Last Minute Mother's Day Idea

Do you have a Mother's Day gift for your mom yet?  Well, I've got a great last minute idea for the little ones to give Grandma.  Or, I guess you could do it yourself, from you and your hubby, maybe.  Weird?  Maybe a little...

We actually did this for my parents for Valentine's Day last year just before B was born.  I think it turned out pretty cute!  Aside from the fact that it's not arranged very well in this pic and C's hands look interesting.  He was not even two yet, what do you expect?  
 

Items needed:
vase
large popsicle sticks (you can buy them already painted green)
craft paint in a variety of colors (including green if you need to paint the sticks)
cardstock
decorative marbles or rocks (you can find these at the dollar store)

Coat each child's hands in a different color of paint and have them place their hands on a piece of cardstock.  Let it dry, then cut it out.  Write child's name and age on the back of one handprint.  Glue or tape the "flower" onto the popsicle stick. 

Fill vase with decorative rocks and arrange "flowers" in the vase. 

It doesn't get any simpler! 

Depending on how many kids and the size of vase, you could have each child do just one "flower" or as many as needed. 

Grandma will LOVE it!!

Name Monsters

I remember in elementary school making these. I don't remember what grade I was in. Probably a little older than my oldest is now. But I decided to try it with my kids and they loved it! So easy and they're all different.

1- Write your child's name in cursive (it works in print too) on a paper folded in half lengthwise.

2- Cut the outline of the name but be sure not to cut the folded part and open it up. They will look something like this.

3- Let the child choose which way is up and let them color away.

The one on the left is made by a 7 year old, the right by a 5 year old. You could also let them use glue, glitter, pom-poms, yarn or just about anything else you can imagine.