This Mother’s Day, skip the store-bought sentiment and give Mom something she’ll really treasure—your time, your love, and a few well-chosen words that capture just how much she means to you.
We’ve gathered over 25 heartfelt, honest, and humorous quotes about motherhood that are perfect for cards, keepsakes, and DIY gifts. Whether you want to make her laugh, cry happy tears, or just feel incredibly appreciated, these quotes do the trick.
And to make it extra special? We’ve gathered 15+ creative ways to turn these quotes into handmade gifts she’ll cherish for years to come—no glitter explosion or crafting degree required.
Bonus: Click here for your chance to claim a Michael’s gift card.
💝 Cute & Crafty Ways to Use Mother’s Day Quotes
Here are ideas for turning those sweet words into keepsakes your mom will actually want to keep forever:
- Painted Vase or Planter: Use paint markers to write a quote on a flower vase or small clay pot. Plant a perennial so it blooms every year—just like her love.
- Mug of Love: Paint a favorite quote on a plain white mug using oil-based paint pens. Fill it with her favorite tea, coffee, or a few fancy chocolates.
- Photo Frame with Flair: Stencil or write a quote along the edge of a frame and add a photo of the grandkids (or you and your mom!).
- Handprint Keepsake Art: Using paint, put your child’s handprint(s) on cardstock or canvas, paint stem(s), and write a quote alongside it. It’s fridge-door-worthy forever.
- Homemade Bookmark: Use cardstock and pretty paper to create a bookmark. Add a quote, laminate it, and tie a ribbon on top.
- Apron Quote: Use fabric markers to write a fun or sweet quote on a plain kitchen apron. Add painted handprints for an extra hug.
- Wall Canvas or Wood Sign: Buy a blank canvas or a piece of wood and paint a quote in decorative lettering. Add flowers, hearts, or even pressed flowers.
- Tea Towel Love Note: Use iron-on vinyl or embroidery to add a quote to a tea towel. Wrap it around baked goods for a cozy, homemade gift.
- Memory Jar: Fill a mason jar with slips of paper, each containing a quote or a memory. It’s a “take one whenever you need a smile” gift.
- Custom Recipe Book: Add quotes between favorite family recipes as a gift that blends nostalgia and love.
- Quote Garland: Write quotes on paper hearts or flowers and string them into a banner she can hang.
- Garden Marker Tags: Write quotes on wooden plant tags and place them in her herb or flower garden.
- Gift Tags: Use mini quotes on handmade gift tags for a finishing touch on any present.
- Coasters with Character: Use Mod Podge to attach quotes to cork coasters and seal them for use.
- Notebook or Journal: Personalize the cover with a meaningful quote. Great for a gratitude or memory journal.
🌼 Sweet & Sincere: Quotes That Will Melt Her Heart
“Moms are like buttons, they hold everything together.”
“A mom’s hug lasts long after she lets go.”
“If mothers were flowers, I would pick you.”
“Home is where my mom is.”
“I haven’t turned into my mom yet. But I’m trying.”
“Life doesn’t come with a manual; it comes with a mother.”
😅 Quotes That Keep It Real
“Motherhood: The hardest job you’ll ever love.”
“Motherhood: Some days I rock it, some days it rocks me. Either way, we’re rockin’!”
“A mom is like a teabag. You can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. It is for the warrior who is brave enough to love someone more than herself.”
“Being a mom means your heart is no longer yours. It wanders around outside your body wherever your child goes.”‘
🤭 For Moms Who Know Humor Is Key
“If at first you don’t succeed, try doing it the way mom told you to in the beginning.”
“Having a child is like getting a tattoo … on your face. You better be committed.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
“Behind every great kid is a mom who’s pretty sure she’s forgetting something.”
❤️ Sentimental and So Very True
“To the world, you are a mother. To us, you are the world.”
“Mom, what I am, you helped me to be.”
“A mother is like a flower—each one is beautiful and unique.”
“A mother holds her children’s hands for a while, but their hearts forever.”
📚 Literary Love for the Bookish Mom
“Motherhood: all love begins and ends there.” – Robert Browning
“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill
“A mother’s arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them.” – Victor Hugo
“The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means that you already are one.” – Jodi Picoult
“A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” – Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words
“A mother’s love is more beautiful than any fresh flower.” – Debasish Mridha
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling
“There are really places in your heart that you don’t know exist until you love a child.” – Anne Lamott
If you want to make Mom’s day this year, forget the gift card and go with something she’ll treasure forever. With a heartfelt quote and a little personal touch, you can turn even the simplest gift into a keepsake she’ll never forget.