” double frame turned on its side
• Acrylic paint
• Wedge sponge
• Foam or plastic-coated plate to be used as a palette
• Adhesive glue dots
• 4” x 6” calendar
• Stapler
• Coordinated card stock and word accents
• Post-it notes

Instructions:

1. Using acrylic paint and a wedge sponge, paint around the edges of the frame and across the middle section of the frame, as shown.
2. Trim calendar pages to measure; and brush paint on edges of each page. When the pages are dry, stack them in order and add staples to the top two corners.
3. Trim two pieces of card stock to 5” x 7”. On the piece of card stock that will go on the top part of the frame, using glue dots, add word accents along the right side. Place that piece of card stock inside the top section of the frame.
4. Add the stapled calendar pages to the inside of the top section of the frame, in front of the card stock so that the card-stock border is visible.
5. Adhere other word accents on the outside of the acrylic frame using glue dots. Avoid covering the calendar area.
6. Adhere word accents on the other piece of 5" x 7" card stock. Insert it into the bottom part of the frame. Keep a few word accents to add onto the outside of the acrylic frame to give it dimension.
7. Adhere the base of the Post-it note tablet onto the acrylic frame. Write a note to Dad or Granddad on the top Post-it note.

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