10 DIY Father’s Day Gifts

We all know Dad is a son’s first superhero and a daughter’s first love.

With Father’s Day not far away, making them a heartfelt gift is a great (and inexpensive) way to show the fabulous fathers in your life you care. Here are 10 Father’s Day Gifts you can do yourself.

1. Six pack of treats

Recycle a used 6 pack of beer or wine bottles by washing and then filling each bottle with Dad’s favourite snacks. Think lollies, chocolates, nuts and sauces. Use a bottle sealer to close the bottles again you could borrow one from a DIY brewing enthusiast. Handheld versions are alsoavailable at Big W and Kmart pretty cheaply and a small packet of bottle top won’t set you back very much at all. Recycle and decorate the cardboard 6 pack for a fabulous gift wrap.

2. Make a personalised etched glass.

To make this clever gift, you’ll need a glass etching cream (found at craft stores), a paintbrush, a clear glass mug, some contact and a craft knife. Clean and dry glass and trace your design onto the contact. Carefully cut out design with a craft knife and stick contact onto glass ensuring there are no air bubbles. Apply a generous amount of etching cream to the inside of the design. Remember, anything the etching cream touches will be etched, so stay inside the lines! Let the etching cream sit for about 5 minutes then under running water, rinse off the etching cream and remove the sticker. Ta-da!

3. Photo Collage

Make a photo collage and have the kids hold messages for Dad in the pictures. He can keep it close and remind himself how awesome he is every time he looks at it.

4. Car Track shirt

Have you ever had kids drive their toy cars on your back? It’s pretty much the next best thing to an actual massage. Give Dad the gift of relaxation with a car play shirt. You can purchase this one from Etsy, but it’s easy enough to make your own with a fabric or laundry marker and a plain shirt.

5. Homemade beef jerky

Making beef jerky is a relatively easy process and a great treat for Dad. Choose your own delicious marinade and it will be the best jerky Dad’s ever tried!

Select a lean cut such as sirloin and remove all noticeable fat and then slice your meat into very thin strips of about half a centimetre. To make this easier, you can freeze the meat for about 5 hours before slicing.

Marinate in a combination of soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, garlic and paprika and leave the meat to marinate in the fridge for at least 10-12 hours.

Coat the meat in any seasoning of your choice, and be sure to add lots of salt as this will help the meat to dehydrate. Sesame seeds are really tasty to add.

Dehydrate the meat using one of two methods:

• In a dehydrator: spray the racks with cooking spray to stop the meat from sticking. Place the meat on the racks and leave it to cook for roughly 6 hours.
• In the oven: set the temperature to 70 degrees Celsius. Be sure not to set the temperature any lower as it won’t be enough to kill bacteria and the jerky may spoil early. Leave to dehydrate for roughly 6 hours.

Check the consistency of the jerky by cutting into a piece and checking it isn’t raw inside. It should be a deep brown or burgundy colour when ready.

Once cooled, place the jerky into plastic bags and store in the refrigerator or freezer. Enjoy within two weeks of making.

6. Rum balls

Rum balls are a firm favourite for Dads and Granddads alike.

Tim tam balls or Milo balls will also be just as popular, and if you have a few gifts to give, you could make a few batches and give them all a mixed selection!

7. Homemade BBQ sauce

Is Dad a BBQ fanatic? Follow our recipe and make our Homemade BBQ Sauce then bottle up and attach a crafty homemade label.

8. Red Velvet biscuits

Whip up a batch of these decadent Red Velvet biscuits and gift wrap for Dad in a recycled tin or jar.

9. Make a coupon jar.

Fill a jar with homemade coupons for massages, cups of tea, breakfasts in bed, newspaper runs, lawn mowing etc and let Dad cash them in as needed or desired.

10. Beer Soap

Use our instructions to make Hand Milled Soap and try adding 275ml of boiled dark beer, a few drops of Oatmeal Stout Fragrance Oil and Almond Biscotti Fragrance oil to create a manly, beery soap for Dad.

What have you got your Dad, or hubby, for Father’s Day?