Celebrate Green Blog

Here’s another DIY Father’s Day gift made from ties. If you read my post on making a guitar strap “cozy,” you’ll know that when my Dad passed away, I took home some of his ties because I wanted to use them to make items that could be used for Father’s Day gifts. If your dad has some ties he doesn’t wear any more, why not put them to use by making a clever, no cost present for him or another dad you know and love.

I had an old CD binder I used for this project. If you have a larger three ring binder, you can just add more ties. The principle remains the same. The binder can be filled with photos, pictures the kids drew for dad, DVDs-whatever you think dad would enjoy.

What you need:

1 binder

2 ties

two pieces of cardboard

fabric

glue

scissors

2 snaps or round pieces of velcro

needle and thread

How-to:

1. Lay book open with spine against fabric.

2. Cut around book leaving about 1.5″

3. Glue corners down. Let dry.

4. Fold up long edges and glue. Let dry. You can use clothespins to hold if you want.

5. Cut two pieces of cardboard approximately 1/2″ smaller than the front and back inside covers.

6. Lay the cardboard on fabric, add about an inch all the way around and cut.

7. Glue in the corners, then the edges as you did for the book for the book.

8. Glue the fabric covered cardboard on the inside front and back covers, so you have a nice finish inside the book when you open it.

9. Cut both ties in half (you might have to measure depending on the size of your book).

10. Take the wider end of each tie and place it where you want it on the front of the book. Carry it around to the back and pin.

11. Take the thinner piece of each tie and lay it over the wider piece on the front of the book and pin over the wider piece at the back.

12. Sew the two pieces together where they meet at the back of the book (not to the book, to each other).

13. Wrap the ties around the book and sew snaps or Velcro on all four pieces.

14. Where the ties meet in back, sew them to the book. Or glue them if you prefer.

If these directions are clear as mud, let me know and I’ll attempt to clarify. Or ignore the directions entirely and fake it. I’m sure you’ll come up with something much better.

And if you make one of these, let me know. Would love to see how yours turns out!