Screen-Free(ish) Sundays: 6 Mother’s Day Crafts

Mother’s Day is all about honoring the moms and mom figures in our lives. What better way to delight her than to give her handmade Mother’s Day crafts she will adore?

Whether you decide to pamper Mom with breakfast in bed, shower her with meaningful gifts or end her special day with a delicious, sweet treat — or all the above! — these six simple Mother’s Day ideas can be whipped up after quick trips to the craft store and the grocery store.   

Handprint Jewelry Dish

If you are looking for a Mother’s Day idea for a handmade gift she will love, a handprint jewelry dish is the perfect gift.

What You'll Need:

• Air dry clay
• Rolling pin
• Pencil
• Crafting knife or plastic knife
• Water
• Small bowl
• Cookie cutter
• Pink paint

What You'll Do:

Start by rolling out the clay to three-quarters of an inch with a rolling pin. The thicker the clay, the longer it takes to dry, but it will also be more durable when the dish is done. Trace your child’s hand using a pencil and cut out the handprint. Older kids can use a crafting knife, but younger kids can use a plastic knife.

Smooth out any rough edges on the handprint by dipping your fingers or a cotton swab in water and smoothing the clay. Also, adding a little water to the clay will help reshape or re-attach any part of the handprint.  

Next, cut out a small heart in the clay using a cookie cutter, and place the heart inside the palm of the handprint. Then lay the handprint over a bowl to dry. Gently smooth and round the fingers around the outside of the bowl to give the handprint the dish shape. 

The clay will take around 24 to 48 hours to dry. Finish by giving the heart a fun pop of color by painting it pink (or any other color that might be your mom’s favorite). Now kids can give mom “a hand” when she needs a place to store her jewelry or other small items.

Flowers That Gradually Change Color

Mother’s Day activities that double as cool science experiments are fun for the whole family. While flowers are a lovely gift for Mom, kids can give a regular bouquet of flowers a colorful upgrade with just a few items.

What You'll Need:

• Bouquet of white flowers (roses, carnations and daisies are great options)
• Several glass jars
• Food coloring
• Water
• Ribbon

What You'll Do:

Start by splitting the bouquet of white flowers into several smaller bunches. Fill the jars with water and add 5 to 10 drops of food coloring to each jar. Arrange the smaller bunches of flowers in the colored water in each of the jars. Wrap a ribbon around the jars and give Mom the flowers. 

Over the next few days, she will get to see her white flowers transform into all her favorite colors before her eyes. 

Muffins for Mom

This Mother’s Day, treat Mom to breakfast in bed and make her some delicious heart-shaped muffins. 

What You'll Need:

• Boxed muffin mix
• Strawberries
• Cupcake liners
• Muffin pan
• Aluminum foil

What You'll Do:

Start by following the directions on the box to make the muffin batter. Chop up strawberries and add to the batter. Place cupcake liners in each of the muffin pan cups. Next, rip up pieces of aluminum foil and roll into balls. You will need one big and two small balls for each muffin. The biggest should be about the size of a dime. 

Place the large ball at the top of each muffin pan cup in a spot between the cupcake liner and the side of the muffin pan. This creates the top of the heart. Place the two smaller balls on either side of the bottom to finish the heart. 

Fill each cup two-thirds full of batter and bake according to the directions on the box. When the heart muffins have cooled, place the muffins on a tray with some coffee or tea and serve mom a breakfast in bed that was clearly made with love.

Heart Thumbprint Lantern

Mother’s Day crafts that Mom can use every day are the best. With a little paint and a little thumbprint, kids can give mom an adorable lantern that shows off a piece of their heart.

What You'll Need:

• Mason jar
• Assorted colors of craft paint
• Sponge brush
• Paper plate
• Battery-powered tea light

What You'll Do:

Start by painting the outside of the jar in one color (a second coat might be necessary) and wait for the paint to dry completely. 

To make the heart thumbprints, pour a small amount of the second color of paint onto a paper plate. Have your child dip their thumb into the paint. Then at an angle, make a thumbprint on the jar. Dip their thumb again in the paint and on the reverse angle, make another thumbprint to complete the heart.

Cover the jar with lots of thumbprint hearts and, when the jar is dry, drop in a battery-powered candle to make a soft glowing lantern. Use the lantern as a centerpiece on Mother’s Day or all year long to brighten Mom’s day. 

Donut and Fruit Kabobs

After your Mother’s Day festivities wind down, make Mom a sweet treat to end the day. These cute doughnut and fruit kabobs are an easy and delicious way for kids to spoil Mom.

What You'll Need:

• Donut holes
• Strawberries
• Pineapple chunks
• Grapes
• Blackberries 
• Blueberries
• Melted Chocolate
• Sprinkles
• Paper straws

What You'll Do:

Start building the kabobs by sliding the doughnut holes and fruit onto the straws. Then drizzle melted chocolate over the kabobs and top with sprinkles. Place all the kabobs on a plate, and make sure Mom gets to enjoy her sweet treat first.