Fixin' Leaks and Leeks

During a Halloween blitz through Epcot just a few years ago, inspiration struck me as I watched a woman stumble through the streets of the World Showcase. She had a beer in one hand and was wearing a shiny tiara. In that moment, I thought to myself, “I should really wear tiaras more often. They look like so much fun.” However, the daily duties of laundry, running my child to swim practice, helping students with papers, and blogging once a week made that once-in-a-lifetime sparkly moment fade like my “tankini” after just one water aerobics class. After all, where would I possibly go that would warrant the use of a tiara? Yet, Mother’s Day is one day, I believe, when people would actually expect me to wear a tiara—perhaps even a giant crown. And I don’t want to let anyone down.

I do consider myself a frugal woman though, so I can’t just go out and buy an expensive crown, slap my husband and my son in the face and say, “It’s either this or a hot tub. You’re welcome.” No. I’m the type of woman who’s resourceful enough to dig around the house for some aluminum foil, leftover poster board, tape, candy, beer bottle caps, and tissue paper I save from everyone’s presents. I’ll transform these everyday items into a regal, massive crown I’ll threaten to wear everywhere I go on Mother’s Day, including church. At the end of the day, though, I will have spent zero money on a family treasure that maybe I might be able to pass on to a daughter-in-law someday—or maybe a lucky niece.

So, if you have a half hour or hour of leisure time and you want to make a Mother’s Day crown for yourself, I’ve included the directions below and a short video for making the free-form tissue flower decorations with beer bottle caps for “centers.” All moms and mother figures everywhere deserve to treat themselves like royalty and make a craft that draws much-deserved public attention.

Supplies Needed:

–Poster board

–Scissors

–Clear tape

–Aluminum foil

–Tissue paper, cut roughly into squares—about the size of a cellphone perhaps. I didn’t measure anything—it’s my day off.

–Bottle caps or other decorations

–M&Ms—or anything really—I thought about using cheese puffs, chocolate Twizzlers, potato chips—things I’d like to eat while wearing a crown.

–Stapler/staples

Steps:

1) Cut the poster board down into a square of 27-inches long and about 9 inches tall.

2) Draw the points of the crown with pencil onto the poster board and cut into it to form the individual prongs—being very careful to not cut all the way down into the base.

3) Cover the entire thing in aluminum foil and use clear tape to stick the foil to the crown.

4) Make the tissue paper flowers by pinching the centers of the squares with your fingers and twisting edges around until it vaguely resembles a flower (see video below).

 

5) Attach the flowers with tape to the crown. Then, use the bottle caps as centers. They can be attached with tape as well.

6) Tape the M&Ms or other snacks to the crown.

7) Fasten the back using a stapler.

The finished product is noticeable, impressive, and show stopping. In my case, I’m hoping it gets me a window seat in a restaurant and a few extra mimosas. And, if that does happen, I’m ditching the baseball cap I normally wear when I think I’m not going anywhere “special.” Instead, I’ll pull on some yoga pants and make my Mother’s Day crown my “new normal.” Everywhere will be special now.

Your Turn: What’s a craft you enjoy making for Mother’s Day?

Also: This blog post was part of a blog tour that Lisa Jung of “Lisa My Everyday Life Blog” has put together for the month of May.  Check out her awesome site when you get a chance. She has many wonderful ideas and projects!