Looking for a last minute Mother’s Day project? I just made this today and I admit it is for me. Don’t you just want to capture their little (or not so little) hand print size forever? And check out the cute heart in the palm of their hands. I came up with this project based upon the quote, “Mother’s hold their children’s hands for awhile, but their hearts forever.”

So maybe when you look at the first picture you are thinking, whoa someone needs to call TruGreen and get those weeds under control! Or maybe you are thinking your little one would have a hoot trying to pic all those dandelions and bring them to you for Mother’s Day. I personally want to get my kids all dressed nicely and sit them in that field for a picture, I am not sure they will cooperate with my idea though.

Anyway, back to the craft project you clicked over here to see. This project goes really fast once you have all the supplies on hand. If you have more than 4 hand prints to put on the canvas you might want to go up a canvas size or two.

Supplies:

• 8×10 Canvas
• Assorted Acrylic Paints
• Foam Brush
• Paper Plate
• Diaper Wipes
• Hand Cut Heart
• Thickers by American Crafts (that is what I used for the raised lettering)
• Marker
• Double-sided Tape
• Scissors
• Paper

How To:

1. Measure the size of the smallest child’s hand. Cut a heart out of paper so it fits in the palm of their hand.
2. You will use the same paper heart and stick it onto the canvas using double-sided tape before each child makes their hand print and then peel it up when they are finished to reveal a heart-shaped void.
3. To get ready, squirt the paint colors onto a paper plate and have a diaper wipe handy. You will want to quickly wipe the paint off a small child’s hand when they are finished with their hand print.
4. Start with the largest child’s hand first. Stick the paper heart to the canvas where the middle of their palm print will be. Use the foam brush and paint their hand with acrylic paint. Press their hand to the canvas making sure to push down on all their fingers and their thumb for an even print. Pull their hand off and remove the heart.
5. Repeat the above step for each child’s hand print. Make sure you use the largest hand first and the smallest last. Also think about what paint colors will layer well over others.
6. Let dry.
7. Add the quote by laying the stickers out (don’t press them down yet) and lightly penciling in the words. Write very light with the pencil because it does not erase well off of the canvas.
8. When you have it all arranged use a marker to permanently write in the words that aren’t spelled out using stickers. If your stickers aren’t sticking add a little drop of glue to each one.
9. Use a pencil to write in the name and age of each child along the edge of their hand print.
10. Wrap and give to Mom (or yourself)!

The post How To | Mother’s Day Hand Print Craft appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I am sure you are searching for a perfect handmade gift for mom. Am I right? What about a small gift for Grandma? These tiny little windowsill planters made using recycled lids or a domed vending machine container are just the perfect project for Mother’s Day. You may already have the plants you need in your yard.

I recently attended SNAP! (a blogging conference) and my roommate Cynthia taught a class on making a DIY terrarium necklace with succulent plants. She has an amazing tutorial you can find here, you will want to look at her tutorial before making this little windowsill planter. Her class and knowledge inspired me to make these windowsill planters to give as gifts for Mother’s Day.

Supplies:

• Floral Adhesive (I bought it from my local flower shop)
• Assorted Succulents (You may have enough in your own yard or visit Lowe’s)
• Dried Moss (Michaels)
• Toothpick or Bamboo Skewer
• Paper Plate
• Assorted Sizes Lids from Recycling Bin (Baby food lids are the perfect size)
• Scissors

How To:

1. Gather succulents you want to use. I purchased mine from Lowe’s. You may already have some in your yard, succulents like Hen and Chicks work perfectly for this project.

2. Using a scissors, clip off a small piece from each of the succulents you want to use.

3. Squirt a small spot of floral adhesive onto a paper plate.

4. Use a toothpick or bamboo skewer to pick up some adhesive and spread it around the inside of your lid. Floral adhesive does not harm the plant tissue.

5. Adhere moss to the adhesive. The moss will provide a place for your succulents to grow new roots.

6. Use your toothpick to pick up adhesive and dab the adhesive on the ends of the succulent cuttings. Glue the succulents into the moss. Above I layered two different size lids to make a unique mini-planter.

7. Be sure to read Cynthia’s maintenance tips for caring for your succulents in her post here. The basics are that you will need to mist your plants with water about once a week and be careful not to over water.

The post How To | Mother’s Day Recycled Windowsill Mini-Planter appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

I’ve had this idea for using a handprint to make a bird kickin’ around in my head for awhile. I finally pulled out all the supplies to make this project with the kids yesterday. The kids love getting their hand painted and seeing their freshly made print on a piece of paper. Even Calista sort of cooperated, it’s hard to hold her little fingers together to make a good print.

We are giving our cards to Grandma for Mother’s Day. On the inside I am thinking of writing something like this:

I love you,

You love me,

I’ll always be your little chickadee.

Happy Mother’s Day

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Supplies:

• Paper
• Acrylic Paint (Bird Color and Yellow for Beak)
• Paint Brush
• Paper Plate
• Googly Eye
• Glue
• Paper Lunch Bag
• Scissors
• Diaper Wipes

How To:

1. Have your card all ready and lay it off to the side. Squirt some paint on a paper plate. Use your paintbrush to paint your child’s hand with acrylic paint. Hold their hand and press it in place on the front of the card. Slowly remove their hand. Use a diaper wipe if you have a small child and need to get the paint off their hand quickly!
2. Paint your child’s pointer finger with yellow paint and have them make a finger print for the beak. Let the card dry.
3. Use a paper lunch bag and cut out small strips of paper for the nest. My kids used a deckle edge craft scissors to cut out their nest pieces.
4. Use school glue and glue on your paper nest pieces. Let dry.
5. Use glue to add a googly eye to your bird.
6. Write a sweet message inside.

The post How To | Mother’s Day Handprint Bird Card appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

I worked with my kids this week to make this sunflower Mother’s Day card for Grandma from their handprints. I picked up a pack of sunflower seeds to stuff inside the card/picture so that they can be planted in Grandma’s garden. I think Grandma will be reminded of her grandchildren as she watches the sunflowers grow and bloom this summer.

How To | Sunflower Handprint Card

Supplies:

• 8×8 Sheet of White Paper
• Yellow Acrylic Paint
• Brown Acrylic Paint
• Bowl for Paint
• Paint Brush or Sponge Brush
• Diaper Wipes or Paper Towels
• Brown Marker
• 4×4 Envelope
• Seed Packet
• Jar or Lid
• Pencil
• Eraser

How To:

1. Put some yellow paint into a bowl. Use brush to paint your child’s hand with yellow paint and make imprint on paper. Repeat several times depending on how many children you have and how many handprints you want to create the sunflowers petals. Use the diaper wipes to wipe the majority of the paint off of their hands, then have them wash in the sink.
2. Paint child’s fingertip with brown paint and make seed imprints in the center of the flower. Repeat several times. Wipe finger off with diaper wipe and wash finger.
3. Use the mouth of a jar or a lid and trace around it with pencil to create a circular shaped line to write on. Use a brown marker to write a message around the circular path. (I wrote the name of each child on their handprint in the first smaller circle and a message on the second circle.) Let the marker dry, then erase pencil lines.
4. Fold in corners of paper to create a 4×4 square when folded. The corners should all meet in the center.
5. Tuck seed packet inside folded paper and put card/picture into envelope.
6. Have your kids present their art to Grandma for Mother’s Day!

The post How To | Mother’s Day Sunflower Handprint Card appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

My daughter created this beautiful bouquet all by herself. She used pipe cleaners, construction paper and a toilet paper tube to create these flowers that she gave to her baby sister. When I asked how she did it, she replied, “It was easy peasy mom!” I think this could also be a perfect Mother’s Day gift to give to grandma or an aunt.

How To | Easy Peasy Pipe Cleaner Flowers

Supplies:

• Pipe Cleaners
• Assorted Colors of Construction Paper
• Pencil
• Tape
• Toilet Paper Tube
• Marker
• Scissors
• Tape

How To:

1. Use a pencil to draw flower shapes on different colors of construction paper.
2. Cut out flowers.
3. Poke end of pipe cleaner through center of each flower and curl end of pipe cleaner over.
4. Use a marker to color the toilet paper tube (vase).
5. Arrange the flowers into a bouquet and thread the stems into the toilet paper tube.
6. Use a piece of tape to secure the stems to the inside the tube.

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