So, I will sing of my love for Free-cycle again…I scored 15 canning jars for free last week! Woo hoo! I decided to use some of them for my students to make these for their moms for mothers day:
So cute, right?! I really hope the moms liked them as much as I did 
Here’s how I made them:
Start with a plain (cleaned) jar:
Take some paint (I used paint leftover from my easel for this one…they’re all mis-tinted paints) and pour some into the jar. Then, simply swirl it around so the entire inside is coated. The kids loved doing this!
Pour out the excess paint. Let this dry overnight.
Here’s the colors the kids had to choose from:
The next day, I had them choose one of the other colors that they didn’t choose to coat their jar with, and I painted their hands with that paint. They loooove this…it’s so funny and tickly Then, I had them very carefully place their hand on the glass.
Important tip: hold onto their wrist the entire time! Even as you’re walking to the sink…I made these with some very hyper-active Kindergarten and first grade boys with Autism…and we managed not to get paint anywhere but the jars! SUCCESS!
Once their handprint dried, it was time to decorate! I let the boys pick a color ribbon they thought their mom would like (I had 5 choices for them), and then we strung a tag onto the ribbon that said “Happy Mothers Day”. Last, we added a fake gerber daisy, and we ended up with these adorable vases:
Even though we made these for mother’s day…you can make them for anything! Birthdays…Christmas…or just for fun! The ball jars were free, the paint and ribbons were on hand, and I had bought those flowers at a thrift store for a few bucks a few years ago. So, a basically free project
Did you get creative with Mothers Day presents this year?
I’ll be linking up to these lovely parties:
Oh my goodness, these are so cute! what a great idea!
These are so cute! I have a handprint tutorial on my site this week too!
What a great and cute idea!
What a great idea! I bet the moms will love it.
Oh these are so sweet. My son doesn't fight me when we do art like that but he get so into it that he wants to smack his hand print on everything and all over the artwork
These are so cute and great idea to hold the wrists until it's time to wash up, lol. Probably saved you a lot of cleanup.
Great idea! Wish I would have found this earlier in the week as i was into paiting jars, but when I painted inside, it wasn't as easy as it looked. This is a great idea and I am a Freecycle fan as well…can't beat that! nivce job and stinkin' cute! Stacey of Embracing Change
What an awesome creative idea!
I have been a mom for a hundred years and have gotten all kinds of crafts…and I can honestly say..This one is awesome!
I wish I had seen this sooner, what a cute idea!
So cute…great idea!Nancy
These are so cute and something a mother will treasure forever.
Ok, second time trying to leave a comment.I love these! I'm a sucker for personalized things. Specially something kid related since they grow so fast.
Great job!
What a precious idea! I would have loved to get this from my son!Diane
I love how the paint is both on the inside and the outside giving the jar dimension! These are great!
This is such a lovely idea! The kids did really well (and you holding their little painty hands!) Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!Hope you have a great week!Jill @ Creating my way to Successhttp://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Nifty idea. I can see lots of ways to adapt this idea. I love the colors you chose. Thanks for sharing.
This is one ridiculously cute idea! I wish I would have seen this sooner and I would have made on for my son to give to his grandma. Oh well, now I'm ready for next year!!
So sweet…the PERFECT Mother's Day gift!
Lovely gift idea!
Cute idea! I even like them all in a row without the hand prints!
Wish I saw sooner!Would love for you to link up at Calling All Crafters!http://allthingsfee.blogspot.com/2011/05/calling-all-crafters-6th-edition.html
This is amazingly cute and sweet! It has gone in my favorites for a Grammy present sometimes. My little girls will get a kick out of this! I saw you at Polly Want a Crafter, and I'm following you everywhere I can: Google, Twitter, and FB. Have a good day!www.meldreamsoften.com
Really cute vases! I did 6 different vase looks for Mothers Day and yours is a great one!
The hand prints are cute! Great touch on the mason jars
I LOVE these jars! LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Great idea! I would love for you to link up to my Ten Buck Tuesday party! It lasts all week!
These are adorable!! Great idea! I bet the moms loved em!!
Awe, how adorable! I love these!
I'd love if you'd link up to Sew Woodsy!
Hi – visiting from tatertots & jello linky. These are adorable! I think I might try this with my 4-yr-old to make Christmas gifts! thanks for the idea
Okay, you're like, the best teacher ever!! I'd love to receive something like this from one of my girls.
Love the colors!Thanks for joining my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. 
Hope you'll stop by Serenity Now again soon! 
Love this, we made vases out of mason jars for Mother's Day too
what area's free-cycle do you use? i've tried looking into it before but only found ones close to philly. I'd love a link hehe
Turned out great!! Thanks for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday 
What a GREAT idea! Thank you for sharing on Tatertots and Jello! www.project-purple.blogspot.com
I love this idea! I might just copy it with my 4th graders next year.
We made pockets full of posies this year and they turned out really cute. I'll try to link up to the Tuesday party this week with that idea. Thanks for sharing!
That is sooooo sweet!!!!I would love to have you share this at my For the Kids link party! Come join the fun!http://sunscholars.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-kids-friday-9.html
Christina – the jars are totally adorable – I am just loving the handprints – too cute! Thanks so much for linking to the Sunday Showcase Party – I greatly appreciate it. I have featured this. Hope you are having a great week ~ Stephanie Lynnwww.bystephanielynn.com