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Handmade crafts make moms happy on Mother's Day Mother's Day is supposed to be all about us, but I can't help but want to do something for my kids on Mother's Day. A neat tradition to start is buying a special book every year to share with your kids. When your children become parents of their own, this library of Mother's Day books will remind them of the great times you spent together - and how much you loved being their mother! My favorite this year is "Someday" by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds. Though geared to the "read to me" age group, the message is one that will resonate with screaming toddlers and surly teenagers alike. Okay, now for the other part of this article: Moms, close your eyes and hand the paper to your spouse, your partner or a mature and responsible child. No peeking - I mean it! Every mother loves a present, but the presents we treasure are handmade. For one, handmade gifts remind us of the stages of development our children were in each year and with them we can chart their progress (easier than filling out those scrapbook pages). Two, it is usually less expensive, which means we won't be asked for the money. And three, our children have to work to make it, which means it took some thought and some energy, and maybe kept them busy for more than an hour - and to a mom, "busy" means "quiet." (Second in line to handmade gifts in a mom's list of "best of the best" are peace and quiet.) If you're running low on time or imagination, the Nantucket Atheneum at 1 India St. is hosting a Mother's Day Craft class on Saturday, from 2 to 2:45 p.m. in the Gallery. All ages are welcome with a parent or caregiver. One obstacle we face here on the island is procrastinating and then realizing we need a present and can't find anything that mom wants. The crafts listed below are all made with supplies that are readily available at Marine Home or Island Variety. Gifts that our kids make are extra special on Mother's Day, but also remind us every day of the year how fortunate we are to have been blessed with these little angels from heaven. This is especially beneficial when our little one dumps sand from his sandbox on the kitchen floor. Happy Mother's Day! GARDEN STEPPING STONE It is no fluke of nature that Mother's Day is in the spring. Most of us moms love gardening. I think it goes back to that "peace and quiet" remark I made a minute ago. If you are feeling energetic and creative, a wonderful present is a Garden Stepping Stone. You can buy molds for these do-it-yourself stones, or you can go through your plastic recycling and find an appropriate recycled mold. The supplies you will need are: premixed concrete (mortar works best and comes in creative colors), two buckets, some water, plastic gloves, a garden trowel to mix the concrete, plastic to cover the concrete while it sets and items to decorate your stone. This is a fun craft, especially for dads and kids of all ages. Toddlers can help place the embellishments, teens can help with the cement and babies can provide foot and handprints. Best of all, it lets you get your hands dirty, and you can do it outside. Easier clean-up. Directions (from www.daniellesplace.com): + First, find your mold. You can use a plastic plant saucer. You can also dig a hole in the ground, line it with small stones, and use that as a mold for the cement. + Next, fill one bucket with water and use the other one to mix the cement. Follow the manufacturer's directions for mixing the cement with water - generally, you want it to be the consistency of oatmeal. + Also, make sure only an adult mixes the cement and that everyone uses rubber or plastic gloves when handling it; cement can cause skin irritation. You may want everyone to wear long sleeves and long pants, because the cement will splatter. Also, use a bandana or carpenter's mask while mixing, to prevent dust inhalation. Stir consistently as you mix in water. + Pour the cement into the mold, which should be about 2 inches deep. When you're done pouring, gently tap bottom or side of mold on a hard surface to get rid of air bubbles. + Wait until the water on the top is gone, about 10 minutes, or until the cement is soft but can hold a lasting impression, then start adding your decorations. If you are putting footprints or hand prints into the cement, cover your skin with Vaseline beforehand; make sure kids clean their skin with soap and water afterwards. You can also use things like marbles or small plastic toys to embed into the concrete. + When you are finished, cover your stones with plastic so that they don't dry too fast. This will keep them from cracking. Do not move the stones for at least 12 hours or longer. When they are completely dry, remove the mold. PERKY PLANT MARKERS + For those of us who procrastinate and then are foiled by bad weather, an indoor craft that holds promises of sunny days to come is making plant markers. Craft sticks, fun foam, permanent markers and glue are all you need. Use your imagination and cut out butterfly shapes, bees, etc. and decorate them. Glue them to the craft sticks. You can even take it a little bit further by purchasing a small terra cotta pot. Your child can decorate the pot, then plant Mom's favorite flower. I |
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