Mother's Day gifts for Grandma

[dara1012]

Anyone have any nice (but not too expensive) gift ideas for grandmas? Each year I make a photo collage for DS's 3 grandmas that they can replace in the frame I bought a couple years ago....but struggling this year for ideas for something else.

Last year I got DH's mom and stepmom a hanging plant to go with the photo collage and I made photo coasters on Shutterfly for my mom. I would like to get something different this year but it is hard with 3 grandma's for DS to get something nice that is only $15-20/each.

The last 2 Mother's Days have been a disaster (from my perspective) with DH's mom so I am planning to leave town and go visit my mom. Last year DH's mom stuck us with a $200 dinner bill and the year before I had to buy myself mother's day brunch at the Elk's club in her hometown (and I barely ate anything b/c it is not food I like)....I feel like she gets "all about me" at mother's day and DH is her only child so she has high expectations. I want to get something for her, but not spend an arm and a leg or eat food I don't like, so I am avoiding the whole issue by going to see my mom who I haven't spent Mother's day with since DS was 4 weeks old. That said, she is still my MIL, DH's mom and DS's nana so I want to recognize her on Mother's Day but not have it be all about her (it's my day too!)

[merrr]

What about a group buying discount coupon thing like Groupon? They have a ton of ideas and discounts at a range of prices.

Love the idea that you're being creative and relocating for Mother's Day this year! I think you and your mom should go out for pedicures too

[sarahisis]

Were doing one of those bamboo plants from ikea.. the small stick ones with a slim vase, with coffee filter butterflies that preston will be making, with a magnet on teh back so it can be taken off the plant. Inexpensive and they are so pretty!

[dara1012]

I like the idea Isis! do you have instructions on the coffee filter butterflies? I have seen them done, but can't remember all the ins & outs

[sarahisis]

I use a regular coffee filter, have ds pick a few colors of markers (but Id stay away from black and brown or any other really dark color).. then have him scribble on it, but leave enough white for the colors to bleed... then spritz it with a waterbottle and lay it on a piece of wax paper to dry. it'll take a little while... then I use the clothes pins that pinch.... once the coffee filter has dried scrunch it in the middle so it looks like a butterfly and put the clothes pin on it to hold it... I don't usually do this, but you can put mini googly eyes on it, and green pipe cleaners for antenae.. then a magnet on the back! They are so easy to make a lot of at one time!

[sarahisis]

we (I mean I lol) used to do this with clients because it was an easy multi step and entailed some good fine motor practice

[dara1012]

My niece is here this weekend....maybe this would be a fun project for DS and my niece to do.

Now that you mention doing it with your clients I am pretty sure that where I have seen them before was at some of the homes I supervise

[sarahisis]

I wish I would've taken my big arts and crafts binder with me when I left there... darnit.

[cwolbeck]

one year I went to Michaels and they have little wooden wincharms and pinwheels, they are a couple of dollars each, unpainted. Then have the kiddies paint them.

[love]

This year we did coaster tiles with DS picture on them. VERY inexpensive. We have 4 sets of gparents so it adds up. I got 4 tiles for each gma. Hodgepodge and printed 4 different pictures out on printer paper (photo paper doesn't work well) and cut the to 3.5 inches as most tiles are 4 inches. Glued the picture on and did a couple coats of hodgepodge to secure them. I think I ended up doing 4 coats as I opted not to spray them with glue. I also got rubber backers for all 4 corners of each one. They are super cute and cheap to do!

[bumblebee23]

I bought a whole candle set and split it up into three gifts one year. I LOVE QVC so check out there web site and I bet you can find something affordable.

[AuntSueto4]

One idea: My sister has used several plain serving trays and put collages of pictures of each of her children, thru the years (now grown) onto the flat part of the tray, not sure what she used to seal over the top. She has them hanging on her kitchen walls.


Another idea: www.michaels.com/Tray-Chic/e08376,default,pd.html?cgid=projects-craftpainting-brands-krylon&printpreview=true


Another idea: Ladybug Garden Tote
Easy to make garden tote to hold your gardening items.

www.michaels.com/Ladybug-Garden-Tote/e06711,default,pd.html


Another idea: Grandma T-Shirt Sayings

www.craftsayings.com/sayings/grandma_tshirt_sayings.shtml


Another idea: Craft tote, Plain apron, or Craft apron, and have ds decorate it with fabric paint or puffy paint.