This weekend we celebrate father’s day, thanking dads everywhere for being such swell guys. Looking for a last minute gift? You can recycle any old tie into something useful with this handy guide courtesy of Ecouterre. Find the tackiest, most out-of-style tie and turn it into something useful. Ecouterre provides step-by-step directions for making an awesome new guitar strap, eyeglasses case, camera strap, cellphone case, and pillow.

While it’s easy to buy a last minute gift, show dad you care with something made from the heart. You can make most of these with items you already have around the house: a bit of thread, scissors, a needle, an old button. Check out the photos for more. Do you have any more fun ideas for ways to recycle a tie?

Happy Father’s Day everyone!

1 Prime Cut Apron by Sur La Table, $24.95
2 Bamboo Barbecue Cutting/Serving Board by Crate and Barrel, $29.95
3 Backyard BBQ Invitations by Paper Culture, $1.39
4 Burger Coasters exclusively at MoMA, $22
5 Oliver Appetizer Plates by CB2, $2.95 each
6 Barbecue Sauces by Williams-Sonoma, $12.95 – $14.95
7 Hamman Stripe Monogrammed Hand Towels by West Elm, $10 each
8 Mobile Foodie Survival Kit by PLANT, $26
9 Extreme Barbecue by Dan Huntley and Lisa Grace Lednicer, $8
10 Fyrkat Picnic Charcoal Grill by Bodum, $80
11 Tool Set with Hardwood Case by Mr. Bar-B-Q, $120
12 Everything’s Better T-Shirt by Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, $15

Fun items like the burger coasters and Oliver appetizer plates will be a smash at any summer party. And dear ‘ol dad can always use an apron highlighting all things meat as well as a grilling tool kit in a hardwood case. We’ve provided direct links to all of the items, but we’ve also created a Barbecue Mood Board on Pinterest as well. Check it out and also take a look at our other Pinterest boards while you’re at it.

We at Paper Culture hope that this will help you kick off your summer in the right way. Don’t forget to send an invitation our way!

To all the rad dads out there, this one’s for you, Happy Father’s Day!

My friend Ed believes the “… the art from my kids still is the best but the smallest thing I refer to constantly is my Weber grilling cookbook. [It's] very suburban of me but I always check it for recipes and especially cooking times for different cuts of meat.” Handmade gifts are truly original and thoughtful and a fun and crafty way for a parent and child to spend time together. I wouldn’t have immediately thought to purchase dad a cookbook, but I guess, one related to barbecues (and the foods he enjoys) makes a pretty nifty gift.

Ian in Atlanta says he enjoys spending time doing an activity together with his family, “Often we go to play mini-golf,” and that makes him happy enough. With competing schedules, it can be hard to get the clan together. What’s up with golf and dads anyway? A colleague of mine mentioned that this year he and his brother are going to play golf with their dad after he realized, “the last five [gifts] were stacked on the table unopened”. Dedicating a window of time to just hang seems like a real winner. Some of my fondest memories of spending time with my dad were of the ones like these.

Pierre, a father of twins claims, he enjoys an “exceptional meal provided by his family.” Yep. Cooking and eating together is filling and fulfilling. Everybody has a favorite meal too so it’s easy to plan for. That said, my buddy Jason enjoys eating out at a nice restaurant with his family. His son Max is a tween so sharing a meal in public has become enjoyable again for Jason. It’s easy to see why studies that show families who routinely eat together also seem happier in general.

And sometimes it’s just the gesture of an every day occurrence that makes Father’s Day fun. Chris, here at Paper Culture, enjoyed Baby B running up to him to say, “Happy Baasahrs Day” (a two year old’s attempt to say, “Happy Father’s Day”) even though she tripped as she came to give him a hug.  The moment made everyone laugh and we feel, these priceless moments are the ones  parents enjoy and get a kick out of.

We hope that however you choose to celebrate the caretaker and father in your life this weekend, that you will be able to continue to cherish him for more than just one day a year. Happy Father’s Day to all!

The joy in all these videos is infectious. And I think it’s so sweet that the children and dads are laughing at the simplest things. I only wish we could have so much fun with our fathers every day!