Gift Ideas

Looking for the perfect present for your Mom? Well, look no further... I have put together a list of great gifts that you can easily make. Put on an apron, set up your supplies, and get creative!

Vase

Add a little bit of water to white glue. Cut out fabric pieces with pinking shears or other design scissors. Soak the fabric pieces in the glue and then place them on a small glass bottle (Fairlee carbonated juice bottles are the perfect size). Overlap fabric slightly until the bottle is completely covered. Let dry.

Flowers

Make paper flowers to put in your vase (above). You can cut and paint egg carton cups to make tulips. Layer tissue paper and gather in the center for roses. Cut white petals and then glue then glue them together in a circle adding a yellow circle or pom pom in the center for daisies. Use your imagination and make a beautiful bouquet to place in your vase. Add a green pipecleaner stem and felt leaves for the finishing touch.

Recipe Book

You will need two piece of bristle board slightly larger than index cards and about 10 index cards. Decorate one of the bristle board pieces with food pictures. Let dry. On the index cards, write out the recipes that Mom makes that you like the best. If you don't know where to find the recipe, just write the name and why you like it so much. Punch two holes in the cards and the two pieces of bristle board in EXACTLY the same place on each card. Use a pretty ribbon to lace through the holes and tie in a pretty bow.

Candy Dish

Pour some sand about 2" deep in a bucket large enough to fit your hand. Flatten the sand and make it smooth. Remove any large stones or pebbles that you see. Press your hand into the sand with your fingers spread slightly apart. Mix plaster of paris (available in craft stores and inexpensive... a $5 carton can do about 15 handprints!) according to package directions and pour into your hand mould. Allow to dry completely - I recommend overnight. Gently lift hand and use a toothbrush to remove any sand that may stick to it. Clean gently but thoroughly. Paint the hand. Once dry, shellac. Fill the palm of the hand with Mom's favourite wrapped candies or chocolates.

Picture Frames

This works for a daughter giving a gift to her mother. (Boys, see Father's day) Get a piece of mounting board (available at craft stores for about $1 -$2). You will need either 8 x 10 or 11 x 14 size. Splatter paint the board with two colours (dip a brush in paint and flick the brush in the air and the paint will make neat splatter marks on the board... *NOTE best done outdoors on a large garbage bag and make sure you wear an apron). Let dry. Find a picture of you and your Mom together and either copy or print this poem to go beside it. You can frame the picture and poem on identical pieces of construction paper if you like.

       *Little Eyes Upon You

There are little eyes upon you
and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do.
And a little girl who's dreaming
of the day she'll be like you.

There's a wide-eyed little girl
who believes you're always right.
Her eyes are always open
and she watches day and night.
You are setting an example
every day in all you do,
For the little girl who's waiting
to grow up to be like you.

Love Box & Flowers

Decorate a small box with tissue paper and heart stickers. Add a ribbon and bow to the top of the box and glue the following poem to the bottom.

*This is a very special gift, that you can never see.
The reason it's so special, is it's just for you from me.
Whenever you are lonely or even feeling blue, 
You only have to hold this gift and know I think of you.
This is a very special package, please leave the ribbon tied.
Just hold the box close to your heart, it's filled with love inside.

Tape 2 Hershey kisses together (bottom side) and cover with a square of pink or red celophane paper. Twist the top of a green pipecleaner around the celophane to hold it in place and leave the rest for the stem OR you can use the plastic sticks that they attach balloons to. This provides for a strong "stem" and can be easily decorated by wrapping with green tissue paper or crepe paper. Simply trim the stick to the size that you want and the buds can be easily inserted into the spot where a balloon would go. Add felt or construction paper leaves and present the flowers to Mom on her special day with the Love Box.

Best Cook Apron

You can purchase a fabric apron fairly cheaply (I saw them on sale at Michaels Craft Store for $4.99 each). You will also need fabric paints. Spread the apron out on a flat surface with a paper or plastic bag under to prevent the paint from seeping through. Squirt some fabric paint on a styrofoam plate or tinfoil pan and add a few drops of water to it. Put your hands in the paint making sure it is on evenly. Press your handprints all around the apron. You can use stencils to decorate the apron as well if you wish. When dry, write with fabric paint or with a fabric marker...

BEST COOK IN TOWN... 
HANDS DOWN!

Photo Memo Holder

Use Tacky Glue to glue 11 popsicle sticks side by side - let dry. Add 3 popsicle sticks to the back (one at either side and one in the middle) - let dry. Paint the front of the memo holder colour of your choice and also a wooden heart shape. Cut your photo to fit in the heart wooden shape attach with tacky glue. We added podge on top of the photo to seal and protect it. Use Tacky Glue to attach a small memo pad to the popsicle sticks. Use Tacky Glue to attach the heart photo beside the memo pad. Use the gluegun to attach the pipecleaner above the memo pad. Use the gluegun to attach a pen (we used mini pens) to the end of the pipecleaner. Turn memo holder over and glue a strong magnet to the back using the gluegun. Write a message to Mom on your memopad.

Flower Pot and Flowers

Purchase a small terra cotta flower pot and base. Using acrylic paints, decorate the flower pot. Purchase a plant from the plant store (a small plant will only cost between $1 and $2! Add some extra soil and arrange the plant nicely in your pot. Wrap in cello paper and present to Mom.

Flower Pot and Fun Foam Photo Flower

Purchase a small terra cotta flower pot and base. Using acrylic paints, decorate the flower pot. Use funfoam flower shapes or cut your own petal shape from a sheet of fun foam. Glue 2 of the flower shapes on either side of a green pipecleaner. Create several flowers. Use a matching colour circle from funfoam for the center of each flower except for one that you will place in the front and center of the arrangement. On this flower, you will place a photo of yourself that has been cut into a circle shape. Take a distance photo, and trace the funfoam circle onto the picture for cutting. The photo can be printed on the computer or developed at the store. Wrap in cello paper and present to Mom.

Handprint Butterfly T-shirts

Stamp 4 handprints onto the center of the t-shirt to create the butterfly's wings. Let dry. Add the body and antennae of the butterfly with black fabric paint. Print the poem...

*This isn't just a butterfly
As you can plainly see.
I made it with my hand 
Which is a part of me.
It comes with lots of love
Especially to say
I hope you have a very
Happy Mother's Day!

Place the poem on top of the t-shirt then place in a sheet of white tissue paper, fold nicely, then place in a box for wrapping.

Framed Handprint Butterfly

Printouts

*I found these poems on the internet, but do not know who the authors are... They are beautiful! If you are the author, or know who is, please e-mail me so I can give him/her credit for the poem.