It feels like a real treat to feel warm sunshine on our skin this week. As you may know, we spend a lot of our time outside embracing all that nature has to offer us weather-wise, but this little glimpse of spring definitely made it extra special. As we head outdoors, it’s a great time to start thinking about Mother’s Day art & craft activities.
Inspired by the glimmers of the spring sunshine, we decided to create keepsakes for our most loved women and mothers in our lives. Sun catchers using sparkling mirrors and gems carefully arranged by little hands.
How to make
We started by manipulating the clay, warming it in our hands and preparing it to create. This is such a wonderful experience for little ones. Exploring new textures, and developing hand dexterity and strength, which is a vital pre-handwriting skill. Once the clay was softened and ready, we rolled it flat. E had already chosen to cut heart shapes, so we used a cutter to make three hearts. One for Nana, one for Nanny and one for her to “remind her of them”. 🥹
When E was rolling and cutting the clay, I tried my hardest to let her do as much as possible by herself. Although quite a process-driven craft, I was keen to allow for as much process and practice as possible. Allowing this gives children an opportunity to problem solve and experiment. They will find ways that work and ways that might not. It gives them greater creative freedom and pride in their work too.
Time to decorate!
E chose to add daisies to the sun catchers, which was a lovely nod to the season awakening and new life. Another reason we love using clay in our crafts is that it’s a natural material; it has such a pleasing texture and lends itself to nature crafts so well.
We decorated the suncatcher while the clay was still soft, adding mirrored tiles and sparkling gems. As each decoration was added, tiny finger prints and indents were made, a constant reminder of how little E was on the days she made these special gifts for her family.
Once dry, we added string and hung the suncatchers in the garden to see the light bouncing from the mirrors and gems as the sun shone. Inside the house, hung in the window, they made the most beautiful reflections across the room. E likened them to fairies dancing around the lounge.
Now they are wrapped with a bundle of homemade fudge and a posy of spring flowers on the day to give to our very special Nanny and Nana.
A Mother’s Day art & craft keepsake to treasure
Celebrating these days together with crafts, activities and memories is very important to me. Our family don’t live close by, so we make a conscious effort to celebrate special days and memories with our families and make keepsakes they can look back on. I also believe that a handmade gift is so much more special than the mass-produced gifts in the shops.
I hope you have a go at making these simple Mother’s Day art & craft gifts to give to your loved ones, which will bring more joy and happiness than you can imagine. Something that every time it’s looked at will remind the recipient how much they are loved.
To all you amazing mothers out there I wish you a very happy Mother’s Day. I know this day can be difficult for some too, so I send you love and thoughts your way.
Katie runs @the_play_adventures_ and is mummy to one willing, E. She shares their nature-inspired play, activities and crafts, as well as their daily adventures. Katie has a background in early years working in baby rooms and nurseries across the UK. Since moving to Suffolk, she has nannied and is now a family support practitioner. As part of that role, she is an infant feeding specialist and infant massage instructor, and has a keen interest in supporting women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. Sharing play is Katie’s passion, not only to share the benefits for children but to bring joy to parents through creativity and the wonders that nature brings.
