Frugal Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is Sunday, but it's not too late to try one of these frugal DIY gift ideas*.  Mom will appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into making her a special gift, and you'll have plenty of money left over to make her a nice brunch.

*taken from our blog archives and updated

Gardener's Gift Basket

 

What gardener wouldn't love a basket filled with new tools and gadgets to start the season off right? Any of these items can be purchased inexpensively at a discount or dollar store.

Supplies:

• sturdy basket or planter
• garden clogs
• gardening gloves
• trowel
• cultivator
• pruning snips and shears
• seed packets
• clay pots
• cellophane wrap
• curling ribbon

Directions:

1. Assemble the supplies in the basket or large planter.
2. Wrap with cellophane and tie with several pieces of curling ribbon. Make sure the pieces are long enough to curl. Curl edges of trailing ribbon.
   

Deck Planter

Save money by making your own deck planter for Mom, rather than buying one already made. You can find the pot and small rocks at any dollar store. Save on potting soil by using soil from the garden.

Supplies:

• large planter container
  
• assorted inexpensive annuals, including trailing plants and tall spiked plants
  
• potting or garden soil
• small rocks

Directions:

1. If there are adjustable drainage holes in the bottom of the container, make sure they are open. Place a layer of pebbles in the bottom of the container.
   
2. Fill the container 3/4 the way with garden or potting soil.
3. Plan out the arrangement of the plants head of time. Placement of the tall plants should be in the back and the trailing plant in the front.
4. Plant everything in the container, then water well.

Photo Screensaver

What Mom wouldn't love a computer screensaver filled with family memory photos? If you've got a PC with Windows XP or Window Vista, you have all the tools you need to create a terrific screensaver for FREE! All you need is some digital photos you know Mom likes. If you don't have any available, you can always scan some photos taken from a family photo album. Family vacation photos would be great to use. Once you have a folder with the digital photos on Mom's computer, here's all you have to do:

Windows 7/ Vista Directions

1. Save your desired screensaver photos in a folder of your choice.
2. Open Screen Saver Settings by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Screen Saver.
3. Under Screen saver, in the drop-down list, click Windows Photo Gallery.
4. Click Settings and select the folder where your photos were saved, then select the photos you want in your slide show and select them and slideshow speed you wish to apply. After you make your changes, click Save.
5. Click OK.

Floral Arrangement

This pretty floral arrangement can be made using flowers cut from your garden. Find an interesting vase at a discount or dollar store.

Thanks for stopping by!