Taking the family with him
Dads tend to get socks, a mug or a bottle for Father's Day – all well meant, none especially memorable. Father's Day cufflinks give him something he'll put on for the big occasions: a friend's wedding, an awards dinner, a job interview, a christening. His children are right there on his wrists, and every time he glances down, there they are.
They work from little ones with a parent's help, from teenagers, and from grown-up children buying for a dad who is hard to shop for. They're also a thoughtful present for a new dad's very first Father's Day.
Design ideas, by the age of the kids
Babies and toddlers. A close-up of a sleeping face, a tiny hand wrapped round his finger, or a footprint pressed onto paper with poster paint.
Primary school age. Their drawing of Dad – the one with enormous hands and a very small head – or their name written in careful capitals.
Teenagers. A photo they'd agree to be seen in, which admittedly is the tricky part: the two of them at a match, or a shot from the summer holiday.
Grown-up children. An old photo of him with them when they were small, or a newer one with the grandchildren on his lap.
Stepdads and father figures. A photo from a day out that became a family favourite, or the children's signatures together on one sheet – a gentle way of saying he's part of the story, whatever the paperwork says.
Getting a drawing from the fridge onto a cufflink
Children's artwork looks fantastic printed small, but it needs to be captured well. Put the drawing on a flat surface near a window, in daylight rather than under a lamp, and hold your phone directly above it so the paper isn't skewed. Watch for shadows from your hand or the phone itself. Then crop close to the drawing.
A few tips before they start drawing: thick felt pens or crayons show up much better than pencil; a simple subject such as a face, a heart or the family dog works better than a whole busy scene; and a plain white background keeps the picture clear.
If you're using a photo instead, pick one where a child's face fills most of the frame, and use the original from your phone rather than a version that's been sent through a messaging app.
Keeping it a surprise from Dad
The trickiest part of Father's Day cufflinks is often getting the drawing done without him noticing. Turn it into an activity while he's out – at work, at football, doing the big shop – and hide the finished picture somewhere he won't look, such as inside a school reading folder. Photograph it straight away, so a spilt drink or an overenthusiastic sibling can't ruin it before you've uploaded.
Older children can be trusted with more of the job: let them choose the photo, try it on the live preview and decide how it's cropped. It becomes their present rather than yours, and they'll be quietly proud each time he wears it.
From each child, or one from all of them
If there's one dad and one design, a single pair of Father's Day cufflinks is £40 with shipping included. Some families like to go further: each child choosing their own design for Dad, or pairs for Dad, Grandad and a favourite uncle. From five pairs, the price is £15 a pair plus £5 shipping per order, so five pairs come to £80, and each can have a different design in the same basket.
Three steps to his pair
- Upload the photo, drawing or scan.
- Look at the live preview on both cufflinks, dragging and zooming until it's framed well.
- Order through the secure checkout.
We make every pair in our workshop in Cornwall, drawing on 17 years of making personalised gifts, and each arrives in a gift box – ready for the kids to hand over with breakfast in bed on Father's Day.