• Star Memory Frame. Lisa’s elegant frame would look great hanging in Dad’s office.
• Golf Memory Frame. Sarah gives you simple directions to make a great gift.
• Father’s Day Card. Use your Cricut to make one lickety-split!
• Father’s Silhouette Canvas. Alyice’s fine-art approach makes a unique keepsake.
• Father’s Silhouette Ideas. She takes her concept further with these gift & card ideas.
• Polymer Clay Key Fobs. Jenny shows you how to make a great gift in no time.

And, just because we’re a fan of CraftCritique.com, we invite you to click over there for a list of fun, crafty ideas!

Happy Crafting & Happy Father’s Day!

Polymer clay is a wonderful medium for kids and adults alike: it’s non-toxic, cures in a home oven at 275 degrees (so adult supervision is necessary if using it with kiddos) and comes in an array of bright, rich colors. Plus, it works so well with other craft items you might have around for jewelry making or scrapbooking. Let’s get going!

Supplies:

• Premo Polymer Clay in Black, White, and Gold Or colors of your choice
• Craft wire, 20 gauge (Item 3958-74)
• Steel Split Rings (Item 17107)
• Rubber Stamps (optional)
• White Acrylic Paint (optional)Item 97816

Tools:

• 3-in-1 Round Nose Pliers (Item 18827)
• Acrylic Stamping Block (Item SCR362)
• Old butter knife, Fettling knife, or tissue blade to chop clay
• Small cookie cutters, old pill bottles, etc, too cut shapes

I used black, gold and white clay, because it looks a little like Tiger’s Eye – and they are great basic colors to have on hand (I’ve got another project up my sleeve using these in the near future.) But feel free to use Dad’s favorite colors, or the colors of his favorite sports teams.

Start off by slicing a 1/4 inch slice off the block of black and gold, and a 1/8 inch slice of white. Using an old chopping knife, butter knife, or tissue blade, carefully chop the clay into pieces about the size of a pea. If kids are doing this step, a plastic knife is safest.

Now grab a handful of clay and make a ball about the size of a golf ball:

Now, if you remember your clay skills from Kindergarden, roll out a long snake. Twist it as you go to make “stripe.” Squish the clay back toward the center & keep twisting. It will end up looking like a caterpiller…

Now for our secret weapon- the clear acrylic block that often used in rubber stamping. I like to use this to flatten the clay because you can see through the block & see just what you’re doing. Squish the clay until it’s about 3/8 inch thick.

Now cut out a shape that you like- I’d suggest an oval, circle, or rounded square. Shapes with points are not good ideas because they are prone to break.  I used an oval cutter to make this one with the initials.

Then, I used some alphabet stamps to make the impressions for Dad’s initials:

Add a hole by making one with a toothpick. Then, bake your piece according to the package directions (Premo is 275 degrees for about 20 minutes.) When it’s cool, you can highlight the stamped image by adding some acrylic paint, then wiping off the excess with a damp paper towel. Let it dry before you add your wire for the keyfob.

Since the polymer piece is thick, you’ll need to make your own attachment to the split ring- a regular jump ring just won’t work. Don’t worry, though, it’s easy! Just cut a piece of craft wire about 8 inches long. That’s more than you’ll need, but it’s easier to cut off excess than it is to work with short wire.

Using the round part of your pliers- or a pencil- create a “J” shape.The short end should be about 2.5-3 inches.Cross the short end over the long one, and then wrap it around to form a coil. (Jamie has a nice tutorial on making wrapped loops HERE, if you’d like a refresher!)

Thread it through your the polymer piece. Cross the short end over the long one, and then wrap it around to form a coil. (Jamie has a nice tutorial on making wrapped loops HERE, if you’d like a refresher!)

Repeat the loop-making process on the other end. You are now ready to add the split ring!

I came up with a few different versions of the keyfob, if you’d like extra ideas:

• 
• Make a Monogram: roll out a long, solid-color “snake” of clay and write dad’s initial
• Fingerprints: Have the kids press their fingers into the clay-subtle, but sweet!
• Just leave it plain, and decoupage a small picture onto the piece using Mod Podge.

Of course, the smaller pieces would also make some manly jewelry- just hang the pendant on a leather cord and he’s good to go!

Have fun, and happy Father’s Day to all the Dads our there!

Disclosure

Mod Podged Father's Day

Here are a few more ideas for using the “dad” stencil we created with that tutorial:

No Thrills Hand Stitched Design

First I used a wood embroidery hoop and a piece of cloth from an old t-shirt to create a basic hand-stitched design. (Think back to the days when folks would create folk art without fancy gadgets and just their handwriting.)

Retro Meets Folk Art

Then I got to thinking how much I like those retro advertisements from the early 50s and thought, “Why not combine the two?” And this is what I came up with.

Cloth Covered, Hand Painted Planter or Holder

As I completed that project, I eyed an unused paper mache flower pot and thought, “What if I used another piece of t-shirt, did another hand-stitched image and adhered it to the flower pot?” When done, I thought it was missing something so I grabbed some acrylic paint and went to town.

A Simple Greeting Card

Finally, I decided I wanted a clean “thank you” card so I used the stencil to hand paint dad onto a blank greeting card. Then I used alphabet stickers to write out the word, “Thanks”. I scanned the image into my computer and then digitally altered it, resized it to 5×7 and had several printed up.

As for the materials used in the above projects, you can get a basic idea of what I used in the supplies and tools list below…

Supplies:
1 – 5×7 Greeting Card with envelope (Item 1103-66)
1 – Liquitex Basics 48 Piece Tube Acrylic Paint Set (Item BS101048) or Studio 71 24 Piece Acrylic Paint Set (Item 97848)
1 – Matte Mod Podge (Item PLCS11302)
1 – 5.5×9 Oval Wood Embroidery Hoop (Item 39106)
1 – 100 Pk. 8 Meters Cotton Craft Thread (Item 1170-93)
1 – Paper Mache Flower Pot (Item 2839-04)
1 – “Scrapbook Kit In A Stack Friends Family” value pack (Item SBK8Friend)
1 – 9×12 Sheet of Canvas Paper (Item 97490-2)
1 – Package circle stickers
1 – hand cut star, from yellow paper
1 – 8×10 frame
1 – Used, white t-shirt

Tools:
1 – Medium tipped paintbrush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)
1 – Thin tipped paintbrush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)
1 – Comfort Grip Scissors (Item 1149-17)
1 – Soft-Grip Craft Knife (Item F1S12-6705)
1- Hand quilting needle

Look at this cute mug! (Yes, my daughter has a cute little mug, doesn’t she?)  But actually I was talking about the great mug she made all by herself!

Supplies used:

1103-22 68 piece Artist Set
2406-20 Design a Mug

So when you open the box to the Design a Mug you will notice that there is not only a mug inside the box, but 3 wonderful colorbook type designs.  So you can either have your child color one (or all) of these and then simply slide them in the mug holder or you can give them a blank piece of paper or cardstock to be free and creative on their own.  I decided to give my daughter a blank piece of paper to work with.

Next I opened the 68 piece Artist set and then walked away and didn’t say another word.  I want her to enjoy the creative process without me hovering over her influencing her creativity in any way.  I want her to feel free to go wild and create what she wants!  So she used some of the crayons from this set as well as the markers and the cray-pas.  You can see in the photo what a wonderfully colorful and creative design she came up with all on her own.

This mug is so easy to work with.  You simply pull out the white insert inside the clear handled mug, wrap your completed design around it and simply slide it back in.  Believe me, this is a great self-esteem booster as each time your child uses the mug they get to see their art work.  My favorite part?  Well, this mug is ever changing.  Anytime your child wants something different you just cut a new piece of paper, get out that clever art kit and let them do a new design.  Slip the new one in and the old one out.  If you really want to get clever,  make sure you save each piece that is taken out of the mug and create a special mini scrapbook for your child as a keepsake.  This is a wonderful way for you and your child to reflect back on his or her skills as they advance artistically through the years!

Disclosure

Now you can create a fun, mixed media collage using a silhouette of your very own father! And you won’t believe how simple, or how fast, it is to create.

Supplies:
1 – 8×10 Stretched Canvas (Item 97603)
1 – 9×12 Sheet of Canvas Paper (Item 97490-2)
3 – Torn tissue paper (Item 1192-27): red, green, white
1 – Liquitex Basics 48 Piece Tube Acrylic Paint Set (Item BS101048): Unbleached Titanium, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Deep Yellow Hue, Blue Permanent, Brilliant Yellow-Green, Cadmium Red Deep Hue, Mars Black, Copper
1 – Krylon Bright White Gesso Spray (Item7015)
1 – Aleene’s Tacky Glue (Item AR8-10)
1 – Matte Mod Podge (Item PLCS11302)
1 – Krylon UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Spray (PLCS11302)
2 – 5×7 Black and White Photocopies (Choose a front facing headshot of father)
1 – Torn papers with text
1 – Napkin
1 – Old cloth
1 – Black pen

Tools:
1 – Wide tipped paintbrush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)
1 – Thin tipped paintbrush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)
1 – Comfort Grip Scissors (Item 1149-17)
1 – Soft-Grip Craft Knife (Item F1S12-6705)

Instructions:

Spray canvas paper and the stretched canvas with Gesso. Let dry.

Use Mod Podge to glue torn pieces of tissue paper to canvas paper. Let dry.

Brush Burnt Sienna paint over the canvas, then using a dry napkin, gently remove some of the paint. Let dry.

Dry brush Unbleached Titanium paint over the brown paint. Let dry.

Dry brush the following colors onto the canvas, allowing each color to dry between brushes (otherwise you’ll end up with a mud color): Cadmium Deep Yellow Hue, Blue Permanent, and Brilliant Yellow-Green. Let dry.

Dry brush Cadmium Red Deep Hue paint onto the canvas, but instead of dry brushing the entire paper, pick just 5 spots. While the paint is still wet, dip your brush into Mod Podge and go over the canvas. Spreading the Mod Podge while the paint is still wet will spread the color, giving the entire sheet a slight tint of pink. Let dry.

Grab a few sheets of paper out of an old book, from the sports page of the newspaper, or from father’s favorite magazine. Rip them into several large sheets of paper.

Use Mod Podge to adhere the papers to the stretched canvas. (You can choose to cover the entire surface, or as shown in the sample canvas leave some of the canvas untouched.) Let dry.

Mix the Burnt Sienna paint with water to create a wash. (Unlike a traditional wash, you want the mixture to be more paint and less water.)

Spread the Burnt Sienna wash over the stretched canvas, then using a dry napkin (or cloth towel) remove any excess paint. Let dry. (Think of this step in terms of staining a piece of wood, you put on a heavy coat, allow the paint to soak into the surface, then immediately remove the excess paint .)

Create a squiggly frame, 1/2 inch from the sides of the top of the stretched canvas, with Mars Black paint.

Paint the top of the canvas, from the squiggly lines to the sides of the canvas, with Mars Black paint. Let dry.

Use a thin tipped paint brush to paint a thin Copper squiggly line around the black framed area. Let dry. (This particular frame has the staples on the sides. Even with the sides painted black, I could still see the staples so I opted to paint the staples with the Copper paint to turn them into embellishments. You may want to do the same.)

While the stretched canvas is drying, grab one of the photocopies of father and cut around the face, hair, and/or body to create a solid silhouette. (This is template number one.)

Place “template one” on top of the collaged canvas paper. Trace the template to create an outline, then use scissors to cut out the outline. This will leave you with a solid silhouette of father. (In steps 17 and 18 we are going to call this a canvas paper cutout.)

Grab the second photocopy of father, then using a pen trace the dark areas of the image. Don’t worry about being too exact, or cutting out every little detail. Focus on the main features of the face: hair, eyes, side of the nose, lips, and if the ear shows, the ear. As for the clothes, stick to the folds or creases in the clothes. Carefully, and slowly, use a craft knife to cut out the traced (or dark) areas. (This is template number two.)

Place “template two” on top of the canvas paper cutout. Use a pen to trace the cutout areas onto the canvas paper cutout. Remove the template, dip a thin-tipped paintbrush into Mars Black paint, and trace the pen outlines with the paint. Let dry. (You could also use a sponge paintbrush, though I found that the lines weren’t as sharp as I liked. To use a sponge paintbrush, dip it into the Mars Black paint, place the second template on top of the cutout, then gently dab the sponge paintbrush on top of the template. Gently remove the template to see the finished design.)

Turn the canvas paper cutout over and slab on some tacky glue. Glue it, face side up, to the stretched canvas. Using your fingers, gently massage the canvas paper cutout to remove any air pockets, then firmly press it down into the stretched canvas. Let dry.

Hand paint a term of endearment on the top of the stretched canvas in Mars Black paint. Let dry. (you could also get creative with Cricut letters, alphabet stickers, or alphabet chipboard pieces.)

Spray with stretched canvas with clear acrylic sealer. Let dry.

Seal the stretched canvas with 2 to 3 coats of clear acrylic sealer, allowing each coating to dry before adding the next coat. Let dry.

Turn the canvas over, and sign the back. You’re masterpiece is complete!

Disclosure

Here’s the deal: just review the four submissions below, and leave a comment at the end of this post telling us your favorite. The “winner” of the showdown gets major bragging rights here at CraftsUnleashed.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR VOTING! SEE THE WINNERS HERE.

(Thank you, ConsumerCrafts.com, who provided us with all of our materials & prizes!)

Let the voting begin!

Lisa's Father's Day Star Frame

Sarahs Golf Fathers Day Frame

Jenny's Graduation "Star" Frame

Alyice's Graduation Collage

A big “THANK YOU” to our designers who participated in our challenge!

Rules, schmules, really I was just excited to make my father a picture frame for Father’s Day.   At first, I couldn’t decide how I wanted to decorate his picture frame.  He is an exceptional duck decoy carver and my first thought was to create a frame with a duck motif.  However, he is also a great golfer and when I went through my pictures I had a magnificent picture of him golfing next to a lake.  It was just too pretty a picture to not use with the frame.  And, even though, he is a great wood carver he also has some mad golfing skills!

Golfing motif it was!  Luckily for me Consumer Crafts (sponsor of this blog) has some wonderful golf scrapbooking embellishments.

Materials Needed:

• 9705-3 9x7in holds 4x6in photo frames
• 1032-51 golf 3-D sticker
• 1202-42 golf 2 3-D sticker
• 1208-98 3in chipboard circles
• MS00300014 4.5×6.5 in glitter cardstock stack
• Green Cardstock
• White Cardstock
• Glue
• Ribbon

Instructions:

1. Begin by cutting a piece of green cardstock to fit over the top of the picture frame.  Adhere the paper to the frame with a thin layer of glue.
2. Trace the lip of a cup to make a circle larger than the 3” chipboard.  Glue the paper to the top of the chipboard.  This is your golf ball.
3. Cut white cardstock into a golf tee shape.
4. Cut green cardstock into a small hill shape.
5. Glue first the green hill onto the frame, then the white tee, and lastly attach the golf ball on top of the tee.
6. Attach 3/8” ribbon around the picture opening and around the edge of the picture frame.
7. Finish the frame with golf scrapbooking embellishments.

My goal with this tutorial was to make a frame that fit my dad’s personality while also making the concept easy to replicate for the average crafter.  With a few Consumer Crafts supplies you too can make a similar Father’s Day Golf Frame.

Father’s Day is always such a great way to show Dad how much you care.  Each year I try to make my husband a handmade gift and very personal.  I decided this year to create a special photo frame that he can set on his desk.  I created the whole concept around the title on the frame which is “Star Daddy.”  I added a picture of him along with my youngest daughter since this will be a gift from her to him.  Read on to find out what supplies you need to create this frame along with step by step instructions.

Supplies:

• 9705-5 Frame
• 9191-50 4″ wood star
• 6562-86 Rusty Tin Star Garland�
• 6568-36 Rusty Star Easel
• PS00500008 Old World Paper Stack
• 1096-60 Darice Wood Glue
• TW3784 Zots
• 1893-05 Wire cutter
• PV29-0017 Cricut Cartridge
• Cricut or Cricut Expression

Instructions:

1. Select a patterned cardstock color.  Flip your frame face down on the back side of the patterned cardstock.  Trace around the outside and the inside cut out.  Cut this out making sure you cut about 1/8″ off so the frame will serve as a border to the patterned cardstock.  Attach this piece to your frame with wood glue.

2.  Create a pattern on your 3D wooden star by using tracing paper, or by pressing around the lines with your finger to create creases in your paper. Cut the pattern out.  Use this to cut out your pieces to fit on your star deciding which colors of patterned paper you would like.  Attach with wood glue.

3.  Cut 1″ letters using your Cricut and Cartridge and a piece of patterned cardstock.  You can create whatever title you would like.  I used “Star Daddy.”  Add your title as shown.

4.  Trim your rusted star garland so only 4 stars remain.  Attach this to the upper right hand area of your frame using the Zots.

5.  Next attach your altered 3D star as shown overlapping the wire on your star garland.

6.  Insert your photo and place your frame on the star easel.

This is a very easy frame idea and one that dad will treasure for years to come!

And it was then that I got a glimpse into the world of football. It was then that I began to understand what football was really about—how it wasn’t just about a bunch of jocks out to get the girl or trying to prove how macho they were. It was about learning to believe in yourself, learning to push past your comfort zone, learning to be the best “you”, you can be, and learning to working towards a common goal. And it was about the love of the game.

As mothers, we don’t always get why boys like football. And that’s okay. We don’t necessarily have to get it, but we can show our boys—whether they’re ten years old, or fifty—our own team spirit by hosting Super Bowl parties, sitting through a game every now and then, and creating fun team spirit projects like this Football Frame.

Create a child's football frame

Supplies:

• 1- 5×7 Paper Mache Rectangular Frame (Item 1166-57B)

• 1 – Set of Acrylic Paints by Studio 71: Titanium white, Mars Black, Ultramarine Blue, Primary Blue (24 Piece Paint Set Item 97848)

• 1- 3″ Wood Football Helmet (Item 9144-22)
• Scrap paper

Tools:

1 – Star Paper  Punch (optional)

1 - 8×8 Non-stick Glue Pad by Darice (Item 1157-84)

1 – 6″ Glue Gun by Darice (Item 10759)

1 – Glue Gun Stick (Item 1116-03)

1 – Sponge Brush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9562)

1 - Thin tipped paint brush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9562)

1 – Small, square tipped paint brush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9562)

Instructions:

1. Remove the plastic cover from the frame.
   

   Remove plastic.

2. Use a square sponge brush to paint frame white and let dry.
   

   Paint frame white.

3. While the frame is drying, mix black and white paint together with an old spoon to make grey paint.
   

   Make grey paint.

4. Use a small paint brush to paint the entire surface (top, bottom, and sides) of the wooden helmet grey and let dry.
   

   Paint base color of helmet.

5. While the helmet is drying, mix the two blues together to form a darker blue and paint over the white, on the frame and let dry.
   

   Paint the frame blue. May need more than one coat.

6. While the frame is drying, and the blue paint is still fresh, paint a blue star on the helmet and let dry.
7. Paint another coat of blue on the frame and let dry. It’s important to remember not to paint the slot, for the picture, shut. If the paint should stick, use a butter-knife to gently reopen the slot.
8. Grab the helmet. Use a small, thin tipped brush to paint a thin white strip of paint on the inner edge of the star and let dry.
   

   Create themed football helmet.

9. Use the star hole punch to create four star templates.
10. Place one of the star templates on the surface of the frame. Do not tape it down because you’ll need to immediately.
    

    Create and Use a Star Stencil.

11. Use a round sponge to paint the opening of the stencil. Be very careful not to move the stencil.
12. Gently lift the stencil to reveal the design and let dry.
    

    Star stencil removed.

13. While both the helmet and the frame are drying, heat the glue gun. (Approx. five minutes.)
14. Dab a small amount of glue in the lower, left corner of the frame.
    

    Use hot glue to adhere helmet to frame.

15. Stand the frame up, then place the helmet on top of the hot glue. Hold firmly into place for about one minute.

Congratulations! You’ve just created a Dallas Cowboy picture frame for a little boy’s room.