With Mother’s Day fast approaching, my kids and I put on our crafty hats and spent an afternoon working on some fun handmade gifts. You see, we have two wonderful Grandmas that are part of our village that deserve to be spoiled. While a spa gift certificate is in their future, a little keepsake from their grandchildren will sure to go over well too.
Using a majority of items you can find at the local dollar store, we worked on five different options. Each allowed the kids to create and produce something fabulous that could be used or enjoyed.
FRAMED PERLER BEADS
SUPPLIES
-Perler Beads
-Iron
-Decorative Wrapping Paper
-Shadow Frame
-Hot Glue Gun
What child doesn’t love to pull out the perler beads and make a masterpiece? The only thing that drives me crazy is what to do once they are finished. Look no further. Simply cover the back of a shadow box frame with wrapping paper and hot glue the perler creation to the front.
ROUND CANVAS ART
SUPPLIES
-Round or Oval Canvas
-Paint Brushes
-Acryllic Paint
-Pom Poms
-Letter Stickers
-Hot Glue Gun
Let us be honest. The square canvas has been done. Switch up the shape and break out those paints. Kids can choose whether they want to do a single image or fill the entire thing. If you want to spell a word like my daughter did, simply add letter stickers and have your child paint over them. Once dry, remove the letters and view the shadow image. Add a bit of flair by putting on pom poms with hot glue.
PAINTED APRON
SUPPLIES
-Fabric White Apron
-Fabric Paint
-Fabric Pen
-Paint Brush
We know mamas and grandmas alike spend a decent time in the kitchen. After coming across a plain apron at the dollar store, I loved the thought of working with my kids to create a keepsake for my mother inlaw. I outlined an image with a fabric pen, and had my son assist by coloring it in. To finish it off, I added the lettering by hand. I may have to make one of these for myself. It turned out pretty cute!
STAMPED DISH TOWELS
SUPPLIES
-White Flour Dish Clothes
-Fabric Paint
-Paint Brushes
-Stamps
I don’t know about yours, but my kids love stamps. So instead of using stamp pads, I placed some fabric paint on a paper plate and had them add the paint to a stamp with a brush. Once it was wet enough, they placed the stamp on the dish cloth. I assisted with continued placement and before we knew it, the entire cloth was filled with a design. The key is finding charming stamps to use. Alternatively, let them use the paint brushes to add brush strokes or write words.
BEADED BUTTERFLY MAGNETS
SUPPLIES
-Small Clothespins
-Pipe Cleaners
-Beads
-Small Magnets
-Glue Gun
Recently I came across the cutest butterfly craft by a fellow blogger. You can find the directions by clicking this link. We simply modified the directions by using smaller clothespins and fewer beads. Then we hot glued magnets to the back. They turned out delightful and are perfect for hanging pictures of the kids on the fridge.
