Painted Treasure Box
Customize a small wooden box to hold Mom's special treasures. Grab a purchased wooden box and paint the outside a bright color; let dry. Add embellishments or painted motifs to the top of the box, and carefully paint a sweet message inside. Fill the box with small sweets or some of Mom's favorite things.
Paint-Chip Bookmark
Mom won't lose her place in her favorite book with this easy-to-make bookmark. Head to a hardware or home improvement store and get a sample paint chip in Mom's favorite color . Add a design to the paint chip with a fine-point permanent marker and a crafts-store stencil to give the placeholder a pretty look.
Framed Butterfly Family Tree
Mom will love this spring-theme representation of the people she loves most in this easy-to-make family tree project. Design the layout on a separate sheet of paper, assigning different paper colors to different generations. Punch out two butterflies per family member with a crafts punch, and write their name on the top cutout. Keeping the center body on the top cutout flat, fold the wings up; this will give the butterflies a fluttery look. Glue the bodies of each pair of cutouts together using crafts glue or rubber cement. Place butterflies on a matte board and mark positions lightly with a pencil; glue in place on board. Frame the finished butterfly family tree.
Painted Wine Cork Trivet
The perfect spot to put her Mother's Day flowers is on this easy-to-make trivet created from recycled wine corks. Carefully cut leftover corks in half using a serrated knife, and paint half of the corks with various colors . When the corks are dry, assemble the trivet by hot-gluing the corks together. Start with the center and work your way outward until you've created the size and shape you want for your trivet.
Watercolor-Painted Vases
Add cool color to milky white vases for a sweet, decorative Mother's Day gift . To get the watercolor look, mix glass paint with a few drops of paint thinner, and paint freehand designs on your vase with an acrylic brush.
Editor's Tip: If you can't find white vases, you can make your own by pouring white paint into clear vases -- just make sure they won't be filled with water later! Instead, use them to display bouquets of faux flowers for an equally pretty look.
Simple Mother's Day Flowerpot
Liven up an ordinary pot of flowers for Mom with customized glass planter fillers. Fill a white ceramic pot with the glass pebbles, adding sticker letters to spell "Mother" to six of the pebbles. Arrange the letter pebbles at the front of the flower pot, then insert a few faux hydrangea stems to finish.
Message in a Jar Gift
Get the kids involved with this cute Mother's Day gift -- a simple jar with notes telling her all the reasons she's loved. Have kids write their thoughts, or have them tell you their ideas and you write them down. Roll up the strips of paper and put them in a jar. Tie a bow around the jar for added feminine flair.
Trendy Iron-On Resusable Bag
Reusable fabric totes are a mom's best friend -- upgrade a few into fashion statements for Mother's Day with a pretty iron-on transfer flower pattern. Following the manufacturer's instructions, apply the image or pattern to the transfer paper; iron transfer onto a piece of white cotton fabric. Cut out the image, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance on all sides. Topstitch the sides and bottom of the fabric pocket (perfect for a cell phone or other small accessories) to the bag.
Watch: How to Iron-On Transfer
Learn how easy it is to iron-on transfer any image to fabric with this short how-to video.
Dishes with Child's Artwork
Turn children's drawings into decorative plates . Scan the art and print onto water-transfer paper (available at crafts stores). Trim as closely as you can around the printed image, then place the paper in water until the decal slips easily from the backing. Position the decal on the plate and smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles. When dry, seal the artwork with spray varnish. Mom will cherish them forever.
Editor's Tip: Plates should be for decorative use only.
Inspiring Quote Wall Art
Create a unique piece of artwork for Mom's office with a frame, foam-core board, tissue paper, and cutout letters from scrap paper or recycled magazines. Decoupage pieces of tissue paper around the foam-core board as a border, then glue your letters directly onto the foam-core board. When dry, frame the inspirational artwork.
Chevron Vase for Mom
Add a bit of flair to a colored glass vase with a painted chevron pattern. Use painter's tape to mask off your pattern, then spray-paint the exposed areas of the vase with a lighter version of the vase color. Let dry, then remove the tape to reveal your pattern.
Fill with a bouquet of flowers to add charm to this easy Mother's Day gift .
Handmade Paper Necklaces
Make a fun necklace for Mom from patterned paper, pendant frames, and cords -- these necklaces come together in a pinch, so you can make a set for a Mother's Day gift . Adhere patterned paper or images on photo paper inside the frames. Carefully and slowly cover with dimensional adhesive, making sure there aren't any bubbles. Let dry for several hours, then slip pendants onto (available at jewelry or crafts stores) the cords.
Flowery Fabric Pillow
Purchase a plain pillow and embellish it with funky felt flowers to make a fun, decorative addition to the decor for Mother's Day. Cut simple flower shapes from felt in various colors (choose Mom's favorites or colors that match existing decor), then layer them and sew the centers together to make each flower. Once you have about a dozen flowers, stitch them to the pillow and add dimension by bunching the felt tightly together.
Editor's Tip: Thick, stiff felt works best if you want flowers that won't wilt, but any type of fabric that doesn't fray will work, such as fleece.
Greeting Card Organizer
Give Mom a supply of greeting cards organized by occasion in an accordion file folder (available at office or scrapbooking stores). Dress up the folder with decorative paper cut to size and attached with spray adhesive.
Photo-Embellished Candles
Turn ordinary candles into shining stars with family photos and embellishments. Print photos or digital designs onto tissue paper; cut out. Wrap the candles with the tissue paper, securing with straight pins. A heat gun will melt the wax until it saturates and coats the tissue paper. Secure the flowers to the candle using a brad.
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