I am here to tell you that all your mom really wants for her special day is a homemade card with a sweet message inside. Trust me, I am a mom and I have older kids, but I have kept every cute handmade card they’ve made me over the years. There's just something about a handmade Mother's Day card that store-bought cards can't compete with.

Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, I have scoured the internet to find you the absolute best ideas to make mom (or your bonus mom!) feel like a queen. Plus, who doesn’t love a fun craft to make instead of buying a Mother’s Day gift at the store. These creative Mother's Day cards are a perfect gift all on their own (but if you wanted to pair one with a classic bouquet or cozy PJs, I'm sure your mom wouldn't hate it - am I right, fellow moms?)

Handmade cards are perfect for kids of all ages because they can make them entirely on their own. Sure, they might need a little help, but once they add their own special message, it won’t matter who helped them to craft a perfect card. And…did you know that Mother’s Day cards at Walgreens are almost $6!

So skip the store, gather your construction paper, non-toxic paint, washi tape, and a little bit of glue, and roll up your sleeves to make a DIY Mother’s Day card!

20 DIY Mother’s Day Card Ideas

1. Shrinky dink notepad keychains – You know I love when design meets function! What better way to celebrate mother figures than one of my absolute favorite things? Just don’t forget to punch a small hole in each shrinky dink keychain or you won't be able to add your keys to it!

2. Floral Pop Up Card – I’ve always had a thing for pop-up cards and this adorable card from Martha Stewart is no different! What better way to celebrate mom than with a pop-up Mother's Day card? Martha Stewart hit it out of the park with this one.

3. Mom, I Love You Pop Up – If you’ve got a Cricut or a Silhouette, this modern spin on a traditional Mother’s Day card from 1 Dog Woof is both easy and impressive. The best part? Mom can frame it after and use it for wall art!

4. Heart String Art – Hello Wonderful always has the best ideas. This one is so simple yet it is an easy craft for both young children and older children. Find the full tutorial here.

5. Cricut SVG Cards – Take your card making to the next level with a Cricut. I am obsessed with this card from Daydream into Reality. The SVG is available for free to download, too! Win-win!

6 Printable Cards – If you’re not feeling crafty but you want to show mom you love her, try a printable card from A Beautiful Mess. A sweet, personalized card doesn't always have to be handmade.

7. Gold Foil Cards – Using gold foil is so easy and yet the end result is so sophisticated. I love these gold foil cards from PS I Made This. Simply add a personal message and you are good to go!

8. Layered Card – If you love the layered look, this one’s for you! Lia Griffith always has the best paper crafts!

9. Hugs & Kisses Card – I love the idea of having your young children press their noses up against the glass and take a picture. Not only will this cute idea from Delia Creates make her smile, it’s a perfect way to also gift mom a photograph! Here’s a little secret: Moms love photos of their kids!

10. Flower Petals Card – Kids love using glue and scissors. Moms love flowers. What better way to celebrate mom than with this easy peasy flower petals card from Sarah Hearts.

11. Super Mom Cards – This one from Design Improvised brings back such memories! It is such a great idea because it shows mom how much you appreciate all the hard work she does. I remember making this one for father’s day actually and my dad used up all of the cards:

12. Fingerprint Card – Ready to roll up your sleeves and get a little messy with your messy little monster? I love the idea of this fingerprint card from Artsy Crafty Mom – mom will love this cute little card because of the small prints that can form anything from hearts to flowers.

13. Slider Card – I’ve always been drawn to cards that are more interactive. This one from Love This Pic is great for younger kids because it takes a little bit of time and all you really need are basic craft supplies. I also love that there’s a YouTube tutorial to go along with it.

14. Accordion Card – I love how creative this card from Oh Happy Day is. It doubles as a thoughtful card and a keepsake! Aren’t homemade Mother’s Day cards the best??

15. Funny Card – Does your mom have a great sense of humor? Are you not super crafty? If not, check out this printable Mother’s Day card from Lovely Indeed. Who doesn’t love printable templates?

16. Mother’s Day Mail – Does mom live out of town? Think about how special she would feel if she received these in the mail! I am obsessed with the Paper n Stitch blog, too! Her ideas are so out of the box!

17. Fork Painted Flowers Card – I am sure you’ve seen paintings like these from The Best Ideas for Kids before. For younger children, you want to make it super easy! With a fork, a piece of paper and some paint, you can make this easy project:

Grab a fork and some paint and make some fork-painted flowers. Embellish it or add your own special touch. Write mom a heartfelt message.

18. Woven Heart Card – I love this woven heart card from BHG. The best part? This easy mother’s day card idea is super user friendly because of the heart shape download. You don’t even have to share your email – the pdf is ready instantly and is an entirely free printable template.

19. Handprint Butterfly Card – Here’s another one from Glued to My Crafts for those younger children who want to move beyond a macaroni art Mother’s Day card. This is a fun spin on handprint crafts – first create the handprint, then let your little one turn the handprint into a butterfly handprint card for the sweetest, most sentimental craft for moms, step-moms, grandmas, aunts, and more.

20. Flower Pencil Card – This one from Paper Source might have an extra cost attached, but if you love flower crafts and functional art, go ahead and purchase this DIY flower pencil. It doubles as a sweet gift that Mom can use for months (or years) to come. This one could work for pretty much any holiday but bonus points for getting mom something with flowers.

Hopefully you now have some ideas for easy mother’s day cards! Whether you're planning to spoil Mom by going all out or are just looking for something simple that will really make her smile, these creative Mother's Day card ideas get you started on the right track. Just remember, moms love anything. Simply getting her a bouquet of flowers will make her day.

However, a homemade Mother’s Day card will never end up in the trash. Why? Because moms work so hard and knowing that she’s appreciated and has a special place in your heart is just the kind of card she needs!

Looking for more handmade gifts for Mother’s Day? Check out this post with my favorite Mother's Day crafts!

Happy Crafting—and Happy Mother's Day!