With Mother’s Day Fast Approaching, Check Out These Cute and Simple DIY Projects Perfect for Mom!

Ah, Mother’s Day…the one day of the year where we finally show our undying gratitude for the wonderful women who birthed us. It’s a time-honored tradition to present these lovely ladies with handcrafted gifts from the heart (I mean, let’s get serious, they love getting gifts made by their kids…even when said kids are in their 20′s, 30′s, and so on), so why not save some cash this year and make mom (or your wife/friend/sister/mother-in-law) some grown-up DIY awesomeness?

I’ve found a plethora of super cute stuff to make for mom, but if I posted them all, this blog would be entirely dedicated to Mother’s Day DIY. With that being said, here are some of my favorite (and inexpensive) projects to show mom how much you care this year.

1) Fabric Panel Wall Art

We’ve all seen things like this at pretty much any store that sells home decor. They’re pretty easy to make, they’re a nice way to spice up a room, and, you can make them really personal by using your mom’s favorite colors, patterns, and embellishments!

What you’ll need:

Pretty fabric (try scrap bins at fabric stores, craft stores, or your own scrap fabric might come in handy too!)

A picture frame(s) – Any size works, and I suggest doing a few different one’s…the more Mother’s Day gifts, the better, right?

A needle, thread, and scissors

Things to add some flare, i.e. buttons, beads, embroidery floss, sequins, rhinestones, old jewelry, etc.

Directions:

Choose the part of the fabric you’d like to use

Measure said fabric so that it’s 2 inches larger than the measurements of the frame in both height and width

Decorate your fabric using the buttons, beads, etc. that you’ve compiled by sewing (or, in some cases, if necessary, gluing) them onto the fabric. Play around with it! Try using the buttons, embroider a cute pattern, outline with it, add French knots with it…enjoy yourself! After all, this is the fun part ladies and gents!

Once you’ve finished adding your own personal touches, remove the glass and the backing from your picture frame

Flip your fabric so that the downside is facing you and place your now empty frame on top

Fold your extra fabric over the frame making sure that the fabric is taut

Replace the back of the frame to secure the fabric

Give to mom!

2) Bath Bombs

Who doesn’t love bath bombs? They’re a fun, relaxing additive to any bath session, and they’re surprisingly easy to make as well.

What you’ll need:

4 ounces of baking soda

2 ounces of citric acid

2 ounces of corn starch

2 ounces of Epsom salt

2 teaspoons of water

1/2 teaspoon of fragrance (I like to do Lavender for my mom to help her relax)

1 tablespoon oil (I suggest coconut as it smells nice)

1 to 2 drops of food coloring of your choice

Something to use as a mold (I’ve done it with my sugar skull molds and also plastic Easter eggs, etc.)

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients into a large bowl and set aside

Add the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl and mix

Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients one teaspoon at a time

At this point, your mixture should be damp, but able to hold form when you pinch it (if it’s not, add more wet mixture little by little until it’s the right consistency)

Pack your mold until it’s full and let dry for 24 hours

Give it to mom!

3) Teacup lights

I found these gem’s on Marthastewart.com and fell in love with them! They’re adorable, cheap, and easier than you’d expect. They’re the perfect gift for a mom with an affinity for a more country cottage-esque taste in decor.

What you’ll need:

Tea cups

Partially burned candles

A candy or candle thermometer

Tongs

New wicking

Wick sustainers

Wooden Skewers

Nested pans

Directions:

In a small pan set over a larger pan of simmering water, melt down old candles

Clip the thermometer to the upper pot, and keep temperature at about 185 degrees

Remove old wicks with tongs

Cut a piece of wicking to 2 inches larger than the height  of the cup

Clamp one end to a wick sustainer and tie the other end around a skewer

Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat them

Remove and stick sustainer to cup’s bottom

Pour in the wax, stopping 1/2 inch below the cup’s rim.

Allow wax to set for about 1 hour

The candle will harden with a well in the center

To even the well out, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16 inch deep around the wick then pour in melted wax until surface is 1/4 inch below rim

Cut the wick

Serve to mom!

4) Sewing Kit in a Jar

This gift is functional and visually pleasing at the same time. Mom can use it to assist in her sewing projects, or just as a cute decoration that highlights her love of all things crafty, and, again, comes from the wonderful world of Martha Stewart.

What you’ll need:

A mason jar

Fabric

Cardboard

A compass

Batting or stuffing

A hot glue gun

Sewing goodies to fill the jar with

Directions:

Separate the lid’s sealer and screw cap

Trace around sealer on cardboard

Using your compass, draw another circle on linen or cotton, making sure that it’s 1 inch larger in diameter than the first

Cut out both circles

Make the cushion by placing batting between fabric and cardboard

Turn the screw cap upside down, and apply hot glue to the inside edge of rim, quickly pressing cushion into lid until the cloth protrudes smoothly above the screw cap’s opening, and the cardboard is flush against rim

Apply hot glue around the edge of the cardboard, fold over excess fabric, and press down

Glue the top of the sealer to cardboard

Fill the jar with goodies and give to mom!

Again, majority of these are spectacularly cheap and simple, which is what us procrastinators need when it comes to last-minute gifts for mom on her special day! Hope you guys have fun with these!

XXOOXX

Ashley

---