Easy Toddler and Preschool Gift for Mom: Colorful Candle Holders

Inside: This colorful “stained glass” candle holder is so easy for toddlers and young preschoolers to make as a gift for mom. They even made the gift bag and tag! A sweet treasure for Mother’s Day.

If you are looking for a super easy and sweet gift for Mom, this is it!

The idea started brewing in my head when we purchased some yogurt that came in small glass jars. I instantly could visualize these jars being turned into colorful candle holders.

Now, this “stained glass” technique is not my idea. It’s been around for a really long time. Perhaps you made these as a child, too!

But I love classic activities such as this. I’m quite certain my children made some for me when they were little, too.

After we made these sweet candle holders, we also made the gift bags and tags. I love that everything about this activity was homemade!

Easy Toddler and Preschool Gift for Mom: Colorful Candle Holders

What we used for this gift for Mom:

• Small glass jars
• White glue
• Tissue paper squares
• Modge Podge (gloss)
• Votive candles
• White paper lunch sacks (I got mine at Walmart)
• Purple and yellow tempera paint
• Watercolors
• Tissue wrapping paper

Watch the video:

Glue the Squares:

I wrote each child’s name on the bottom of the jars and had the white glue poured into individual containers with a paint brush.

I showed the children how to put glue all around the outside of the jar. But, being 2 and young 3 year olds, that was a bit tricky, and some of them kept wanting to brush the glue on the inside of the jar. After showing them a few times, they got it.

Then, they stuck the tissue paper squares to the glue (on the outside of the jar).

Some of the children really covered their jars, and others not so much. That’s what I love. Each one was a bit different, as they should be!

We let them dry overnight before adding the Modge Podge.

On our next school day, I invited some of the children to brush the Modge Podge on top of the tissue paper and jars. I suspected this might not happen quite the way I first planned, and I was correct. They partially brushed the Modge Podge here and there, and then they let me know they were done.

So, I ended up going over each candle holder with some extra Modge Podge just to make sure everything was covered.

The reason I added the Modge Podge is that it gives a nice sheen and protects the tissue paper squares.

This is how they looked when completely dry:

Make the wrapping paper:

I had some of these textured hearts leftover from a Valentine activity, so I thought it would be fun to decorate our gift wrap bags.

I invited them to brush paint on the heart, and then press the white lunch sack on top of it, making a heart print.

And, well, it didn’t really turn out as I had planned. With the one exception shown above, they didn’t look like hearts at all.

But, they loved the process, so that’s a plus!

Add the tags:

I found some card stock colored paper in our stash and cut it into the shape of hearts.

No stencil. Free hand. And nope, they were not perfect.

I had the children add their touch with some watercolors.

I then punched a hole in the heart tag, and also the gift bag. I had some twine ready, too.

Time to wrap the candle holders:

I invited the children to add a votive candle to their candle holder.

They were so excited about this!

I then placed our variety of tissue paper on a table and asked them to choose which color they wanted to wrap their candle in.

They then placed everything into their bags and carried them carefully to the top of a nearby shelf.

I then attached the tags to the bags.

They are now ready for our Muffins with Mommy event!

I loved how the children were engaged through every step of this activity. That is what makes gifts like these so special!

More Mother’s Day ideas: