Not all dads play golf, wear ties and go fishing! In this article, we’ll create a thoughtful and practical gift for dad: A keepsake box, two bolo ties and a luggage tag. This box and the accompanying tokens are a good jumping off point for customizing a great father’s day gift, no matter how traditional or eclectic your dad might be. The bolo tie is a twist on the standard “dad gift” and the luggage tag is a great idea for a dad who travels a lot. Focusing on the collage papers from Design Originals, the entire set of gifts here was inspired by a dad who loves games.
Start off with the box. Select a good wooden flat cigar box as your base. I am an impatient paper crafter and only prep my base when I absolutely have no choice. Otherwise, I paint and collage right over the cigar labels! Brush out any dust or crumbs from the inside of the box, maybe even using a damp cloth to be sure to pick up every little bit. My box smelled very strong inside when I started, but as the project progressed, it aired itself out. In a pinch, crumple up some newspaper and close the box for a few days. The newspaper should absorb the cigar scent.
Those formica sample tags from the hardware store come in handy for making these great luggage tags. I used a playing card for the area where the address/contact info goes and sealed it with Diamond Glaze.
I love the look of the bolo tie, and these are such fun to make. Think about other items that would make a good base for your artwork and would work with the bolo tie findings. The domino is a fantastic base for these ties. As an alternative, I tried a style stone tag and covered up the tiny hole at the top with the alphabet letters.
If dad isn’t the bolo tie type, perhaps a set of magnets or push pins for the office would be in order. Use the methods described above for the ties and instead of the tie slide, attach a flat-head thumbtack to the back.
