PROJECT

Yes, the image of dad as a couch potato (sports on the tube, beer in hand) is a stereotype. After all, there are plenty of TV-addicted moms out there too. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with the idea. Make Dad his own couch potato sack--you can even decorate it with potato stamps you carve yourself--and fill it with the foods he likes best, whether that means Fritos and Bud or foie gras and a fine Bordeaux.

You will need:

1 (18x48-inch) piece of burlap or 1 burlap sack

Needle and heavy-gauge thread or iron-on adhesive tape

1 roll masking tape

1 ruler

1 newspaper

Craft paints in 2 or more colors

1 or 2 potatoes

1 paring knife

1 craft paint brush

Dad’s favorite foods

1 raffia ribbon or other bow

Fold burlap in half to make an 18x24-inch sack shape. Sew up both sides of the sack, using either needle and thread or iron-on adhesive tape (follow tape package instructions). Turn the sack inside out. You can eliminate this step if you have a burlap sack on hand.

Tape off a shield or other desired shape 8 to 9 inches wide and high on the front of the sack with the masking tape, using the ruler as a guide. Place newspaper inside the bag to prevent paint from bleeding through both sides of bag. Paint in the shape and remove the tape when the paint is dry.

Cut one potato in half through the middle. Draw a large “D” on one of the cut surfaces and use the paring knife to cut away around the “D,” leaving the letter shape raised. In the same way, carve out a large “A” shape on the other cut potato surface.

Paint the raised “D” generously with the color of your choice, then stamp the letter onto the painted shield. Use the brush to fill out the letter shape with more paint if needed. Repeat with the “A” and again with the “D” to spell “DAD.” If desired, cut another potato in half and make a stamp in the shape of a star.

Fill bag with Dad’s favorite food.

Tie with raffia.