
(NC) – Flowers. Spa days. Lavish dinners. On Mother’s Day, there are a variety of ways to recognize the special women who have made a difference in our lives. In fact, a recent study conducted by Yahoo indicated that over 85 percent of consumers celebrate the second Sunday in May, spending billions of dollars on gifts.
Times are changing, however, and many experts are noticing an increased trend towards Mother’s Day gifts with a more personal touch. According to Shelli Gardner, CEO and co-founder of crafting company Stampin’ Up!, a growing number of Canadians are choosing handmade or personalized Mother’s Day gifts that were created especially for the receiver. “Showing your love and appreciation for Mom doesn’t have to cost a fortune,” said Gardner. “The gift with the greatest impact, the one that shows you truly wanted to make someone feel special, is the one you make yourself.”
Gardner suggests the following Mother’s Day gift ideas for creative types:
Handmade cards: Creating a unique do-it-yourself Mother’s Day card can be as simple as gathering coloured paper, punches and rubber stamps, or investing in a ready-made cardmaking kit that includes all required supplies. Include favourite photos, phrases, and colours, and don’t be afraid to get decorative with ribbons and other accessories.
Personalized jewellery: There was a time when handmade Mother’s Day jewellery meant paper-clip necklaces and other grade school art projects, but there are some new options available that make it easy for creative types of all ages to create professional-quality customized necklaces, bracelets and other adornments. Consider taking a class at a local studio, or invest in a kit like Stampin’ Up!‘s Simply Adorned collection, which includes chains, bracelets and locket-style charms (visit stampinup.ca for information about where to buy). For example, consider adding an antique-style charm with a favourite childhood photo to a necklace chain for a keepsake that will be (literally) close to Mom’s heart.
Mother’s Day scrapbook: The entire family can get together to pool favourite photos, vacation mementos and other special souvenirs to create a special Mother’s Day scrapbook. Work with a traditional album and crafting materials or go high-tech and try an option like My Digital Studio, an easy-to-use software-based design studio that features thousands of exclusive images, colours, and accessories.