I’m a terrible gift-giver and even worse card-sender. It’s not that I don’t love and care for the people who I should give them to. I do. I just can’t seem to think far enough in advance to buy a card and get it in the mail in time. Case and point – my niece’s birthday was last Friday and the card went into the mail Monday. If it weren’t for the check that I enclosed I could have probably gotten away with an e-card. I managed to send one to my father in time for his birthday earlier this year. But I should have done more. Dad’s such a great guy.

I’ve known Father’s Day has been coming for weeks but I failed, once again, to get a card in the mail. I think Dad would deserve more than that, but he has everything he could want….except maybe a chipmunk-catcher, and he’s constantly working on some type of contraption to keep them out of their garden. (He says he doesn’t kill them and he better be telling the truth!) So this year I jumped online (before the holiday, for once) and got my Dad a Basket of Hope from Heifer International’s online catalog.

I know he’s going to love it because Heifer is such a great organization that works to build sustainable communities by focusing on specific areas of emphasis that must be addressed to end world hunger and poverty. For example, that Basket of Hope I’m giving Dad is filled with chickens and rabbits (i.e. fast-multiplying livestock) that will be given to a struggling farmer who can then sell the rabbit’s offspring for extra income and use the eggs the chickens lay. He can also use the manure for his vegetable gardens. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving! Makes me happy, too!

Happy Father’s Day (and belated birthday), pa!

Photo, Heifer International

To All Dads - Happy Father’s Day.

For the curious: Father’s Day Facts & Top Ten TV Dads

(Image from MorgueFile.)

A Creative Journal • More Cool Images

The Artful Crafter • Decoupage Beach Memory Box

Tangled Thread • Father’s Day Craft Ideas

Quilting and Patchwork • Experience Time Travel with a Quilt

Hankering for Yarn • Spool Knit a Magical Fairy Window for Wishes

And just because it’s so weird…
Offbeat Homes • A Treehouse for Your Kitchen

Image via flickr.

In just a minute down the page, I’m going to list links for the Father’s Day gift ideas I’ve featured here this week, but those were retail junk creations.

How about some easy crafts for Dads from kids too?

•Get Dad organized. Activity Village shows you how to make a Mini Chest of Drawers from fruit juice cartons.

•Show Dad you understand how much he loves to work on cars. This Car Nut Frame from Kaboose is decorated with washers and bolts.

•Give Dad a puppy! A Pup for Pop from Family Fun is the cutest pencil fetcher you can make.

Links to the retail junk creations featured this week:

Bike Chain Business Card Holder

Recycled Telephone Wire Bowl

Recycled Glass Night-Lights

Motherboard CD Desk Clock

Vintage Box Camera Clock

Do you know what you’re getting/making for Dad yet?

Image via Kaboose.

I don’t have an inkling’s thought on how to make one of these, but I adore them. They are Fair Trade and handmade by weavers in South Africa.

Go to Greenfeet to see rotating images of different bowls. They’re all funky and unique. In fact, you won’t really know what yours will look like until it arrives, but I think that’s part of the charm.

Does Dad need a place to keep candy at his desk at work? Everyone loves the office candy bowl. Or maybe he needs a bowl to store bathroom accessories or office supplies. Either way, this bowl made of recycled telephone wire will be a fun addition and reminder of you.

Image via amazon.com.