Contributed by Missy Nolan, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Sure, moms love expensive jewelry, gift cards, and trips to the spa- who doesn’t? The bad thing about those gifts is that they can be rather impersonal.

Yes, you took time to find out the name of her favorite salon or restaurant, but you could have done that just as easily for your friends or significant other.

Make mom feel special with a handmade mother’s day gift. Whether you’re 3 or 33, mom will have a special spot in her heart for any gift that you make. Oh, and if you are 3 years old and reading this without any help, ask mom to enroll you in a program for gifted kids. She obviously raised you well.

Here are the top ten handmade Mother’s Day Gifts:

10. Picture frames

It’s no secret that mom loves taking hundreds of photos of every cute thing you’ve done since they day you were born. There are pictures of you smiling, frowning, grimacing, chewing on your hand, taking a bath, and ummmm, maybe even creating something special in the toilet bowl (note to self: hide that photo).

Assemble a cute little picture frame out of popsicle sticks if you’re young enough to get away with it. If not, buy a cheap frame and cover it with fabric, stickers, fake diamonds, or whatever else you think your mom will like. Picture frame craft sets are available if you need a little extra help. You could also carve your own frame from a block of wood, but it’s okay if you don’t think that is going to happen.

9. Pottery

So what if you almost failed art? Mom thinks you’re the next Picasso. Sculpt your own bowl or mug out of clay and use it next time you make breakfast for the woman who gave you the gift of life.

8. Flower pot or vase

Paint a cup or glass that nobody ever uses, or buy a plain pot and decorate it. Fill with bright, fragrant flowers.

7. Fake flowers

Mom needs something to put in the vase you made last year (at least, you think it was a vase- it may have been a pottery experiment gone bad). Use pipe cleaners and tissue paper to make colorful flowers that will last forever. Flowers made out of popsicle sticks and colored foam craft sets work well, too. Accompany the flowers with a note that says “Mom, I will love you until the day these flowers wilt”. Make sure you warn mom not to water them.

6. A card

From crayon stick figures to colored pencil masterpieces, mom is incredibly proud of every single picture you’ve ever drawn. Take it up a notch with a handmade card using fancy cardstock. Don’t forget to write a sweet message inside!

5. Jewelry

Combine beads and charms with fishing wire, thread, or string for a necklace or bracelet that mom will love forever. If you don’t want to buy the supplies separately, purchase a jewelry kit. Mother-approved favorite: a bracelet with the names, birth dates, or birth stones of their children. If you don’t trust your jewelry-making skills, buy a locket necklace and slip a family photo inside.

4. A hand-written poem

Make your English teacher proud with a well-written poem dedicated to Mommy Dearest. Frame the poem in a handmade photo frame if you really want to go out. Is your handwriting worse than your 7 year old brother’s? Type your poem in a program such as Microsoft Word.

3. Cookies and baked goods

Moms spend a lot of time in the kitchen, preparing healthy meals for the entire family (okay, maybe a few unhealthy ones too). Show off your own cooking talents with a batch of freshly-baked cookies or brownies. It’s okay if they come from a box.

2. Puzzle

Buy a premade puzzle kit, or glue a photo that mom loves (use a copy just to be safe) to a piece of cardboard. Use a pencil to draw an outline of puzzle shapes on the back of your cardboard. Cut your shapes with sharp scissors and place them inside a nice box or sandwich bag.

1. Candle

Keep the house smelling fresh with a handmade candle. Many craft stores sell candle making kits and scented oils. Create a signature scent and name it “Love and Appreciation”.