Some More for Daddy

Father's Day has come and gone, but the dads in our lives are too special to celebrate in just one day, right? Surprise him with post-Father's Day gifts that you and your kids can easily make at home.

Here are great ideas from LilSugar:

* Bake a Father’s Day cake (or cupcakes). Snatch up some glitz in the baking aisle to frou-frou it up. You can write out your own “Happy Father’s Day Daddy!” with a tube of blue frosting. If your little one is old enough to enjoy a song and a good clap, grab the opening to sing “Happy Father’s Day to you” in the tune of “Happy Birthday” and you will have your munchkin involved in no time. Not to mention, they’ll love a couple bites of that cake!

* Have them “make” Daddy a card. Washable finger-paint, markers, and crayons are wonderful for this kind of occasion. If your little one is a bit too young to be introduced to the world of finger-painting artistry, you can make “baby’s signature” handprints by using washable finger-paint on a piece of construction paper.

* Use photos! Take the adorable stash of photos you undoubtedly have of your little one and Daddy to form a photo album or a collage.

And here's one from us!

* Dress up for Dad. Let your little girl greet him with a sunny smile, a pretty dress and precious hair accessories. Make him feel extra special by looking extra special and maybe taking him on an all-dressed-up lunch or dinner at home. Why not roll out a red carpet for him, too? Any red-colored rug would do! It's a whole new experience that we're sure he'll remember fondly. Of course, if we're talking about hair accessories, there's nothing more special out there than *ahem* No Slippy Hair Clippy!


This darling little lady is wearing our Shayla Ribbed Organza Baby Bow in light blue! The lovely bow is available in nine colors, so you have something to match all your daughter's favorite dresses.

Image from sxc.hu
No Slippy Hair Clippy Image shot by Amanda Elkins

To all the Fathers

June has finally come. That means not only is summer just around the corner, so is Father's Day! Our dads may not be as *ahem* adept in household work as much as our moms are, but they are an irreplaceable part of the family. Plus, dad will always have the honor of being the first guy who loved you unconditionally.

When I was a kid, I remember how my father would patiently play pretend with me for HOURS. He would "pretend cook" with me and "pretend eat" with me and sometimes we'd even have "pretend parties" with all my stuffed animals. As a child, of course I had no concept of time! So I would keep playing until something else captivates my interest. He tells me now how it honestly bored him to death, which I find even more endearing, because I don't ever recall him declining any of my invitations to my imagined celebrations.

This month, let's celebrate these special men in our lives. Whether it's your own father, your father-in-law, your gramps, or your hubby, these dads in our lives deserve to know how much we appreciate their presence. So make them feel extra special!

Here are some fun craft ideas from Disney Family Fun that you can do with your kids for Father's Day:

TIDY TRUNK TOTE

Help Dad keep his car neat, clean, and clutter-free with a personalized storage box. Have your kids decorate a sturdy cardboard box -- you'll want to flatten it first to make it easier to decorate. When they're finished, assemble the box, tape the bottom, and tuck in the flaps. For handles, use a craft knife to cut 2 X's through all the layers on each end of the box (a parent's job). Push a pencil through the center of each X to create holes. Thread a 24-inch length of rope through each set of holes and knot the ends on the inside.

TAKE NOTE, DAD

Delight him at every turn by leaving Father's Day wishes all over the house. Sing Dad's praises in stand-alone messages taped here and there, or set up successive signs leading him to a gift or a sumptuous Sunday breakfast.

More fun ideas at Disney Family Fun's website!

Images from Disney Family Fun.

Gifts Kids Can Make

Okay, Christmas is SERIOUSLY just around the corner. There's no denying it anymore at this point. If you haven't done any gift shopping yet, you may want to start thinking about it now. But if you don't fancy getting into the mad, mad Christmas rush, why not make the gifts yourself? And to make it fun (or, inevitably, very challenging), let your kids join in! When they see you tinkering with all the arts and crafts, they'd want to join in anyway...

AmazingMoms.com has lots of great gift suggestions, including easy-to-follow step-by-step procedures for each one. Each gift requires very little materials to make. You might even already have some lying around at home! The gifts are categorized according to kids ages. The ones for kids aged 2-6 are easier, while those for kids aged 9 and up are a wee bit more difficult. But all gifts are lovely and since you're making them, will be all the more special to the recipient.

Here's one that I really liked:

REINDEER CRAFT TREAT HOLDER





You'll need:
scissors
craft glue, glue stick or glue dots
terracotta clay pots (2"-5")
plastic eyes
red pom-poms
three shades of brown craft foam, cardstock paper or construction paper

How to make it:
1. With one shade of brown, cut the antlers to match the size of your pot. If you are making the large reindeer, use a child's handprint as pattern.
2. Cut the ears with the other shad of brown. You can use a lighter shade of brown to add yet another layer to the ears, but it's not necessary.
3. Attach the ears to the back of the pot. Then add the antlers.
4. Glue the eyes and nose to the front of the pot.
5. Fill the pot with candy, nuts or other goodies. It's that simple!

Click here for more gift ideas.

Image courtesy of AmazingMoms.com