Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Woven “Leather” Desk Accessories

You will need: masking tape, brown or black paste shoe polish, shellac, and containers of various shapes.

Use the following method to cover all accessories: tear off triangles of masking tape and press them onto container in rows, points down. Start at its bottom and overlap rows. The ragged edges will help give rough effect. At top, trim edges evenly, or bring tape over top of container. After covering, apply shoe polish with a soft cloth. Coat with shellac or clear plastic spray.

1. Letter Holder

For a letter holder, use a rectangular cardboard box such as an empty one for hot chocolate. Cut box down to 3″ high, then cut out ends. Paint inside of holder. Cover with tape “leather.”

2. Desk Caddy

For caddy to hold paper clips or rubber bands, cover round tuna can, or similarly shaped container.

3. Standing Picture Frame

Remodel an old picture frame by removing glass and recovering frame. Replace glass and add a picture of you choice. For stand, cut 2″ x 6″ strip of heavyweight cardboard. Bend strip down 1″ from one end and glue small bent section to back of frame.

4. Desk Blotter

For base use a piece of 16″ x 21″ medium-weight cardboard. From another piece of cardboard, cut two 3″ x 16″ strips. Cover strips with “leather.” Glue strips to ends of base, leaving inside edges open for pockets. Insert ends of a piece of blotter paper into pockets.

5. Pencil Holder

A “leather-covered” 12-ounce can such as a container for frozen orange juice makes a useful pencil holder.

6. Glue Prints

You will need: corrugated cardboard, white glue, tempera paint, cookie sheet, brayer (small paint roller), and any type of absorbent paper.

1. On piece of cardboard, draw picture with glue, squeezing lightly as you draw. Let dry until lines are set.

2. Pour tempera paint onto cookie sheet and smooth out. Move brayer back and forth in color until it is evenly covered with paint.

3. Now apply brayer to raised glue drawing surface, moving back and forth until all lines of drawing are well covered. Try not to let too much color touch spaces between lines.

4. In printing from raised surface, use some sort of absorbent paper such as rice paper, newsprint, or some kinds of paper towels. Nonabsorbent paper will not be as colorful.

5. Smooth paper on top of glue drawing, press carefully, and lift off.

Illustrated by Shauna Mooney