Gifts for mom

Moms are special!  Whether it’s your mom, a grandma, a special aunt, or someone else who plays the role of “Mom” in your life, it’s nice to let her know how much you love her especially with Mother’s Day coming soon.  Most kids enjoy crafting and in this article you’ll see some projects they can create by themselves and others they can make with a little help from you.  Mom is sure to love a handmade gift from them!  Best of all, being crafty is not required.  You will need to sneak some of those crafting tools out of her stash and a few other supplies though when Mom’s not looking.  Shhhh...... So gather what you need and let the kids create.  Use the instructions as guidelines for the projects, but don’t worry about things being perfect and encourage them to give the projects their own flair.  Be creative & have fun!

Title:  We LOVE You, Mom - frame  
Dimensions: 5”w x 9”h
Description: 
If you want to make a gift that includes a photo, try this photo frame with an A-frame base.  A little ingenuity, some Squeeze Punches and Paper Edgers will help you and the kids create a home décor item Mom can display on her desk at work, on a bookshelf or on her nightstand.  Use a wallet sized photo (school photos are great for this) and create a frame from cardstock and patterned paper.  Using decorative scissors and punches will give it a fun look!  The support base is simply a long piece of chipboard covered with cardstock that’s folded in half with a ribbon attached at the bottom to keep it from sliding open (flat).  Add stickers and more punches to create a sentiment for Mom and your set!  Fold the frame flat to make it easy to gift wrap or even better, place it on Mom’s breakfast tray on Mother’s Day morning....she’ll love it!

Supply List
Fiskars Brands: 94817797 No. 5 Micro-Tip® Scissors
Fiskars Brands: 12-9902 7097 Desktop Rotary Trimmer
Fiskars Brands: 12-74397097 Medium Squeeze Punch - Brick
Fiskars Brands: 12-74537097 Medium Squeeze Punch - hand
Fiskars Brands: 12-731077097 Large Squeeze Punch - Daisy
Fiskars Brands: 12-92147897 Paper Edgers – Clouds
Fiskars Brands: 12-33897097 Tape Runner (adhesive)

Heidi Grace Designs- "Only Time" paper and embellishments
Other: Thin chipboard or cardboard (12” x 3 ½”), button, cream colored cardstock

Instructions:
1. Cut 3 ½”W x 12”H piece of thin chipboard/cardboard.  Fold this in half lengthwise to create a 6”H ~ A-frame shape.
2. Cut 5” piece of ribbon, adhere each end to the inside bottom of the base.  The ribbon will prevent the base from falling flat.
3. Cut 4 – 3 ½” x 6” pieces of cardstock to cover the front, back and inside surfaces of chipboard/cardboard.  The cardstock will also cover up where the ribbon ends are attached.  Set aside base.
4. Cut a 5”W x 6”H piece of black cardstock and trim edges with Paper Edgers.
5. Cut 4”W x 5”H piece of patterned paper and adhere to center of black cardstock.
6. Squeeze Punch Brick shapes (or other shapes) and adhere along border of patterned paper.
7. Adhere wallet sized photo to center of frame.
8. Squeeze Punch Daisies and adhere to top corner of frame; embellish with a button.
9. Adhere lower portion of frame to upper part of base – this will leave space on the lower part of the base for your sentiment.
10. Use stickers, punches and other embellishments to create your sentiment.
Other ideas:  I love you, Mom!  Best Mom in the World!  Happy Mother’s Day!

Title:  mom - card 
Dimensions: 4 ½”w x 6”h
Description:  
 Here’s a quick card using Squeeze Punches.  My kids love these because they’re easy to squeeze and they like to play with the shapes to see what unique things they can create with them.  My clever daughter pointed out that we could turn the Conjunction Junction symbol into the letter “m” to spell “mom”!  We used the Too Hip to be Square Squeeze Punch to create a window in the upper left corner of the card and embellished it with a little frame also created with the Too Hip to be Square punch and Scallop Paper Edgers.  The small heart inside the card’s window is popped up using adhesive Foam Dots.  So grab those Squeeze Punches, some paper and let them play.  They’re sure to come up with their own clever card ideas for Mother’s Day.

Supply List
Fiskars Brands: 12-9902 7097 Desktop Rotary Trimmer
Fiskars Brands: 01-000118 Tool Taxi (liquid glue)
Fiskars Brands: 12-73247097 Extra Large Squeeze Punch – Too Hip To Be Square
Fiskars Brands: 12-73287097 Extra Large Squeeze Punch – Conjunction Junction
Fiskars Brands: 12-74427097 Medium Squeeze Punch – That’s Amore
Fiskars Brands: 12-7436 7097 Medium Squeeze Punch - Round n’ Round
Fiskars Brands: Paper Edgers – Scallop
Fiskars Brands: 12-33897097 Tape Runner (adhesive)
Fiskars Brands: 12-25967097 Adhesive Foam Dots
Heidi Grace Designs- A Little Bird’s Tale paper and sticker
Other: button, white cardstock

Instructions:
1. Create a 4 ½”W x 6”H card from white cardstock.  Or use an already made blank card.

2. Cut a 4 ½”W x 6”H piece of patterned paper and adhere to the front of your card.
3. Squeeze Punch a fun shape from the top left corner of the card’s front.  This will create the window.
4.  To frame the window, Squeeze Punch the same shape from white cardstock.  Then trim around the negative space with Paper Edgers to create a frame.  Adhere around the window opening.
5. Squeeze Punch 2- Conjunction shapes and 1- Medium circle to create “mom” for the bottom of the card.  Adhere the letters and add a button to the center of the “o”.
Cut a ¼” strip of contrasting pattern paper and adhere below the window.
6. For inside the card, cut a 2” to 3” strip of contrasting paper to adhere to the top right inside of the card. Squeeze Punch a heart and apply Foam Dots to the back.  Close the card and center the heart inside the window.

Title:  Flower Pot Recipe Holder  
Dimensions: 4”w x 10”h
Description:  
 Here’s another décor gift idea.  When I’ve gone shopping or browsed through catalogs I’ve noticed recipe card holders in many shapes and sizes.  They’re a cute little knick-knack and there are times when I’ve been cooking and think one might actually come in pretty handy!  As I thought of ideas for Mother’s Day gifts that kids could make, this project came to mind.  With a little help from an older child or adult, your kids can make Mom a decorative item with a function. 

TIPS:
Download then print the recipe card printout provided with this article and trim cards to 4 ¼ x 5 ¼.  Stamp or embellish to personalize the cards.
If you already know her favorite recipes, have the kids copy the recipes onto the cards themselves (she’ll love to see their handwriting!) or print the recipes out yourself if you need to save time. Another variation of this project is to use it as a photo holder instead.  Simply punch another circle from colored cardstock or patterned paper to replace the sentiment in the center of the flower.  Add buttons or other embellishments.  Then secure any 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 photo to the coiled wire.  Voila!  Another décor item for her to enjoy.

Supply List
Fiskars Brands: 12-94647097 Big Kid scissors
Fiskars Brands: 12-9902 7097 Desktop Rotary Trimmer
Fiskars Brands: 12-7424 7097 Large Squeeze Punch - Round n’ Round
Fiskars Brands: 12-7414 7097 Extra Large Squeeze Punch - Round n’ Round
Fiskars Brands: 12-73257097 Extra Large Squeeze Punch – Mint Condition
Fiskars Brands: 93407097 Paper Crimper
Fiskars Brands: 12-33897097 Tape Runner (adhesive)
Fiskars Brands: 12-25967097 Adhesive Foam Dots
Fiskars Brands: 12-88717097 Easy Squeeze Glue Gun
Fiskars Brands: 12-88807097 Easy Squeeze Glue
Fiskars Brands: 12-88667097 Right Angle (to shape wire)
Fiskars Brands: 12-88497097 Stamp Press   OR
Fiskars Brands: 12-29587097 Compact Stamp Press
Fiskars Brands: 01-002294 Tricia Santry Studio Clear Stamps – Hoppy Day
Kimberly Poloson: 01-002078 Old Fashioned Flowers Harlequin
Kimberly Poloson: 01-002079 Old Fashioned Flowers Mixed Flowers
Other: *see printed recipe cards printout, cream & olive cardstock; brown ink; cream & brown acrylic ink; small terra cotta flower pot; floral wire stems, Computer fonts: Angelina

Instructions:
1. Paint the terra cotta flower pot with acrylic paint and let dry or keep it plain if you prefer.
2. Cut a ¼” strip of patterned paper and adhere along top rim of flower pot.
3. To create the wire form, use the Right Angle tool.  Wrap one end 4 times around the smaller end to create a small circular coil.  This will be where the recipe card is secured.  Wrap the other end of the wire at least 2 times around the larger section of the tool to create a larger (1 ½”) circular coil.  This will be the base that is glued inside the bottom of the flower pot.
4. Apply glue to the bottom of the flower pot and press the large coil end into the glue.  Position the wire so that is stands straight.  Let this dry thoroughly.
5. To create the flower, Squeeze Punch 5 Mint Condition shapes (petals) from patterned paper. Then squeeze Punch 2 XL circles from patterned paper – the petals will be sandwiched between these 2 circles. Adhere the petals to the back of one circle and adhere the other circle behind the petals to hide where the ends are attached. Once the glue is dry at the bottom of the flower pot, adhere the back of the flower to the small coiled wire end (top) using a Foam Dot.

6. To create the grass, cut 2 - 4” x 7” pieces of green cardstock; feed each piece through the Paper Crimper; then use scissors to cut strips (not all the way through) to create a fringe of grass.  Place the rolled fringed cardstock inside the flowerpot.
7. Squeeze Punch 2 – Mint Condition (leaves); adhere together and attach to flower stem.
8. Print the recipe card & sentiment printout.   Print pages 1 & 2 as front and back on one piece of cardstock.  Print sentiment examples (page 3) separately. 
9. Squeeze Punch (Large Round n’ Round) sentiment of your choice and adhere to the center of the flower.
10. Use the Stamp Press to quickly and easily stamp your designs on the recipe cards over and over again. 
11. Trim recipe cards to 4 ¼ x 5 ¼.  Leave blank or write Mom’s recipes for her.

By Patti Milazzo