It’s just around the corner, Mother’s Day 2024. We combed through crafts and recipes to find the perfect ones that may appeal to your mom, grandma, sister, friend – anyone who is a mother. See if any of these Mother’s Day ideas, from scratch, work for your lifestyle.
She won’t have to water these bottle cap flowers. Our Jackie Richardson designed these metal flowers a while ago, and managed to use up old nail polish in the process. You could make a whole bouquet or just a single one. They look wonderful in potted plants and mixed in with greenery outdoors.
If you do have some fresh flowers – store bought or wild – here’s a fun way to make keepsakes from them. Pound them! Kids will love making pounded flowers, because they get to hammer away at flowers placed between watercolor paper and wax paper. We used a wooden board underneath and a wooden mallet for this process, and my grandchildren whaled away for a while, and created some cute art.
Jackie Richardson headed back outdoors to find the perfect leaves for her clay leaf bowl project. She writes, “I am keeping this craft idea in my back pocket for future gift-giving occasions. I love the idea of creating a keepsake for a family from a favorite tree or plant. In fact, if you have to move away from your favorite tree someday, this might be just the thing to invoke good memories and hold your keys. This craft is super easy, quick and inexpensive. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!’
The project requires air-hardening modeling clay, Mod Podge sealer and other things (that you probably have around your house) – and the leaves, of course.
I frankly think this one is such a glorious combination of old and new. If Mom or Grandma has an old coffee cup that she doesn’t want any longer, or if you can find a pretty one at a thrift shop or flea market, get started. You’ll also need a container, such as this Fire King loaf pan. You could use any metal loaf pan, or enamel – which is so hot right now – would really work well. Find a couple succulents at a big box store or nursery, add some rocks (bottom for drainage) and potting mix and you’re set. Why pay lots of money for something that someone else designed? This could get really personal. Perhaps you might find a treasured, yet unused cup or pan in the back of the kitchen cabinet?
I made this project a few years ago, and it’s still thriving in my kitchen, and also, getting compliments regularly from our guests.
Are you going to bring Mom breakfast in bread, or set a lovely brunch table? You might want to add wild blackberry coffee cake to your menu. Of course, it might be tough to find wild blackberries right now, but you can find fresh or frozen ones at the grocery store. They’ll work.
Jackie Richardson and I whipped up this coffee cake while canning tomatoes one year. It’s a fond memory – that little break we took to enjoy the hot cake and a cup of coffee while listening to can lids pop. And, it’s so delicious right out of the oven. Melts in your mouth.
Another fun idea, with a pop of springtime color, for a brunch or breakfast in bed, is this recipe for dandelion muffins. My grandchildren and I borrowed the recipe from the Montana Homesteader. I wrote, “The recipe calls for coconut oil, but I would imagine you could substitute vegetable oil in a pinch. I like it because it also contains rolled oats and honey, so there’s plenty of natural sweetness (along with ¼ cup of sugar) and some fiber, too.”
What fun would this be – to bring a plate full of these no-bake birds’ nest cookies to the table for Sunday dinner? Jackie Richardson and her toddler created these delicious, arty bites. If you don’t have any malted milk eggs or Cadbury eggs left, use jelly beans.
Whatever you do for a special woman on Mother’s Day, we like to think that it’s even more special if it’s made from scratch.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
