DIY Mother's Day Gift Box {Repost}

  "Many things are good, many are important, but only a few are essential."  These wise words from Elder D. Todd Christofferson have been a great source of peace to me lately. Adding boy number four to our family has been nothing but pure joy, but I've also had to put several things aside.  Good things (like blogging) have moved down on my priority list.  Not to say it will be that way forever, but for now that's how I'm keeping up with the essentials.

    In the mean time, I do have plenty of posts I can pull out of my archives to share with you, and hopefully something new every once in a while.

Mother's Day is May 10 this year, and with April drawing to a close next week, this is the perfect time to get going on all those Mother's Day gifts. 

These boxes are just the right size to hold a nice gift card, jewelry, or any other small gift you may have in mind for your mom this year. 

Make your box, add some cute ribbon, a flower, and a name to it.  Then put your gift in and fill it with some fun shredded paper.  Then get ready for the little surprise at the bottom of the box.  

I like to add a little message.  This time I added a definition of mother that I found last year, and loved.  So not only will your mom get a great gift in a darling box, but she'll have a little extra bonus in the bottom of the box.  If you attach the quote with just a bit of tape it will come right off and she can keep it somewhere she'll see it.  I love adding small, unexpected touches.

Click here for the full tutorial on how to make your DIY gift box.  These are so easy to make!  If you can fold and cut, you can  make these.  I love experimenting with different papers, ribbons, and toppers.  So many color combinations to use! 

What are some of your favorite Mother's Day gift ideas?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

P.S.  To read Elder Christofferson's entire talk entitled Why Marriage, Why Family (such a great read!) click here.

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DIY Mother's Day Gift Box

I shared this DIY gift box for Mother's Day last year, and I loved it so much, that I thought it was worth sharing again.  I really do like the colors I used last year, but I can't wait to try another one this year in a different color scheme.

    If anyone deserves a dolled-up box, it's your mom.

These boxes are just the right size to hold a nice gift card, jewelry, or any other small gift you may have in mind for your mom this year. 

Make your box, add some cute ribbon, a flower, and a name to it.  Then put your gift in and fill it with some fun shredded paper.  Then get ready for the little surprise at the bottom of the box.  

I like to add a little message.  This time I added a definition of mother that I found last year, and loved.  So not only will your mom get a great gift in a darling box, but she'll have a little extra bonus in the bottom of the box.  If you attach the quote with just a bit of tape it will come right off and she can keep it somewhere she'll see it.  I love adding small, unexpected touches.

Click here for the full tutorial on how to make your DIY gift box.  These are so easy to make!  If you can fold and cut, you can  make these.  I love experimenting with different papers, ribbons, and toppers.  So many color combinations to use! 

What are some of your favorite Mother's Day gift ideas?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

Watercolor Mother's Day Art

This adorable piece of art come from yet another project we did during my first grade teaching days.  I always loved how these watercolor projects turned out.  Perfectly colorful and flowery for mom!

Just take a plain piece of paper.  Watercolor paper is best.  Then, using a water bottle, we always sprayed our entire paper with water.  You could try just painting the watercolors on the paper, but I like the look the sprayed paper gives to the colors.  They're more blended and muted.

After the paper is sprayed, then let your child paint away!  Still dip the brush in water before the watercolor, but you won't need a ton of water because the paper is wet.  I like to encourage my boys to use a lot of colors, and to not mix them too much, or they'll just end up with brown.

After the whole paper it painted, then allow it to dry.  The final step is adding the black paint (you could do a black marker it you'd like).  Use the finest brush you can find for this.  I could have given my four-year-old a finer brush for his flowers, but I still love how it turned out.  He did all of the same flower, but your older kids could try and do a few different kinds of flowers (tulips, roses, daffodils, etc…).  They can always practice the flowers on a separate sheet of paper first, and then paint them on the watercolor paper.

Oh, and you'll want to have them paint a vase for the flowers to go in.

And there you have it!  The perfect Mother's Day art work for grandma or any other mother.  We've given this in the past, and it's always a HUGE hit with the recipient!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Mother's Day Printable

I found the perfect Mother's Day card for my mom last year.  Cards can be a bit cheesy at times.  It can be really, really hard to find a good one.  But last year, the card I came across was so fitting for my mom, that I not only gave her the card, but I typed it up and framed it for her.

Click to Print

 I've always known my mom is great, (check out yesterday's post) but this card made me realize how much she has shaped me into the person I am today.  My happy heart and good memories come, in large, from her and efforts as a mother.  I'm so grateful for all she's done for me!  And I hope one day my boys will be able to say they have a happy heart and good memories as well!

And here's a Mother's Day printable from last year to share as well.

Click to Print

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Traits of a Mother

Growing up, I always knew I had a wonderful mom.  Of course, there were a few instances during my teenage years of not seeing eye to eye, but that didn't mean I didn't understand how great she was.

Now that I'm a mom myself, I realize even more what an incredible mom she was, and continues to be!  Being a mom is not exactly the world's easiest job, but my mom never seemed liked it was too hard or daunting.  As I remember her from my younger days, and I've watched her recently with my own boys, I've come to notice some of the traits she possesses that make her such a special mom.  And I've come to recongize what a blessing it's been for me to watch her over the years.  I want nothing more than to follow her example as a mother, and develop the traits I've seen in her.

 

I've never know my mom to do anything but look on the bright side of things.  Life is challenging on so many levels, but I honestly can say that complaining is just not in my mom's nature.  She is always faithful and optimistic about whatever life throws at her, and she's passed that attitude on to me and my siblings.  I have my own challenges to deal with in life, but I'm blessed to have had such a great example of optimism in my life.  I don't ever seem to get too bogged down by the hard times.  And I know whenever I talk to her, she will always tells me it will all work out.  She never for one second makes me feel down and out about my problems, and that gives me the strength to know I can pull through whatever it is I'm going through.  And now, I'm trying my best to instill that attitude in my boys.  They already have small challenges in their little lives, but I try to help them stay optimistic about everything.  It will take many years of teaching, but I hope it will stick.

My mom has always been very complimentary of others, but she's especially complimentary when it comes to our family.  My boys probably feel like they're the most perfect boys in the world because of the praise she gives them.  Not to say they don't do things they shouldn't, but she always tells them it's okay, and then turns around with a compliment for them. She's very observant of others and what they do- big or small.  Every time I hear her compliment one of my boys in a moment I have been upset with them, it makes me stop and realize how much better the compliment works than my reaction of getting mad.  If there's good in any situation, she'll find it and let you know it.  She still compliments me every time we talk on the phone, and even though I'm getting older, the compliments never do.

This is the one word that comes to my mind time and time again as I think of my mom.  She has never once been anywhere near a selfish person.  When we were young,  everything was about us kids, and even though we've all grown up and moved on, she still makes everything about us (and of course the grand kids).  My mom (and dad) has been known to make a four hour drive just to follow me and my boys to make sure we're home safely.  She becomes a cooking machine whenever we go stay with them just so I can have recipes to share here on my blog.  Any extra money she has goes towards family activities for everyone.  She sends package after package to my boys, and their cousins in Atlanta.  She works on countless projects for my sister who's a teacher.  She run errands for all of us, comes to our events, and on and on!  We live in a very selfish world, and I feel so blessed to have her selfless example to follow!  It's such a Christlike characteristic, and she exemplifies it perfectly.  I work on it daily, and hope to do be the same some day.

I have one last trait to share.  My mom is a simple person.  Simple in the things of the world, but amazing in the things that matter most.  She's never needed the most expensive car, house, clothes, or anything materialistic.  She always makes the most of what she has, and makes it workable, and wonderful.  I've come to really, really appreciate this trait of hers.  It's helped me remain somewhat simple in my life.  I like to make things special, but that doesn't mean I have to have the biggest, and the best.  Simple things can be made quite extraordinary if you just get a bit creative.

Those are just a few traits that came to my mind.  I could have a post several miles long, as I'm sure you all could about your own mothers.  What traits do you admire most about your mom?  What are you striving to become better at as a mom yourself?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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DIY Tissue Paper Mother's Day Card

Happy day after May Day!  My grandma's (and in a month my parents') small town celebrates May Day every year.  The first Saturday of the month is filled with Maypole dancing, songs, a May Day queen and royalty, and a program.  It's the perfect way to kick of one of my favorite months.  May means beautiful blossoms, warmer weather, Mother's Day, and the anticipation of summer.  Love it all!!

Anyway, I'm over with Tanya at twelveOeight today.  I'm sharing an extra special DIY card you can make for any or all of the mothers in your life.  I'm thrilled with how it turned out!  It's a project that will take you back to your elementary art days.  Tissue paper and glue.  Remember it?  I remember loving it!  I do have to say it's a bit time-consuming, but any mother is worth some extra time, right?  Stop by to visit, and check out my entire post here.

Have a wonderful weekend!  I wish I was making the two hour drive to Mendon to watch the May Day festivities, but we have a few soccer games that little boys don't want to miss.  Maybe next year!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Robert Duncan Art For Mother's Day

I've mentioned my father-in-law (Robert Duncan) and his art before here at Blissful Roots, and with Mother's Day approaching I couldn't not share a bit more of his work with you.  He has so many wonderful pieces with mothers and children. 

Her First Garden

This is pretty much what my in-law's garden looks like in August.  Gorgeous!  It's bounteous in it's produce, and a piece of art in and of itself.

Let's Sail Away

This one is my sister-in-law and two of her three kids.

Simple Things

Another scene from the yard.  My mother-in-law loves flowers, and has so many beautiful varieties planted.

A Walk With Maya

Here's another sister-in-law with her darling daughter.

Mother And Son

If you've ever been to an OB/GYN office, or the labor and delivery floor of a hospital, you may have seen this one.  It's one of his most popular images.  This is my mother-in-law and brother-in-law (who is now 27).  

 I love the feeling Robert has captured in each of these pictures.  There's nothing like the relationship between a mother and her child.  

I hope you take the time to do something special for the mothers in your life this weekend.  Happy Mother's Day to all you dedicated, selfless, irreplaceable mothers out there!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you found a little something worth your time.

(Click here to see more of Robert's mother and child images.)

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Mother's Day Printable

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Mother's Day.  I love the time of year, the flowers, and the extra excuse it gives us all to celebrate our moms.  

I think I could post some type of mother quote every day of the year, and never run out (look for many more here at Blissful Roots).  I found this quote last year, and it's become one of my favorites.  I hope I can be, for my boys, what this quote says.  I want them to feel and know of my love for them always, no matter what.  Isn't that exactly what our job is as mothers?  If we don't do it, who will? 

I didn't want to leave any mothers out, so I covered as many color combinations as I could.  I hope you find one that fits you and/or your mom.

I can't have a post about Mother's Day and not mention something about my own mom.  To me, my mom is everything a mother should be, and even more.  I mentioned this in her birthday post, but I want nothing more in life than to be the kind of mother she is.  Thanks, mom!  Happy Mother's Day (a tad bit early)!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.  Click here for today's printable.

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