Made with love: 6 creative Mother’s Day DIY projects

Old birdbaths are easy to find at auction houses and thrift stores or on Facebook marketplace – or you could even buy a new one. Give it a makeover with Resene paint and transform it into a stylish side table. Gretchen Houston painted hers with Resene Lustacryl in on-trend colours Resene Apple Blossom and Resene Sakura.

Before painting, Gretchen used Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer to seal the birdbath, but you could use Resene Waterborne Sureseal or Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer.

For full instructions, check out this article.

Birdbath painted in Resene Apple Blossom, accessories in Resene Apple Blossom and Resene Sakura, walls in Resene Alabaster with paint effect in Resene Double Sea Fog mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium and Resene Sea Fog mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium and panelling in Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay. 

Console tables are a fun and stylish way for Mum to display her favourite plants, photo frames, trinkets and books, without the need for a large shelving unit. The Upcycler, aka Jacob Leaf (Ngāpuhi), has created a unique console table out of some old drawers that have definitely seen better days. He coated them with Resene Aquaclear to let parts of the natural timber shine through, then painted the front panels with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in the colour Resene Deep Sea. 

Check out Jacob’s step-by-step process here.

Console table coated in Resene Aquaclear, with front panel in Resene Deep Sea

Flowers have a limited lifespan, so why not create a bouquet with handprints instead? This is particularly special for little ones who love to ‘help’ and get their hands dirty. Use Resene testpots to create the handprints, then cut them out and stick it onto canvas adorned with a red ribbon. Mum will have a colourful bunch of ‘flowers’ to bring her cheer all year round.

For full instructions, check out the article here.

This hand bouquet has been created with vibrant handprints using Resene Amulet, Resene Geronimo, Resene Rouge, Resene Kamikaze, Resene Havoc, Resene Surfie Green, Resene Grapevine, Resene Meteor, Resene Pompadour, Resene Salsa, Resene Glamour Puss, Resene Matisse, Resene Crusoe and Resene Dawn Pink, all and mantle painted in Resene Half Rice Cake. Project and photo by Fleur Thorpe.

This cute crate is made from small pieces of timber with a thin MDF base. Once you’ve built it, it can be painted in Mum’s favourite colours using Resene testpots. Paint the panels first, then add detailing once it’s all assembled. Then fill it with treats to make a special hamper for Mum. 

Find out how to make one here.

This delightful crate has been painted in Resene Japonica, Resene Rapture, Resene Persian Red, Resene Olive Green, Resene Rivergum and Resene Wax Flower. Project and photo by Fleur Thorpe.

Give old bowls a pop of colour with this Mandala-style design. You can use them as jewellery trays, candleholders and more. Choose Resene colours to complement your mum’s home decor. This is a simple DIY task and is a practical gift that Mum is sure to love and use. Prime with Resene Waterborne Sureseal, then paint with Resene testpots. Once the primary colours are dry, use an artist’s brush to paint the dots in Resene Alabaster, with thicker dots in the middle and smaller dots as the pattern spreads out. 

For full instructions, click here.

Bowls painted in Resene Pink Lace, Resene Poet and Resene Kandinsky, with Resene Alabaster for the dots. Nikki sealed the bowls before painting with Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer but you can use Resene Waterborne Sureseal. Project and photos by Nikki Astwood.

Repurpose an old tray to use as a unique photo or art frame. Get clever with your painter’s tape to make cool geometric designs in complementary Resene colours. Once the paint is all dry, print out a photo of you and Mum (or select an artwork she might like) to stick in the centre with washi tape and lean it against the wall or on top of Mum’s dresser or mantelpiece.  

Find out how to make your own here.

Tray painted in Resene Black White, Resene Romantic, Resene Midnight Express and Resene Half Hammerhead. Project and photo by Nikki Astwood.