Simple gifts can mean so much more than pricey ones. Moms especially appreciate someone spending time and energy to make something just for them, no matter how modest. Just ask Southern Living contributor Mary Leigh Fitts, who came up with this easy vase idea from her own experience. "When I was a little girl, I found an old soda bottle and painted it blue. Then I filled it with flowers from the yard. My mother kept that bottle for 20 years."

To make your own lasting impression, pick up a glass vase (most cost less than $10) from the grocery store or a florist. Then get some paint pens from the crafts store, and let your imagination fly. (Tip: You may want to practice your design on paper first.)

Mary Leigh's son Miller decorated this vase using several colors and pen widths. For added interest, line the vase's base with colored marbles or stones. Tie a lively ribbon around the neck, and then fill it with a bunch of flowers from the store or garden.

"You can also put a houseplant or orchid in a widemouthed vase, or decorate a terra-cotta pot," says Mary Leigh. "If you want to use a colored vase, then a white, silver, or gold pen will show up well." So have some fun, and let your creative spirit touch someone's heart this Mother's Day.