Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so it’s time to start planning surprises (or dropping hints!). Perhaps a lovely homemade lemon cake, hand-written notes from the children, and a stylish backdrop display would be just the thing to make Mom feel special!

This project was a joint effort: Christine from Pure Joy Events created the yellow and gray clothespin backdrop, Xiaolu from 6 Bittersweets made the lemon layer cake and took these beautiful photos, and I designed the free printable “memo to mom” cards (which you can download below). Let me tell you, it’s such an honor to be able to work together with such talented women! I’m also thrilled that Christine has generously offered to share her tutorial for the painted clothespin backdrop here on my blog. It’s such a fabulous idea to take something as simple as clothespins and turn them into something so chic!

Clothespin backdrop tutorial

Materials/Supplies:
200 wooden clothespins
Krylon indoor/outdoor gloss spray paint in Bright Idea, Sun Yellow, Classic Gray, Smoke Gray
50 ft. indoor/outdoor clothesline
23 in. x 35 in. cork board
6 clear push pins
Scissors

Step 1.
Spray paint the clothespins (50 in each color) according to directions on the cans and allow them to dry completely.

Step 2.
Cut 3 42-inch pieces from the clothesline. Clip on the clothespins, leaving about 5 inches of clothesline on both ends.

Step 3.
Push the pins into the cork board, then hang the clothespins by tying the clotheslines around the push pins.

Once the clothespin backdrop is finished, you can leave it unadorned, or you can use the pins to display your “memos to Mom.” (If you use this backdrop idea for a birthday party, perhaps you could display special photos. For a baby shower or wedding shower, you could have guests write their good wishes on blank cards and clip them where they like.)

Free printable “memo to Mom” cards

And now the printables! I designed these little cards in a cheerful yellow and gray palette that perfectly matches the colors used in the clothespin backdrop, and they’re a simple and sweet way for kids to let Mom know they care. You can download the free printable (which also includes printable versions of Christine’s tutorial and Xialou’s lemon cake recipe) below.