DIY Mother's Day Project

There’s this really fantastic poem by Maya Angelou titled, “Mother, A Cradle To Hold Me.” You can read the entire poem here. It begins:

“It is true

I was created in you.

It is also true

That you were created for me.

I owned your voice.

It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.

Your arms were molded

Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me.

The scent of your body was the air

Perfumed for me to breathe.”

Mothers are some of the most beautiful beings. Like a light, they’re radiant. The capacity to love without limits is something I am so glad we celebrate each year with a special day dedicated to these special women. Because moms light up so many lives around them, I was determined to find a way to reverse that and light up mom’s life this May.

After searching, I found this really neat Mother’s Day project on Pinterest. It’s the perfect art project for kids of any age and really allows them to express their unique artistic style while showing appreciation and love for Mom. And, because the kids took a hands-on approach to gifting, it’s a no-brainer that mom will LOVE it!



You’ll need the following:

• A clay / terracota planter with a drain hole at the bottom
• A solar light, like my Solar Garden Stakes
• Water-based acrylic paints and brushes
• A primer sealant, oil or water-based
• A clear, acrylic sealant

To begin, you’ll need to clean the pot. Scrub gently with soap and water and dry with a rag to remove any dust or dirt. You want the paint to go on smooth.

Apply one to two coats of sealant and let dry before painting. This and step one can be done prior to gathering the kids, especially if they’re younger with short attention spans.

Get the paints out and let the kids go to town! Encourage them to use a lot of paint since terracotta tends to soak up the first few layers. If they can, a second coat of paint might be helpful to really showcase the colors. And remember, the more colors the better!!!

Once the pots are painted, they’ll need to dry overnight. After completely dry, apply the clear acrylic sealant to the painted portion of the pot.

Lastly, turn your planter upside down and insert the solar light into the planter. Here’s what it should look like:


This is a great project for dad or grandparents to help with and I promise, mom will be so impressed! Share your finished product with me on Facebook.