No matter how old you get, your mom will always appreciate Mother’s Day gifts that are handmade by you. It’s just part of the Mom Code, I suppose. Thankfully, there are all sorts of upcycled gift ideas that look so fabulous, your mom might not believe you made it by hand. Ready to be creatively inspired?
Mother’s Day Gifts for the Gardener
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
If your mom likes to garden, then give this upcycle idea some consideration. Retro soup mugs from the thrift store bring back a lot of memories, don’t they? And since they list a soup recipe right there on the mug, you can make a (temporary) planter with one of the ingredients! This way, she’ll have a new plant baby to put in her garden plus all the memories from making soup for you when you were a child.
Ribbon Bookmarks
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
If Mom loves to curl up with a good book rather than an E-Reader, then these DIY bookmarks with vintage jewelry are a delightful Mother’s Day gift to make. Especially if you’ve got a few pieces of her old costume jewelry that she no longer wears due to a broken clasp or missing stone.
Does She Love to Sew?
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Any avid sewist will adore this handmade gift idea! A hidden pin cushion in a vintage teapot is a darling idea, especially in a home filled with curious kids or pets. Plus, you can add a few new sewing notions to the teapot as well as an added bonus.
Trinket Dishes from Shells
Image credit: Pillar Box Blue.
Remind her of your family beach vacations by upcycling a larger shell into a trinket dish or ring holder with this fun craft idea. Shells are perfect for painting or decoupage, and adding a cute figurine (like this penguin) turns them into a functional ring dish, as well.
Mother’s Day Gifts for the Spa Lover
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
All moms deserve a little self-care and pampering, and this easy upcycle idea is perfect for that. Vintage scarves are repurposed into aromatherapy eye pillows, which feel so soothing on tired eyes or throbbing temples. The silky scarf material feels blissful on the skin and you can customize the scent to something that your mom will surely love.
Matching Necklaces
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
If your mom (or her mom) wore clip-on earrings a few decades ago, see if you can “borrow” a pair for this idea. In fact, this is one of my most favorite Mother’s Day gifts ever. Repurposing that pair of earrings into a matching set of two-of-a-kind necklaces is such a charming way to share something oh-so-special with mom.
And let’s be honest- wearing these on a chain is a LOT more comfortable than wearing them on our ear lobes!
Decorative Mother’s Day Gifts
Image credit: House of Hawthornes.
A pretty glass candy dish like this might come from the thrift store or even the back of Mom’s china cabinet. And a great way to repurpose it into something Mom might actually use is by turning it into a hand-poured candle like this.
Mother’s Day Gifts for the Kitchen
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This may not be one of the fanciest Mother’s Day gifts out there, but trust me when I tell you it’s incredibly handy. If your mom loves to cook and/or loves wine, then this super easy wine cork trivet is a fantastic handmade gift for her this year. She’ll use it over and over in the kitchen- and it’s SO EASY to make.
Lavender Sachets
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
My mother always kept sachets in her dresser drawers, so DIY lavender sachets were one of my favorite Mother’s Day gifts to give her. When I was on a French country kick, I turned a thrift store curtain into these faux-grain sack sachets for her. But the truth is, just about any fabric would work wonderfully.
Upcycled Mirrored Tray
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A mirrored dresser tray is a classic way to display and keep handy your favorite pieces of jewelry. In this case, a picture frame from the thrift store was upcycled into a DIY mirrored tray for a very budget-friendly version that any cost-conscious mom would love.
Handmade Lip Balm
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Most women I know cannot go too long without applying lip balm, which makes this simple DIY spa gift perfect for moms! Not only do you know exactly which ingredients go into it, but you can customize the scent for your mom, too.
Chic Braided Bracelets
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Why should kids and teens have all the fun with friendship bracelets? These chic and romantic versions are made from vintage handkerchiefs– but any lightweight fabric with a delicate print would be perfect.
You can even make them with magnetic clasps for older moms that don’t want to fuss with traditional lobster clasps, too.
Handmade Cards for Mother’s Day
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Not all moms want physical gifts- or for you to spend much money on her. But trust me when I tell you she’d love to receive a handmade card like this. And you can put all your gratitude and love into words instead of trinkets- something she will absolutely treasure forever and ever.
Wine Charms
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Wine glass charms are a great DIY gift idea for the mom who regularly hosts dinner parties or book clubs. This version is easy (and fun!) to make using jewelry charms and pretty beads. Especially if she’s got any broken jewelry stashed in her jewelry box…
Bookmark Heart
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
This upcycle idea is ideal for tea towels and dresser scarves that have become tattered or torn. The prettiest parts are salvaged and turned into these DIY bookmarks which are a page pocket, of sorts. Such a sweet way to save lovely handiwork into a project to give as a gift.
And it’s in the shape of a heart, too- which is exceptionally perfect in the world of Mother’s Day gifts, right?
Lavender Foot Soak
Image credit: Domestically Speaking.
Who doesn’t love a good foot massage? Well, if an actual massage isn’t in the cards for Mom this year, perhaps this DIY lavender foot soak could be a great alternative. Perfect for busy moms and their sore/aching feet.
Mother’s Day Gifts for Storage
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Any old box can be upcycled into a ring box with this upcycle idea. And pretty fabric is a great way to cover up the cushions used to store and project her prettiest rings.
Handmade Jewelry for Tennis Lovers
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
The inside of a tennis racket is quite a lovely surprise. Thin layers of different wood are pressed together to create them, and when sliced like this, the cross section becomes a gorgeous necklace pendant. Perfect for the athletic mom who loves racquet sports of all types- tennis, pickleball, squash, you name it!
Mother’s Day Gifts to Make This Year
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I hope you’ve found some handmade gift inspiration in this collection. Budget- and eco-conscious gifts are always in style and appreciated by so many moms out there. Whatever you make for her will be well-received if you put your heart in it- and I know she’ll love it, too.
Craft on!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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