7 Easy DIY Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day- $10 or Less

manicure for mom

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7 easy DIY gift ideas for Mother’s day

Mother’s day is coming soon and I’m so excited! Not only because I’m a mom and I can’t wait to see what the fam has in store for me, but because I love pampering my mom with love on Mother’s day….well any day that I spend time with her.

mother's day

But, Mother’s day being in May, it’s so close to my daughter’s graduation and she has a lot of trips and fun events happening that require a lot of money during this month. So, I started thinking of what I could do to make my momma feel special without having to spend a lot of money.

Truth be told, I’ve always been a DIY kind of gal. One Christmas, I made “I Love Lucy” pillows for my cousin who is obsessed with the show (I’m kind of obsessed too!).

They came out sooo good! There’s something about creating something with your own hands that makes it so incredibly special to the person that your gifting.

I know when I receive something that someone made, even if it’s a simple card, it means the world to me.

So, this post is going to show you some really simple DIY ideas that you can do to make some awesome gifts, without having to be a DIY expert (those totally exist, you know).

Gift Idea #1- Homemade dinner

homemade dinner

Making someone’s favorite meal, and their favorite dessert, is one of the best ways to touch their heart. A lot of people take their moms out to a restaurant to celebrate Mother’s day, and that’s perfectly fine.

But there’s something to be said about pouring out your love into their favorite dish and serving it to them in an intimate setting at home that feels so thoughtful.

And of course, you’re not only saving money, but probably hours at a restaurant, waiting to be seated.

Gift Idea #2- In-home mani/pedi

I actually try to do this for my mom every time she visits and she absolutely loves it! I even learned how to make the dot flower on the big toe to make it look fancy.

I should probably add that I’m a little obsessed with nail products so I’ve been practicing for years.

But, even if you are not a pro at it, doing your mom’s nails will give you a chance to slow down, have a great conversation and maybe have a few laughs, as well as do something super sweet for the lady that’s done it all for you.

manicure for mom

You don’t have to go all out and make it a spa pedicure, even just filing and painting her nails would be enough, but the more you do, the better.

My mom loves the part of the pedicure when I’m giving her a mini foot massage with lotion. I take extra time to rub her feet and it’s the highlight of the whole process. It makes me happy to make her happy.

Gift Idea #3- DIY box of chocolates

Making candy seems like a daunting task, but it’s really much easier than you think.

Buy chocolate chips, caramel squares, assorted nuts, and candy molds that you can find online for less than $10. And a hack when buying the molds is to search for cute ice cube silicone molds.

They are so much cheaper and can do the job just as well.

I am sure there are countless DIY chocolate posts on Pinterest, so I won’t bore you with details now. But here are a few I found:

Ice Cube tray DIY chocolates

DIY Candy Molds

Making Peanut Butter Cups in Silicone molds

Gift Idea #4- Gift Basket

Gift baskets are perfect because they are so universal. You can literally create a basket for ANYONE using their favorite items and it would be a hit! And they don’t have to be big to be thoughtful.

A small basket is just as nice as a big one and it will cost about $5-$10. You don’t even need a basket, any related container would do the trick.

To make it look super professional, grab a cellophane bag (they sell them at the Dollar Tree) and wrap the basket in it, tying it on the top.

Then, run your blow dryer on the warm setting all over the bag and it will tighten up around the basket and look as professional as the ones you buy!

For the movie lover- Buy their favorite candies and snacks from the Dollar Tree. The Dollar Tree also has those plastic popcorn containers that you could use as your base.

For the nail polish lover- buy a coffee mug with their initial or a print that your mom likes and fill it with nail polishes- I usually get great colors and brands from the Dollar Tree or Big Lots- and include a nail file, toe separators, etc.

It comes out looking really nice!

If your mom enjoys baths, find bath items from places like the Dollar Tree, Big Lots, Ross, or Marshalls to include in the basket. You’re going to find this DIY project enjoyable as well as satisfying to make.

Gift Idea #5- Create a Picture Collage

Mom’s love this gift and it doesn’t take a lot of time or money on your part. All you need to do is use Photoshop, Canva, or any other photo collage app to gather all of your family pictures (kids, grandkids, etc.) and get started.

You can even add theme quotes or inside jokes that your mom would enjoy. Pick up a Dollar Tree frame and voila! Your gift is thoughtful, inexpensive, and awesome.

Gift Idea #6- Thoughtful Note jar

note jar for mom

This is such a simple idea but it pays off in such a big way. It’s basically a jar full of handwritten notes that you write, about how you appreciate and love your mom. You’ll write 52 notes, one for every week of the year!

It doesn’t take long to make this gift and it’s so incredibly thoughtful. What’s great is that you can have everyone join in and you can make it a group gift.

You can decorate the cards anyway you’d like to make them even more customized and fancy.

Choose a nice jar and decorate it with bows to make it look polished.

Your mom will have something to look forward to every week for the next year! It’s a Mother’s Day gift that shows your love and sprinkles beautiful messages to mom for a long time after.

Gift Idea #7- Make a Key Holder

This project can be done for less than $10. You can purchase a small scrap piece of wood from the hardware store, lightly sand and stain it (I’ve seen people use shoe polish from the Dollar Tree if you want to save even more money).

Then use some stencils (you can find free printables on Pinterest) and with white paint, write a phrase or word that means something to your mom. Then screw in some key hooks on the bottom and your done!

Make sure it matches her decor and style.

It will be a custom piece your mom will use for years. I love giving something that’s thoughtful and practical. Your mom will appreciate it too.

mother's day

Mother’s Day is a celebration of the wonderful women in our lives. Those who saw us through the teenage years and love us anyway, haha.

They are the most selfless human beings on the planet. And they should be revered and recognized for all that they’ve done.

They don’t require lavish gifts, just gifts that show your love and forethought. I hope these ideas sparked your creativity to make something special and one-of-a-kind for your mom, without breaking the bank to do it.

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