Handmade Father’s Day gift: Beer Bottle Snacks

A six pack of empty beer bottles, as well as the six pack holder can be put to good use for dad this Father’s Day with these fun handmade snack bottles…

Why we love them:

  • These bottles are a great size to fill up with a variety of snacks and treats for dad – nuts, Smarties, seeds, rice crackers – basically anything small enough to fit through the neck of the bottles!
  • Don’t worry if you throw out the bottle top – you can easily seal the bottle with a piece of fabric placed over the opening and secure it with an elastic band and ribbon. Alternatively, you could even use a piece of wide, clear tape. 
  • You can have fun with the labels on these bottles. Use the dimensions of the original label for size and create your own personalised labels on the computer or get the kids to draw a picture. You could feature a picture, a quote, write something you love about dad on each one, or even just used colourful wrapping paper to cover up the old label. 
  • You could also use swing tags, ribbon or twine to further embellish your bottles. 
  • This is an inexpensive gift you and the kids can have fun creating together. 
  • If dad doesn’t drink beer you could use any glass jar or container in the same way – keep an eye out for any interesting jars or containers to use before you recycle them. 

What sort of snack/treat would you like to receive in one of these bottles? We’d love your thoughts – please comment below…

Ten top Father’s Day gifts for dads who like to eat, drink and cook

Top ten Father's Day gifts for Foodie dads
If your dad knows his way around a kitchen, or simply enjoys eating and drinking, then here are some great gift ideas for him this Father’s Day… 

We’re also offering FREE DELIVERY on all orders from now until Father’s Day (midnight Saturday 5/9/15).  

Use Discount Code DAD in the Discount Code field when you place your order.  

This offer can’t be used in conjunction with other offers, or redeemed for cash. But please feel free to share with family and friends:)

Slate Cheese Tray with Chalk Pen
1. Slate Cheese Tray with Chalk Pen $29.95
This slate cheese tray is a fun, rustic way of serving cheese. It also comes with a chalk pen, so you can write the name of the cheese next to it. Each board comes beautifully presented in its own hessian bag. 
BrewSmith Beer Making Kit
2. BrewSmith Beer Making Kit $69.95
Successfully brewing your own beer is extremely satisfying, especially when the brews taste this good! The hardest thing is deciding which of these four delicious flavours dad will like best…
MAN LAW Digital BBQ Meat Gauge
3. MAN LAW Digital BBQ Instant Read Meat Gauge $19.95
Now there’s no more excuses for under-cooked meat! This digital meat gauge has  7 Pre-set meat types: beef, veal, lamb, pork, poultry, turkey and burgers, as well as an alarm to let you know when your meat is cooked. Great for dads who have a reputation of turning steak into charcoal! 
Gentlemen's Hardware Cocktail Shaker
4. Gentlemen’s Hardware Cocktail Shaker $29.95
This cocktail shaker will make dad feel like James Bond when he uses it and is sure to impress your dinner guests. Check out the Gentlemen’s Hardware range here…
Cognac Gift Set
5. Cognac Gift Set $99.95
Ok, so not everyone likes cognac, but dads who do will really appreciate this unique cognac gift set, which includes 2 x traditional cognac glasses, 2 x coasters and a stainless steel flask and funnel. 
MAN BBQ Grill Light
6. MAN LAW BBQ Grill Light $34.95
Get dad geared up for BBQ season with this handy BBQ Grill Light. Designed to clamp on or attach to the BBQ with magnets, this bright 12 bulb LED light means no more juggling a torch whilst flipping meat. Check out the MAN LAW range here… 
 
Corona Glasses
7. Corona Glasses (pair) $19.95
One of our best-selling gifts. View the range…
Man Munchies Tin
8. Man Munchies Snack Tin $19.95 each or 2 for $30
Fill this tin with dad’s favourite treats for a Father’s Day gift that’s guaranteed to make him smile. Check out more Man Tins here…
MAN LAW Stainless Steel BBQ Tools Set
9. MAN LAW Stainless Steel BBQ Tools Set, 3 piece “V8” design $59.95
This smart BBQ tool set features 3 high quality stainless steel tools with a stylish diamond plate design.Check out the MAN LAW range here… 
The Great Meat Cookbook
10. The Great Meat Cookbook $39.95
The only cookbook that men who like meat will ever need.  

Handmade Father’s Day gift: Chocolate Poster

Now this is a Father’s Day gift you could have some fun with – we’d love to see a version using Aussie chocolates…


Why we love it:
  • This is a fun way to give dad his favourite treats for Father’s Day
  • It’s a personalised gift as you can select their favourites and tailor the message to suit
  • This would look great with some classic Aussie treats, like Caramello Koalas and Freddo Frogs, or another other small treats, like little packets of chips, nuts, etc. 
  • In addition to dads, this would make a fun present for anyone – men, women and kids. 

What chocolates would you choose for your dad? 
We’d love your thoughts – please comment below…

Top ten Father’s Day gifts for hard-working dads

Top ten Father's Day gifts for Dad's desk
The countdown to Father’s Day has begun!
Here are ten of our favourite desk gadgets and accessories that will hopefully brighten dad’s day at the office. Working 9-5 has never been so much fun…

We’re also offering FREE DELIVERY on all orders from now until Father’s Day (midnight Saturday 5/9/15).  

Use Discount Code DAD in the Discount Code field when you place your order.  

This offer can’t be used in conjunction with other offers, or redeemed for cash. But please feel free to share with family and friends:)

Troika 'Easy Rider' Paper Clip Holder
1. Troika ‘Easy Rider’ Paper Clip Holder $59.95
Troika put the fun back into desk accessories thanks to quirky paper clip holder/paperweights like ‘Easy Rider’. Includes 5 paperclips and a friction motor to keep fidgeting fingers occupied. View the Troika range here…
Mondo Date Calendar
2. Mondo ‘Date’ $39.95
You’ll never have to throw out this desk calendar at the end of the year. This stylish calendar/clock combo has a clear display that’s easy to read. Check out the Mondo range here…
Troika CardSaver Wallet
3. Troika CardSaver Wallet $49.95
Troika have used new Cryptalloy technology to create a card wallet with RFID skimming protection for your credit/debit cards. You can keep your cards in this wallet and rest assured that they won’t be skimmed thanks to this clever technology. Oh, and it looks pretty good too! View the Troika range here…
Mondo Calculate
4. Mondo ‘Calculate’ $39.95
Put the fun back into crunching numbers. Every business man (or woman) would appreciate this Japanese-designed calculator – it’s sleek, stylish, and of course functional. Check out the Mondo range here…
Troika World Map Business Card Case
5. Troika World Map Business Card Case $34.95
This shiny steel business card holder is a wonderful gift option for a frequent traveller, and would also look fantastic engraved with their name or initials. 
Troika Grand Prix Paper Clip Holder
6. Troika ‘Grand Prix 1928’ Paper Clip Holder $54.95
‘Grand Prix 1928’ is a stylish homage to vintage racing cars and includes a strong magnet to hold paperclips and a friction motor so dad can also play with this desk accessory. 
 
Staple Free Stapler
7. Staple-Free Stapler $15.95
Connect up to 4 pages together with this environmentally-friendly eco stapler. It’s easy to use, and you’ll never have to worry about running out of staples again. 
Fisher Bullet Space Pen
8. Fisher Bullet Space Pen $69.95
Fisher take ‘creative writing’ to the next level with the Bullet Space Pen, which can write: upside down, underwater, at any angle, in freezing cold, in burning heat, on most smooth surfaces, on coated papers, on photographs, on wet paper, on X-Rays, and of course…in the gravity free vacuum of outer-space! So now you can write wheneverand wherever inspiration strikes!Check out the Fisher Space Pen range here…
Clip Calculator
9. Calculator with Clip $34.95
This is the perfect calculator for people on the move. The Clip Calculator is designed to ‘clip’ over your notebook so it’s always at your fingertips when you’re in a meeting or travelling. 
Troika Fresh Breeze Paper Clip Holder
10. Troika ‘Fresh Breeze’ Paper Clip Holder $54.95
Sailing enthusiasts will get a kick out of this neat paperclip holder with asilicone sail that doubles as a pen. It also has a friction motor and comes with five paper clips. 

Handmade Father’s Day gift: Nuts and Bolts Mix

You can’t go past a classic nut mix when it comes to homemade treats for blokes, especially when it looks this tasty…

Handmade ‘Nuts and Bolts’ Mix

Why we love it:
  • Who doesn’t love a nut or nibble mix (unless of course you’re allergic to nuts!)
  • You can customise your mix to suit your recipient, using high-quality products. 
  • This is a thoughtful, yet inexpensive gift. 
  • You can have fun with how you present your mix – in a tin as above, in a basket, bottle, plastic container, etc. Hand-write your own label, create a label on the computer, or get the kids to draw a label. 
What would you include in your ‘mix’ and who would you give it to? We’d love your thoughts – please comment below…

Handmade Father’s Day gift: Golf Tee Jar

You’re about to tee for for a round of golf. Clubs? Check. Golf ball? Check. Tee?…Rummaging through your golf bag for a golf tee before you’re about to tee off is frustrating. This handy jar will ensure that dad won’t run out of golf tees for a while…

Golf tees in a jar – a useful, inexpensive gift for Father’s Day

Why we love it:
  • This is a super-useful gift for golfing dads
  • It’s inexpensive – you can easily pick up a pack of golf tees from a sporting shop for very little expense, and the jar is a recycled jam or sauce jar. 
  • You can hand-write your own label, use a Dymo Label-Maker, create one on the computer, or use a swing-tag and tie it around the neck of the bottle with some lovely ribbon or jute twine. 
  • You could choose a selection of different coloured Tees, or write his initials on the top of the Tee so he can easily recognise his Tees. 
  • You can experiment with putting the Tees in other things – little fabric bags, other interesting boxes you can find from craft shops, plastic containers, etc. 

Do you know a man who plays golf who’d love a gift like this?

Handmade gift of the day: Recipe Ring

A good, tried-and-tested recipe is worth its weight in gold.

What better gift could you give to your friends and family than a selection of your favourite recipes?



Why we love it:

  • You can personalize the recipes for your recipient – savoury, sweet, snacks, pasta, curries. In fact, you could compile a different theme for each birthday/gift occasion.
  • You could laminate each card to ensure it lasts
  • It’s small and doesn’t take up much space in your recipe cupboard/kitchen draw. In fact, your recipient could even hang the recipes from a hook in their kitchen.
  • You can gift the recipes with a colour-matched utensil – spatula, tongs, wooden spoon – the brighter the better!
  • It’s easy to replicate – once you have the recipes typed (or scanned) you can print out multiple copies for different recipients and colour-match utensil and card to suit recipient.
  • You can be as creative as you like. Recipes in this picture have been typed up, but you can add images, play with text, etc. The world is your oyster (depending on how much time you have).
  • Why limit yourself to recipes? You could compile a ring with quotes, jokes, tips, anything that will make your recipient smile!

Check out some of our favourite recipes for inspiration, as well as more handmade gifts here

What signature recipes would you include in this recipe ring collection?
We’d love your thoughts – please comment below…

Five gifts to help you think: Top business and office gifts

Mr Gift office gift ideas
Autumn is now upon us and summer holidays are a distant memory, but that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge ourselves (or others) with some nice things for our desk and office.

Why give an office gift?

1. They’re practical – even if your recipient doesn’t work in an office all the time, these gifts are useful at home too.
2. They will brighten your recipient’s day and hopefully make the ‘daily grind’ a little bit more fun.
3. They help keep you organised and motivated – who wouldn’t want to play with numbers on the Hubpad Calculator???
4. They’re versatile – these are great gifts for men and women of any age.
5. They’re easy on the wallet – all of these gifts are under $70.
 

We’re also offering FREE DELIVERY on all orders from now until midnight Monday 9/3/15.  

Use Coupon Code OFFICE in the Coupon Code field when you place your order.  

This offer can’t be used in conjunction with other offers, or redeemed for cash. But please feel free to share with family and friends:)

Here are five of our favourite office/business gifts to give you a bit of inspiration…

Hubpad Calculator
1. Hubpad USB Calculator and Mousepad $29.95
This mousepad-and-calculator in-one means you’ll always have a calculator at your fingertips when you need one. A stylish and practical gift for the person with everything.
 
Troika A5 Leather Notebook
2. Troika A5 Leather Notebook $69.95
This high-quality leather/PU compendium has the following features:

  • Notebook
  • Money Clip (which can be engraved)
  • Five inserts for business cards
  • Elastic band closure

View the Troika range here…

Troika Black Carbon Pen
3. Troika Black Carbon Pen $59.95
An impeccably presented pen that has a subtle carbon fibre pattern and high-gloss finish. A beautiful, timeless gift for clients or colleagues.

View more pens here…

Cyber Clean High-Tech Cleaning Compound
4. Cyber Clean High-Tech Cleaning Compound $7.95
When was the last time you cleaned your computer keyboard, or your phone? This cleaning compound is a safe, effective (and fun) way of cleaning your devices…
 
Troika Magic Card Case
5. Troika Magic Card Case $36.95
I have to confess, it took me a long time to work out how this “magic” card case works. It’s fun to use, a great ice-breaker at business events, and keeps your cash and cards safe. If you’re looking for a unique business card holder, this is the one!

Check out our other Troika business card holders here…
 

SHOP OFFICE GIFTS

Top ten handmade Father’s Day cards

If you haven’t bought a Father’s Day card today it’s not too late to whip one up! You don’t have to be a craft whizz to create a half decent card – here are ten simple ideas that you can try out yourself or with the kids…
 
1. A very sweet handmade card with an owl (owls are very on-trend at the moment!)
 
 
 
2. Love the notepaper background of this card. You could also replace the stars with any shapes, such as hearts. Trace around cookie cutters for a neat shape.
 
 
 
3. A funny handmade card
 
 
 
4. A great card for the DIY dad
 

 
 
5. A simple card with a lovely message
 
Image from www.etsy.com
 
 
6. Felt is great for cutting out cute shapes like this little car. The buttons are also a sweet addition. If you’re not a sewer, you could forget the stitching and glue the shapes.
 
 


7. A lovely pop-up card idea


8. Trace the outline of your kids’ hands for a personalized card

Image from www.dodoburd.com


9. A cute way to use bow-tie shaped (Farfelle) pasta

10. And last, but not least…our favourite card. Who would have thought that chocolates could make such a gorgeous card!

 
 
Image from www.pinterest.com

 

What to write in a Father’s Day card

Do you struggle to find the right words for messages in greeting cards? If so, you’re not alone. Purchasing the gift is often easier than working out what to write in the card, especially if you’re not a sentimental person. Here are a few things to consider when you’re thinking of the perfect message in the card:

– The personality of the recipient – are they fun-loving, serious, sentimental? This will help you decide what type of message you write. A fun-loving person might roll their eyes at a soppy message, whereas a funny message might be lost on a serious person.

– What you’re trying to say – sounds obvious, but what is the main message you’re trying to express? Appreciation and gratitude? Love, or simply a message that will make them smile?

 
Image from www.imgion.com


Top tips:

1. Use a special quote or saying that means something to you both

2. Think of a special moment you’ve enjoyed together previously (this could be from when you were a child, or more recently) and say why you enjoyed this. You could also thank them for something kind they’ve done for you lately.

3. Father’s Day is about taking a moment to give thanks and show appreciation for everything the Dad’s in your life (father, husband, grandad, Godfather) do for you and your family.

4. A Father’s Day card can be sent to any man who has inspired you and had a positive influence in your life.

If you’ve bought your Father’s Day card, but are stuck for words, read on. Here are some of our favourite messages to write in a Father’s Day card – feel free to tweak and customise these as necessary…

To dad, from you:

1. “I’m so proud to call you my Dad. I love you!”

2. “Thanks Dad, for your love and guidance throughout the years.”

3. “Thanks for being there when I needed you – I’m lucky to have you in my life.”


To dad, from the family:

1. “You’re irreplaceable – thanks for being such a special part of our family, we love you.”

2. “We’ve always looked up to you – thanks for setting a positive example for us to follow.”

3. “For all the fun times we’ve shared, and fun the times ahead, here’s to you, Dad.”

 
Image from www.urlbaron.com


To Grandad:

1. “You’re the rock of foundation in our family. Happy Father’s Day, to the world’s best Grandad.”


2. “Happy Father’s Day, Grandad. I hope my grandchildren have fond memories of me, like I
do of you. I treasure the time we’ve spent together.”

3. “Grandad, I’m grateful for all you’ve taught me (even your bad jokes!). You’ve had such a positive, calming influence on my life and I admire the man you are. We love you so much, happy Father’s Day.”

 


To other Father-like figures, i.e. Uncle, Godfather, Mentor, Step-dad, etc.:

1. “We’re thinking of you on Father’s Day and are so grateful for all you’ve done for us.”

2. “To the best Godfather in the world, my parents did well when they chose you – you’re the best man for the job.”

3. “Thanks for the love, support and wisdom you’ve shared over the years. You’ll never know the difference you’ve made in my life”.

To Husband or Partner:

1. “Not only are you the father of our children, you’re the love of my life. Happy Father’s Day to the world’s best dad and husband.”

2. “I’m grateful for every day that we share life, love and parenting together. I couldn’t ask for a better partner and father for our children.”

3. “There’s no one I would rather share our life journey with than you.”

Whatever you say, and however you say it, we wish you and your family a very happy Father’s Day.