It’s that time of year again – time for people to write lists filled with gendered assumptions about what people should give as Mother’s Day gifts. Regardless of whether you’re trying to find a gift for you mother, father, or any loved one, thoughtfulness is the key to a truly memorable gift – and when it comes to thoughtfulness, nothing is better than a hand-made gift.

Here are five ideas for thoughtful gifts for your favourite maker.

1. Make a card from seed paper – It is shockingly easy to make your own paper and it’s even easier to make paper that can be planted to sprout plants. To make seed paper all you have to do it add a handful of your favourite plant seeds during the paper making process. Once the paper dries it can be shredded and planted.

2. Transfer a photo onto wood –  Mother’s/Father’s Day is a great excuse to dig through old family photo albums. Once you’ve found a favourite photo, try scanning it, reprinting it, and transferring onto a block of wood. This project makes for a quick and inexpensive way to create a heart-felt gift.

3. Make an innovative tomato garden – Spring is in the air and there is no better time to get out into the garden. If your loved one has a garden, consider creating an innovative garden-based gift like this tomato growing inclosure. This project uses a buried 15 gallon bucket and some chicken wire to create the ultimate tomato growing device. Plants are truly the gift that keeps on giving.

4. Reorganize a tool space –  Nothing says “I love you” like helping with some much-needed Spring cleaning. This blog post from MAKE Magazine offers some ideas for creating custom-made tool organizers for a work space. If your loved one has a cluttered area, finding creative organizational solutions can make a great gift.

5. Make a living succulent wreath – Wreaths aren’t only for the holidays. Using wire and moss you can create a living succulent wreath that, when properly cared for, can live for years.

What projects do you have in mind for Mother’s Day? If you’re making a loved one a special project this weekend, we’d love to hear about it!

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-The MakerBus team