Give Dad a Gift for Each Reason They Love Him! (An Easy #FathersDayCraft)

Thank you to Oriental Trading Company for providing the craft supplies and Father's Day gifts to facilitate our Father's Day craft tutorial.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Do you ever wish that you could do more to show Dad how much he is loved beyond just making that one day, be it Father's Day or his birthday, a special one?  How about making Dad feel special for 3 days, 7 days, or 10 days?  This is a super-easy craft that will let Dad know all the things his children love about him by presenting him with a small gift that represents each reason.  We narrowed our list down to 7 reasons and will be presenting my husband with one gift a day for the 7 days prior to Father's Day this year.  Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see our daily gift for Dad starting this coming Sunday!

Today's Craft:  A Gift for Each Reason They Love Dad

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Kraft Paper Gift Bags

Everyday Journal Cards

Cream Tags & Ties

thin permanent markers

glue stick

Foam Self-Adhesive Dad Shapes (optional)

fun gifts (scroll down for list of ideas)
tissue paper

Step 1.  Do some prior planning.  Make a list of reasons your children love their Dad and brainstorm some fun gifts that would go along with each reason.  Make your list manageable.  (You can find our list at the bottom of this post, along with some other ideas to help inspire you.)

Step 2.  If you use colored gift bags and journal cards, match one card up with each gift bag.  Then write one reason why your children love their Dad on each journal card.  I used the format:  " . . . (reason here)!"

Step 3.  Using your glue stick, apply glue to the corners, edges, and center on the backside of your journal card.  Then center the card, writing side up, on the front of the gift bag and press firmly.

Tip #1:  The gift bags we used were approximately 9" x 6-1/2".  If you use a smaller gift bag, be sure to leave enough room for the "Because . . . " tag to hang from the handle without covering the writing on the journal card.

Step 4.  Make sure you have one tag and one tie for each gift bag you plan to fill.  Write "Because . . . " on each tag with the tag positioned horizontally with the punched hole to the left (as pictured below).

Step 5.  Using the provided ties (or your own string, ribbon, or yarn), secure the tag onto the right side of the handle on the side of the bag on which you have glued the journal card.

Tip #2:  Although I we tied our string into little bows, you could opt to just make a loop with the string and hang the tag from the handle.  Just be sure not to let the tag hang down over the writing on the journal card.

Step 6.  This step is optional, but was a fun way for our children to get involved with the gift wrapping.  Use the Foam Self-Adhesive Dad Shapes (or other stickers and embellishments) to decorate the front of the gift bags.

Tip #3:  Because the words are an important part of the gift, be sure to tell your children not to cover the journal card.  Also, remind them that less is more.

Step 7.  Now you're ready to fill your bag with the gifts that represent each reason your children love their Dad.  Be sure to place the correct gift in the corresponding bag.  Add some tissue paper or gift bag filler to create a nice presentation.

Now all you need to do is find a good hiding spot to store your filled gift bags until they are ready to be presented to Dad.  You could give one gift to Dad per day to make the fun last longer or give them to him all at once!

Our list of reasons and gifts . . . 

• Because we love when you act silly! = Realistic Rubber Chicken
• Because you know everything! = Magic Fortune Teller Ball
• Because you can be really sweet sometimes! = Dubble Bubble American Flag Gum
• Because you tell the best stories! = My Dad:  His Stories, His Words Journal
• Because you are an awesome cook! = Humorous Rub Set
• Because you are a little nutty! = Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Brand Whiskey Praline Pecans
• Because you are our hero and protector! = A Daughter's First Love Tabletop Sign

Other reasons your children might love Dad . . . 

• Because you chase the monsters away!
• Because you're the king of the grill!
• Because you're so handsome!
• Because you always know just what to say!
• Because you can always make our ouchies better!
• Because you're a great listener!
• Because you always give great advice!
• Because you're so wise!
• Because you like to sing in the shower!
• Because you cheer the loudest during my games!
• Because you're the coolest Dad ever!
• Because you can fix anything!
• Because you smell good!
• Because you give the best piggyback rides!
• Because you teach us so much!

What other reasons would you add to this list?

Easy Craft: DIY "Spell It Out" Photo Gift

This is a photo gift craft I had done for Father's Day earlier this year.  I think it would make a great Holiday gift for almost any friend or family member because this craft has so many possibilities.  I got the idea when I saw a baby photo example on Pinterest from a blog called The Coleman Chronicles.  This was really so simple to make that I don't even think I need to write out a formal tutorial.  Basically, all you need to do is . . .

1.  Buy a horizontal or vertical collage frame that fits the number of letters in the word or phrase you want to spell out.  I got my frame at A.C. Moore for under $10.

2.  Since I did not want to spend a few dollars per letter on white wooden letters, I just bought some inexpensive white foam sheets and cut my letters out of those to spell "We [heart] Baba."  If you have any letters that are shown twice, you can reuse a single letter rather than make more than one.  I did buy the wooden red heart though because I would probably use that again in the future.

3.  Have your child or children hold each letter and take a photo.

4.  Print your pictures out on your own printer or have them printed by a photo service.

5.  Trim your photos to the right size and put them into the frame.

That's it!  You're done!!

(Click any photo to enlarge)

If I had to do it all again, I would have had my photos printed by a photo service because my printer just makes everything look darker and duller than it really is.

Regardless, my husband loved this photo gift!  It sits right on his desk in his office at work.  What would your "Spell It Out" photo gift say?

Oral-B ProfessionalCare 3000 Rechargeable Toothbrush

I have been using a lower end Oral B electric toothbrush for years. I have been a big fan since I bought my first one maybe 6 years ago. The model I've owned is quite simple and not very powerful, but it did its job.

When Karen asked me if I wanted to try a new and better toothbrush I jumped at the chance. After all I loved my basic one for so long. I was sent the Oral-B ProfessionalCare 3000 with 4 unique brush heads, quite an upgrade for me!

The first thing you notice when unboxing your Oral-B 3000 is that the charging base is designed to hold multiple brush heads. The very second thing you notice is that the Oral-B 3000 comes with 4 unique and specialized brush heads: Precision Clean; Dual Clean; Pro Whitening; and the Sensitive Brush Head. I was so excited I didn't know which one I wanted to try first! (There are two versions of the 3000 in existence . . . one with an upright base like mine and one with a horizontal base.  Both come with the same four heads and have identical technology.)

The toothbrush itself is sleek and slightly smaller than my old one, which is nice as I want my brush as small as possible. The charging base works very much the same way as my old one which is fine, the mechanism is simple and it works. It is also easy to keep clean.  Just wipe it down.

I ended up trying the Dual Clean first but was overwhelmed. The large head combined with the brush's power was a bit much for me. I should say however that I have a pretty sensitive gag reflex and the large brush was just slightly too big for me, but I think most would find it fine. It did clean very well during my brief test. The next brush head I tried was the Pro Whitening and I found it very comfortable. This head has a small rubber cup in the center much like a professional dentists polisher. In the short time I have owned the Oral-B 3000 I have not seen the whitening effect, but my teeth feel very clean after each use and I look forward to whiter teeth as I continue to use it.

My current favorite however is the Sensitive head. I think I like this one the best because the Oral-B 3000 is very powerful and it balances out nicely for my teeth and gums. I am sure as I become accustomed to the increased power I will be more comfortable with the other heads, maybe even the Dual Clean.

The only negative I have about the brush is that the most powerful speed setting is the very first speed that starts when you turn it on. And it is VERY strong. And if you do not want to make a toothpaste mess you really need to put the brush in your mouth prior to turning it on. So you need to endure the highest speed in your mouth right away before you can cycle it down to the very comfortable middle speed.

Overall the Oral-B ProfessionalCare 3000 is a great toothbrush. I love the variety of brush heads and the ability to tune the speed to fit the head and my preference. I can clearly see the quality is as I expect from Oral B and I know I will enjoy it at least as long as my old one. (Even though the first speed is chainsaw!)

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Through June 16th, you can snag a $10 off Mail-in-Rebate good on select Oral-B Powered Toothbrushes, including four ProfessionalCare toothbrushes and a Sonic Technology toothbrush.  If you're stuck for a gift for Dad this year for Father's Day, a rechargeable electric toothbrush from Oral-B would be a great idea, especially with a $10 savings.

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Thank you to Oral-B for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our contest prize.

PLEASE NOTE:  The prize for this contest is an Oral-B Professional Care 3000 electric toothbrush.  The winner will receive either the model pictured below or the model reviewed here today (whichever is available at the time of prize fulfillment).  The technology is identical, but the bases where the heads are stored are designed differently.

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Good luck in the drawing!

Inspiration plus an Amazing Promotion from JCPenney Portrait Studio

With Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up, you may be considering a new framed family portrait as the perfect gift, especially if you have not had one done in awhile.  After all, our children grow and change so quickly.  To me, photos are the best way to capture their childhoods.  If you're like me, then you have had some great and some not-so-great experiences with young children and professional portrait sittings.  Let me share what I have come to learn about taking family portraits . . .

The main thing I have come to realize about taking portrait photos is that formal is not always better.  Your children can sit still and smile for the camera against a blue background during their school portraits, but a studio experience should be creative and fun.  Even when I take portraits of the children at home, the best photos are often the ones in which they are allowed to let loose.  Checkout these portrait ideas I have pinned on Pinterest.  There is such an imaginative use of composition, props, and angles.  Which photo concept is your favorite?

If you would like to have a portrait done before Mother's Day or Father's Day, you can snag an amazing deal during the month of April at your local JCPenney Portrait Studio.  Through April 30th, 2012 you can receive 6 Traditional Portrait Sheets for $20 plus one Free Sitting Fee (a $9 sitting fee applies to each person after the first).  You are allowed to mix and match photo sizes and you do not have to limit yourself to just one image.  You can even schedule a session online.

To find the closest JCPenny Portrait Studio to you, simply enter your zip code on JCPPortraits.com.  For even more portrait inspirations, visit the JCPPortrait Gallery and Pinterest page.


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of jcpenney Portrait Studio. I was asked to create a Pinterest Board and pin at least five (5) pins. I give jcpenney the right to repin any or all images/original content from this board. I received a promotional item as a thanks for my participation.

Father's Day Giveaway: Kindle Fire

Through May 16th, you can enter to win a Kindle Fire through Fiberon's multi-blog giveaway.  Although the contest will not end in time for Mother's Day, this prize would make a great gift for Father's Day or to keep for yourself.

Please be sure to read the entry requirements carefully since it will vary from the typical entries you have grown accustomed to on 3G2S.  I would love to see one of my readers win this great prize!

The composite decking, railing, and fencing company Fiberon is giving away a Kindle Fire!
(view details)

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a Fiberon giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

Good luck in the drawing!

3 Favorite Gift Ideas For Dad

As a dad, I get lots of gifts from my kids and family, although all of them are welcome, some will always have a special place in my heart.  I think my daughter presents me with a new drawing rolled up with a rubber band at least once a day, often waiting for me on my chair when I get home from work.  What a wonderful feeling that is . . .

. . . But over the years, I definitely have some favorites.  My most favorite gift was from all of my kids for Christmas a few years back.  They presented me with a professionally published and bound photo book of all of my favorite family pictures, many of them of my kids and I having fun.  I keep that book on a stand on my desk, I want everybody to see it.  It is not uncommon for me to come back to my desk and see people looking through it.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Another of my all time favorites is a canvas print of me with my son Jake on my back having a blast.  I've always loved stylized pictures on canvas prints.  Every time I walk past it in the hall I remember that day like it was yesterday.

And a list of my favorite dad gifts would not be complete without my "I can't know!" custom t-shirt.  That was my little boy Luke's favorite get out of trouble line for a long time.  It is not uncommon to hear "I can't know!!!" and see a Luke high tailing it away from the scene of a crime in my home.

I love everything they do for me, but these gifts will always be on my mind as they remind me of some great times.

Geek Review: LEGO Star Wars Tie Fighter (9492)

We recently received the LEGO Star Wars Tie Fighter (kit 9492) from ThinkGeek for review. I need to tell you I was as giddy as a school kid and could not wait to build it. It is not often you can combine two of the most impactful influences of your childhood into one activity. I think I can speak for all men my age (any age?) and say that Star Wars and LEGO's were a MAJOR part of our childhoods.

The Star Wars Tie Fighter kit comes with 413 pieces including 4 figures. The parts were laid out in labeled bags and pre-build preparation was a snap (blatant pun).

(Click any photo to enlarge)

The build was challenging but not hard. LEGO does such an amazing job creating instructions that really take any mystery out of the build. Assembly took about 40 minutes with the kids helping (30 without?). Although the age range for this kit starts at 8 years old, I would say parental help at that age is recommended.

The finished Star Wars Tie Fighter kit is really fantastic, Lego did a remarkable job getting the details right. I know for a young child imagination goes far, but for a 41 year old Star Wars nut the likeness was more than OK. It was nice to see them get the kit right without any (or almost no) specialty parts. Not an easy feat.

Overall opinion? The Star Wars Tie Fighter kit from ThinkGeek was fun to build with my kids and a decent reproduction of a classic from my childhood. I can't imagine another man my age thinking any differently about this kit.

For more cool Star Wars gifts, including more LEGO Star Wars kits, visit ThinkGeek.com.


Thank you to ThinkGeek for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Shop 'n' Share: Hubby Goes Shopping at Marshalls

I don't know about you, but I think men are so much harder to shop for than women, especially if you are shopping on a budget.  I feel it is not difficult at all to buy for a man if you have a few hundred dollars to spend.  Most of my husband's wish list is comprised of tech and electronics items, all of which run from approximately $100 to $500.  As far as clothing goes, he is very brand-conscious.  Luckily, Marshalls and T.J.Maxx offer designer and brand name clothing, shoes, and accessories for men at a huge savings over upscale department stores.  To prove to me that it is easier to find a reasonably priced gift for men than I think, Marshalls sent my husband a gift card to shop . . .

When we walked into our local Marshalls, my husband was immediately drawn by the huge shoe department.  He is very hard on his shoes, so he always needs to replace his sneakers once or twice a year.  As I had previously mentioned, my husband associates specific brand names with quality based on past experience.  For athletic shoes, he mainly looks for New Balance or Nike.

One thing about shopping at Marshalls or T.J.Maxx is that you are usually treasure hunting.  For shoes, sometimes you may not find the size you are looking for.  There were about 8 or 9 pairs of sneakers my husband liked, but the size selection helped him narrow down his choices.  He ended up replacing his existing New Balance sneakers with this leather pair by the same brand.  They only cost $39.99 compared to a retail price of $59.00, which is what I would normally expect to pay for a decent pair of adult athletic shoes.  My husband was extremely happy to find a pair of New Balance sneakers that he liked and we were both more than pleased with the price for a pair of first quality brand name men's shoes.

Personally, I would not choose a pair of shoes on behalf of my husband as a gift since he is so particular.  I would buy him a gift card so he can shop for himself.  If you have not bought your significant other or your Dad a gift yet for Father's Day, I highly recommend a gift card to Marshalls or T.J.Maxx.  A gift card from either store will be accepted in both stores.  You can even order the gift cards online.  To learn more, visit MarshallsOnline.com and TJMaxx.com.


Thank you to Marshalls and T.J.Maxx for sending us a gift card to shop and share our experience with our readers, and also for providing a second gift card for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a $50 gift card valid at T.J.Maxx or Marshalls stores.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me what you your favorite designer or brand name is for men's clothing, shoes, or accessories. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.


2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3)  For 5 extra entries each, sign up to receive email updates from Marshalls (top right of homepage) and/or from T.J.Maxx (top right of homepage). Then come back here and leave FIVE separate comments telling me you did for each.

4)  For 1 extra entry each, Friend me on Facebook and/or "Like" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5)  For 1 extra entry each, follow T.J.Maxx on Twitter and/or follow Marshalls on Twitter and/or "Like" T.J.Maxx on Facebook and/or "Like" Marshalls on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.


6)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, June 27th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

125th Anniversary Channellock Tool Roll Gift Set

Recently I received the Channellock Tool Roll No. 3 for review and the timing could not be better. It was only a few days before I had the perfect repair to test my new set on. After the kids' bath one night the bathtub would not drain.

To fix this issue I need to use a pipe snake, but in order to do that I needed to remove some pipe end caps to gain access behind my tub. The two sizes of adjustable tongue and groove pliers in the Channellock Tool Roll were perfect for that task. The work area was tight and I did not have much leverage, but the pliers worked just fine. The no-slip grips worked perfectly even with my wet hands.

It was nice to have most of the tools I needed for the job in one place, I did not need to run back and forth to try different tools, they were right there in one place.

Another tool that came in handy in a hurry was the Slip Joint Plier. A few days ago I was moving the cushions on the couch and noticed something pointy coming through the fabric right where your lower back would be if the cushions were out of place. After looking more closely it was a protruding nail! My kids play all over that couch.  It is an absolute miracle they have not cut themselves wide open on that nail. I grabbed the slip joint pliers and pulled it right out, they were the perfect tool for the job.

This set contains the following pieces:

• 430 tongue and groove plier
• 420 tongue and groove plier
• 337 cutting plier
• 3017 long nose plier
• 526 slip joint plier
• 5-pocket tool roll with tie-closure

The Channellock Tool Roll No. 3 was a great addition to my tool collection. Everything I need in a compact roll that I can throw in a drawer to keep handy. Great product!

Visit Channellock.com to view their full selection of quality tools and tool gift sets.

Thank you to Channellock for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive Channellock Tool Roll No. 3 (engraved with "1886-2011 -- 125 Years Strong"). [ARV $79]

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Browse the selection of Channellock tools. Then leave a comment telling me the name of one tool you think a Dad you know would love to own because it would be so useful or just plain cool. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.


2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3)  For 10 extra entries, subscribe to Channellock's YouTube channel. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did.

4)  For 1 extra entry each, Friend me on Facebook and/or "Like" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5)  For 1 extra entry each, follow Channellock on Twitter and/or "Like" Channellock on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.


6)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, June 20th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!