What Are Some Free/cheap Father's Day Ideas?

Updated on June 12, 2012
A.E. asks from Waukee, IA
13 answers

I am looking to have my daughter who is 3 make something for her daddy, I can have it done however just want it to be free or close to free.
I am looking for something I can do as well.
I am thinking free cards, I mean we always color a picture but that seems too simple.
Do you make a big deal out of fathers day from your kiddos?

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B.B.

answers from San Antonio on

Last year I bought canvasas in a 8x10 size (2 pack, 2 kids), and then painted them a dark blue. Once dry, I hade the kids make hand prints in white on each one. I signed the back and dated them. My husband LOVED them, and it was cheap and easy with a then 1 1/2 year old and 3 year old.
:)

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A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

A. if you are on pinterest search for "fathers day". i got the best idea there - my son held up letters spelling "dad" and i took a gazillion photos on my digital camera. i downloaded the best ones onto walgreens.com (walmart or any store with a photo department would probably do it too) and made a collage out of it, spelling out "dad". i was able to put the pics in black and white and it looks REALLY good. and luckily we already had the letters, and i did it against the backdrop of our black shower curtain. the print out was just a couple of dollars - and then i got a frame from hobby lobby for $5. (this was for a 5x7, as we had other things planned i didn't go all out for the 8x10 lol) i am SO excited for him to get it, it turned out amazing, all for about $8!

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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Pinterest is your friend, lol. I just did a few really cool idea's that I found there.
Paint the bottom of dad's shoe and make a print on paper. When that is dry, paint child's bare foot and make a print inside dad's shoe print. The saying that goes with it is "Following in Daddy's foot steps". It really turns out cute. Or go to Home Depot and get just one bathroom tile, paint your child's hand and print on the tile upside down. When it's dry add the saying "Hands Down, Best Dad". My husbands most favorite gift is questions answered by our then 3 year old. Just ask questions like, What is daddy's favorite food, What does daddy call you, What does daddy do at work......etc. Then write down the answer just as she says it. Type it up and put it in paint yourself frame from the craft store. Let her paint the frame before you put the question paper in it. All these ideas are free or less than $5.oo
Good Luck!

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

How about taking out a free ad in your local paper or PennySaver?
It has to be free so call. The free ones let you usually say up to 13 words
or something.

Make your own fortune cookies w/your own special sayings. Just google
the fortune cookie recipe.

Make a round cement or plaster of Paris stepping stone w/your child's
handprint w/date etched in the plaster. Can be for the garden, backyard
or the front stoop by the front entrance.

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D.J.

answers from Atlanta on

Yes I make a very big deal out of father's day because my hubby is one of the best father's I know. You can never go wrong with a card. Buy one of those funny DAD teashirts, have your daughter to make a card and put it in a DAD giftbag. Take a photo of you both and put it in a DAD picture frame. OR go to wherever they develop photo's and make one of those picture photo cards. For yourself..when I didnt have money to buy him something, I would give him a fathers day card and write in the card that he will get the rest of his gift tonight. You can never go wrong with that either! lol!

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L.E.

answers from Provo on

you can take pictures of your daughter holding signs with a message or holding the letters that spell out a message. take the pictures in a variety of poses and locations. then you can use the pictures to make something else-- puzzle, magnet, framed collage, etc.

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M.E.

answers from Chicago on

A few ideas we've done. I made a collage picture of my husband with the kids, and got it printed for free with a Walgreens coupon. We put it in a black frame that I already had, and glued nuts and bolts all around it. (He's a Mr. Fix It.) I've done the same for my dad, gluing fishing lures around the frame. My dad also like gardening, so we bought plaster of paris and made stepping stones with their handprints, and painted them.

Another idea is to video her singing a song such as "I have a very special friend and Daddy is his name-O" to the tune of Bingo. Kids this age are adorable, and it is fun to look back and remember because they grow up so fast!

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

What about making some kind of abstract picture by gluing a bunch of different cereal, rice, beans, pasta, etc to some cardboard and frame it. I think that would be cute. However, I have older kids so I can't really think of anything right now and its late. =) Good luck!!!

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J.L.

answers from St. Cloud on

If you're looking for a cute keepsake, try salt dough. Here's a link I found on pinterest the other day. http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/06/salt-dough-foot...

My son is only 14 months but by the time he's three I'll start making a bigger deal about father's day. Can your daughter help you make a special meal for daddy? I plan on making a nice breakfast with my husband's favorites. I think a simple tradition, like a special breakfast for the special person, can be fun, cheap and show that we value this person on their special day.

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B.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have a white t-shirt that is about 25 years old hanging in my closet. My wife had each of my children dip their hand in some paint and then put it on the T-shirt. It has been washed several times and the colors and names stay fresh.

I can't wear the t-shirt any more, but it still brings a tear to my eye when I bring it out to look at it.

The shirt says, "We love Daddy." then they have their hand prints with their names written underneath. My wife used a paint brush to write their names under their hand prints.

Yes, we make a big deal out of Mother's Day and Father's day and birthdays. When my parents turned 75, Our family drove 1100 miles to surprise them and sing "Happy Birthday" to them on their door step. (They didn't know we were coming.)

Good luck to you and yours.

J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

You can make photo cards at cvs for less than a dollar with same day pick up and then your daughter can make whatever craft you can think of. Get out some paint and do hand prints, foot prints on a huge cardboard and let her make a picture in the middle.
Also since at this stage shes too little to really understand how great he is, Id write a long note thanking him and maybe you treat him special throughout the day (favorite dinner, massages, and so on)

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J.W.

answers from Houston on

My daughter has two little girls. She made a chalk board using a picture frame and spray chalk board paint. Then she took pictures of the girls with them holding the chalk board with the words I LOVE YOU DADDY. Both girls are in the I and the DADDY picture. She framed the pcitures in a single frame meant for 4 pictures.

Looks great!

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