Budget-Friendly Mother's Day Ideas

Isn't that an adorable free printable?  Like it? Click here to print your free copy!

Mother's Day is around the corner and, because it falls on a Sunday (when I'm teaching Sunday School), I have a few ideas for cute gifts to do and make with children.  Check them out:

Mug Floral Arrangement #1

I have a new obsession with succulents and cacti.  They are hardy plants that grow slowly and make the PERFECT addition to desktop arrangements!

  

Steps

1. Gather supplies.

- White Mug

- Sharpie markers

- Cactus dirt

- Succulents/cactus plant(s)

2.  Use the permanent markers to color the mugs. Note: permanent markers require close supervision (they ruin clothes, stain floors and can be toxic if placed in the mouth)!

3. Plant the succulent and/or cactus in the mug.

OPTIONAL: Add a tag or make a card with the following quote:

"Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds.  Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends - but only one mother in the whole world." - Kate Douglas Wiggin"

Painted Artwork

Source

1. Gather supplies:

- Frames(Dollar Tree)

- Construction paper(Dollar Tree)

- Markers (Dollar Tree)

- Printer Paper

- Blow dryer

- Paint brushes (Dollar Tree)

- Plastic cups half-full with water

1. Remove the caps from the markers and turn them upside down in the water.  Let the colors leak in to the water to create washable (CHEAP) water color!

2.  Have the children paint a water color for the moms.

3.  When they finish, use the blow dryer to expedite drying.

4. Trace the glass of a frame onto your mat guide piece of construction paper.  Use a ruler to determine how wide you'd like your mat to be.  Cut the square out and set it aside for the mat guide.

5.  Let each child pick a construction paper "mat" for their frame.  Use your guide to cut the center square out of the piece of construction paper.then the glass to trim the edges.

6. In the corner of the mat, write "A custom piece created by: ___" and have the children autograph the mat.

Place the artwork in the frame and VOILA! You're done.

Mug Arrangement #2

1. Gather supplies.

- Mug

- Stickers (garden-themed)

- Floral sponge

- Fresh cut flowers (I purchased the seasonal packs of flowers from Walmart)

- Spanish moss.

2.  Cut the floral foam to fit your mug. Note: the foam should fit tightly in the mug (I prefer to cut a square so the corners can catch the mug's sides).

3. Remove the foam from the mug and soak in water for 20-30 seconds.  Replace the foam in the mug.

4. Cut your flowers the desired length and poke them into the foam.  Use a varied height for visual interest. The kids love to pick the flowers they want and to "style" their arrangements.

5. Cover any visible foam with spanish moss.

6. Let the kids decorate the mug with stickers.

OPTIONAL: Add a tag or make a card with the following quote:

"Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over." -George Cooper

I love the mug Munch made in my Sunday School class when she was 3... It holds supplies on my desk at work :)

Mom & Me (M&M) Gift

I came up with this idea when the Spring collection of M&Ms went on sale after Easter a few years back... I purchased several bags of the pretty colors to create cute little gift bags with pretty ribbons.  I had tags that read, "M&Ms are great but there's nothing like Mom & Me moments!"

Like this idea?

Check out this post for a cute game with children to talk about pleasant memories and things they love about their moms!  I might do this with my mommy just to see what we say :)

>.<

As a mom, I can tell you nice gifts are... nice but it's thoughtful gifts that are... PRICELESS!  Plus, it's always a nice gesture to have something made by the little ones for parents (moms, dads, god, grands, etc.) to cherish.

I'll be back with more ideas next week.  These are just a few to get your FRUGAL Friday started :)

Here's hoping you have a great weekend!