Camo Duct tape wallet

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the Dad who has everything for Father’s Day the Camo duct tape wallet is perfect.  Kids and adults can easily fold this wallet from some camo printed duct tape.  The wallet will hold bills, credit cards and even business cards. 

After you’ve folded your camo duct tape wallet simply wrap a small box in a solid color paper.  Create a cute little camo bow to match with the mini Bowdabra bow maker.  Attach the bow to the box to embellish your gift with a coordinated colored bow.  It’s a gift dad is sure to love!

Materials:

Camo duct tape

Sheet of 8 ½” x 11” printer paper

Ruler

Scissors

Mini Bowdabra bow maker

Hair bow tool and ruler attachment

Bowdabra bow wire

Pencil

Instructions:

1.     Cover a standard sized sheet of printer paper with the camo duct tape completely on one side.  Trim off all the excess duct tape all around.

2.     Place the paper on your work surface.  Fold in half.  Unfold and fold again to the fold line.  Repeat for the other side.

3.     Open the paper, turn sideways and fold in half. Unfold and you will see 8 fold sections.  Measure up ¾” on each of the 3 fold lines on each side.

4.     Cut to the ¾” you made on each fold lines on each side.

5.     Turn and fold to the first fold line.

Add caption

6.     Turn again and fold in half.

7.     Cut off the corner at an angle in the closed corner.

8.     Unfold and open and there will be a triangle cut out on one side.  Fold up the tab (3/4” cuts) under the triangle shape, skip a section and fold a tab up in the next section.  Repeat on the other side.

9.     Turn and fold both sides over to the centerline.  Fold in half.

10. Fold the tabs into the side pockets.  Cut a piece of duct tape that will fit across the ends and attach to secure.  Do the same on the other side.

Make a cute duct tape coordinating bow to wrap your gift

Visit Bowdabra blog for the duct tape bow tutorial

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Coloring photo frame

Adult coloring books are all the rage these days, but why stop there when you can create a coloring photo frame?  This coloring photo frame costs basically nothing to make since you are using some recycled corrugated cardboard and an original hand drawn celebration coloring page you can download right here! 

Coloring reduces stress and sparks creativity and serenity.  Father’s Day is right around the corner and this frame is so easy to make.  Add a small photo to the frame and give it to dad as a gift.  It makes a great birthday gift as well!  So simple to make kids will love to make several for their friends.

Materials:

Corrugated cardboard

Lighter weight cardboard (cereal boxes are a great source)

Glue stick

Tacky craft glue

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Ruler

Scissors

Pencil

Stylus

Optional- magnets for a magnetic frame

Instructions:

1.     Download and free printable coloring party page.

2.     Cut a piece of cardboard to 5” x 7”. 

3.     Measure 2” down from the top and bottom and draw a line across.  Measure and mark 1 ½” from each side and draw a line down.  In the center where the photo goes the opening will be 2” x 3”.  Cut out the center rectangle.

4.     Turn the coloring page to the back and place the cardboard frame on top.  Trace around and trace the center. 

5.     Measure ½” outside the lines you made around the edges the frame lines all around.  Measure ½” all around the inside of the center rectangle of the frame.  (See photo) This extra margin will be used to attach the coloring page to the frame.  Cut out the inside center rectangle only leaving the extra ½”.

6.     Liberally add the glue from the glue stick all around the cardboard frame, and attach to the backside of the coloring page lining it up with the lines you made.  (See photo)

7.     Cut slits all around the coloring page in the center of the frame and fold to the back attaching with some Tacky glue.

8.     Cut slits all around the outside of the frame and fold to the back gluing with tacky glue as you go around. 

9.     Cut a 5” x 7” piece of lighter weight cardboard and using hot glue attach to the back of the frame on the three sides only leaving the top unglued. (This is where you will slide in your photo.

10. To make a stand from corrugated cardboard make sure the ribs are facing up. Measure a rectangle 1 ½” at the top and 3” at the bottom.  Cut out.   Measure down 1 ½” from the top of the stand and mark a line across.  Use a stylus to slightly follow the line and bend.  Attach to the back of the frame with some more hot glue.  You can optionally use magnets so that you can attach it to any metal surface.

Painted brick book tutorial

Turn a brick into a cool book that you can use as a bookend, paperweight or just a conversation piece.  Brick books make great gifts if you paint them to resemble the recipient’s favorite book. The the step-by-step instructions are easy enough for almost anyone.  All you need is some acrylic paint, paint markers and little bit of time.  Remember Father’s Day is right around the corner and this makes a great gift for the hard to buy for Dad!

Supplies:

Brick

Fine Sandpaper

Acrylic paint, black, beige, brown, and blue

Paint markers, gold metallic, blue

Chalk pencil

Ruler

Medium paintbrush

Liner paintbrush

Newspaper to protect your work surface

Paper plate for paint palette

1.     Protect your work surface with newspaper.  Use fine sandpaper (220) to sand any rough edges on the brick. 

2.     Using the medium paintbrush apply a coat of black acrylic paint on the front, back and one side of the brick.  (This is the cover, back and spine of the book)  Let dry.

3.     Paint all the other sides with beige acrylic paint.  While the paint is still wet use a liner brush to add brown lines.  (See photo)  Let the paint dry.

4.     Use a ruler and chalk pencil to draw lines starting at the top of the spine as follows:  ¼”, ½”, ¾”, 1 ½”, ½”, 1 ½”, ½”, 1”, ¾”, ½”  (See photo)

5.     In the first 1 ½” section use a paintbrush and the blue acrylic paint to fill it in.  Let dry.  Use the gold paint pen to add the title of the book.

6.     Use the ruler and draw over all the chalk lines with the gold paint pen.

7.     In the second 1 ½” section use the chalk pencil to draw leaves on vines.  If you don’t like the way it’s coming out use a damp cloth to erase it and start over.  When you have the leaves the way you like, fill them in with the blue paint pen.

8.     In the first ¾ ” section make triangles across with the blue paint pen and fill in dots in the open areas with the gold pen. (Optional)  If you choose this optional step you can also repeat it at the bottom ¾” section.

9.     Use the gold paint pen to add the author’s name in the 1” section.  Let all the paint dry. 

10. Turn the book to the cover area.  Using the chalk pencil draw the title of the book at a downward angle. Fill in the title with the gold paint pen.  Use the chalk pencil to draw leaves on vines in the open area, then outline and fill in with the blue paint pen as you did on the spine.  Use a ruler to draw all around the edges of the book with the gold paint pen. Add the author’s name at the bottom left with the gold pen.   Let all the paint dry. 

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