Creatively Simple Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
We all agree that our moms
are marvellous. We don’t need prompts from the greeting card
industry to remind us of that. The dilemma is how to make
them feel marvellous without buying into all the hype
surrounding Mom’s special day. Several years ago before I
became a mother myself, I wanted to get the inside scoop on
what moms really want for Mother’s Day. What brings them
happiness? What makes them feel appreciated? To do this, I
asked several women I knew to tell me about the inexpensive,
yet meaningful gifts that they have either received or would
love to receive themselves, or that they have given their
own mothers in the past.
Below are just a few of the ideas I gathered from my little
fact-finding mission. As you look over the list, remember
that most of these ideas are adaptable and can be used for
the fabulous fathers or the grand grandparents on your gift
list as well.
* Children’s Artwork – What mom doesn’t love the gifts her
children make for her? Children’s drawings, paintings or
poems all become extra special when placed in an attractive
frame.
* A Hobby Basket – What does your mom do for fun? Create a
gift basket using her hobby as a theme. For example, if she
loves to play sports, create a gift basket with a new water
bottle, a book on fitness, and several new pairs of athletic
socks.
* Roses – Most women love roses, right? Rather than giving
her a bouquet that she can only enjoy for a few days, give
her a rose bush that will bloom for years to come. If you
want, include an IOU good for a few hours of gardening time
to help her plant your gift in her flower garden.
* Handprints or Footprints – Use her children’s hands or
feet to make a memorable gift. The impression of a child’s
hand or foot can be pressed into modeling clay to make a
wall hanging or quick drying cement to make a garden
stepping stone. You can also coat the palm of the child’s
hand or the sole of his foot with washable ink or paint.
Then stamp the print onto cardstock to create a keepsake
suitable for framing.
* A "Thanks, Mom" Book – On each page of a blank journal,
write a message of thanks such as, "Thank you for always
encouraging me," or something about your mom for which you
are thankful like, "I am thankful that you taught me the
value of hard work." Include a note that instructs Mom to
reread this book often to remind her of how much she is
loved and appreciated.
* A Personalized Apron or Tote Bag – Use fabric paint or
iron-on transfers for your inkjet printer to create an apron
that is just Mom’s style. Decorate the apron with transfers
of family photos or use stencils to paint on your
decorations.
* Chocolate Fantasy – Is Mom a chocolate fanatic? Fill a
gift basket with several varieties of homemade cookies,
candy and muffins in her favorite flavor. If Mom loves
sweets but is concerned about her weight, use recipes for
special goodies that are low in fat and sugar.
Any of these low-cost, high-value gift ideas are sure to
bring a smile to the face of the special mom in your life.
Or, if you are a mother who thinks your family may need a
little help with Mother’s Day gift giving, you have my
permission to make several copies of this list and leave
them in conspicuous places around the house!
Nancy Twigg
BYLINE: Adapted from Nancy Twigg’s book,
Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful
Holidays and Special Occasions (www.celebratesimply.com)
Nancy is a speaker and author who loves inspiring others to
live more simply. Visit Nancy online at
www.countingthecost.com