Mother’s Day is almost here and we’re busy making DIY’s for all the special moms in our lives. If you’re looking for an easy one, this DIY Fingerprint Flower Jar is just right for you.
We love making presents for our loved ones. It makes gift giving more personal and shows how hard we worked on it too. Mila is always so proud when she sees something she made up in someone’s house. She’ll get a huge smile.
Since she loves to pick flowers and put them in vases, I thought this would be a perfect gift for the loved ones in our family!
There’s not a bunch of supplies you need for this DIY gift. We had everything already at home and were able to reuse an old olive jar!
Jar
Paint
Modge podge
All you need to do is get an area prepped for paint. Then I showed Mila what I meant by finger painting flowers on a jar. I just did it on the brown paper that I prepped the area in. This way she could see she was allowed to use her fingers as a paint brush.
Then I let her go!
She did a few alone, but then she felt better when I held it up and twisted it for her. I don’t think she wanted to smudge the flowers she already had done!
Once they’re finished making flowers, coat the jar in modge podge. I just did a thin layer so the flowers don’t go off in the future. This step isn’t required, but if you want that added protection, I’d suggest it!
To finish it up, you could add letter beads like I did or a yarn bow too.
We filled ours up with flowers, but you could add your loved ones favorite candy or even a tea light candle too. Either way, this jar is something special and easy a mom in your life will really love!
If you’re looking for more Mother’s Day DIY’s, check out these ones Mila and I have done. Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments.
If you’re looking for a memorable and easy craft for Mother’s Day, you’ll love this DIY Floral Handprint Art.
Not only was it simple to make, my four year old helped me through it all.
If you haven’t noticed by my last few posts on social media, we’re in a hand art phase. I think it’s a mix of wanting to preserve how little she is and they’re easy to do!
I’ve had this floating frame in my house for about a year. In my head I pictured it with pressed flowers all around. Then, the past few days I thought it’d be a perfect Mother’s Day gift to myself.
So, with Mila’s help and flowers from Josh, we created something beautiful.
First, clean off your frame. I like to do this so I don’t noticed smudges after everything is finished. Plus, it’s nice to work with a clear area.
Then, paint your child’s hand. Mila picked pink, of course and I thought it looked beautiful. When it’s painted, firmly press your child’s hand on the inside pane of glass. If there’s a few missing space, you can repaint their hand and redo the process!
Next, let your child put the pressed flowers where they’d like.
When they have their final spot, clasp the second glass pane to keep the handprint and flowers safe.
On the outside, I decided to paint the word love and the year on the corner. “Love” was purely decorative, but the date is something I do on all of our projects!
Then you’re all finished.
I truly think this DIY Floral Handprint Art would be a lovely piece for moms, grandmas, and every other mother figure in your child’s life.
What’s your tips on pressing or drying flowers? I’d love to hear different ways… especially with Mila’s love of flower picking.
If you’re looking for a fun Mother’s Day DIY, this Hand Shaped Flower Bouquet is easy to make and will last a lifetime. The moms in your life will love them!
Plus, I was able to reuse products around the house to make it Earth friendly too!
I love when Mila makes me things. Maybe a little too much. I don’t think I’ve ever thrown any artwork or drawing she’s made me. She’s so proud of herself for it too.
For Mother’s Day, it’s always fun to see what kids come up with. Mila loves gifting flowers. When I saw this on Pinterest, I knew I had to recreate it with Mila! She loved how they turned out and it’ll be perfect to add to the bouquet as she grows.
As I stated above, I reused everything for this. Here’s all I used:
Scrapbook Paper
Stapler
Paper Straws
Hot Glue
These were super simple to make.
I traced Mila’s hand on thick paper to make a stencil. Then cut it out to trace it on scrapbook paper. Although I only traced four for the picture, we’ll be making more for different family members.
You can make how many you’d like and with different types of scrapbook paper.
Then, cut the hands out. Next, I stapled the two sides together with the print side facing out.
When they’re cut and stapled, spiral the hands so they flutter out. You can make them as curly as you want!
After the flower was made, I hot the paper straws inside to make it look like a stem.
To display, I put them in a glass jar. They look really beautiful. I love that I’ll have a little piece of her at four forever. It’s a lovely Mother’s Day gift I’ll always love.
What is your favorite DIY Mother’s Day gift you’ve ever made or received?
If you’re looking to surprise a gardener in your life with a little gift, this DIY Gardening Grow Kit will be a hit!
Mila and I LOVE to garden. We try to grow vegetables every year and eat what we produce. It’s always a fun way for her to learn about the growing cycle and show her how much work it takes to make our food. She’s always very into growing flowers and making arrangements.
Let’s just say, we always are surrounded by plants and gardening supplies!
Since this time of the year is so close to Mother’s Day and end of the year, this is a great gift to give and easy to assemble too. You can find all these items at any local store.
I love being able to put all the items into the watering can. It makes for an easy gift bag. You could also add ribbon or a printable with it too.
Even though I added flower seed packets, you could easily do veggies or even DIY seed bombs in there too. If you’d rather skip seeds in general, putting a plant inside of the watering can would be a cute idea too!
For soil, I would suggest either buying a whole potting soil bag or putting enough for a pot in a ziplock bag. You can easily stuff in it the bottom of the watering can.
This DIY Gardening Grow Kit will be perfect for the mothers, teachers, or any gardeners in your life!
What’s your favorite outdoor plants to grow: flower or veggies?
If you’re looking for a cool summer drink to enjoy during the hot months, you’ll love this Pink Whitney Lemonade.
Funny story, Mila calls any ‘drink’ I have ‘on my juice.’ It’s a really hilarious way for her to know not to drink what I’m drinking. I think it’s also nice that she thinks it’s just my juice and she has her juice.
Thankfully, she’s not that curious and respects that it’s mine. A little parenting win, right?
Anyways, back to the goods. You’ll love this mommy juice recipe that’s good for anyone who likes adult beverages that you can taste the alcohol.
Here’s what you’ll need:
3/4 cup of Pink Whitney Vokda
Ice
1 cup of Lemonade
1 Pink lemonade Kool Aid mix pack
Lemon
Blender
Honestly guys, I pretty much eyeballed this drink so the measurements aren’t exact. When I make drinks, I do a lot of taste tests!
All you have to do is put a ton of ice in your blender, then all of the other ingredients.
Mix them all until they’re the consistency of a slushee. For extra tartness, I put lemon slices around the glass and to garnish.
This drink is easy to make and goes down smoothly. I feel like they will be DANGEROUS this summer while by the pool or around fires. It’s so yummy, I’ll take the chance though.
Let me know what your favorite parent juice or summer drink is in the comments.
But first, check out these other moms go to drink recipes:
If you’re like me, you might be running a little behind getting Mother’s Day presents. One thing I always seem to forget is the card! This year, try these DIY watercolor cards!
These are a fun way to share your child’s creativity and a way for you to get involved too. Mila loved seeing our creations and I know they’ll be a hit. This could also be a great tradition to start with your children too. They could end up just making them for you as they get older.
Go to an area or set up one that you’re okay with paint getting on. Then lay everything out. This specific water color paint was already mixed up. This made it easier for Mila so she didn’t have to dip her brushes in water first.
After, let them paint whatever they would like. There’s no right or wrong way for them to paint or create these.
Once they’re done with a specific card, have them sprinkle salt on the paint. Not only does this help it dry, it creates an amazing texture to the cards. Plus, it’s a little science experiment that your child will love!
They can continue with their painting and salt.
When the salt is dried, you and your child can rub it off. They’ll love seeing how it looks and Mila was in awe of how the salt was colored too.
The next part is up to you. If your child is older, you can instruct them to draw flowers or something that reminds them of the female figures in their lives. Mila wasn’t interested in this, so I personally drew flowers that flowed with her painting. It’s so much fun to take their creations and help make it even more special.
I ended up taping the paintings to cards. On the inside, I wrote a special note for each of Mila’s cards and had her sign it.
They turned out so cute and I really love them. Mila loved the outcome of her cards and was so proud of her painting. I think seeing it all come together helped complete her vision. As always, she will be so excited for her loved ones to receive them.
Honestly, I’m keeping one for myself so I can see how Mila’s art skills grow. Plus, I’m just as proud of her as she is of herself.
If you end up trying this activity, let me know in the comments. Make sure to tag me on Instagram if you share on there too.
What are your favorite types of Mother’s Day gifts?
Don’t scramble this Mother’s Day to come up with gift. Try these DIY painted flower pots to give to your loved ones.
Not only are they easy to make, it’s adorable watching your child pick out the plants for it.
Plants are great gifts to give because they keep growing! It’s extra special to get a personalized pot as well. The combo makes a beautiful present and you’ll toddler will be proud to gift it.
Most of these items, you probably have at your house. If you don’t have any extra pots laying around, terracotta pots are inexpensive and can be found at most stores. Another option is to use plastic ones too.
To personalize the pots, I added stickers to it before we painted. This is completely up to you!
Then it was time to set up.
I laid a sheet of parchment paper down on my island. Just so there wasn’t paint everywhere like her Earth Day painting.
Next, I had her let me know what color paint she wanted to do. Another great way to practice her color recognition, which she has nailed! But, it’s always fun listening about her favorite color. I ended up putting all the colors on a plate.
After everything was set up, I instructed her to paint all over the pots.
It took her a little bit to get both of them done.
All of the colors got mixed together too. It made a beautiful green color, but it’s a good word of caution if you don’t want all the colors together.
We let the pots dry and took a nap. I should’ve tried to pull the stickers off before we fell asleep though!
When I removed them, the paint stuck. Of course.
To fix this, I ended up just using permanent markers to fix it. This happens with DIYs. Nothing will ever turn out perfect, but I just love them.
After everything’s dried and the way you’d like it, it’s time to pick the plant or flowers.
I have a ton of plants that need ‘real pots,’ not just nursery pots. Yes, yes. I’m most definitely a crazy plant lady at this point!
Honestly though, I think these turned out so cute. I love how mine turned into a rainbow, marble piece and my mom’s is a nice blue and green swirl. They’re both made with so much love.
You and your toddler can easily make these pots in an afternoon. They’ll make anyone smile to receive!
Let me know what you think about these pots in the comments. If you DIY them, tag me on Instagram: @greyskies.rainbowhighs. I can’t wait to see your and your toddler’s creativity.
Before you go, check out what these other moms are doing for Mother’s Day this year…
It’s been almost exactly four years since your first Bereaved Mother’s Day. I know… it hurts. You’re not sure what happens next or how you’re even supposed to go on after everything has happened. If I could somehow go back in time and just sit with you, I would. I’d listen and let you talk about Jensen, letting you cry or smile or however you felt in those moments. It’s what you needed then and you still need it now.
I’m sorry we had to find out what loss and grief was all about; especially losing him. There’s been so many times in the last year where I’ve thought how I wish I could go back and take those moments for you.
If there’s one thing I’ll always be thankful you did, it’s starting this.
Our memory is awful now; four years of grief will do that to a person. Its been awhile since I went back and read anything from that first year. The way we write… I can read through it now. We’re harder now. When we talk about Jensen or how bad death hurts, it’s a lot more blunt. There’s a blog post we listen to now and they say, “fuck politeness,” pretty often. We’ll get there, I promise. Anyways, I read this post: “Honor Your Motherhood.” Twenty-five whole days of being a mom… you’re doing your best and that’s all that matters.
I remember this was the first time in our life that it was hard to order my thoughts. They rushed around and I couldn’t ever catch them, that doesn’t go away, fyi. So finding a prompt really helped order everything. I’m going to answer them again. Mainly to show future Danielle who’s going through whatever how much we’ve grown and how much she’s grown too.
What does it mean to you to “honor your motherhood?”
Motherhood has changed since that first year… We have Jensen, and we always will. We’ve experiences loss again. We have Mila now too. Since it’s grown and changed, we honor it differently too.
I’m not sure how it is for people with more than one living child, but for us it’s like having a bigger heart. We have Jensen times and we have Mila times. Mila takes up a lot of our time. When she’s awake we’re focused on her and cleaning and taking care of ourselves and keeping up with family and friends and whatever else there is to do. In some ways, the craziness is a way I honor my motherhood with Mila and Jensen. I know this is how he would want us to keep going. It’s funny because even in the craziness of our life, we can always picture where Jensen would fit in.
Honoring our motherhood with Jensen is still one of the most special things. On that first Bereaved Mother’s Day, you did the things to remind you of him. I love that. You helped put Jensen in every room of our home and on our body too. See, that’s a lot in four years. We were a lot more literal in those early days. It was our way to scream to the world that we had him and he means so much. He still does. We honor our motherhood with him by still saying his name, sharing him with Mila (the way she says his name, the cutest thing), and including him in ways that are special to use, but in quieter ways.
Mixing both parts of our motherhood and just by simply moving onward is honoring our motherhood. There’s been so many setbacks in this time period, but you keep going. If that isn’t a strong mother, I don’t know what is.
What would help you feel like your motherhood is being honored?
I remember being so afraid everyone would forget about Jensen. When we first saw this prompt, we wanted everyone to know about Jensen, not necessarily that we were a mom. I think all moms put their child ahead of their wants and needs, but when there isn’t a child physically there, it’s hard to do that. It’s hard for other’s to see and understand that you’re still constantly thinking about your child and wanting the best for them. Honoring our motherhood then felt like making sure our motherhood was concrete. It was, even without him there in your arms. You’re still a mom. That space you hold in your heart and mind for him make you one.
I’m so sorry he wasn’t there to hold and love on. Just like I’m sorry he’s not playing around the house right now.
Honoring motherhood now… gosh, it’s changed so much, but the core of it remains the same. I think we honor it every day. We show up and do our best, mostly with a smile on our face. Mila’s happy, Jensen will never be forgotten, and we have grown. In the calm moments, we take a step back and realize what we have, what we’ve lost, and where we want to go. Wanting to go forward and keep doing better is the best way we honor our motherhood now.
What can you do today, on Bereaved Mother’s Day, to honor your motherhood?
Since Mila’s been born, it feels like Bereaved Mother’s Day is a day to honor our grief in motherhood. I think the best way to honor and connect with that part of motherhood, I’m setting time aside to sit outside and take in the moment. We’ll say his name and look through his pictures with Mila. Maybe I’ll read more of your posts to honor us and this crazy journey we’ve been on.
If I could end with anything or scream through time, I’d let you know that the version of us that you’re living right now is the strongest one. I think future Danielle would agree too. You, we, I, or whatever is easier to conceptualize, will always be Jensen’s mom. Your motherhood will always be valid and honored. I’m sorry that this had to happen to us, but I’m so thankful he’s ours.
Everyday I wake up and you’re the first thought that pops in my mind. I am filled with all the mornings we spent together. Our routine was spent with me telling you how loved you are as I traced my hand over each of your kicks. We took those first minutes of the day to just sit in peace. Even to this day, I spend that time saying good morning and still telling you how much I love you.
When I look at myself, I can see what I gave to you. You have my hands and feet. My nose and cheeks. I wish I could have known the color of your eyes or the sound of your voice. But when I see those parts of me that you had, I remember what love created.
I’ll always remember what food you liked and what times you tolerated eating. Just like I’ll remember to lay on my left side so you could sleep soundly. Or the time we were painting in my bedroom. We had all the windows open and each time I reached up, I felt you stretching to help me out. My little home improver. There are countless moments and memories from our thirty-eight weeks that I will never forget.
There isn’t a time where I have to sit here and try to remember you. It’s just natural that you’re in my thoughts every second. No matter what happens in the future, you’ll always be thought of and honored. You are my first-born child. The little guy who made me a mom and showed me a love that is so big and powerful. There will never come a day where you aren’t remembered.
I love you, Jensen. Thank you for all the memories we spent together and the ones we have made since you’ve been physically gone. I will always hold you in my heart.
From the moment I saw the word ‘pregnant’ on the first test I took, he made me a mother.
Through those early weeks of excitement to see him grow and feel him move, he made me a mother.The first time I heard that strong, galloping heartbeat, he made me a mother.
When he showed off what made him be a boy on the ultrasound screen, he made me a mother.
During the worry of wondering if I was going to be a good enough mother to him, he made me a mother.
Feeling his kicks everyday and him jab me when I didn’t lay on my left side, he made me a mother.
Through those last weeks of anticipation for his big arrival, he made me a mother.
Giving me a quick, almost painless labor, he made me a mother.
During those weeks of deep pain and grief, he made me a mother.
In these weeks of healing and living our new normal, he made me a mother.
Even through our tragic story, there is an endless, unbreakable love that will always stay because he made me a mother.
He made me a mother and I am so proud that he’s my son.
On this Mother’s Day, I’m honoring my motherhood and the love I have for my son by showing him off to the world. When I see him, my whole being fills with pride and happiness. I made this little human and he’s given me a life I never knew was possible.
My only wish for this day (as it is on every day) is to have him back in my arms. I know this isn’t possible. So instead, I hope someone tells me ‘Happy Mother’s Day.’ I hope someone says Jensen name to me. I hope every mother who has lost a baby feels honored today. Just as I hope anyone who is facing this day without their mom, or sister, or aunt, or grandmother, feels like their loved one is forever remembered and honored.
Hold the ones you care about most near your heart. There are so many others that have to carry others in their. Just like I carry Jensen and his great-grandmother in mine.
This little boy, he means the world to me. He made me his mother and that’s my favorite part about myself.
Grey Skies & Rainbow Highs 