DIY Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is less than a month away.  Let's do something a little different this year and get "back to the basics."  Anyone can go out and buy a present but what your Mom really wants is something you made with your own two hands.  She probably has a few presents still sitting around the house that you brought home from elementary school and they are considered  some of her most valued possessions.

Here are a few easy ideas for this year.  They come from  Sherri Osborn of familycrafts.about.com

Bath Salts Recipe

·         Bottle or Jar

·         Epsom Salt

·         Food Coloring

·         Perfume or Essential Oil

Instructions:
Combine the desired amount of Epsom salts (enough to fit in your bottle or jar) with food coloring. Mix well so color is even. Add your perfume or essential oil and mix again. Spread the mixture out on a sheet of wax paper to dry for a couple of hours and then put it in the bottle or jar.

While the salts can be used right away, the perfume or essential oil will blend better with the salt if it is allowed to set in the jar for a few weeks.

Clay Pot Bird Bath

• Terra Cotta Clay Pots
• Terra Cotta Clay Saucers
• Paint
• Glue
• Clear Acrylic Spray

Instructions:
These are so simple to make, and the birds just love mine!  Start out by wiping down your terra cotta pot and saucer with a damp cloth and let dry completely.  Your clay pot, flipped upside down will serve as the base of your birdbath. You can use one clay pot, like I did, or use several stacked together, like Sharon did. The saucer will be used on top of the birdbath to hold the water.

Egg Carton Cupcake Holder

This fun and tasty egg carton project was shared by Jan Hennings who has her own crafting blog called Papercraft Pleasures. Bake up some mini-cupcakes and creatively store and give them in a decorated egg carton.

Materials Needed:

• Mini-Cupcakes
• Egg carton
• Paint
• Ribbon
• Items to Embellish (Jan used stamps)
• Photo
• Paint Brush
• Scissors