Celebrating Moms

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Little Hands Make Fond Memories

This gift is sure to become one of Mom's favorite treasures. Take a sheet of construction paper and fold it in half to make a card. Make a handprint by brushing poster paint on the underside of your child's hand, then press your little one's hand (fingers spread apart) onto the paper. On the inside of this card, encourage your youngster to use crayons and draw pictures. Your helper can copy or type a poem, cut out pictures from a magazine, or create a special piece of art to glue on the inside. Finish by labeling the card with your child's name and the date. This project is a lovely one to repeat each year as a Mother's Day tradition. Mom will enjoy seeing her child's growth and will cherish these cards forever.

A Gift of Chores

What mother doesn't wish for a little help around the house? Teens and tweens can put their own spin on this gift idea, or you can help younger kids create "chore flowers" for Mom to redeem whenever she needs a helping hand. Collect five or six craft or Popsicle sticks (if you use Popsicle sticks, make sure to first clean them thoroughly). Help your child write a chore on each stick with a fine-tip marker. You can include such offerings as, "I will put away all my toys," "I will help you empty the trash," "I will sing you a song," and so on.

Next, cut several paper flowers from colorful construction paper and glue one to the top of each stick. Make a flowerpot for your flower by putting a ball of clay in the bottom of a paper cup. Insert the stick into the clay and adjust the stick until it stands upright (you may need to add clay after you've inserted your flower to help stabilize it). You can also write a little poem or message on an additional piece of paper and attach it to the cup with a ribbon. (Punch a hole into the paper and a hole into the cup—thread the ribbon and tie a bow).

Mother's Day Scrapbook Page

Memorable pictures, colorful paper, and a few magazines are all you will need for your child to make this scrapbook page Mom will keep forever. Choose a sheet of scrapbook paper (or construction paper) for the background of your collage. Cut out the letters M-O-M from the paper and glue the letters onto your background. You can make copies of your favorite pictures of Mom (or pictures of you with Mom) and then use decorative scissors to cut the pictures into various shapes. Arrange your photos on the scrapbook page. Then, look through old magazines and cut out words that describe your mother and the things she likes to do. Arrange and glue these words on your page with Mom's pictures. Present this finished scrapbook page to Mom on Mother's Day for her to add to her scrapbook collection or to inspire her to start this hobby.

For tons of info on scrapbooking, visit Two Peas in a Bucket.

Clothespin Trivet

This unique trivet will remind Mom of your love every time she steps into the kitchen. You will need 12 clothespins (the hinged kind, not the old-fashioned kind cut from one piece of wood) for this project. Discard the metal hinges on each clothespin and glue each of the two remaining clothespin pieces together (the flat sides of the wood facing one another). Let these dry thoroughly.

To make the base, cut a round piece of heavy cardboard (two inches in diameter), then glue the assembled clothespins sticks around the circular base (equally spaced apart) to form a "starburst" trivet. (For a more permanent project, use carpenter's glue or a glue gun, but only with adult supervision.) Older children might like to stain, varnish, or paint the wood pieces before giving this gift to Mom (again, only with the supervision of an adult).

Shell Post-It Note Holder

This attractive note holder is perfect for a busy mom! You will need 15 craft sticks, glue, small seashells, and a Post-It notepad. First, lay two sticks down on a hard surface. Arrange the two sticks vertically and parallel to one another, put some glue along the length of each stick. Then, glue three craft sticks horizontally, with sides touching, at the top of the two vertical sticks. Make sure the width in between your sticks is large enough to fit the Post-It note pad. Leave a gap the width of one craft stick and glue seven more sticks horizontally. Let them dry. Turn the holder over (so the back is now facing you) and glue three more sticks to the top, facing up. Let these dry again. Decorate the top front of the note holder with shells. Slip the back of an adhesive note pad through the opening. If you would like to hang this note pad on the refrigerator, just stick magnetic tape across the back, along the top sticks.

Recipe Holder

Here's a gift to help Mom in the kitchen. Purchase a small plastic plant pot and decorate it with a variety of stickers. Mix up a batch of plaster of Paris (with parental supervision; follow the directions on the bag or box) and fill each pot three-quarters full. Let the pot stand for moment, until the plaster begins to set, then insert a plastic fork (stick the handle in the plaster, tines pointing up). You could also add sprigs of silk flowers while the plaster is still wet. Let the plaster dry thoroughly. Put Mom's favorite recipe card in the fork.