Simple Kid-made Gifts for Mom

What MOM doesn't love a homemade gift from her child? Here are 4 simple fun and keepsake gifts children can make and MOMS will cherish.

Hand-Warming Mug

From : Better Homes and Gardens Web Site.

What You Need:

• Ceramic mug
• Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Surface Conditioner
• Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Paint in colors you like
• Delta Air-Dry PermEnamel Clear Gloss Glaze
• Paintbrushes, including a medium flat and liner

Instructions:

1. Wash the mug with soap and water. Rinse the mug well and let dry.

2. Use the flat brush to apply a coat of conditioner to the outside of the mug. Let the conditioner dry. Do not touch the cleaned and prepared surface.

3. Shake the paint bottle well and squeeze a dime-size dot of paint into the clean palm of your hand. (Ask a grown-up for a helping hand with this.) Use the flat brush to spread the paint, completely covering the entire palm side of your hand. To make a good hand print, the paint should be shiny and thick.

4. Place your paint-covered hand on the mug. To avoid smears, try not to move your fingers. Lift your hand straight up from the mug. Immediately wash your hand.

5. Dip the liner brush in paint and write your name beside the hand print. Let the paint dry completely.

6. When the paint is dry, use the flat brush to apply a coat of clear gloss glaze over the painted surface. Let the glaze dry for one hour and apply a second coat.

7. Be sure to wait 10 days before using and washing the mug, or the paint may come off.

Buyer's Guide:

Delta Technical Coatings (PermaEnamel paint) 2550 Pellissier Pl., Whittier, CA 90601-1505 800/423-4135 www.deltacrafts.com

Mom's Flowers

Paint a colorful planter for your mom's patio garden.

From : Better Homes and Gardens Web Site.

What You Need:

• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Watering can
• Paint markers and puff paint in colors you like
• Pebbles
• Potting soil
• Potted flowers

Instructions:

1. Trace the pattern below for the yellow watering can. Or refer to the photo of the ping watering can opposite and draw your own design. Use the pencil to draw over the back of the traced design. Place the tracing on one side of the watering can and draw over the lines to transfer the design to the watering can.

2. Use paint markers to draw the design on the can; let the paint dry.

3. To add dimension to your design, use puff paints to go over the design and lettering.

4. Let the paint dry. Fill the bottom of the can with pebbles for drainage.

5. Add the potting soil and plant the flowers.

Create an "I love you" jar
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson, mom and daughter, and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, (www.celebrategreen.net) suggest recycling a glass jar to create a gift.

Get a glass jar, about 6.5” tall with a lid. A child can decorate the lid with paper, flowers or anything their mom might like. If she’s a teacher, kids can glue on a pencil stub and an eraser. Kids can tie a piece of twine around the mouth of the jar and attach a tag that says, "101 Things I Love About You." They can then write on scraps of paper (preferably recycled), the reasons they love their mother, fold accordion style and place it in the jar.

Mother's Day Coupon Book

From : Martha Stewart

Whether redeemable for a car wash, breakfast in bed, or a luxurious day of pampering, coupons make memorable gifts that allow Mom to savor the splendors of Mother's Day long after the holiday has passed.

Tools and Materials
Mother's Day coupon template
Colored card stock
Ruler
Tracing wheel
Mat knife
Hole punch
Ribbon

Coupon Book How-To
1. Download and print our Mother's Day coupon template onto colored card stock.

2. Create perforated left- and right-hand edges: Lay the ruler on the line where the coupon and the bind meet, and use a tracing wheel (usually used for pattern making), to scribe the edge of the coupon. Roll the tool along the ruler edge three or four times, creating the perforation. Repeat for remaining side.

3. Using a mat knife, cut out the coupons. Make sure to leave the tab on the left-hand side of the coupon for the bind.

4. Bind the coupons together: Stack coupons on top of one another, and using a hole punch, make two holes in the binding. Thread and tie a 1/4-inch-wide piece of ribbon to bind the booklet. Write in your redeemable gifts by hand.

Do you have a SIMPLE Kids-made gift idea? Comment or send it to us at trisha@247moms.com