Receiving a handmade card or gift from your child is one of the great pleasures of motherhood. But mothers with younger children rely on other people like nannies to organise a gift for Mothering Sunday, which this year comes on 21 March.
Here are some ideas for presents you can make together that are sure to result in a special keepsake that will be treasured forever.
Heart paperweight
Go straight to the heart with this simple-to-make but stunning paperweight.
You will need:
a heart shaped biscuit cutter; Plasticene; silver foil; plaster of Paris (available from art and craft shops); glass nuggets; ready-mixed paint (choose a colour to complement the glass nuggets); felt; PVA craft glue
What to do:
Roll out a thick pancake of Plasticene and press the biscuit cutter a little way into the Plasticene to make a water-tight mould. Cut out a large circle of foil and gently press it into the mould as if you were lining a cake tin (press the foil as smoothly against the sides as possible so that the heart shape of the mould is distinct). Mix up the plaster of Paris to the consistency of thick double cream and pour into the mould.
Once the plaster of Paris is set, gently lift the foil lining out of the mould and peel the foil off the paperweight. Scrape away any lumps or ragged edges with a blunt knife and then leave to dry overnight. Mix up an equal amount of paint and PVA glue and cover the surfaces with a thick layer of paint. If necessary, add a second coat. Finish off by sticking felt to the base of the paperweight, to keep it from slipping, and glass nuggets to the top.
NOTE:Plaster of Paris is non-toxic but, as with any craft, young children using it need to be supervised closely. Avoid washing utensils in the sink, as the plaster can block pipes; mix in a yoghurt pot and throw away any leftovers. Make well in advance of Mother's Day, to allow time for the plaster and paint to dry out.
Hanging spoons
Inspired by folk art, hand-decorated spoons are easy to make and look great hanging in the kitchen.
You will need:
plain wooden spoon, available from any kitchen store; ready-mixed paint; small pieces of sponge; small sea shells, beads or dried flower heads; white PVA craft glue; one metre of thin ribbon
What to do:
Choose two or three colours (preferably Mum's favourites) and use sponges to dab splodges of paint on to the wooden spoon. Leave one side of the spoon to dry before turning it over to do the other side.
When the paint is dry, glaze the spoon with a solution of water and PVA glue (about one part water to one part glue). Pour PVA into the bowl of the spoon and arrange the shells, flowers or beads in the glue. Tie the ribbon tightly around the handle of the spoon with a double knot so that you have about 50cm of ribbon on either side of the handle. Tie into a bow with a double knot, then tie the loose ends to form a loop so that the spoon can be hung on the wall.
Gift box card
Make a Mother's Day card that contains a rather special and unusual gift.
You will need:
thin card; pretty wrapping paper; glue; gift ribbon and bow
What to do:
Fold a rectangle of card in half to create a square frontage and cover the front with wrapping paper so that it looks like a gift box. Complete the look by gluing on gift ribbon and a gift bow. Cut out a small square of card to make a gift card and write a message such as 'To Mummy'. Put a blob of glue under the bow and stick on one corner of the gift card so that it peeps out from under the bow. Inside the main card, the child can put their Mother's Day message and the details of their gift: 'I promise to bring you breakfast in bed/ unload the dishwasher/dust the living room.' Write the message on behalf of the child, and help them to think of a task they can manage safely by themselves.
And finally, don't forget that you are also a son or daughter. As you help your charges with their special gift, make one for your own mother, too!
