Americans have been celebrating mothers since President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day an annual national observance in 1915.
But citizens had been lobbying the government to set aside a day to honor mothers for many decades before the second Sunday in May was chosen as the official day to recognize the importance of motherhood.
Noted writer and lecturer Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910), made the first known suggestion for a Mother's Day in the United States in 1872. A reformer and noted abolitionist of her time, she wrote poems and plays and helped her husband edit The Commonwealth, an antislavery paper. Howe thought people should observe Mother's Day on June 2 in America to celebrate peace.
Remember your mom this year with a beautiful and useful gift you can make her, especially if she likes to spend time in the kitchen creating great meals for your family.
I found directions for this craft at crafts.kaboose.com/felted-recipe-box.html on the Web and modified them for our use.
Supplies you will need:
2 9-by-12-inch sticky-back felt sheets, any color.
Matching rick-rack trim or pretty ribbon about 1-inch wide.
Scrapbook paper.
Scissors.
White craft glue.
Glue stick.
Pencil.
Empty envelope box or other cardboard box.
Greeting card or clip art printed on card stock.
Trim top flaps off of cardboard box.
Trace the sides and the ends of the box onto the back of the sticky-back felt sheet. Make two sets (eight pieces total) of each. The extra set of felt will be used to cover the inside of the box. Cut out.
Peel away the paper and adhere felt to the outside of the box. Cover the inside of the box in the same manner. It might be necessary to trim the felt to fit.
Press the edges of the felt together on the edges of the box.
Find clip art or a greeting card that will fit on the front of the box. Make a border around the picture with scrapbook paper, or use decorative scissors to give it a scalloped look.
Glue the decorative trim to the back of the picture and use a glue stick to glue the picture to the front of the box.
Glue ribbon or rick-rack trim to the outside edges on the sides of the box, carefully covering any seams that show.
Cut hearts out of scrapbook paper and glue to the sides and back of the box for decoration.
Place a package of recipe cards inside in case your mom wants to rewrite her old cards to place inside the new box. Or, download printable recipe cards to include in the holder.
Write a note and place with the cards to tell your mom how much you appreciate all that she does for you.
If you have a craft idea or question, contact Kathy Antoniotti, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640; 330-996-3565; or via e-mail at kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.