Dads: They have the silliest jokes, the biggest tie collections, the stinkiest farts (too far?) and the sweetest hearts. Damn, did I just write a poem? I’m good. Anyway, this Father’s Day, the daddios who show up and love strong deserve something different, something surprising and, of course, something fun. Store-bought cards are fine — luckily, a lot more brands are boosting the creativity and straying from the overwhelmingly sappy tone — but what happens to the greeting cards a few days (or months) after they’re read? Hey, $5 greeting card, meet the trash can.
What else can really be done with them? Kept in a random folder for all of time? Sure, maybe some people do that, but I feel comfortable guessing that most don’t. Instead, we have a more creative way you could spend a couple of your hard-earned bucks. Make your Dad a giant, 3D, beer-holding Father’s Day greeting card! It’s unexpected and heartfelt, and something he can display in his office for years to come.
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If you’re into this Father’s Day greeting card, but your dad doesn’t love beer, follow the instructions to make whatever shape you want — it can be customized to perfectly fit and reflect the things your dad (or mom, or sister, or boyfriend, or whoever the heck you want) loves.
What you’ll need:
- 1 2-inch large piece styrofoam
- 1 22×28-inch thin colored poster board (for card cover)
- 1 22×28-inch white poster board (for beer label)
- 2 20×30-inch Elmer’s foam boards (for inside and back of card)
- 1 beer
- Natural Jute Twine
- Foil stickers
- Colored duct tape
- Colored artist tape (should match duct tape)
- Glue gun and sticks
- Scissors
- X-Acto knife
- Bench scraper (or something to cut Styrofoam)
- Stencils
- Markers
Step 1
Using the blunt side of a pen, outline your desired shape on the Styrofoam. Follow the outline and cut the shape out. Styrofoam can be difficult to cut — scissors don’t usually work. We used a bench scrape (typically used for cleaning baking dishes), but you could try a large knife or any other heavy-duty tool available to you.
Step 2
Press your beer (or object) into the middle of the Styrofoam cut-out to determine where you want it placed and the size. Create a rectangular box around the item and cut the Styrofoam out. You want the top and bottom to be true to size for the product so that it fits tightly.
Step 3
Place the cut-out Styrofoam shape on the back side (white side) of your Elmer’s foam boards. Outline the shape with a pen or pencil and cut it out using an X-Acto knife. Note: Always outline the shapes on the side of the poster board that will not be showing. Only cut the rectangular box out of one Elmer’s foam board — this will be glued on the inside of your card. The other foam board will be used for the back of your card.
Step 4
Replicate previous step to outline and cut out the appropriate shape from the thin poster board. This will be used for the cover of your Father’s Day greeting card.
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Step 5
Cut two pieces of twine and, using the glue gun, secure them to either side of the rectangular box. You want the twine to be long enough so that it can be tied around your beer bottle or object.
Step 6
With the glue gun still in hand, secure the Elmer’s foam boards to the front and back of the Styrofoam cut-out.
Step 7
Cut remaining scraps of the foam board to cover the inner sides of the rectangular box so you no longer see the Styrofoam. Using the glue gun, secure them in place. They should fit tightly.
Step 8
Cover the sides of the Styrofoam with masking tape.
Step 9
Outline the rectangular box with matching artist tape.
Step 10
Using stencils or stickers, write whatever message you’d like on the inside of the card.
Step 11
Cross the twine and place the beer in the rectangular box. Tie it in place.
Step 12
Design the cover of your greeting card! Using the white thin poster board, design a beer label, or simply use stickers, markers and stencils to write your desired message.
Step 13
Using the glue gun, attach the cover. Press firmly down to ensure it dries. If you’re making the beer card, Only glue the lower-half portion of the bottle — the neck and top of the bottle should not be glued so that the card can easily be opened.
Share your Father’s Day greeting card with us by tagging @HomeOftheHolidays and #Holidays365.
