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Three simple and unique DIY Mother’s Day projects

08 May 2025

Mum is sure to love one of these threesimple and unique DIY gift ideas for Mother’s Day this year. Making something yourself for mum not only means giving her a one-of-a-kind gift but also shows the love and effort you’ve put in on her special day. Head to your local Resene ColorShop to pick up some testpots in her favourite colours and get making with one of these projects!  

What’s on the menu, mum? 

If mum spends a lot of time in the kitchen then this wall sign could be just the thing to brighten her day. Paint it in her favourite Resene colours, or keep it the same as the wall colour for a cohesive design.  

You will need: 

  • One large paddle board  

  • Wooden knife and fork  

  • Wooden letters   

  • Paintbrush  

  • Rope  

  • Glue  

  • Resene Colorwood Walnut wood stain

  • Resene Aquaclear waterborne urethane (optional) 

Step 1: Paint your board in a base colour of your choice. We used Resene Drought. 

Step 2: Stain the wooden letters that say ‘mum’s kitchen’ and the wooden knife and fork in a Resene Colorwood wood stain or paint colour of your choice. We used Resene Colorwood Walnut wood stain.For an easier to dust surface, apply Resene Aquaclear clear urethane on top of the wood stain. 

Step 3: Paint the wooden letters that spell out ‘open 24 hrs’ in another of your chosen Resene colours. We used Resene Half Drought.  

Step 4: Glue all of the wooden letters and knife and fork onto the sign.  

Step 5: Thread rope through the hole in the handle of the board ready for hanging.  

Step 6: Give your kitchen sign to mum on Mother’s Day morning or hang it in the kitchen so she gets a surprise on the day.  

Background painted in Resene Half Thorndon Cream. 

 

Picture perfect present  

A picture frame is always a great gift option, so why not customise your own this Mother’s Day for your mum.  We took some wooden frames along with some wooden flowers and painted them in two shades of blue in Resene Jordy Blue and Resene Sail.  We simply glued the painted flowers to the frames and popped in a favourite photo.    

You will need: 

  • 2x wooden picture frames  

  • Wooden flowers  

  • Clear craft glue  

  • Paintbrush  

 

Step 1: Paint one of your frames in the first of your chosen colours. We used Resene Jordy Blue. Do two coats, allowing dry time between coats for the best finish. 

Step 2: Paint the other frame in another of your chosen colours. We used Resene Sail for our second frame. Do two coats, allowing dry time between coats for the best finish. 

Step 3: Paint the wooden flowers. We used the two colours we used for our frames – Resene Sail and Resene Jordy Blue – but you can use any colours you like. Do two coats, allowing dry time between coats for the best finish. 

Step 4: Glue the wooden flowers to the frame using clear craft glue.  

Step 5: Pop in your photos and give to mum. 

Background painted in Resene Half Doeskin and console in Resene Double Rice Cake. 

 

Pamper time 

If mum loves a good soak in the bath or is in some need of some pamper time, then this special pamper box could be just the thing she needs this year for Mother’s Day. After she’s done with all her goodies, the box can also be kept and used for storage, or used as another gift for someone by changing the wooden letters – perhaps ‘dad’s toolbox’ for Father’s Day.  

You will need: 

  • A wooden box (ours is 36cm in length, 26cm wide and 12cm deep)  

  • Wooden letters 

  • Paintbrush  

  • PVA or craft glue  

Step 1: Paint your storage box in your chosen Resene testpot colour. We used Resene Half Innocence.  

Step 2: Paint your wooden letters in another of your chosen shades. We used Resene Pearl Lusta for our letters.  

Step 3: Glue the wooden letters to the box using PVA or craft glue.  

Step 4: Pop in your pamper products and give to mum on Mother’s Day.  

Background painted in Resene Half Doeskin and console in Resene Double Rice Cake. 

 

projects Vanessa Nouwens 

images Bryce Carleton 

Published: 08 May 2025