My doodlebug’s masterpiece…

This year we couldn’t figure out what to get my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day. My mom is easy, and I had her gift months ago, but I couldn’t decide what to get my m-i-l. Being a photographer, they have their fair share of photographic memorabilia, so I wanted something different, but still personal. It had to be sweet and touching and something she would treasure. Yes, maybe I’m putting just a little too much pressure on this gift, but that’s what I wanted. Then it came to me. Who doesn’t need another serving bowl? (Okay, maybe everyone doesn’t share my love of serving dishes for entertaining, but if I love it, she’ll love it… right?) Anyhooooo… I love those paint your own pottery boutiques, but… my projects never seem to turn out just as I intended. Plus, I just didn’t have time to go spend hours in the boutique and then wait a week or so for it to get fired and be ready for pickup. Instead I found a plain white serving dish (I found mine at Target) and then I headed for the craft store. In case you didn’t know, they sell these ceramic enamel paints that you can “fire” by baking on in your home oven.  (I found this kit with lots of colors at Hobby Lobby).  Of course, I didn’t want this to be one of those gifts that gets put in the back of the cupboard, and remember, I wanted it to be touching and sweet, and personalized by her grand-daughter. So, we created fingerprint art. Every petal, ladybug, bumble bee, etc. was created with my daughter’s little thumb. (I then went back and added in the antenna, wings, and stems.)  When it was done, I realized that ***I*** want one of these.  So, we may be making another when we get home from our trip next week, for me and for my mom. I sure hope my m-i-l loves it as much as I do.  I think it makes the perfect spring time serving dish, and it’s a conversation piece to boot!  It’s perfectly imperfect.  But, maybe that’s just a biased mom speaking. 

Happy Mother’s Day!