40 sweet Mother’s Day ideas for your friend

The sweet sentiments of Mother’s Day extend beyond the core relationship between a mother and child. As the holiday approaches, it’s natural to feel a heightened appreciation for all the mother figures in your life. This special group often includes your friends and family members. Count yourself lucky if the list of moms you love is long!

If you’re also a mother, your “mom friends” likely play an important role in your daily life. Perhaps you’re experiencing the joy of seeing your BFF become a wonderful mom for the first time.

There are endless reasons to honor your best mom friend with a gift this Mother’s Day. To help you do that, we put together this list of Mother’s Day ideas for your friend.

1. Bullet journal calendar

Moms often organize the whole household and family. For most, this isn’t the easiest task. If your mom friend has ever mentioned needing a boost in the organization department, gift her this clever calendar inspired by bullet journals. Choose photos of her kids having fun to make this sweet (and useful) gift one she’ll treasure all year.

Tip: Mixbook lets you choose the starting month for all custom calendars.

2. A photo book celebrating your friendship

A friendship photo book, like the Have a Nice Day by Steffi Lynn theme, brings cheerful vibes that complement the loving sentiments of Mother’s Day. If you’re searching for the perfect gift, create a meaningful friendship book to compile your favorite memories of “mom life” with your best friend.

This Mother’s Day idea for your friend also works for a group of mom friends. You can print multiple copies of the same photo book — one for each friend, plus one for yourself.

3. Custom raw birthstone necklace

This custom raw birthstone necklace has a unique boho aesthetic thanks to its beautiful, naturally unfinished stones. Select the appropriate earthy jewel-toned stones to match the birth months of he​r children (and how about Mom as well?). You can also choose from three lengths of gold or silver chains. The necklace arrives in a branded jewelry box that can feature an optional note — a great way to say Happy Mother’s Day to your friend.

4. Velvet jumbo journal

Beautiful, high-quality stationery can be a wonderful way to jot down musings. To show your mom friend you care, step in with this delightful velvet jumbo journal in a bold and stylish check pattern. The cloth-covered journal has 200 lined pages with day and month headers, a ribbon bookmark, and a pocket on the inside back cover. It makes a perfect Mother’s Day gift for a mom who records everything from personal thoughts to those special family moments.

5. Homemade microwave heating pad

If you have a sewing machine and basic sewing skills, give the gift of muscle relaxation with a DIY microwave heating pad. Follow this tutorial to measure, cut, and seam a long rectangle of muslin, fill it with rice, and sew up the end of the seam. Sew a second rectangle of pretty woven fabric as the outer layer. It’s also nice to add some dried lavender or other aromatics to the rice.

6. Travel highlights photo book

Did you and your friend travel together before or after having kids? If some of your favorite memories together were away from home, put together a travel highlights photo book. This beautiful keepsake preserves memories for a lifetime, making it a special Mother’s Day gift for a friend. Plus, it’s a great way for your friend to share fun travel experiences with her children.

7. “You’re my bestea” spoon

To celebrate a friendship forged over infinite cups of tea or coffee, order this clever and sentimental “Bestea” spoon. It’s pretty enough to be a Mother’s Day idea for your friend, but you can also gift it alongside other items. How about a vintage teacup, saucer, and fancy loose-leaf tea or gourmet coffee?

8. Custom Parker pen set

Your mom friend loves to scribble those endless to-do lists. Why not elevate the writing experience with a high-quality pen? With this engraved chrome Parker Jotter pen set, she’ll remember how much you care about her every time she uses it.

Six different versions of the pen set are available, all with custom engraving in a choice of seven font styles. Another great Mother’s Day idea is to combine this pen set with a lovely notebook.

9. Pressed flower art

The art of pressing flowers is timeless and easy to do. Any craft project using your pressed flowers makes a sweet Mother’s Day idea for a friend. Gather pretty blooms and leaves from your garden (or your friend’s), and follow Martha Stewart’s tips and tutorial to preserve their beauty forever. Use the pressed flowers on a card, put them in a frame, or use them to make a bookmark.

10. Funny candle for mom friends

Hilarious sayings elevate the simple gift of a scented candle, making this candle with a funny saying a fantastic Mother’s Day idea for a friend. Choose her favorite fragrance and celebrate every mom’s right to make sarcastic comments about her kids.

11. Heartfelt photo cards

Meaningful Mother’s Day ideas for your friend can be as simple as greeting cards — even better when creating a custom photo card with Mixbook. Customize the greetings and add a favorite photo expressing your feelings about your friend and her role as a mom.

12. Proud “Mama” sweatshirt

Your BFF couldn’t be prouder to be “Mama,” so give her the gift of this personalized Mama sweatshirt. It features an all-caps, athletic-style “MAMA” on the front. Plus, you can customize the sweatshirt with her children’s names placed subtly on the sleeve. The sweatshirt is available in five colors and has a comfy-cozy, relaxed fit for that casual mom style.

13. Eye massager

This technological marvel — an electronic eye massager with heat and Bluetooth for streaming calming music — is like a spa day in a box. Ten minutes or so with this light-blocking massager can relieve eye strain and headaches and induce a sense of complete relaxation. Your mom friend will adore this thoughtful Mother’s Day gift.

14. Washi tape bookmarks

Handmade decorating tape bookmarks are quick to make and become a sweet Mother’s Day gift you can tuck inside a card. Decorating tape, or washi tape, is readily available in an endless array of color and pattern options, so you can create a design your mom friend will love. Make a set of three in complementary colors.

15. The baby book she feels bad about never making

A baby book is a beautiful project many moms never get to do — probably because of those 24-hour (but precious) childcare demands. It can become a major source of unnecessary “mom guilt.” As a Mother’s Day idea for your friend, take all that guilt away and make the baby book for her.

Mixbook’s baby photo book themes make it easy to create a book that suits her aesthetic. This can be a surprise gift or a collaborative project with your friend’s co-parent or other family members.

Hint: You can instantly find all the photos and captions you need by scrolling her social media feeds.

16. Custom name necklace

This sophisticated and stylish handwriting necklace is a perfect Mother’s Day gift idea for your friend. You can customize the jewelry with her children’s names — up to five names on one chain — and pick her favorite precious metal: 18-carat gold-plated, sterling silver, or rose gold-plated.

17. Cheese board with knife

With this chic Dansk wood classics Vivianna cheese board and knife set from Food 52, your friend will be all set to host fancy wine and cheese gatherings — or elevate some delicious after-work snacks. The set could be the starring item in a gourmet hamper filled with fancy cheeses, crackers, and other charcuterie items.

18. Friend-themed gift baskets

A gift basket from one friend to another on Mother’s Day is a treasure. You know your friend best, so put together a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift basket with a theme that matches her personality and interests. From food and wine to luxurious spa gifts, a custom array of items in a basket is fun to create and special to receive.

19. Squirrel picnic table and bird feeder

For your mama friend who loves nature and whimsy, consider this adorable squirrel picnic table and bird feeder. The weatherproof garden accessory is hand-crafted in Canada from Western Red Cedar and features a miniature galvanized bucket for holding bird or squirrel food.

Your friend can mount the picnic table on a fence or the side of a tree in her yard, offer peanuts or a corn cob, and watch in delight as the critters come to enjoy the picnic.

20. Homemade chocolate truffles

It’s safe to say that any friend would be thrilled to receive a box of homemade chocolate truffles for Mother’s Day. You don’t have to be a whiz in the kitchen to rustle up a batch of these delicious truffles.

Tip: You can find many suitable truffle recipes online if your friend is vegan or has food restrictions.

21. Date night and babysitting

There’s a good chance your mom friend would love nothing more than a date night with her partner. If her kids are young, this will require a few hours of babysitting from a trusted adult — you.

Give her movie tickets or a gift card to a favorite restaurant, and create a “gift certificate” for your babysitting services. You could customize one of Mixbook’s Mother’s Day cards for this part of the gift, or write it out by hand.

22. T-Rex Dinosaur Vomits Rainbow water bottle

A water bottle is usually a mundane mom-life essential, but this one has a unique design that makes it playful and fun. That’s right: the T-Rex Dinosaur Vomits Rainbow water bottle is exactly what its name describes! This Mother’s Day idea is for the friend who fully embraces the wild world of her little dinosaur-loving kids.

23. Custom paint-by-number kit

A custom paint-by-number kit is an excellent Mother’s Day gift idea for a friend with an artistic side. Use one of your favorite photos of your friend with her family, or borrow one from her social media feed. Also, consider other photo options, such as a photo of her pet, home, or favorite landscape. Upload the image and prepare to be impressed: It transforms into a paint-by-number canvas with matching acrylic paints.

24. Phoenix and peony playing cards

Add some artistic style to your friend’s game nights with a sweet Mother’s Day gift of these phoenix and peony playing cards. From games of Go Fish with her kids to game nights for the grownups, these stunning-on-both-sides cards are a major step up from the standard deck.

25. DIY macrame coasters

You don’t need a lot of macrame experience to make these wonderful DIY round macrame boho coasters. The project is beginner-friendly and the results are an excellent Mother’s Day gift idea for a friend. Use any color of cording your friend would like.

26. BFF friendship calendar

Best friends play a huge role in each other’s lives. It’s only fitting to enjoy seeing your bestie every day, even if it’s in pictures.

A stunning BFF friendship calendar can help you stay connected all year. You can make it special by combining friendship with a Mother’s Day theme. For example, you could include photos of your friendship before and after she (or both of you) became a mom.

27. Personalized watercolor birth flower print

A bunch of fresh flowers is one of the top Mother’s Day ideas for a friend. An even sweeter sentiment that lasts much longer is this personalized watercolor birth flower print.

The watercolor bouquet features flowers associated with the birth months you specify and can include a family name in a handwriting font underneath. It can also include a pretty butterfly, bird, or other motif. Choose a print size and frame color, or order a digital copy to print and frame yourself.

Tip: The digital copy is an excellent idea if you wait until the last minute!

28. “Breathe” tote bag

Are you the calming voice your mom friend often needs, or does she fulfill that role for you? This gorgeous “Breathe” tote bag is a sweet nod to the gentleness of such a friendship. It’s available in three sizes and helps tote groceries and all that endless mom miscellany.

29. Flower shop puzzle

If your friend enjoys puzzles, consider gifting her this delightful flower shop puzzle. With 500 pieces, it’s challenging yet achievable for a busy mom to enjoy during her downtime. The puzzle features a colorful and Mother’s Day-appropriate illustration of a flower shop. Plus, it comes in a house-shaped box that makes the gift feel even more special.

30. DIY magic folding photo cube

This DIY idea seems like magic, and you will wow your friend when you give her one as a custom Mother’s Day gift. Choose 10 photos you know she’ll love (sneak into her social media feed if necessary) and carefully follow the tutorial here to turn them into a fun puzzle cube.

31. Vase trio

This set of three stylish and inexpensive glass vases from IKEA is perfect for Mother’s Day flowers — but they’re also super versatile. The set includes three different colors and sizes of a modern, minimalist vase. Your bestie could use them to hold fresh flowers, display air plants, or even propagate cuttings or avocado stones. They look great as a decor piece as well.

32. Modern floral robe

This gorgeous Sabah ivory and blue modern floral robe is one of the best Mother’s Day ideas for a friend. She’ll feel extra glamorous lounging around the house, even while making waffles for the kids on a Saturday morning.

33. Sew a roll-up pencil or brush case

Sewists could create this roll-up pencil case, which is also ideal for paint brushes or makeup brushes. The project is achievable for anyone with some sewing experience, and it’s a great way to use leftover fabric scraps. Add a set of high-quality pencils, colored pencils, or brushes for a gorgeous yet functional DIY Mother’s Day gift.

34. Self-heating mug

If your BFF is a mother to young children, ask how often she reheats each cup of coffee in the microwave. She knows how the constant needs of little kids interrupt that precious hot coffee time! Solve this issue with the gift of an ingenious self-heating ceramic mug.

35. Wool ball trivet set

This DIY wool ball trivet set is easy to make, looks pretty, and has many home uses. If you need DIY Mother’s Day ideas for a friend, that’s a win-win-win. Buy a bag of wool felt balls in colors of your choice (you might like to match your friend’s kitchen decor) and sew them together in a spiral shape using a needle and thread. Once you get the hang of the technique, try making other fun trivet shapes as well.

36. Hand-painted mirror

This beautiful hand-painted glass and wood floral mirror is a true work of art. Plus, a Peruvian artisan makes it as part of a UNICEF initiative to help children in need around the world. The mirror will look stunning on a dresser or hung on a wall.

37. Homemade herbal bath salts

A long soak in a hot bath is a desirable way for moms to get some rest and relaxation. Help your mom friend elevate her bath time into a spa-like experience with homemade herbal bath salts.

There are countless recipes online, including this one that is straightforward yet luxurious. To make the bath salts, blend soothing Epsom salts with dried herbs and other botanicals, such as rose, hibiscus, lavender, lemon balm, or ylang ylang essential oils.

38. Bodum glass pour-over coffee maker

For a mom friend who loves — and needs — her coffee in the morning, gift this sleek Bodum glass pour-over coffee maker from the MOMA store. The stainless steel filter promises a superior brew and is also sustainable, eliminating the need for single-use paper filters. This coffee maker is available in two colors: pink and yellow. Why not include a package of high-quality coffee beans as well?

39. Air-dry clay jewelry tray

This thoughtful Mother’s Day idea for a friend is easy to craft using air-dry clay. It also looks impressive. Follow this tutorial to roll, shape, dry, and paint a set of jewelry trays in any size you like. Tiny ones could be for rings, a medium size makes a great bedside ornament, and larger trays help declutter a dresser while looking stylish.

There are endless ways to decorate a plain clay bowl. The best thing is that looking a little rough and imperfect only adds to the handmade beauty of the gift.

40. Mixbook acrylic photo block

Mixbook’s acrylic photo blocks are a unique way to showcase stunning photographs. Find one or more of your friend’s favorite photos, or perhaps a fantastic photo you took that she hasn’t yet seen, and transform them into a gallery-worthy, free-standing display.

Need more Mother’s Day ideas for your friend?

If you still haven’t decided on a gift for a friend on Mother’s Day, check out these ideas or our custom Mother’s Day gift guide. You’ll find classic comforts like warm shawls and fuzzy socks, plus loads of gifts that tell your mom friend you think the world of her.