Homemade presents are the most precious to moms. When someone takes the effort and care to make something, moms can see that the gift took both thought and time. Making gifts at home can be done by recycling items already in the home and giving them new life, or by making a gift from scratch, using arts and crafts supplies, sewing materials or small wooden objects that can be decorated. Remember to include a homemade greeting card with the present.
Mom Scroll
Write down your mom’s first name. Add some positive words describing her, choosing words that start with the letters of her name. Write her name vertically on a piece of fancy paper or fabric. Write one adjective next to each letter. For a mom named Jane, the first line could read, “J is for joyful,” followed by “A is for apple pie baker.” Continue with the rest of her name. At the bottom or the top write, “Why I love my mom.” Run a line of glue along the top and bottom and roll chopsticks onto the edges. Tie a colorful ribbon at each end of the chopstick on the top for hanging.
Photo Frame
Recycle an old picture frame into a family photo collage. Make color copies of photos and cut out the faces. Glue the images onto the frame and let dry. Embellish the frame with small bows made from ribbons, stray buttons from the sewing kit, and craft sequins or rhinestones. Take a new photo of the family, in secret, and include the new photo in the frame to make a double present for mom.
Handmade Jewelry
Jewelry can be handmade in a number of ways. Toddlers can string large, painted rigatoni pieces on yarn. Preschoolers can use pipe cleaners and beads to make bracelets. Schoolchildren can braid three strands of craft leather and add glass beads. Pendants may be made from small pieces of clay, adding a hole made with a straw, and stringing it up on thick sewing wire. Make the jewelry using mom’s favorite colors.
Key Holder
Paint a small wooden block to look like a house. Paint a second wooden block to look like a car. Glue the blocks together in a row. Screw in a screw hook on the bottom of each block. Glue a picture hanger to the back. Mom has a place to hang her keys. Add to the key hanger each year or holiday by painting another building or block and hanging it up next to the original key hangers.
