A Cool and Fun Mother's Day Craft

Mother’s Day is coming up, and one of my favorite gifts that I've received is this whimsical and beautiful heart brooch made from decorative buttons and gold paint. My son made one of these for me when he was in kindergarten, and I was amazed at how creative and sophisticated it looked. We even entered it in the kids’ jewelry design competition at the Marin County Fair where it won first place! Whenever I wear this brooch, I get compliments on it, and I’m sure most moms would love one of these for a Mother’s Day gift.

Fortunately, this craft is easy, fun, and inexpensive to make, so why not have the kids make one for Mom or Grandma this Mother's Day? All you need are a few supplies, many of which you may have on hand already, and otherwise can find at any craft or art supply store.

To make this craft, you’ll need:

• Assorted decorative buttons and charms
• White glue, like Elmer’s
• Heavy card stock, letter size.
• Gold spray paint
• Bar pins
• Kid-safe scissors
• Heart template (download it here)
• Newspaper

Print out the heart template onto a sheet of card stock and carefully cut out the heart with a pair of scissors. Spread a good amount of glue over the heart. You need to put enough glue on the paper so that the buttons stay put.

Now choose some buttons and arrange them however you like onto the heart. When you’re satisfied with your design, set aside and let it dry. Try to keep little fingers away from it until it’s completely dry and all the buttons stay put.

Take your creation outside or into a well-ventilated room, place it on the newspaper and paint it with the gold spray paint, making sure to get paint into all the nooks and crannies around the buttons so everything is covered. Again, let your brooch dry thoroughly before handling.

When the paint is dry, turn your brooch over and glue a bar pin to the back. As before, make sure you use a healthy amount of glue so the pin stays in place. Let it dry once more and you’re done!

Now you have a beautiful piece of jewelry that any mother would be thrilled to receive on Mother’s Day, or on her birthday or Christmas, too, for that matter.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms and moms-to-be out there!