It’s time to start thinking about Mother’s Day gifts!
Nothing says “I love you” more than a handmade gift and for moms, receiving one from their children is one of the greatest joys. For au pairs, making DIY Mother’s Day gifts is a great way to encourage creativity as well as teach children about giving and gratitude.
If you are looking for something creative and unique to make with your au pair children, here are five ideas for sentimental handmade gifts.
1. “To the moon and back” cards
Image via preschoolactivites on Instagram
A custom card is a creative way to say “I love you” and is so special for moms to receive! Putting together this card will also be loads of fun for the kids. First, take some photos of the children in climbing poses. Then, use wooden ice cream sticks, which can be bought at any craft store, to make a ladder. Use tissue paper to cut out a moon to be placed above the ladder and use watercolours to create a night sky!
2. Handprint bags, aprons and cushions
Image via Niftymom on Instagram
Let the kids put their adorable handprints and footprints to use by making a cute DIY tote bag, apron or throw cushion case for Mom. Use any sort of canvas material, some colourful fabric paint and get imaginative! Create flowers, sea creatures or fruit.
Tip: order plain white tote bags, aprons or cushion cases at an affordable price on Takealot!
3. Handprint jewellery dish
Image via simpleasthatblog.com
Let the kids put their cute handprints to use again by crafting a handprint jewellery dish for mom’s rings and necklaces. Roll out some air-dry clay, which can be bought at most craft stores, into a rectangle shape that is just big enough for the child’s hand. Trace around the hand before cutting out the shape from the clay. Next, mould the handprint into a dish by placing a small bowl upside down and gently laying the hand over the bottom of the bowl, to take on this bowl shape. Once the clay has completely hardened, it’s time to paint the dish!
These sweet little dishes are guaranteed to melt any mom’s heart!
4. Mason jar lantern
Image via masonjarcraftslove.com
Make Mom a colourful mason jar lantern! Get the kids to tear up pieces of colourful tissue paper – or cut them into shapes! Paint a layer of Mod Podge over a clean jar before sticking the tissue paper all over the wet area. Cover the entire jar in tissue paper, creating overlaps too. Once the entire jar is covered, coat the tissue paper in a thin layer of Mod Podge and let it dry completely. Final touches: ribbon, stickers and glitter glue. Finally, use a candle or fairy lights to illuminate!
5. DIY marble dipped mugs
Image via domesticfashionista.com
These marble mugs are super unique and only take minutes to make! Fill a bowl with water and add a few drops of nail polish, whichever colour the kids chose. The nail polish can be poured right into the middle or in a swirl motion for another effect. Holding the rim of a white ceramic mug, dunk it into the bowl of water and once you pull it out, there will be a marbled pattern of colour! Repeat this process with other colours. Finally, let the mugs dry on a piece of paper towel, upside down.