Kelly's Art Easel - making homemade cards for Father's Day

Father's day is THIS Sunday ladies!!! I think handmade cards are so much better than the store bought ones especially since I went looking last week and was disappointed, even in a target! So here are a couple simple ideas for cards you can make with your kiddos this week. Read below for gift ideas to put in them as well. ;)

I LOVE Michael's for buying blank card sets (with envelopes)! There was a 40% coupon in yesterday's paper or Joann fabrics also had a couple coupons too and both stores are a great place to get any supplies for my art ideas at a GREAT price!

*I got these from a website: www.kaboose.com, I love their stuff and I modified the 1st one but used the other 2 straight from them. It's a GREAT website/resource for stuff like this!

CARD IDEA #1: "You're a catch, dad!"

What you'll need:

• 1 sheet of blue construction paper
• Patterned paper (stripes, polka dots, etc)
• Toothpick
• 3" string (i used dental floss!)
• black marker
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• White craft glue

How to make it:

1. Fold the blue construction paper in half like a greeting card, set aside.
2. Draw a "D" shape onto the patterned paper and cut out. Repeat for the other piece of patterned paper.
3. Cut out 2 triangles to make the tails. then cut 2 more triangles (bigger) for the "fins".
4. Cut off the tops of these triangles to create the trapezoid (inside of the D shape) for the "fins" Use a glue stick to attach the tail and fins to the fish by gluing to the back of the D shaped patterned paper.
5. Cut the pointed ends off of the toothpick. Tie the string (or dental floss) to one end of the toothpick and trim one end. This is your fishing pole.
6. For the "A", I drew a "worm" shaped like a letter "V" and then used a sharpie (black marker) and drew a "J" shape for the "fish hook".
7. First place your fish, worm and your fishing pole (D A D) onto the front of the card. Once you have them where you want them, use the glue stick to attach the "D's" and "A" and the white craft glue to attach the pole/string.
8. Draw eyes, bubbles and any other details.
9. Let dry completely and write message inside.

Tips:

1. While patterned paper is cute, you can also have children make their own by coloring white paper with markers or crayons and cutting out your D's.
2. Use card stock instead of construction paper for a sturdier card.
3. Don't throw away any scraps, cut or tear them into small squares and keep in a zipper gallon bag for future projects. Great for mosaics!

GIFT IDEA: a gift certificate to any seafood restaurant and a babysitter booked so you can go too! ;)

CARD IDEA #2: "You're worth every penny DAD!"

What you'll need:

• 8"x10" piece of light cardboard (cereal box, etc)
• 1 sheet green construction paper
• 9 shiny pennies
• Green fine point marker
• Pencil with eraser
• Blue fine tip marker
• Scissors
• White craft glue
• Glue stick

How to make it:

1. Fold the green construction paper and cardboard in half like a greeting card. Place the cardboard on the inside of the green construction paper, lining up the fold lines. Use a glue stick to attach the cardboard to the construction paper.
2. Trim off the excess paper if needed.
3. Use pencil to lightly write "DAD" across the front of the card, leaving about 1.5" space underneath.
4. Use green fine point marker to draw dollar signs on "DAD" letters.
5. Erase any pencil marks that might show through. Use white craft glue to attach a penny to each corner of the D's, where the curve meets straight lines, and at the center of the curve. Glue a penny to the top of the letter A, and two at the bottom.
6. Write, "You're worth every penny!" underneath "DAD" with blue fine point marker.

Tips:

1. The pennies add quite a bit of weight to this card, so even card stock or poster board is not sturdy enough, be sure to use the cardboard or your card will not stand freely.
2. For a lightweight card, make photocopies of the pennies and cut them out and glue them on, instead of the real thing.

GIFT IDEA: gift card to his favorite electronics store?

CARD IDEA #3: "invisible ink"

What you'll need:

• One piece of white card stock, 4.5" x 3.5"
• One teaspoon of lemon juice (either fresh-squeezed or from concentrate) OR one teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one teaspoon of water
• Small bowl
• Small paintbrush or cotton swab
• One piece of colored card stock, 5.5" x 8.5"
• Adhesive such as glue stick, glue or scrapbook mounting squares
• Marker
• Iron
  

How to make it:

1. Place lemon juice (or baking soda and water mixture) in a small bowl.
2. Dip the paintbrush or cotton swab into the mixture and use it as "invisible ink" to draw a picture or write a message to dad on the white card stock. ( See photo ) Allow the card stock to dry for 5 to 10 minutes. Once the baking soda mixture is dry, brush off any excess soda. (Whichever "ink" you use, you will be able to see a very faint image on the white card stock.)
3. Fold the colored card stock in half. Glue the white card stock to the front. ( See photo )
4. Use the marker to write "Happy Father's Day!" inside the card.
5. Give the card to Dad on Father's Day. Wait for him to try and figure out why the front of the card is blank. Then tell him it's written in invisible ink and that he needs to iron it to see what it says. ( See photo )
6. Have Dad or another adult heat the iron to the "cotton" or highest setting and iron the front of the card. (Don't use the steam setting.) After a minute or two, your picture or message will gradually appear! ( See photo )
   

Tips:

1. It can be a little tricky writing using ink you can't see! Practice on a scrap piece of paper first.
2. Fresh lemon juice makes a lighter brown ink. Lemon juice from concentrate, or the baking soda mixture, results in a slightly darker brown ink.
3. To make your card look like a treasure map, have an adult carefully burn the edges of the white card stock before you draw on it with the invisible ink.
4. You can also hold the card stock carefully over a heat source like a light bulb to make the message visible.
5. Come up with some funny magic words, and tell Dad he needs to say them while he's ironing in order for the message to appear.
6. Decorate the colored card stock (the frame around the white card stock) with markers, crayons or small stickers.

GIFT IDEA: gift card to Starbucks or equivalent "relax"/break store? or even fast food!

If you have any suggestions or requests for future Kelly's Art Easel columns, please comment below or email (columbusmultiples@gmail.com). As well, if you have any art questions for yourself or your little ones, let me know!

Kelly