With Mother’s Day being right around the corner I was trying to come up with a cute idea for our daughters’ gifts this year. And I did! But I can’t tell you because it’s a secret…..sssshhhhhhhh! Cause they might read this 🙂 !
But while I was browsing and researching I found some other darling inspirations and thought I would share. I’m sure before May gets here I’ll have a list of a dozen or more. I’ll keep you posted.
These 3 charming DIY projects are from the Lowe’s creative ideas website.
A Lantern to Light up Her Day ~
The inside is a vase for flowers while the outside is a vessel for candies. So cute! You could also accomplish basically the same affect by placing a smaller glass cylinder into a larger cylinder.
Materials
- Small curved satin nickel lantern or any lantern you may have or run on to.
- Insert a jar, vase, or drinking glass in the center of the lantern. Its rim should be about even with the rim of the lantern.
- Fill the lantern with small, loose candy — the more colorful the better.
- Fill the glass in the center about half-full of water and add flowers.
How cute is that?
Frosted Votive Candles~
Materials
- 1 package wide mouth mason jars, quart size
- Valspar spray paint: Frosting, Frosty Berry, Everglade Glen (Valspar is the Lowe’s brand name. It’s really good paint).
- Wash and dry the mason jars.
- Choose a stencil. Cut the stencil out and stick it on the jar.
- Apply three light coats of Valspar Frosting spray paint to the jar. Let it dry and then remove the stencil.
- Remove the center of the lid and spray-paint the rim with a paint of your choice. Add a candle and voila!
Depending on the stencil you choose these candles can be made for any holiday. I have one with Autumn leaves stencils and a brown satin ribbon tied around the lip of the bottle. It’s darling with some fall foliage.
Floating Picture Frames~
Materials
- 15/32″ x 2′ x 4′ sanded pine plywood
- 2′ x 4′ clear acrylic sheet
- 1″ x 2″ x 4′ whitewood board
- 4 — 1/4″ hex-head bolts 2.5″ long
- 4 — 1/4″ lock nuts
- 3/8″ x 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ steel spacers
- D-ring hangers
If you purchase your materials at Lowe’s or Home Depot they will cut the plywood and acrylic to the size you want. I think they do up to 10 cuts for free. Good deal!!
- Cut the plywood and acrylic sheet into 2′ x 2′ squares.
- Stack two squares of acrylic on one square of plywood and clamp together.
- Measure 1-1/4″ from each corner and slowly drill a 5/16″ hole through the acrylic and plywood.
TIP: If you have a drill press, using a clamp-on fence and a stop block will make this quick and easy.
- Sand the plywood faces and edges with 100-grit sandpaper. Wipe off dust with a cloth.
- Cut a 10″ long piece from the whitewood board to use as center support. This will keep the acrylic squares from sagging in the center of the frame.
- Glue the end of the support to the middle of the plywood’s front side. (The artwork will hide the support.) Weigh down the support while the glue dries to ensure a good bond.
- Mount a large D-ring hanger to the back of the plywood with a screw.
- Center and tape your photo or artwork to one acrylic square. Top with the second acrylic square. Then connect the acrylic and plywood pieces using the hex-head bolts, steel spacers, and lock nuts.
(Insert picture of baby in floating frame)