June is finally here, and that means the end of the school year, beach trips, and of course, Father’s Day! We love celebrating dads, and that means giving an awesome gift! We think that gifts are best when they are handmade and even better when some sparkly rhinestones are attached. Just because something’s for dad doesn’t mean it can’t have some pizazz. Add some rhinestones to your Father’s Day crafts with these ideas.

Picture Frame

Find a favorite family photo or a picture of just you and dad. Choose a plain picture frame that can be painted, if desired, and that has flat surfaces for adding rhinestones. You can also opt for a more ornate frame, just so long as there are some flat areas.

Paint the picture frame in dad’s favorite color, then create your own motif of rhinestones. If dad loves fishing, try a cute fish motif. If he’s athletic (or at least thinks he is), do something sports themed. Be inspired by his personality when it comes to your rhinestone design.

Use rhinestones in coordinating colors, and remember that rhinestones with more of a matte finish can be perceived as a little more masculine.

Mug

Does your dad love coffee or tea? Does every morning involve a private moment with a little bit of caffeine? If he’s like most dads, the answer is yes. Give dad a gift of a dazzling coffee mug featuring his favorite sports team or something else he’s into.

Sketch out a design or be inspired by team colors to create something thematic. You’ll also need a plain mug. You can often find these at craft stores and department stores. Alternatively, you can order a custom photo mug. The mug will have your favorite picture on it, and you can use rhinestones to outline or decorate around the photo. Using smaller sized rhinestones will be easier, as they will have a better chance of sitting flush on the outside of the mug.

DIY Tie Rack

If your dad is a tie man, he could definitely benefit from a snazzy tie rack. It’s a deceptively simple design, and the rhinestones are subtle. For this one, you’ll need:

• One 6–8 inch plank of wood
• Nails with nail heads large enough to hold a rhinestone, as many as you have ties
• Round rhinestones, one for each nail head
• Paint or wood stain (optional)

Stain or paint the wood to your preferred color. Nail the nails in slightly so that they still stick out from the board. Each nail will be used to hang a tie, so the nails should be slightly offset from one another.

Once you have all of your nails in, glue a rhinestone to the end of each nail head. It’s a fairly easy task to pull off, and the result will be something that catches the eye but won’t be considered too “girly”.

Grillin’ Apron

Who doesn’t love a good cook out? Grilling is one of those things that many people enjoy, so why not make Dad a custom apron? Aprons are pretty easy to come by, but if you’re particularly crafty, you can sew together a custom apron.

Either way, the rhinestone details are up to you! Use rhinestones to create an abstract design of emphasize a particular fabric print. Alternatively, you can use rhinestones to personalize the apron with Dad’s name.

For a grill-inspired pattern, use flame colors to create a flame motif along the bottom edge. The rhinestones will sparkle in the sunny weather!

Pencil Holder

Does your dad do a lot of desk work? He may have a brighter day when he reaches for a pen in a sweet rhinestone-studded pencil holder. This is another craft that is easy to do with kids, and everyone can do something.

You start with a standard tin can, label removed. Carefully measure the height of the can and the diameter and cut a piece of cardstock paper of that same dimension. Glue the cardstock to the can—be creative, and choose cardstock with an interesting pattern or texture.

Once your cardstock is adhered to the can, you can then start planning out your rhinestone design. Younger children may feel a little more freeform, while others may want a better design. Geometric patterns and rhinestone shapes are always fun, and a little bit of sparkle goes a long way.

Keepsake Pillow

If you’re lucky, you may be able to repurpose some of Dad’s old graphic t-shirts. If you find shirts with cool prints, turn them into pillows! Cut out two squares of equal sizes from each shirt, one panel from the front and one from the back. Start by sewing the squares together inside out, but leave one side of the pillow open. Flip the fabric out, leaving the seams inside. Stuff the pillow body with batting, then hand sew the pillow shut.

This is where you get to start having fun with rhinestones. Use rhinestones to accent the patterns on the fabric or emphasize prints or pictures. A superhero motif matches particularly well with rhinestones, as superheroes have their own pop and flair.

Paperweight

This one is easy for kids to help with, and the result is cute and whimsical. The first thing you will need to do is find a large, round rock with a smooth surface. Preferably, it needs to be large enough to hold rhinestones to spell out “Dad” or an initial. If you are having trouble finding the right rock, try a craft store or a garden supply store.

Wrap the rock in a fabric of your choice and use a hot glue gun to glue the fabric around the rock. At this point, you can then use rhinestones to monogram Dad’s initials or simply write out “Dad”. You can make it more personal with your choice of fabric and rhinestone colors. This is a great craft because smaller children can be more involved with the process.

Dad won’t soon forget a rhinestone studded handmade gift. It’s something that has a piece of your personality combined with something he can cherish forever.