26 Homemade Birthday Gifts for Mom That She’ll Actually Love

Super cute and the perfect Mother’s Day or birthday gift, this idea will cost next to nothing but will mean the world to any mom. There are four styles of tokens to choose from, and they can be printed out at home (free printables included) and made into a sweet booklet.

Does Mom enjoy a caramel latte now and again? If she does, this candle will make a really special gift, because it looks and smells just like her favorite hot drink. Made using soy wax flakes, this candle can be made in any size cup – thrift stores are great for buying one-offs.

These votive candle holders are so much fun to make, and yet they look seriously attractive when finished. Inspired by the art of Frank Lloyd Wright, this project involves sticking squares of colored tissue paper on a glass holder, and then finishing them off with a black marker for a stained glass effect.

You can customize this mini photo album as much as you like! Made using clear plastic pockets and a pastel colored binder, this album can, of course, contain photographs, but the clear pockets can also be filled with things like confetti, trinkets, ticket stubs and more.

This is such a sweet idea and will make a lovely piece of art that she can hang on the wall. Blank canvases are super cheap, and all that’s needed are kiddies’ feet, some paint, and a Sharpie. The butterfly’s wings are created with footprints, and the rest is completed in black.

There might be a few tears when she sees this beautiful picture frame luminary, especially if you’ve used photos of her family. Stunning and sentimental, each of the four sides contains a different photograph printed onto vellum, which are all illuminated when a tea light or LED light is inserted.

This pretty no-sew apron is actually for a little girl, but the pattern could easily be adapted to create an adult sized one, too. Make them in matching fabrics for a sweet Mom and daughter duo, or create several in different colors so she can match the colors to her mood.

If Mom is away from home a lot (or just forgets to look after her plants!), this Vacation Plant Waterer will make a really useful gift. Made from an old soda or wine bottle, this plant buddy will look spectacular covered in multi-colored glass marbles, and will keep soil slowly and gently watered.

These geometric wood trivets make an unusual homemade gift for moms, and will be useful in the kitchen and for keeping tables safe from hot pans. Veneer tape makes the stunning lighter lines on the stained blocks, and it’s easily applied using a hot iron and craft paper or foil.

Slippers are such a welcome gift, and they don’t deserve the ‘boring’ label they seem to have acquired. The world is your oyster with this idea, though, because you can choose a myriad of gifts to stuff inside, such as pampering goodies, gift cards, jewelry, and even cocoa and marshmallows!

If you’re not a dab hand at sewing but you want to give her a ‘homemade’ apron, start off with a plain canvas store bought one and add personal touches, instead. This tutorial will show you how to add names and handprints from all the family, using vinyl and fabric paints.

Save mason jar lids or other spare lids and turn them into this simple DIY gift idea for Mom. Using them as photo frames, you can insert some of her favorite snaps with hot glue, before adding a magnet to the back. They’re ideal for holding notes on the refrigerator.

This is repurposing with a difference, because who knew you could turn a wooden bracelet into a tropical trinket box for Mom? The cuff is painted to resemble the outside of a pineapple, while the lid is made from clay and painted a vibrant green to resemble this luscious fruit’s spiky crown.

There’s no end to the designs you can put onto a wooden spoon using a pyrography pen and a little imagination. A basic wood burning set is inexpensive and will give you a whole new hobby, allowing you to create a set of customized wooden spoons to complement her kitchen.

These bookmarks are such a fun way to make homemade gifts for Mom, and she will smile every time she opens her book. Created to look like the kids are holding on to the tassel rope, these bookmarks are easy to make, and the kids will have a blast posing for the photos.

Perfect for any time of the year but especially for Easter, this egg mosaic jug will make a beautiful addition to Mom’s collection of vases. Made from an old plastic jug with the threads sawn off, this vase is then covered with decorated pieces of eggshell for an unusual, organic effect.

Treat Mom to a floral gift with a personal touch by making one of these teacup planters. Have the little ones apply fingerprints using acrylic paints in different colors, or even have the whole family make their mark for a real family heirloom. Then bake in the oven, and add her favorite plant.

Anything with photos on will make a mother’s day, and this plant pot is a great example. Using Mod Podge and Photo Shop (or another photo editing program) you can decoupage a collection of perfect portraits of people and pets who mean the world to her.

You can guarantee that this will be a gift she’ll never forget, because she’ll look at it numerous times each day. Made using an old clock from a thrift store (so this is totally customizable), you can remove the original face and replace it with a favorite photo by following this step-by-step guide.

If she likes animals, she will adore having one or more of these super cute circus animal cookie pillows to cuddle up to. Supplied with a free printable template, this blog post shows you step by step how to create these colorful pillows, and cover them with pompom ‘sprinkles’.

You could make these earrings in a whole range of colors – Mom could have a pair to match every outfit! Simple and cheap to make, these earrings are created by using plain hoop findings, hooks, jump rings, and embroidery floss to make stunning tassels that dangle down.

Give her the chance to have some chill time at the end of a busy day with this simple but effective (and very thoughtful) gift idea. Use a plain wine glass and add the graphic shown (the SVC cut file is included), and then add a small bottle of wine and some candies.

Whatever her hobby or passion, you will find an image of it on the internet, just waiting to be downloaded and printed and made into a cute dish towel. Using iron on transfer paper, you can add your chosen image to a cotton towel which will be almost too cute to use.

Chalkboards are everywhere, and they add such a fun aspect to the home. Create a large menu chalkboard by following the instructions in this DIY. Use pine boards, chalkboard paint, and plywood, and follow these instructions for a cute addition to her kitchen.

Sharpies are great for writing or drawing on mugs, and they make this sweet gift idea really easy to do. Use a plain white mug or cup as your base (the size and shape is entirely up to you), and then write the words ‘Home is where Mom is’ in black and gold ink.

If your mother is into really pretty homeware, why not have a go at making a set of these stunning gilded edge agate coasters? Really simple to make, all you need is a selection of agate slices, some gilding paint and a brush, and some sticky dots to protect table tops.