Handmade gifts for mom

Kids love doling out hugs and kisses, and they’re just as keen to give gifts to the people they hold special. Making handmade gifts for Mother’s Day will not only give mommy a special keepsake to remember, but it will build confidence in your child as they swell with pride when mom opens her surprise!

Mother’s Day Rebus Poem

A simple ‘I love you’ written with symbols instead of words is sure to get a smile from mom or grandma. Use a regular-sized piece of construction paper or card stock as the background, and draw or cut pictures from paper showing an eye, a heart, and the letter U – which translates to ‘I love you’ in Rebus speak.

Like Mother, Like Child Card

Dig through old albums for a picture of mom that represents the approximate age of your child. Place the picture alongside a photo of your child, in the centre of a piece of poster board or card stock. Note the similarities between the two pictures, writing them around the two photos – examples might include hair colour, eye colour, face shape, missing front teeth etc. Present the page to mom in a simple picture frame, which can be painted or decorated as part of the project.

Mother’s Day Painted Plant Pot

Transform a simple terra cotta pot into a designer original with some paints and a sponge or brush. Then choose a flowering plant and pot it up for mom. Or purchase a biodegradable pot to paint or colour, and plant it with a perennial or vegetable plant (like cherry tomatoes) that can be transferred straight into the garden, pot and all!

Mother’s Day Bookmark

Cut a piece of cardstock or construction paper to 5cm x 15cm. Decorate the bookmark – draw or cut out letters (from old magazines or newspapers) to spell MOMMY, paste a picture of your child on the bookmark, or draw/cut-out pictures of mommy’s favourite things. If you have a hole punch, make a hole at the centre top, and add a ribbon so mom can find the bookmark when it’s hiding in her latest read. Tip: to make sure the bookmark really lasts, you can take it to a self-serve copy centre to get it laminated.

Keri Zingle is mother of two and owner of Craft Caravan. If you love crafts but are short on time or ideas, let Craft Caravan do the work! Receive new craft projects at your door every month with the Kids Craft Club. Visit www.craftcaravan.com.

A recipe for breakfast in bed

Strawberry Cheescake Stuffed French Toast

Simple Strawberry Syrup

• 1 cup California strawberries, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

French Toast

• 2 large California strawberries, mashed
• ½ cup light cream cheese, softened
• 2 tsp powdered sugar
• 8 slices egg bread, or other loaf bread (preferably a day or two old), sliced ½ inch thick
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• ½ cup milk
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 tsp butter
• sliced almonds, optional

Directions

Simple Strawberry Syrup: In a small mixing bowl, sprinkle 1 tbsp sugar over chopped strawberries. Add lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix with a fork and set aside.

French Toast: With a serrated knife, slice bread into pieces ½ inch thick. Mix together mashed strawberries, light cream cheese, powdered sugar and 2 tbsp of the strawberry syrup. Spread 4 slices of bread with 2 tbsp of the strawberry cream cheese mixture. Cover with the remaining 4 slices of bread to make 4 sandwiches.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt.

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Dip bread into the egg mixture, gently flipping to allow egg mixture to soak in. Melt butter in the skillet, spreading the melted butter to evenly coat the bottom of the pan. Cook French toast for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.

Place French toast onto plates and top with a few tablespoons of the strawberry syrup. Dust with powdered sugar and sprinkle with sliced almonds if desired. Serve immediately. Serves four.

Recipe developed by nutritionist and kid’s cooking instructor Natasha MacLean, on behalf of the California Strawberry Commission.

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