A Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift Kids Can Make (Using stuff you already have)

Mother's Day is just a few days away — and if you haven't quite landed on a gift yet, take a breath. You don't need a craft store run, a Pinterest board, or a perfect plan.

You just need a piece of cardboard, your recycling bin, and about an hour.

This week I released a new tutorial on YouTube: a flower collage made entirely from "found materials." Junk mail, old catalogues, buttons, pom poms, scissors, and glue. The finished pieces are surprisingly beautiful — layered, textured, full of color. The kind of thing Mom will actually want to keep.

It's also the kind of project that works for kids to do on their own — to make something special for you, for Grandma, or for another woman in their life they'd like to honor. Or you can sit down and do it with them and turn it into a creative afternoon together.

Watch the Tutorial

 The video runs about 16 minutes. I walk through the materials, the technique, and a few tips for helping kids get the most out of the project. I also share two of my favorite picture book pairings — The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle and We're Making Breakfast for Mother by Shirley Neitzel — both fun read-alouds to enjoy alongside the art.

What You'll Need

You probably already have most of this:

• A piece of cardboard (cereal boxes, shipping boxes, anything sturdy)
• a piece of colored construction paper
• Junk mail, old catalogues, or magazines (colorful pages are best)
• Buttons, pom poms, or other small "treasures" from your craft drawer
• Scissors
• Glue (school glue or a glue stick both work)

That's it. No special supplies, no last-minute Walmart run.

The Basic Steps

For the full tutorial, the video is the place to be — but here's the quick version so you know what you're getting into:

1. Choose your cardboard base. Any size works. A piece about 8x10 inches is a good starting point. Or the size of a box lid flap.
2. Cover cardboard with a piece of construction paper.
3. Hunt for color. Have your kids flip through junk mail and catalogues, tearing or cutting out pages with colors that catch their eye. Pinks, yellows, greens — whatever feels like spring.
4. Make a vase by cutting an oval with a flat top and bottom.
5. Cut stems and leaves. Strips of green from a magazine page work perfectly.
6. Cut flower shapes. Simple petals, circles for centers, leaf shapes. Imperfect is beautiful here.
7. Arrange before gluing. Let kids play with the layout first. Move pieces around until it feels right.
8. Glue it down. Layer petals, add buttons or pom poms for centers, build texture with overlapping shapes.
9. Fill in empty spots with leaves or more flowers.
10. Sign it. A name on the back, the date, and maybe a short note for Mom.

That's the project. The video shows it all in real time so you can see exactly how the layers come together.

Why do it?

The best handmade gifts have one thing in common: they show that someone took time. A child who spent an afternoon cutting, choosing, and gluing has poured care into something that no store-bought card can replicate.

There's also something quietly meaningful about making art from materials that were headed for the recycling bin. A piece of junk mail becomes a petal. A button from a worn-out shirt becomes a flower's heart. Beauty out of ordinary things — that's a worthwhile thing to teach a child.

Want More Projects Like This?

If your kids loved this one, I have a free 5-Day Creation Art Challenge you'll love. It's five short, faith-inspired art projects based on the Creation story — perfect for creative afternoons, homeschool, or devotions with your kids.

👉 Join the free 5-Day Creation Art Challenge

And if you're looking for an ongoing way to pair beautiful picture books with hands-on art projects each month, Storygalorey Art Club drops a new project on the 1st of every month — book recommendations, video lessons, supply lists, and a Bible verse to read together. May's project is Moses in the Basket, in the library now.

👉 Join Storygalorey Art Club — $17/month, cancel anytime

Whatever Mother's Day looks like at your house this year — store-bought, handmade, breakfast in bed, or an ice cream run together — I hope it's beautiful.

Enriching kids' lives through stories and art,

Jennifer