Mother’s Day Crafting Inspiration With Thrifted Treasures from Goodwill®

By Felicia Czochanski Bisaro

Mothers and grandmothers should be celebrated all throughout the year, and Mother’s Day provides a perfect reminder of that each May. The women in our families are often the glue that holds everything together and makes each day special. Whether it’s making sure everyone gets to school on time, that our annual doctor visits are scheduled, and that we know we always have someone ready to lend an ear nearby if we want to talk through something. The relationships we have with our mothers and grandmothers are important, and that makes it all the more important to celebrate these women in our lives.

I remember that growing up, my sisters and I would make crafts for our mom on Mother’s Day. Each year, the craft would get more creative, or maybe as we got older, we became better at art — my sisters are particularly talented! These handmade DIY gifts can still be found in nooks and crannies of my parents’ house, like a painted seashell from a Mother’s Day past that is still used as a key holder by the back door. Taking the time to make something yourself instead of going to the store to buy something makes the gift feel even more personal and unique. Even as adults, this is the case. Through the years, my crafty sisters have gifted our mom and grandma with some amazing handmade items. Even if you aren’t the best at crafting (I’d put myself in that category), there are still some easy crafts you can pull together that showcase your creativity.

When it comes to crafting, my first step is always to visit my local Goodwill store for inspiration. I browse the shelves and racks for interesting home goods and items that have been donated by other Goodwill shoppers or people in the local community. These donations are a great example of the circular economy that Goodwill is a leader in, diverting items from landfills and instead giving them new life on the shelf and later, in someone’s home. On a recent trip to Goodwill, I found bottles of beautiful sea glass, crystals and some lovely picture frames — all for under $10. I knew I already had super glue at home, and an idea started forming to put together sea glass art and frame it as a gift.

At home, I gathered my materials together, including some small pieces of driftwood I’d found while walking along the beach. I always love to collect shells and other items on my walks, bringing a piece of the beach home with me, which came in handy. Next, I outlined where I’d want to put each item. I’d seen a trend of sea glass art with birds and wanted to give it a try.

Once I was happy with the placement, I drew on the little faces and legs for each bird and glued them to a piece of white paper. This will be the perfect gift for my mom for Mother’s Day, as the birds represent my sisters and I. While we now live in different parts of the country, we’ll all be near her through this piece of art! I ended up liking how this one came out so much that I also decided to make a full family sea glass art as well. This way, our whole family is together despite being spread out across different states.