Is there a mother in your life who you'd like to treat even though you're strapped for cash? Or maybe you want to do something more personal and creative than running to the store or the florist? To make Mother’s Day gifts from the heart, try some of the following ideas.
Steps
Gift Ideas
Sample Mother's Day Coupons from Older Kids
Sample Mother's Day Coupons from Younger Kids
Pampering
Lip balm or gloss. Homemade lip balm is a little thing that feels like a big luxury. You can easily customize the flavor and color according to mom’s taste.
How to Make Cocoa Lip Balm
How to Make Flavored Lip Gloss
How to Make Pink Lip Gloss
Perfume. Maybe you already know what her favorite scents are, or you can use aromatherapy to combine scents that you think will ease her most common ailments (stress, headaches, etc).
How to Make Perfume With Essential Oils
How to Make Perfume from Flower Blossoms
How to Make Solid Perfume
Bath salts. If she likes to take luxurious baths, make her your own brand of bath salts. Usually the main ingredient is baking soda or Epsom salt.
How to Make Fizzy Salts
How to Make Jasmine Bath Salts
How to Make Lavender Bath Sachets
How to Make Sandalwood Bath Salts
Lotions and creams. These can be customized using her favorite scents. Consider pairing the lotion with homemade bath salts or a gift certificate for a foot massage.
How to Make Creamy Rose Moisturizer
How to Make Hand and Foot Cream
How to Make Your Own Orange Delight Body Lotion
Home Decor
Candles. If she enjoys the glow of a candlelit room, handcrafted candles are sure to please. Consider pairing them with bath salts or having them lit when you serve her a home-cooked dinner.
How to Make a Scented Candle in a Glass
How to Make Soy Pillar Candles
How to Make Floating Candles
Picture frames. A sentimental mom will always appreciate pictures of the people she loves, especially in a custom frame.
How to Make an Orange Juice Picture Frame
How to Make an Origami Photo Frame
How to Make a Picture Frame out of Eyeglasses
How to Hang a String of Pictures on a Wall
Flowers that never wilt. These are especially great if she likes crafts, scrapbooking, seasonal displays, or simply having bouquets year-round.
How to Make a Carnation from a Plastic Egg Carton or from tissue paper.
How to Make a Kusudama Flower
How to Fold a Paper Rose
Clothes and Accessories
Purses. Many women are purse lovers. Give her a one-of-a-kind! Be sure to choose a fabric, color, or theme that’s tailored to her personality.
How to Make a Denim Purse from an Old Pair of Jeans
How to Make a Purse from a Hardcover Book - For the bookworm mom. Try to find a book at a used bookstore that she'll recognize, or on a topic she's interested in.
How to Make a Purse from a Map - For the mom with a gypsy heart. If you can, use a map of one of her favorite places.
Laptop bag. A working mom who travels with her laptop will surely appreciate this practical and creative gift.
How to Make a Laptop Tote Bag
How to Make a Laptop Bag from Cardboard
Custom t-shirt. Find a t-shirt at a thrift shop in her favorite color or with a logo she likes and give it a unique twist. There are over 20 ways to make it special in How to Modify Your T Shirt.
Jewelry
Rings. These are an easy-to-wear reminder of you. You can incorporate her favorite charms, stones, and metals for a unique, lasting gift.
A wire bow ring can be made with just a few pieces of wire and some pliers.
A charm ring can be customized with things you know she loves or things that remind her of you.
If you want to get more elaborate, you can use pearls, silver, gold, semi-precious stones, resin or polymer clay to create a cluster ring that reflects her personal taste.
Earrings. No mom can have too many of them, plus they’re surprisingly easy to make. Try something below to satisfy an elegant or crafty mom.
Want to get your Mom elegant pearl earrings, but can't afford the ones they sell at the jewelry store? If you're crafty, you can make them instead.
Don't have an old book lying around that you can use to make a purse? Book earrings are another stylish way for Mom to show off her love of books.
Coupons
Massage. Most moms will cash in this coupon sooner rather than later, especially if you learn how to give a proper massage:
How to Do an Indian Head Massage
How to Give a Back Massage
How to Give a Foot Massage
Cleaning your room. If she's always cleaning up after you, give her a coupon...or two...or many...and make them redeemable at any time. And if you haven't done it in a while, read How to Clean Your Room.
Note: A coupon for cleaning anything will probably work, actually!
Food
Breakfast. Start her Mother’s Day on a luxurious note by serving her a hot, delicious breakfast made with love. For an added touch, serve it to her in bed!
How to Make Buttermilk Pancakes
How to Make a Tropical Breakfast
How to Serve a Bagel Breakfast
Dinner. Follow the instructions in How to Cook For Your Girlfriend. Just subtract the romantic aspects if the girl is your mom!
Drinks. What’s breakfast or dinner without something to wash it down? Try one of these hot or cool drinks to satisfy her sweet tooth.
How to Make Hot Chocolate (from Chocolate)
How to Make Coffee Granita - If it's a hot Mother's Day.
How to Make a New York Egg Cream
Dessert. The day isn’t complete without dessert. Try these sweet treats for the sweetest person you know.
How to Make Chocolate Truffles
How to Make Tiramisu
How to Make Burmese Sticky Rice Balls - For a mom with more exotic taste.
Wacky, Miscellaneous Stuff
Recycle socks. Moms will get a laugh out of what you do with those lonely socks that come out of the dryer unpaired.
A sock monkey is an especially cute way to recycle an old pair of socks.
Duct tape crafts. If she's not interested in a classic duct tape wallet, how about a mini skirt? Or cell phone case? Or tote bag?
Write her a poem. It doesn't have to be all sentimental. What about a limerick or a haiku about all the things she does for you?
Ribbon bookmarks. Not that crafty? Still need an idea for your bibliophile Mom? Ribbon bookmarks are so easy to make and so quick that you can make them in one sitting. They are also inexpensive since many discount stores sell ribbon spools for as little as .99 cents each. Customize them with your Mom's favorite colors.
A vase made from a plastic bottle. Most Moms get flowers on mother's day, so this would give her something to put them in. Or, if you're going to see her on Mother's Day, you could always put in some flowers you picked from your garden or bought at the store for a unique twist on the traditional Mother's Day bouquet.
Video
Tips
Work from your heart.
Be creative, moms will prefer homemade gifts rather than bought items because they show your personality.
Make sure that you keep it a surprise, so don't be too obvious or else she'll get suspicious.
Make sure that you find out what kinds of things your mother likes so you don't give her something she won't use/doesn't enjoy.
Any of these gifts are best accompanied with a homemade card.
If she's a self-proclaimed nerd or geek, you must read this.
Related wikiHows
How to Make Sweet Wrapper Flowers
How to Find a Good Gift for Mothers Day
How to Make a Mother's Day Breakfast
How to Make a Thoughtful Gift
How to Make a Special Valentine's Breakfast
How to Get Flowers for Your Mom for Mother's Day
How to Get a Good Gift for Your Mom