DIY Gifts for Dad

Last updated 5/31/23

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and for those looking to show their appreciation for Dad this year with a personalized gift, Heat Transfer Warehouse has you covered. From fun DIY apparel Dad can wear with pride to personalized koozies (and more), we have everything you need to make your Father’s Day gift extra special. Here are some of our top DIY Father’s Day gift ideas: 

T-shirts

Whether your dad loves his classic car or playing golf on the weekends, create a custom t-shirt that celebrates his favorite hobby or pastime. We have several methods of making a shirt that he will love wearing all summer long! 

Heat Transfer Vinyl

If you're going the HTV route, it's worth noting that the type of heat transfer material you use is going to depend on the material of the shirt. Our ThermoFlex Plus is a popular heat transfer film. It is highly flexible and, if applied properly, will outlast the life of the garment. In addition to standard Thermoflex Plus, it also comes in neon, glossy, and metallic. We also have vinyl that stretches, adheres to nylon, stops dye migration, and is perfect for mesh and jersey athletic uniforms.

Supacolor Transfers are also a great option for ready-to-press designs that are durable, colorful, and comfortable to wear. There is a selection of stock transfers all pertaining to father figures that you can peruse here.

Sublimation

Sublimation is another excellent option for personalizing a shirt, though it will require a polyester shirt, like the Silky Shirts offered by Silky Socks. Dye Sublimation allows you to transfer dye directly into the fabric of the shirt, which means it provides brilliant, accurate colors while feeling just like the fabric of the garment. Sublimation is also capable of transferring photo-quality images, so if there's a special picture that you think your dad would love to see on a shirt, this is the option for you! 

Note: To dye sublimate your own polyester coated products, you can use our Sawgrass Sublimation Printer SG500 with Starter Install Kit which includes the printer, inks, and software. If you already have the starter kit, you can find Dye Sublimation Ink refills here.

Koozies

A custom Can Koozie to keep dad cool all season long. It's both useful and durable enough that he'll be able to remember your thoughtfulness every time he reaches for his favorite beverage, making it an ideal keepsake that will last through many years of summer days spent outdoors with friends and family.

Heat Transfer Vinyl

Once again, the type of heat transfer vinyl you use is dependent on what the koozie you are using is made out of. Siser EasyWeed will work on most koozies, but we recommend you test it on the product first. If you want to give your dad something a little sturdier, our Sign Vinyl will work on Stainless Steel Can Coolers.

(We tested Siser EasyWeed, ThermoFlex Plus, HTV Textured Glitter, and Chemica UpperFlock on Neoprene Can Koozies and they all worked great!)

Sublimation

Our Neoprene Can Koozies are another product that can be decorated using dye sublimation. As with t-shirts, sublimating a koozie will provide a vivid design that will last as long as the material of the koozie itself. Our Stainless Steel Can Coolers can also be sublimated, providing a rugged option for keeping drinks chilly.

Grill Aprons

A personalized fathers day Apron is the perfect gift for any dad who enjoys cooking. Ideal for the grill-loving guy, a sharp-looking apron can keep his clothes sauce-free while he's on burger duty.

Heat Transfer Vinyl

Take a look at our ThermoFlex, EasyWeed, and Chemica products to find heat transfer vinyl that can add some spice to your Father's Day offering. We even have dad-centric SVG Bundles that come with aprons, HTV, and SVG files so you can grab all the products you need for a Father's Day apron in one package!

Sublimation

We also offer several polyester Sublimation Aprons in varying styles and colors that are perfect for this exact type of project that can be found here.

To learn about pressing HTV on an apron, watch the video below:

Camp Chairs

This gift idea is great for the dad who also doubles as your biggest fan at athletic events (or the dad who enjoys sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows). Customize a camping chair for him to bring to some of your games.

Heat Transfer Vinyl

Make this yourself with our ThermoBanner2 – Sunmark which is excellent for outdoor durability.

Home Decor

Make an eye-catching piece for the home or Dad’s office with a gift that can be hung up on the wall.

Sign Vinyl

To make this yourself, check out our Sign Vinyls. Our Permanent Sign Vinyl (PSV) is tough enough to stand the test of time while also being easy to work with. If you are looking to create wall decor that can stick right onto a wall but can later be removed, try our Wall/Temporary Vinyl.

Sublimation

If you want to go the dye sublimation route, you can use our WALASub Photo Panels to make some durable photos to hang on the wall without fear of fall damage.

Hats

Already have a Hat/Cap Press and are wanting to put it to some use while celebrating the special occasion? Make your dad a customized baseball cap.

Heat Transfer Vinyl

As baseball caps can be made from a variety of different materials, be sure to check what it is made from before applying the vinyl. If it’s made from cotton or polyester, most of our ThermoFlex products will work. If it’s made from nylon, check out our ThermoFlex Xtra.

Bags

For the active dad who loves to hit up the gym, or for a dad who travels, a DIY customized duffel bag will be one that he will be eager to use when he's out and about.

Heat Transfer Vinyl

For a bag made from nylon, use our Siser EasyWeed Extra. If you’re looking for a design with bright, vivid colors, try our EasyWeed Extra Fluorescents.

Mugs

If your dad loves a cup of coffee and a sunrise (or if he needs some caffeine help in the mornings) we have some wonderful mugs that he'll be sure to enjoy (and better yet, use)!

Heat Transfer Vinyl

Both HTV and PSV offer ample options in regard to color and style. HTV will require a heat press, but PSV can be applied to a mug without any heat whatsoever.

Sublimation

We offer a wide variety of Sublimation Mugs to display the most vibrant of artwork on Dad's big day.

Don’t have a mug press, but want to get one? We offer Mug Presses on our website too.

Custom Services

Don't have the time to do a project start-to-finish on your own before Father's Day? Our Custom Services option can make finished HTV or sublimation transfers (or even finished products, pressed and ready to go) from one of your designs. They also offer custom Embroidery and Rhinestone services, so you're covered no matter what gift idea you had in mind!

Final Thought: As always, test cut AND test press on the material before creating your final product to make sure it will adhere. Have fun making the father figure in your life a gift that he will cherish. Hopefully these ideas helped spark your creativity for the perfect DIY gift for Dad.