May 10

May 10 A Maker’s Guide to Mother’s Day

Grain & Weave

*Source: ©Grain&Weave, In-Home Family and Newborn Baby Photography*

Mums keep the world turning – she’s the first person you meet, she sacrifices so much and she’s special in her own way.

So it’s no wonder the dads and kids of Australia have been busying themselves this week in the lead-up to Mother’s Day.

Her breakfast-in-bed menu is already planned and flowers arranged, but what about a suitable gift that says it all?

If you’re still stumped, don’t fret! Instead, consider a handmade gift.

Handcrafted presents are one-of-a-kind keepsakes – just like mum. They are ideal for the woman who has everything and they’re deeply personal, letting mum know just how much she’s loved.

But best of all, handmade gifts provide fun opportunities for families to spend time together without the distractions of life.

“If you’re still stumped, don’t fret! Instead, consider a handmade gift.”

Get Crafting!

If you haven’t quite developed the artisan know-how yet, we’ve curated a list of five easy and kid-friendly projects you can create in no time:

colourful photography — *Source:* *A Pumpkin & A Princess*

Homemade Bath Scrub

Nothing beats the luxurious feel of a fragrant sugar scrub.

You can customise it to suit mum’s favourite aromas and her skin sensitivity, with the added benefit of ensuring it’s cruelty-free, ethically sourced and free of any artificial nasties. Plus, making a scrub is like cooking, so kids can get their hands dirty.

Visit your local health food store or supermarket for ingredients and google recipes.

Otherwise, here’s a good one from A Pumpkin & A Princess.

Tips: The recipe suggests using passion tea, but you can use any herbal tea bags mum prefers, such as rose or peppermint.

Dress up your scrub in a clip-top jar (for similar, try Kmart or Target) with a tag and bow.

2. Clay Key Rings

There’s a new product in town that makes clay craft easy and effortless – air-drying clay!

With very little mess and no need to fire the finished product in a kiln, simply roll the clay flat and get to work on your gift.

Craft key fobs using cookie cutters and clean rubber stamps to make impressions of letters or pictures.

Tips: You can buy air-drying clay and key rings from Bunnings, Officeworks, Spotlight or your local craft store.

This type of clay can dry out quickly. Use a little water to help it remain pliable.

When you’re done, make a hole with a wooden skewer in the top of your work for the key ring. Let the fob dry for at least 24 hours before attaching the ring.

modern photography — *Source:* *Good Housekeeping*

3. Chocolate Bark

What mum doesn’t like a bit of chocolate? And bark is super-easy to make with kids.

Here’s a yummy recipe we found for Mother’s Day bark by Good Housekeeping.

Tip: If you can’t find edible flowers in your garden (such as pansies or nasturtiums), visit the baking aisle at your local supermarket and pick out some different sprinkles, edible glitters and pearls. Go crazy!

Dress up this edible delight by putting the bark shards in a cellophane gift bag and tying it up with a length of ribbon or rustic twine.

natural photography — *Source:* *A Piece of Rainbow*

4. A Terrarium

Flowers are a Mother’s Day favourite, but terrariums are the gift of a living, breathing ecosystem mum can enjoy for years.

Not a gardener? Bunnings has everything you need in one easy place and a helpful tutorial you can watch. A Piece of Rainbow also has a handy tutorial.

Source decorative, keepsake terrariums from mum’s favourite homewares store, or pick up this beauty from Kmart.

Tip: Jars with a lid help to keep up the humidity within the terrarium and stops plants from drying out. With the right humidity balance in the jar, terrariums require very little maintenance.

polaroid photography — *Source:* *Sundaesins*

5. Polaroid Magnets

These days we have tons of images on our phones and, thanks to social media, we rarely find the need to print them. This is why the old-school way is now making a big comeback!

Mum will absolutely adore her favourite family images inside polaroid or gallery magnetic frames on the family fridge.

Go through photos with the kids to choose the best and then let them pick their favourite frames at the store.

Tip: Magnetic frames can be purchased from Kmart, Officeworks and craft stores, but our favourite pick is the Fridge Frames 10-piece Magnetic Set from Big W.