There were so many other ideas I wanted to share for inexpensive but fabulous Mother’s Day gift ideas I needed to add a few more gift basket ideas…..which you can make as inexpensive to as expensive as your billfold allows you, doesn’t take a lot of time, can be personalized to fit your mother’s wants/needs and can be filled with easily available items. If you missed the first one, check it out for other ideas….
Writing Basket –
Does your mother still like to send hand-written notes in the mail occasionally? If so, why not fill a basket with writing materials. You could mix and match the items according to how and what your mom likes to write. Almost all of these items can be found at any dollar store or you could pick up items at a card shop, discount store, craft store or bookstore. This one is filled with note cards, pens, an address book, stamps, a journal, a magnetic list pad and a book she could fill out and pass it on to you at some point called “The Book of Myself”. Another thing you could add would be labels. If you want to kick it up a notch, get an elegant pen you could engrave with a special message.
Reading Basket –
If your mom has an e-book reader you could always buy her a gift certificate to download reading material. But is she prefers to read actual books, you could make up a basket of her favorite things to read. If you know a couple of authors she likes, you could put a book or two in by them or perhaps she has a couple of favorite magazines she buys every month. You could toss in a few of those too and even get her a subscription if you wanted. Bookplates are “old-fashioned” maybe but they’re cute and would add a nice touch. I added lens spray cleaner and a reading glass case (if your mom uses reading glasses) and a little night-light is something else you could fill the basket out with. Or if the budget allows, go ahead and get her an e-book reader. *I have a Kindle that I use but I enjoy reading in the tub and since I’m a klutz, I don’t ever take it in the tub so I also like books.
Candy Basket –
If mom has a sweet tooth, why not indulge her with some of her favorite chocolates or candies? I bought all of these chocolates and candy at the Dollar Tree (along with the basket) so the total price of this is $11.00. You can fill it with more expensive chocolates, truffles or candies you know she can’t resist. *If your mom’s on a diet, don’t tempt her with this….not nice!
Herb Basket –
Fresh herbs make anything taste better! Even if mom doesn’t have a “green thumb” or room to plant, fresh herbs are easy to grow indoors or on a patio in a pot. Added to a simple bowl of pasta or scrambled eggs…yum! If your mom is creative in the kitchen you could add a bottle of oil or a bottle of vinegar (or both) with an oil/vinegar cruet (from the dollar store) and she could try her hand at some blends or just have them to add to the herbs.
Candle Basket –
Candles can be personalized to match any mom’s likes, they come in so many colors, scents and shapes. I picked up all of these at the Dollar Tree but if you want to spend more, you could always pick up Yankee Candles or Slatkins & CO candles (sold at Bath & Body Works) or any other brand. Besides a pillar candle this basket also has votives, tea lights, a reed diffuser and a glass candle plate. I added a long lighter and you could also put a candle snuffer in it. You can also choose unscented or flameless candles.
Bird Basket –
My own mom loved watching birds and butterflies (as I now do) and always appreciated new bird houses or feeders. You could add seed, a hummingbird feeder along with nectar and even a bird book and binoculars. *Birds and squirrels can be really messy around bird feeders and knock over the seed where it can grow in to a mess of unwanted sprouts. If you bake bird seed on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes, it won’t sprout when spilled. (Cool for about an hour before putting it out).
Flower Basket-
A bouquet of flowers or a plant is always a nice and appreciated gift to get but if your mom likes to garden, fill up a basket of blooming flowers she can enjoy for the summer. You could also offer to help her plant them! Besides adding gloves like I did, you could also include a hand shovel, plant food, a watering can and even a back-saving stool or kneeling mat.
These are just a few examples of taking some of your mom’s likes and creating a gift that’s as unique and special as your mom. I kept my baskets easy and inexpensive but you can make yours as elaborate as you want. If you wrap it all up in a basket, she’ll also have the basket to use for other things.
And of course, just spending the day with mom or a phone call saying “I love you” would be appreciated!