Gift

4 Creative Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

DIY

There’s no better time to show appreciation for the women in your life than on Mother’s Day. I’m so grateful to not only have a mother who always supported my dreams (unfortunately, not all parents are cool with their kids being Studio Art majors), but also an amazing grandmother who doubles as a best friend and a seriously kick-ass step mom who is truly, an inspiration.

This year I was also lucky enough to gain an amazing mother-in-law, who is as kind as she is self-less.

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As you’re deciding upon what to gift mom this year, try getting creative and thinking outside the box. Check out these four ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Nothing says “I love you” like baked goods

There’s a reason we use the expression “made with love” whenever we talk about homemade goodies. Bake up your mom’s favorite treat and package it in a cute box with a festive bow. Make the gift extra special by using a family recipe.

Or check out some of my favorite goodies using the recipe links below:

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Give the gift of mindfulness

Moms have a lot going on! Inspire mom and help her find some peace from time to time by gifting her a journal to keep her thoughts organized and de-stress. Journals come in so many fun shapes in sizes. I especially love this book that teaches readers to be more creative by being more mindful and relaxed. Read more about this title here and shop it here.

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Gift her flowers…then show her how to save them!

Flowers are always a safe bet. This Mother’s Day, take the extra step and show mom how to preserve the bouquet even after the holiday has passed. All you need is some string, a dark place (closet) and some hairspray. For more information on preserving flowers, click here.

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Learn something new together! 

Creative workshops have become super popular over the last few years, with artists and DIYers offering up their expertise to teach community members new skills. While you’ve probably come across a painting workshop or two, think outside the box and try new skills like calligraphy, weaving or embroidery. Look for a workshop near you and buy tickets for you and your mom to go together. Mom will enjoy spending time with you and you’ll both be learning something new!

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Follow me on Instagram @theperpetualcreator to learn more about my upcoming workshops!

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Wishing you and your mom the best possible Mother’s Day filled with love.

Snowman Embroidery

Art, DIY

This winter, I set about making my first snowman-inspired embroidery, inspired by the idea of making my grandmother a homemade gift.

Growing up, like most children, I was quite the expert in homemade gifts, constantly gifting my family members with the crafts and artwork I labored over in school and during my free time.

I’m happy to say my craftsmanship has improved quite a bit over the last 15+ years or so, but my desire to give homemade gifts has remained the same. Knowing that my grandmother would appreciate a handmade gift the most, I set about creating this embroidery for her in late November.

 

The process started out much the same as my other pieces, beginning with some google research (imagery inspiration is so important) and moving on to a pen sketch on fabric. When designing this piece, I knew I didn’t want to go too big (I was working on a limited time frame) but I also knew that it had to be big enough to make for a substantial gift. Not to mention a larger piece allows for more intricate details.

Another design decision that had to be made was whether or not I wanted to embroider snow falling in the background. While French knot snowflakes would have furthered the piece’s sense of whimsy, I ultimately decided against them, not wanting to distract from the main element and focus (the snowman). With the design being so clean, I decided against the clutter of snowfall.

 

After filling in all of the colors and patterns, I framed the piece and tied a festive blue ribbon onto the fastening, allowing the artwork to be easily hung. Although the snowman in the drawing is wearing Christmas colors, I designed him with the intention of being left out all winter, knowing that my grandparents would want to enjoy him all season, as opposed to only one month during the year.

While I’m in no hurry to embroider another snowman any time soon, I’m happy to report that the gift went over extraordinarily well! Having been the person who first got me hooked on embroidery, I know my grandmother was able to appreciate the time and effort put into each and every one of the countless stitches.