I think that the best gift for any mom is the one that is handmade by you, so get creative and make your mom something she’ll love and use. Here’s a clever idea from DIY’s Craft Lab:

Simple Aluminum Bud Vase

Step 1 - cut the aluminum dryer duct in half

Step 2 - remove the cut semi-circle

Step 3 - feather it out with your hands

Step 4 - until both ends meet

Step 5 - cut a small strip of foil tape

Step 6 - tape the open end and smooth out the crease

Step 7 - insert a test tube, some water and a flower

Step 8 - and now you have a flower vase for your mom!

Materials: Aluminum dryer duct, industrial scissors or x-acto knife, foil tape, test tube, flower

Message Tape - now, that’s clever functional multi-purpose design. Black out the white dots to create personalized messages, label boxes, make signs, decorate, use it for packaging or just as standard heavy duty tape. How many times have you had to leave a message on a friend’s door and couldn’t find any paper or tape? No more. Two birds, one sharpie.

Valentine’s is an excuse to seduce. And it’s usually not what you do, but how you do it. You can be the same ol’ washed-up cliché with lingerie, champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries that you’ve been for years, but… wouldn’t you rather charm her panties off with a do-it-yourself surprise that you put your heart and soul into? Carve your own love message into this wooden card that she’ll hold onto longer than the déjà vu cheese from Hallmark. Now, you’re slightly less of a sell-out.