Belts and ties are the coin of the realm for Father's Day, but they don't have to fly right off the store rack straight into the gift box. Add your own personality to the package by embroidering Dad's first or last initial on this year's tie.
Instead of gift-boxing a tie this year, why not tie a gift box? Bow ties fit around many small gifts, and both the traditional and pre-tied kinds will work.
Surprise Dad with a stylish shirt-and-tie combination for his books. Secured with a couple of magnets, the fold-over page holder will remind Dad how sharp he really is.
Here's another take on a personalized tie for Dad: Print his initial in a large-size font, then make a stencil of it using a craft knife before embroidering.
Join crafts store corks with vintage or new drawer pulls of faceted glass, painted porcelain, and cast metal, and you can build a collection of shapely carafes for oils and extracts -- a perfect gift for a Dad who cooks.
If Dad's the cook in the family, buy him a new cookbook, such as Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast or Emeril 20-40-60, and add special touches like a pencil holder and a pocket for notes and recipes.
