CREATE A BEAUTIFUL MAY DAY BASKET AND A LETTER FOR MOM

Spring has sprung and it is time to celebrate with a May Day basket and ideas for Mother's Day. So here are a few ideas for the month of May with a letter for mom and a floral hanging old-fashioned May basket.

I am excited to share with you how to make a May Day basket that you can use for May Day, Mother's day, birthdays, holidays, or just because, and then I have some fun ideas for a letter to Mom.

In fact, I have more ideas for Mother's day if you need some inspiration after you finish this post.

With two beautiful holidays in the month of May, I have often thought why not combine the two and create a lovely May Day basket to give to Mom for Mother's day and if you really want to impress Mom write her an old fashion snail mail letter.

I promise it will make her day!!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links below. All opinions are all my own.

May Day Basket and Letter to Mom Ideas

We are going to talk about how to make a May Day basket first but if you want ideas for writing a letter to mom scroll on down about halfway.

What is May Day?

May Day is celebrating spring either on May 1 or the first Monday in May. It is an ancient holiday that is still celebrated in many places.

When I was in elementary school we would celebrate with the May Day pole which consisted of different colored long ribbons hanging down on all sides. We, the children, would grab a ribbon and start walking around the pole wrapping the ribbon as we go. When we were finished the pole was very pretty.

We also ate delicious cakes and punch and played games. The main thing is that we were enjoying the beautiful weather that spring brought.

How to Make a May Day Basket

This easy and beautiful project can be made in about 30 minutes once you have all your supplies. Here is a list of supplies.

Supplies

• Recycled jar, I used a jelly and salsa jar, or a plain jar
• Toile free printable for jar (adjust if your jar is larger than a small jelly jar) (Subscribe here to download)
• Gift tag free printable (You only need to subscribe once because both printables are on the same page along with other free printables.)
• Scissors to cut yarn
• Pruning shears or scissors to cut flowers
• Paper cutter
• Outdoor decoupage
• Artist paintbrush
• Hole punch for the gift tag (I used a small two-hole but you can use something sharp to make a hole)
• 84″ or 2.33 yards of blue yarn
• 84″ or 2.33 yards of white twine

Shop Supplies:

How to Clean a Label off of a Jar

If you are using an old jar as I did in this project here are a few tips to help you get the label off.

Begin by soaking the jar in hot water and dawn soap for an hour. Then take a knife and scrape the label off. I found it easier to scrap the label towards the center on one side and then towards the center on the other side.

Next, wash the jar thoroughly and about a 1/3 of water to the jar. You can add more water once the May day basket arrives at its destination but a 1/3 will feed your flowers for now.

Print Toile May Day Printables

Next, after you have subscribed to the Life on Summerhill newsletter you will get a link to your inbox and it will take you to my printable library. Then look for this toile pattern and gift tag. Simply download them and print them on regular printer paper.

If your jar is larger you may need to adjust the size but if your jar is about the size of a jelly jar then you are good to go.

Cut Toile Design

Next, grab some scissors or a paper cutter and cut around the edge of the toile pattern.

Then cut the gift tag on three sides. Cut up again the flower pattern or stems but leave the left side of the tag with some white space so you can punch some holes there.

Apply Toile Pattern to the Jar

Now it is time to apply lovely patterned paper to the jar. Simply brush decoupage to the backside of the paper from edge to edge. Then start on one side and smooth the paper around the jar until it meets the other side.

If your paper overlaps take some decoupage to glue them together. Next, apply more decoupage to the top of the toile pattern paper. You can go over onto the glass a tiny bit but for the most part, stay on the paper.

Let it dry for a few hours.

Add Twine and Yarn Bow

Next cut a 36″ piece of twine and yarn. Find the center and start at the back and wrap it around the neck of the jar. Make sure it is under the lip. This will keep the twine and yarn secure so that it doesn't slip up.

Now loop twice to make the first tie. I like to double loop because it helps keep it from sliding apart and make tieing so much easier if you are by yourself. Follow the loop with the traditional bow tieing. Whatever you learned in elementary school will do.

I like to make my bows ears long but it is up to you what you think is pretty.

Add the Handle

You might need a seam ripper or something like that to pull the twine and yarn up from the neck. Basically you will thread the 48″ piece of twine and yarn behind the twine and yarn that is tied in a pretty bow around the neck of the jar.

Once you have one side done take the other end of the twine and yarn and thread it under the twine that is tied around the neck of the jar. Once you have it through tie the ends together and life on the handle.

You may need to adjust the connection with the jar neck yarn and twine until the jar hangs straight down.

Floral Arrangement

Isn't this fun! Creating something special for someone you love or to show someone you care is so fun.

Let me recommend you hang your jar on a doorknob or hook while you do your flower arranging. I found it to be much easier once I was done to do it this way.

Simply find three to five flowers and cut the stems so that the flower sits a few inches up from the rim of the jar.

An easy way to determine how much to cut off of the bottom of your flower is to sit your jar at the edge of the table and place the flower next to it with the stem hanging off of the table. Once you get the height you want that is where you will cut.

Then add some greenery around the edges.

If you are arranging flowers on the counter life the handle up when you put flowers inside the vase so that you can work around the handle. Now add more flowers and greenery.

May Day Basket Gift Tag

It is time to add your gift tag. First, you will need to punch one or two holes into the tag. I have a small hole punch that has two holes in it but you can use an ice pick for this also.

Simply punch two holes side by side and thread the twine in one side on the top and up through the other hole. The twine has enough texture that it will hold the gift tag in place.

Store your May Day Basket and Deliver

Before we go on to the letters for Mom ideas make sure to keep your May Day baskets hanging somewhere with water inside. Once I was ready to deliver the baskets I discovered that they fit perfectly into my cup holder in my van. They may not fit into everyone's cup holder but if you have ones that expand it will work like a charm.

I decided to make my baskets a surprise so I quietly walked up to their doors and hung the basket on the door knob. I almost got away on both houses but got caught both times. LOL!

The first one was my sister and they were waiting for dinner delivery which was an hour late so she thought I was their meal. And the other one was my niece and she saw my car lights and opened the garage to see who was coming. LOL!

It was fun making these but it was even more exciting delivering them!!! This project with brighten your day and someone else too.

Shop These Ideas for Mother's Day

Ideas for Writing a Letter for Mom

I used to love writing a letter for Mom when she was alive. Handcrafted, handwritten letters mailed through snail mail are so unique and meaningful.  So for this Mother's day, I want to encourage you to write your mom an old fashion letter. Here are some ideas to get you started.

There is something magical about getting an old fashion letter in the mail, and what better way to say I love you than crafting a letter for Mom.

How to Make Envelopes

There are so many different kinds of stationery to choose from these days, but creating your own, unique stationery is even more meaningful.

I thought it would be fun to teach you how to make beautiful envelopes and lovely pieces of stationery to go into plain, white envelopes.

HISTORY LETTER IDEA

Below is an envelope I created based off of the letters my dad wrote his mom while he was fighting in the war. My father's letters were fashioned with the traditional red and blue designed edges.

This gave me an idea for a letter for Mom.

Start with plain stationery like the one in this photograph below.

Consider decorating your envelope with some red and blue around the edges to send a message from the past.

Retro styles like this one are very trendy right now.

I used sharpies so the color would not run in case they came in contact with water. Then, write inside, starting from your first year of life until now, one thing you remember about your mom or loved about her at that time.

She will love to see what you remember!

It may even spark conversations about the past, too.  It will be funny to see how your mom remembers the one thing that is vivid in your mind.

HANDMADE LILLY PULITZER CALENDER ENVELOPES

So, I have many old Lilly Pulitzer calendar planners laying around, and they happen to be very colorful.  I have been trying to figure out something to do with them because I hate to throw them away.

The pages are so beautiful!

So I decided to use one to make an envelope for a happy letter to Mom.

Start by taking apart an envelope that you'd like to use as a template.

Be very careful when taking it apart; you want it to keep its shape.

Then, just turn your calendar planner paper over and trace around the envelope that you took apart.  Last, use a double-sided adhesive roller to glue the pieces together.

For this letter, write down some of your happiest memories.  Use bright colored papers to write on and, to add even more excitement, fill it with confetti!

It may be a little messy when Mom opens it, but she will be so pleased that I doubt she will mind.

LETTER FOR MOM STATIONERY PRINTABLE

This write-in letter is perfect for any age. It's especially ideal for younger children or teens to fill out.

It is so much fun to read what my children write in these spaces, so I am pretty confident your mom will get a kick out of it, too!

To download the image click on the letter below.

More Shopping Ideas for Mom:

CONCLUSION

Now that you have some ideas on how to make hanging May Day baskets and writing old fashion letters for Mom, waste no time, and start writing a letter and making your flower basket!

Oh, and if you liked this Mother's day post go check out these popular Mother's day gift ideas in this Mother's day gift guide and Ideas for Mother's Day Brunch. In fact, I have a whole entertain category where you will find loads of ideas for beautiful tablescapes and some yummy recipes too.

Happy Writing!

If you enjoyed these ideas, please sign up for emails, so you don’t miss out on more fun decorating tips and ideas HERE.