Father’s Day is fast approaching and that means it is time to buy or design for the man who has everything. I’ve got a few ideas for our craft, but I need something a bit ‘more.’ Luckily, Gifts Less Ordinary, who sponsored this post, has my back.
We are a crafting type of family, from pictures to wood working, science projects to gardening… we like to get our hands dirty. Father’s Day is the perfect excuse time to break out the supplies and make something memorable that compliments a larger gift!
Father’s Day Gifts for the Hard to Shop for Dad
Since my husband went above and beyond on Mother’s Day, the competitive side of me says that we (I) need to try to match his generosity, or at least come close. After talking to the girls, and pouring over Father’s Day Gift Ideas on Gifts Less Ordinary, we decided that we would buy him the Personalized ‘Best Dad’ Whisky Glass.
He has been going through a whisky phase lately, trying to find the best sipping whisky for the best price. We already have a few tumblers, but one that is personalized just for him, and just for Father’s Day, is perfect!
But we can’t just do the glass – we have to add to it. And what goes great with a tumbler?
A coaster!
Honestly, I don’t know if he would ever really use it, but personalized glasses call for personalized coasters (and they may just save my furniture!) Plus, coasters are really easy to make and are perfect when little hands want to make the biggest impact on Father’s Day.
The glass will take a few days to get here (tip – order early to insure timely delivery!) which gives us ample time to design and craft the coasters. My husband has an aviation affinity – specifically for the WWII Sopwith Camel. After a bit of hunting and pecking on the Internet, we narrowed down 4 different Sopwith Camel scenes that will look great on ceramic tiles – and perfect with a tumbler full of Whisky!
Tile Coaster
Making coasters out of tiles is quick and easy – yet the results can be breathtaking. A simple Google search will reveal countless ways for crafting this keepsake, yet most come down to the same general process:
Gluing a picture to a tile and sealing it.
You will need:
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- 4 x 4 (10cm square) Ceramic Tiles (you can pick them up at any Home Supply store or on Amazon)
- Mod Podge or other white craft glue (Craft supply stores or Amazon)
- Paint Brush
- Picture or scrapbook paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Craft knife or scissors
- Sealant (You can also use epoxy – which offers a glass-like finish, but I did not have any on hand.)
How to Create a Tile Coaster
Once you have your supplies on hand, you need to measure your picture or scrapbook paper to fit the tile. While most ceramic tiles claim to be 4 x 4, or 10cm square, few fit this measurement exactly. Cut your picture or paper to the desired size, then Mod Podge or glue it to the center of the tile.
Press outward, gently, with a smooth object, like the side of a glass or a small plastic tube. This is to get the air bubbles out from under the design. If your eyes are having a hard time seeing the trapped bubbles, grab your phone and look at your tile through the camera lens – you’ll see them right away and know where you need to smooth things down.
Let dry for 24hrs.
Once your tiles are fully dry, spray your sealant over the surface in a thin coat. Once dry you can paint another layer of Mod Podge to truly seal it down or simply spray another coat of glossy sealant. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area, especially if children are participating in the craft. My eldest, who is seven, sprayed the sealant…. vigorously, lol.
As you can see from our first attempt in the picture above – it doesn’t look quite right. We had to try again – but that was alright as I had purchased quite a few tiles.
When it was all said and done, we had made 4 ceramic coasters, each with a different Aviation design. The girls love them, I love them – and I think he will too.
Something about WWII Biplanes and a Personalized Whisky Glass just screams Father’s Day, doesn’t it?
Other Father’s Day Gift Options
Even though we have settled on the Whisky Glass and coaster, the girls and I were discussing some of the other personalized options on Gifts Less Ordinary. Runners up include a Personalized Geometric Copper Mug, and a set of Whisky Stones. Ummm…. I promise he does not drink that much, lol! This gift list just looks like he does…
Your turn
What Father’s Day gifts are you crafting or buying? Leave a comment, I would love to know!
Join the conversation!