Give Dad something to brag about

Not all dads wear ties. Not all dads play golf. Not all dads drink beer (okay most do, but not all) ... But I'd like to think that all dads love to brag about their amazing children.

So, amazing children out there, this Father's Day give dad something to brag about.

A bit of your time, a few snips with the scissors and some hunting and gathering of family memories is all it takes to create a special photo album filled with shots of the people dad loves most. Made small on purpose, this album can easily be popped into dad's briefcase when he heads off to work, slipped into his desk drawer for work-from-home dads or packed in a suitcase for travelling dads.

This project won't break your piggy bank (you can get all of the supplies at dollar stores) but it is filled with memories and handmade by you. Dad will love it!

What you need

Father's Day photo album

Collecting your materials: Pick up a small hardcover or soft cover photo album. The one shown was made using a hardcover album. You'll need scrapbooking paper in a pinstripe pattern that resembles a man's dress shirt. A glue stick, a small piece of fine-grit sandpaper, a sheet of felt (fun foam or a real bowtie), two small buttons for the collar, three larger buttons for the shirt front, a pair of scissors and some tacky glue complete the materials list. All supplies can likely be found at a dollar store near you.

Step One: Lay the sheet of striped scrapbook paper good side down on a flat surface. Set the photo album onto the paper and trace around the front cover with a pencil. Repeat with the back cover. Cut out the areas you've traced. They should be roughly the right size to glue onto the front and back of the album. Trim if needed.

Step Two: With a glue stick, spread glue onto the wrong side of the front cover paper. Be sure to get all of the edges and corners. Leave no spot unglued! Press the paper onto the front of the album. Use your fingers to smooth out the paper. Repeat with the back cover paper.

Step Three: Cut two triangles from the scrapbook paper to make the collars of the shirt. These go on the front cover. Glue them in place to make the front cover look like a men's dress shirt.

Step Four: Use a small piece of fine grit sandpaper to gently scuff the edges of the paper all the way around the album. Repeat this on the back. This will help seal the paper and keep it from peeling away from the album. If you like, coat the paper with a water-based interior varnish to seal and protect. This should be done only once the glue is completely dry.

Step Five: Use white tacky glue to attach a small buttons onto each collar and three buttons down the centre of the album, again making it look like a men's shirt.

Step Six: If you like, cut a bowtie shape from felt, craft foam sheets or use a real bow tie. Glue the cut bowties to the album with tacky glue. For a real bowtie, use hot melt glue to hold it in place. Another optional finishing touch is to write on a message. Use dimensional fabric paint or permanent marker for this.

Fill the album with a mix of family photos for dad to enjoy.

To all dads, Happy Father's Day!