This article was updated on 26 June 2023

There's nothing quite like a homemade gift, created with dedication and care. From simple, budget-friendly sensory activities to painted masterpieces or handmade keepsakes and mementos, kids will love creating, and presenting, these special Father's Day crafts.

Father's Day crafts: it’s easy for kids to make a special tie as a gift for Dad

Craft a Nifty Homemade Tie

Let little fingers get creative with just a few craft items and the result will be this special Father’s Day tie. Flip it over to write a heartfelt message and add a pipe cleaner circle to the top so he can loop around his neck, then Dad can wear the tie for the day. Once Father’s Day is over, it can be hung on the wall as a continual and constant reminder of his family’s love.  

Step 1: Cut a piece of cardboard into the shape of a tie.

Step 2: Use a paint brush (or kids can use their fingers) to make paint spots over the tie in an array of colours. Allow to dry.

Step 3: Using a glue gun (best to have adult supervision for this bit), attach buttons as further decoration.

Step 4: Join two pipe cleaners together to make a circle. Use glue or sticky tape to stick the top back of the tie to the pipe cleaner circle so that it will hang flat when held up.

Father's Day craft idea: make a tie with cardboard, paint, buttons and pipe cleaners

What You’ll Need

Father's Day crafts: kids can make Dad an award-winning ribbon as a gift.

Give Him a Well-Deserved Medal

On the morning of 5 September, kids will love presenting Dad or Grandad with this keepsake. Not only will they enjoy cutting and getting crafty, but they can also organise a special medal ceremony for Father’s Day morning. What will they award him: “No 1 Pop”, “Gold-Standard Dad”, “Best-Ever Father”? Maybe all three.

Step 1: Use two pieces of heavy rectangular-shaped paper; A4-sized will work well. Fold the short side of the first piece of paper over by 1cm and then flip over the paper and repeat. Keep folding and flipping at 1cm increments until you have fully pleated the entire rectangle. Repeat with the other piece of paper.

Step 2: With one piece of the pleated paper, fold in the middle so it looks like a bow tie. Press down on the middle part of the fold to create a firm bend. Then form a semicircle by joining the inside middle ends of the pleat together so it looks like a semicircle fan. Glue or staple into place, leaving a small gap in the centre near the big fold. Repeat with the other paper so you have two fans.

Step 3: Place the semicircle fans together along the straight edge to form one big circle. In the middle of each fan, where they are folded in half, thread a pipe cleaner through the small gap on one fan and then through the small gap on the other, so you can tie the two semicircles together to make a rosette. (You can later use the pipe cleaner sticks at the back to make a loop to hang the medal.) Use glue or staples to help stick the straight sides of each fan together.

Step 4: Using the same paper colour as your fans, cut two long rectangular ribbon shapes, each with an inverted triangle cut out at the bottom. Glue the ‘ribbons’ to the back of the paper circle.

Step 5: Using a different paper colour, cut out a small circle for the centre of the rosette and use a marker to write your message to Dad. Glue to the front.

Step 6: Present him with the stunning medal he deserves!

Father's Day craft idea for kids to make a DIY award-ribbon using cardboard and glue.

What You’ll Need

SEE ALSO: How to Make a DIY Father’s Day Card

Father's Day crafts: kids can make a DIY picture frame using paddle pop sticks

Create a Photo Frame for the Fridge

If you’ve been meaning to get precious snaps off the phone for a while now, use Father’s Day as the excuse to print out some shots of special family moments. Let the kids select a photo they want to use, then get them to create a handmade frame to display it. A clever magnet on the back of the frame means this gift can take pride of place in the kitchen.

Step 1: Paint or use markers to colour eight paddle pop sticks; you can do these all one colour or in a rainbow of shades. Leave to dry.

Step 2: Create a square using the painted paddle pop sticks: lay two sticks parallel to one another, then use a low-temp glue gun to affix two more sticks crossways top and bottom onto the previous paddle pop sticks to make the square. Repeat layers with remaining sticks to make a second square on top.

Step 3: Select and print out a memorable photo of Dad and cut to the size of the paddle pop stick frame.

Step 4: Flip over the frame. Run glue along the edge of the photo and then stick to the back of the paddle pop stick frame.

Step 5: Write a message to Dad on the back of the photo. Glue a magnetic strip to the back of the frame to display the finished gift on the fridge.

Father's Day craft idea for kids: homemade picture frame made with paddle pop sticks.

What You’ll Need

Paint a Nature-Inspired Masterpiece

This clever canvas art trick is inspired by the great outdoors. Seeing their masterpiece take shape from just a single hand print is a great exercise in creativity, but it’s also pure messy fun. Dad will adore the vibrant result; a little something to brighten up his WFH desk.

Step 1: Using non-toxic kids paint, or finger paint, let the child create a single standout handprint in the middle of a canvas.

Step 2: With the same colour, extend down from the bottom of the palm to create the ‘trunk’.

Step 3: Use different colour paints to add leaves, grass and anything else you can think of.

Step 4: Allow to dry.

What You’ll Need

Father's Day crafts: kids can make Dad a handy homemade trinket tray from clay

Fashion a Special Trinket Tray

Cufflinks, spare change, house keys and more: a homemade trinket dish is just the thing to help him keep track of all those small bits and bobs. Kids will enjoy the sensory play while rolling out the clay; make sure that you’re around when it comes to the oven-baking time.

Step 1: Choose your clay colours and what order they will go in. If you only have a small amount of one colour of clay, that can be the centre. The more clay you use, the larger the dish!

Step 2: To make a 10-12cm round dish, roll about seven balls, 5-10cm in size.

Step 3: Keep the centre colour in a ball shape, flatten slightly, then roll the other balls into long strips.

Step 4: Arrange the first strip of clay around the centre ball to encircle it with no gaps. Clay can be added or taken away from the strip so that it fits.

Step 5: Place the next strip of clay into a circle around the previous one and repeat until all strips of clay are used.

Step 6: Using a rolling pin or your hand, flatten the clay circles into a plate.

Step 7: Either leave flat or turn the edges up of the outer strips to make a bowl shape.

Step 8: As per packet instructions, bake the dish till dry.

What You’ll Need

Father's Day crafts: kids can make Dad a mobile-phone holder as a homemade gift

A Home for His Phone

The perfect gift for the dad who constantly misplaces his phone – or maybe for the dad who likes to be completely organised – is this homemade phone docking station. It can sit on his dresser next to the trinket tray!  All you need is some glue, paddle pop sticks and a bit of paint, perhaps in Dad’s favourite team colours. Go, Bears!

Step 1: For the front: place two paddle pop sticks parallel to one another, so they are a paddle pop stick distance apart. Then make the front flap with your glue gun, by attaching five other paddle pop sticks crosswise to the bottom half of the first two.

Step 2:  For each of the sides: use seven paddle pop sticks, glued together, one on top of the other.

Step 3: For the back: lie 12 paddle pop sticks horizontally next to one another, like a fence. Then take one of the sides already built, add glue all the way down and attach it to the edge of the paddle pop stick “fence” on the table. Repeat with the other side.

Step 4: To stick the front on: place glue on the top of both side pieces and attach the front section. Attach more paddle pop sticks to the base with glue to create a bottom to hold the phone in. Allow glue to dry.

Step 5: Use markers or paint to colour the sticks.

Step 6: Cut out some heavy paper to make a small label. Use craft stickers or a marker to write “Dad’s Phone” on the label, then glue onto the front of the holder.

Step 7: If desired, use pom poms and googly eyes to create an animal shape and glue onto the holder.

Father's Day craft idea: how to make a DIY mobile-phone holder as a gift for Dad

What You’ll Need

Father's Day crafts: kids can make Dad decorative coasters as a gift

Craft a Set of Cool Coasters

Your handmade bespoke ultra-unique coasters will be a talking point at your next dinner party. Or maybe they’ll be a clever way to protect the bedroom furniture from his bedside glass of water. Either way, kids will enjoy the creativity of this experience. The paint colours blending together is fun, and will keep them guessing, as there’s no way of knowing what the end result will look like.

Step 1: Place a paper plate or messy play mat on the table or floor. Place a cup in the middle.

Step 2:  Use another cup for each of your chosen acrylic paint colours and pour a small amount into each.

Step 3: Add a few drops of water or paint thinner into each colour and stir to create a more runny texture.

Step 4: Pour some of each colour into a section of one last cup. They will start to blend a little.

Step 5: Get the coaster and place onto the opening of the cup with the paints in it.

Step 6: Flip the coaster with the cup together upside down and place onto the cup on the paper plate. Lift the top cup off the coaster and watch the remaining paint pour out.

Step 7: Use your hands to lift the coaster around to swirl the paint colours. (Or a matchstick or paintbrush could be used, or you could also blow on it to make the colours move more, too).

Step 8: Once the paint has covered all parts of the coaster, let it dry.

Step 9: Paint on varnish to seal it.

Note: Using water and not a paint thinner in the earlier step creates a lovely crackle effect when the varnish is put on.

What You’ll Need