Wanna make the dad in your life smile? I got you covered. In this post (and connected video), I’ll walk you through how to make a super cute and doodly Father’s Day card – perfect for the dad (or dad figure!) in your life.
This one’s fun, easy, and packed with personality. Let’s jump right in!
Supplies Used
- A blank card – I just used a piece of watercolor paper and folded it in half. You can use any cardstock, watercolor paper, or even a premade card.
- A ruler
- A pencil
- Fineliner Pens – I used Micron 0.2 and 0.8, but any black pen with a similar tip size will do.
Rather watch than read? Check out the full tutorial by clicking the video below!
Let’s Get Started!
Feel free to improvise with what you have – this card design is super easy – but the supplies listed above are what I used!
And remember: you can also use this design for any occasion – not just Mother’s Day!
Step #1: Sketch Out “DAD” in Big Bubble Letters
Start with some nice big letters that say “DAD” – that’s the main focal point of the card. Use your ruler and pencil to lightly sketch out rough guidelines. (You can also use a laser level if you have one – yes, I’ve got a whole video on that!)
Since it’s a three-letter word, I like to start by sketching the “A” right in the middle, then add the “D”s on either side. I’m going for chunky letters here, so there’s plenty of space inside them for our doodles later.
👉 Tip: If hand-lettering intimidates you, no worries. You can totally print out a font you like and trace it instead!
Once you’re happy with the placement and shapes, clean up your lines a bit – erase any messy bits so only the outline remains. Then, go over it with your thicker pen (I used the 0.8 Micron). Don’t stress if it’s not perfectly centered – we’re trimming the card later to fix that.
Step #2: Plan Your Icons
Now for the fun part: doodling the icons inside the letters!
Before I start drawing, I like to brainstorm. I just grab a scrap piece of paper and jot down things that remind me of my dad. For mine, that looked like:
- Golf
- Hockey
- Woodworking
- Tools
- Mustache (a very specific one)
- Socks and underwear (a classic dad joke gift request!)
Once you’ve got your list, head online and look up some icons – search “golf icon,” “tool icon,” etc. I usually find a few I like and pull them up on my screen for inspo. (Don’t worry – it’s not copyright infringement since we’re just making this for personal use!)
Step #3: Sketch the Icons Inside the Letters
I like to start with pencil for this part, especially if you’re not confident in your doodling skills. You can always go straight to pen if you’re feeling brave, though!
The goal is to fill the letters as much as possible, so try to get each doodle to touch multiple edges of the letter. That makes it look really cohesive and “filled in.” For example, if I’m drawing a hockey stick, I’ll have it run right up against the edge of the D, rather than floating in the middle.
Keep repeating that process – draw, touch the edges, repeat. If you have icons like golf balls, screws, or mustaches, they’re perfect for filling in small gaps. Don’t be afraid to repeat shapes!
Step #4: Outline the Icons in Pen
Once you’ve sketched everything out and you’re happy with it, grab your finer pen (I used the 0.2 Micron) and trace everything. Clean up your lines and add any final details you want.
Then, gently erase all your pencil lines. I use a Palomino Blackwing pencil, which has replaceable erasers – a tiny detail I weirdly love.
Important: Make sure your pen ink is fully dry before erasing, or you risk smudging!
Step #5: Final Touches
Once the icons are all inked and the pencil’s gone, you might notice the outlines of your letters got a bit dull. I like to go back in with the thicker pen and re-outline “DAD” to make it pop.
You could go back and touch up every icon too… but if you’ve been here a while, you know I’m not a perfectionist. (And frankly, neither is my dad – so I think he’ll appreciate the imperfection.)
At this point, I trim the card so the lettering feels more centered. Voilà!
Bonus Idea: No Outline!
Here’s a fun alternate version: Instead of outlining the “DAD” letters first, you could go straight into filling that general shape with doodles only. If you do it densely enough, the letters still stand out – and it looks really artsy. I’ve done that before for a floral Mother’s Day card, and it turned out super cute.
And That’s a Wrap!
This project might take you longer than it did in the tutorial, but trust me – it’s worth it. It’s personal, fun, and totally customizable. Whether your dad is into sports, grilling, dad jokes, or model trains, you can make something that feels very him.
Looking for a version for moms? I’ve got a floral one that follows this same method – check it out too!
I’d love to see your creations too! Be sure to tag me on Instagram!
Looking for more Father’s Day card tutorials? Check out this one!
And finally, your dad joke…
So many of you have asked over the years where I come up with my dad jokes…
It’s finally time I confess the truth… I get them from my Dada-base!
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