We all know the classic gifts for Mom, like flowers or a new piece of jewelry, and while there is absolutely nothing wrong with either of these, what if you’re on a budget? Or you don’t have time to visit the jewelry store? Or you want to do something different?
Don’t count out the meaning and nostalgia that can be wrapped inside easy DIY crafts or keepsakes. These are the things a mom will truly cherish, no matter how old the child is.
If you need some fresh ideas on handmade gifts for Mom, consider these:
1. Handmade Jewelry
You might not have the money to buy a giant diamond necklace, but a flashy piece of jewelry can’t compare to the thoughtfulness and sweetness when a child makes personalized jewelry for Mom.
Whether it’s a simple beaded bracelet or hand-painted earrings, homemade jewelry gives a child space to use their creativity to showcase what Mom means to them.
A few fun ideas include wooden pendants that the kids can paint and string on a necklace. Another is gathering costume birthstone jewels to represent the family’s birthdays and create a bracelet.
If you don’t have time for the kiddos to make jewelry, there are plenty of crafters who can make monogrammed, customized jewelry with the kids’ names for a reasonable price. Use an opportunity like this to shop local and/or support a small business!
2. Jewelry Dish
Does Mom already have loads of jewelry with nowhere to put it? Does she usually take off her rings while she’s cooking or baking? Grab some clay and make a jewelry dish for her. Use cookie cutters for fun shapes, and then decorate the dish once it’s 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 cheapest). Grab some cardstock and have everyone take turns writing “I love you” on the paper. (It looks best to write each “I love you” in a vertical style down the middle of the page.
Then, grab a frame, either a 4x6 or 5x7, and frame the cardstock.
Bonus points if you grab a blank wooden picture frame from your local craft store and let the kiddos decorate it!
4. Handprint Flowerpot
Does Mom love plants? Purchase a basic terracotta pot from your local plant shop or Home Depot/Lowes and let the kids decorate it.
The only extras you need for this gift are flowers or plants that you want to add. Or, better yet, as part of the gift, include a plant date where everyone treats Mom and lets her visit the plant shop to pick out what she wants to go in her flower pot!
(One of my all-time favorite memories with my oldest son is when we went to my favorite plant shop together and held my hand for the first time! His little one-year-old self melted my heart that day, and I’m so grateful for that sweet memory that I get to recall every time I visit the plant store.)
5. Hand-painted Kitchen Utensils
If Mom loves to cook and/or bake, purchase 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 ensure the paint and/or decorations don’t fall off!
6. Knitted/Crocheted Coasters
If anyone in your family loves to knit or crochet, make Mom a few coasters for her morning coffee or tea.
Suppose no one is big on knitting or crocheting, no worries! Find a tree with branches the width of a handprint. Have an adult cut down a limb and saw the branch into circular pieces.
Kids can then decorate the wooden coasters for a more rustic design. (Seal these too!)
7. Wooden Picture Block
Grab a blank wooden block and some Mod Podge from Amazon or a local craft store. On standard print paper, print your favorite picture of Mom.
Place the picture on the wooden block and cover it in Mod Podge. Let this dry, and you’re all set!
8. “What’s for Dinner?” Cube
If the Mom in your life is like me, she hates deciding what’s for dinner. It’s a daily stressor 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 give it a roll!
If you’re up for some extra fun, write basic ingredients on each side of the cubes, like pasta, chicken, sour cream, marinara, etc. Have Mom toss them all, then have everyone get creative and brainstorm a recipe using whatever ingredients the die landed on.
This lets everyone cook together to make a sweet, possibly silly memory! (Don’t blame me if the finished product isn’t edible, ha!)
9. Scrapbook
This one might take a bit more time, but crafting a scrapbook for Mom is such a creative, unique gift!
Think of a favorite family vacation you can commemorate, or look back at old photos of all the kids to make a “years gone by” memory book. The options for which events to revisit are endless!
For an extra touch of sweetness, have the kids write Mom a note in the front or back of the book, thanking her for all the adventures and sweet memories.
(Short on time, but like the scrapbook idea? Go with a simple photo album. This way, you capture all the memories without feeling pressured to do a lot of decorating and writing. You can still write that personalized letter at the beginning or end for a special touch.)
10. Favorite Memories Letter
Just like the scrapbook note, a favorite memories letter can go even deeper, sharing with Mom just how much she means to the family.
Trust me, “mom guilt” is real. Most of us tally the ways we do things wrong. So why not gift Mom with a bit of tangible encouragement by writing down all the childhood memories that are most cherished? Grant her physical proof that her efforts for park dates, movie nights, and crafts at home weren’t wasted, let alone forgotten.
Better yet, instead of a letter, you can write her a poem, draw her a picture, or draft a song that encapsulates all the special memories!
11. Thrift Basket
Sometimes, it’s the secondhand gifts that mean the most. Why? Because you have to know what you’re looking for. Thrifting isn’t like perusing a department store where you know there will be plenty of everything.
Thrifting means combing aisles until you see that random thing that screams, “This is totally Mom!” If you’re on a budget or want to challenge your gift-giving abilities, stop by your nearest thrift store and make a basket of Mom’s favorites based on the fun things you find.
Don’t Overthink It
Mom overthinks enough for the whole family, guaranteed. So don’t overthink or stress the perfect gift. Just mix a little creativity with a whole lot of heart, and you’ll give Mom a treasure she will hold onto forever!
Remember, all she wants is sweet memories that remind her that she is seen, treasured, and appreciated! All she wants is your love.
Photo credit: GettyImages/evgenyatamanenko
