We’re all familiar with the classic gifts for mom, like flowers or a new piece of jewelry, and while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with either, what if you’re on a budget? Or you don’t have time to visit the jewelry store? Or do you want to do something different?
Don’t count out the meaning and nostalgia that can be wrapped up in easy DIY crafts or keepsakes. These are the things a mom will truly cherish, no matter how old her child is.
If you need some new handmade gift ideas for mom, consider these:
1. Handmade Jewelry
You may not have the money to buy a giant diamond necklace, but a flashy piece of jewelry can’t compare to the thoughtfulness and sweetness of a child making personalized jewelry for mom.
Whether it’s a simple beaded bracelet or hand-painted earrings, homemade jewelry gives the child the space to use their creativity and show what mom means to them.
Some fun ideas include wooden pendants that kids can paint and string on a necklace. Another is to gather birthstone costume jewelry to represent family birthdays and create a bracelet.
If you don’t have time to let the kids make jewelry, there are many artisans who can make monogrammed and personalized jewelry with the children’s names at a reasonable price. Take advantage of an opportunity like this to shop locally and/or support a small business!
2. Jewelry dish
Does mom already have lots of jewelry and don’t know where to put them? Does she usually take off her rings while cooking or baking? Take some clay and make a jewelry dish for it. Use cookie cutters to create fun shapes, then decorate the dish once dry.
Kids can paint the finished project with fingerprints, bedazzle it with rhinestones and more!
3. “I love you” signatures
This is one of my favorites (and also one of the least expensive). Get some card stock and have everyone take turns writing “I love you” on the paper. (It is best to write each “I love you” in a vertical style in the middle of the page.
Next, take a frame, either a 4×6 or a 5×7, and frame the card stock.
Bonus points if you grab a blank wooden picture frame from your local craft store and let the kids decorate it!
4. Handprint Planter
Does mom like plants? Buy a basic terra cotta pot from your local plant store or Home Depot/Lowes and let the kids decorate it.
The only extras you need for this gift are any flowers or plants you want to add. Or, better yet, as part of the gift, include a planting date where everyone treats Mom and lets her visit the plant store to pick out what she wants to put in her flower pot!
(One of my all-time favorite memories with my oldest son is when we went to my favorite plant store together and held my hand for the first time! His little one-year-old self melted my heart that day, and I am so grateful for this sweet memory that I remember every time I visit the plant store.)
5. Hand-painted kitchenware
If mom likes to cook and/or bake, buy some blank wooden kitchen utensils and have everyone decorate them. You can paint or decorate them however you like!
Don’t forget to use a sealant to prevent paint and/or decorations from falling off!
6. Knitted/Crocheted Coasters
If someone in your family likes to knit or crochet, make mom some coasters for her morning coffee or tea.
Suppose no one likes knitting or crochet, don’t worry! Find a tree with branches the width of a handprint. Have an adult cut a branch and saw the branch into circular pieces.
Children can then decorate the wooden coasters for a more rustic design. (Seal them too!)
7. Wooden photo block
Grab a blank wood block and some Mod Podge from Amazon or a local craft store. On standard printing paper, print your favorite photo of Mom.
Place the image on the wood block and cover it with Mod Podge. Let it dry and you’re ready!
8. “What’s for dinner?” Cube
If the mom in your life is like me, she hates deciding what we’re going to have for dinner. It’s a daily stressor that you can eliminate by purchasing blank wooden cubes and writing your family’s favorite recipes on the different sides. When mom doesn’t know what to cook, she can grab a cube and throw it!
If you want to have even more fun, write the basic ingredients on each side of the cubes, like pasta, chicken, sour cream, marinara, etc. Have Mom roll them all, then have everyone get creative and think of a recipe using the ingredients the die landed on.
This allows everyone to cook together to create a sweet, even silly, memory! (Don’t blame me if the finished product isn’t edible, ha!)
9. Scrapbook
This one may take a little more time, but creating a scrapbook for mom is such a creative and unique gift!
Think about your favorite family vacations that you can commemorate, or look at old photos of all the kids to create a memory book of “years gone by.” The options for events to revisit are endless!
For an extra sweet touch, have children write Mom a note on the front or back of the book, thanking her for all the adventures and sweet memories.
(Short on time, but love the idea of scrapbooking? Opt for a simple photo album. That way, you capture all the memories without feeling like you have to do a lot of decorating and writing. You can always write that personalized letter at the beginning or end for a special touch.)
10. Letter from favorite memories
Just like a scrapbook note, a letter of favorite memories can go even further, sharing with mom how much she means to the family.
Trust me, “mommy guilt” is real. Most of us recognize the ways we do things wrong. So why not give mom a little tangible encouragement by writing down all the most precious childhood memories? Give him physical proof that his efforts at park dates, movie nights, and crafts around the house weren’t in vain, much less forgotten.
Better yet, instead of a letter, you can write him a poem, draw him a picture or compose a song that sums up all the special memories!
11. Bargain Basket
Sometimes it’s the second-hand gifts that mean the most. For what? Because you have to know what you’re looking for. Saving money is not like browsing a department store where you know there will be an abundance of everything.
Saving money means browsing the aisles until you see this random thing that screams, “It’s totally mom!” If you’re on a budget or want to challenge your gift-giving skills, stop by your nearest thrift store and create a basket of Mom’s Favorites based on the fun things you find.
Don’t think about it too much
Mom thinks enough for the whole family, guaranteed. So don’t overthink or stress over the perfect gift. Just mix a little creativity with a lot of heart and you’ll give mom a treasure she’ll keep forever!
Remember, all she wants are sweet memories that remind her that she is seen, cherished and appreciated! All she wants is your love.
Photo credit: GettyImages/evgenyatamanenko
