Life

18 Creative Father's Day Gifts

Your dad will love anything you get him, but he might appreciate a little more creativity when gifts are concerned — and thankfully, there are more than plenty creative Father's Day gifts to get your dad for his big day on June 19 than something you randomly grabbed from the hardware store. If your dad has always shrugged off the wrench sets of the past, you know that his gift this year needs to be slightly more innovative, and a lot more fun.

Creative dads are a blessing to have. There's a good chance that your dad really pushed the arts on you — whether it be listening to rock and roll music of the '60s and '70s while growing up, or simply putting together a puzzle on a rainy Saturday afternoon. He likes to think outside the box, and probably has a pretty decent sense of humor. Your dad always thought of a thoughtful and different approach to problem solving, and this likely shaped you as a person as well. And most importantly, he didn't immediately scoff at your liberal arts degree — in fact, he probably said something like, "I wish I was bold enough to follow my own individual interests as well, instead of focusing solely on a future career." Dads who appreciate things outside of the norm should be celebrated every day.

Here are a few ideas for a creative Father's Day gift that he'll truly cherish.

1. Zoku Iced Coffee Mug

It's hot out. And if your dad loves caffeine, yet doesn't like carrying around a big, ice-filled coffee drink, this little gadget will help him make some iced coffee in a flash. All he needs to do is freeze the inner portion overnight — once he pours a regular cup of coffee inside the chilled section, he'll have delicious, non-watered-down iced coffee in seconds.

Zoku Iced Coffee Maker, Williams-Sonoma, $29.95

2. Castile Soap

It might feel odd to gift your dad soap, but this is a creative gift he'll totally be charmed by. Castile soap works wonders. You can use it on almost everything — including your own body. There are few products he can use on both his face during a shave, and his kitchen floor. TriNova offers up a big bottle of it for all of his many needs.

Castile Soap, TriNova, $17.97

3. Hot Sauce Kit

A creative dad likes to step up his meals a little bit, and this set of four cajun hot sauces will be the perfect way he can experiment a little. Since it's Zombie cajun sauce, it'll be an even bigger hit if he happens to be a huge fan of The Walking Dead. This kit includes garlic, jalapeno, habanero, and cayenne pepper-flavored sauces.

Zombie Cajun Hot Sauce Gift Set, Amazon, $28.95

4. Three Jerks Jerky

These jerks had a segment on Shark Tank, so if your dad is a fan of watching investments being made, he might already be familiar with the brand. But more importantly, the jerky is seriously delicious. This stuff doesn't contain any preservatives, and comes in five different flavors. It's a must-have for any jerky fan.

Three Jerks Jerky, Three Bags for $30 or Six Bags for $57.50

5. Chocolate-Dipped Potato Chips

Since we're on the topic of food, let's discuss snacks. If your dad likes to combine sweet and salty, he'll definitely find the chocolate-dipped potato chip to be both a creative, and delicious, gift. These might be fun to try and make yourself, but if you're not a super handy baker, you can pick some up at Natasha's Just Brittle — hers even include a brittle topping to make it even more yummy.

Chocolate-Dipped Potato Chips, Natasha's Just Brittle, $10.99-$19.99

6. Personalized Pint Glass

Perfect for beer, tea, or maybe a fancy drink — these engraved 16 oz. glasses add a special touch to average glassware.

Personalized Pint Glass, Glass With A Twist, $16.95 for one glass, prices vary for larger orders

7. Wooden Phone Case

If you're not familiar with a company called Carved, you should be — they make absolutely stunning wooden cases and skins for your phone by hand. There are so many designs you can choose from, and your dad is sure to love both the craftsmanship, and the fact that his phone stands out from the crowd. Above is my personal favorite, the Black Limba Bicycle design.

Wood Case, Carved, prices vary by design

8. Lambskin Driving Gloves

Driving gloves are cool. And there's a chance that your dad doesn't have a pair, and likely wouldn't think of buying them for himself. These Fratelli Orsini Everyday gloves from Leather Gloves Online are best-sellers, and come in two colors, black and brown.

Men's Italian Lambskin Driving Gloves, Leather Gloves Online, $56.95

9. Indoor Flying Helicopter

Who said that kids were the only ones allowed to have toys? This neat little helicopter from Syma is one of the smallest, lightest RC helicopters around, and will surely bring a smile to his face.

Syma S107/S107G R/C Helicopter, Amazon, $14.99

10. American Giant Hoodie

Many sites have hailed American Giant for having superior, made-in-America hoodies. And you know what? They're right. Your dad has probably got a casual style, and a well-made hoodie would be the perfect addition to his wardrobe. It has a modern fit, and it's available in a bunch of different colors.

Classic Full Zip Hoodie, American Giant, $89.00

11. Herschel Supply Backpack

Backpacks aren't just for campers and students. If your dad has a creative job, like an artist or a DJ (please tell me his name is "DJ Dad," if that's the case) he'll need a fashionable yet functional way to tote his supplies around. They're absolutely perfect for transporting laptops, as well.

Retreat Backpack, Herschel Supply, $79.99

12. Pen Holder

Whether it's for his work office, or his creative workspace back at home, he's sure to love this pen set from ThinkGeek. Not only is it cute, but it's a nice reminder that the pen truly is mightier than the sword. Based on how fun it is, he'll never lose his pen ever again.

Executive Knight Pen Holder, ThinkGeek, $24.99

13. Cribbage Board

If your dad likes playing cribbage (or really wants to learn) this gorgeous board available at UncommonGoods might make an amazing present. Even better, it can be personalized with his ultimate favorite lake. If he likes games, and the outdoors, this gift will be a home run.

Custom Lake Art Cribbage Board, UncommonGoods, $59.00

14. Cornhole Boards

Again, let's go with a theme here. If cribbage isn't your dad's thing, perhaps a fun round of cornhole is. Cornhole is pretty much also known as "bean bag toss," if you've never heard of it before, and it's quite the popular lawn game. With these boards in his backyard, he'll be the star of the neighborhood during the next family cookout. You can buy just the boards, or include a few essential accessories with your purchase.

Non Painted Cornhole Boards, RusticRoadDesignsInc on Etsy, $54-$84

15. Bamboo Watch

Your dad likes his watches to be a little quirky. And that's why this natural bamboo watch will be a big hit. This lightweight watch is handmade, and features cowhide leather.

Wooden Watch Made with Natural Bamboo, Amazon, $19.69

16. Fun Stapler

It's about time that he added a little color to his work desk. You probably didn't think stapling could be fun, but the team over at Plastica really wants to prove you wrong. Their stapler is lightweight and durable, and makes the art of stapling even simpler.

Zenith FUN Staplers, Plastica, $45.00

17. Motion Marble Kit

This gift is fun, since he'll be able to put it together himself. It's also solar-powered, and will keep on trucking until it's dark. The motion marble kit would be perfect as a desk accessory (since it does work indoors as well) or as a fun little piece to put outside on the patio. Looking at it is pretty similar to a zen garden, in a way. You might not be able to look away.

Solarbotics Perpetual Motion Marble Kit, ThinkGeek, $34.99

18. iPhone Docking Station

This plywood stand will really make his cellphone stand out, and help him solve the question of "Where did I put my phone?" This stand is available in a few different stains, and will be a gorgeous addition to his home or office. It can even be personalized.

Docking Station, tangram77/Etsy, prices starting at $36