When Mom Has Everything… What Do You Give Her?
I am known in my family as "the perfect gift giver". My siblings all mock me for it because every year they are stunned at my ability to elicit tears with my gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and especially Mother's Day. I admit that it's true. I do put a lot of thought behind my gift selection, and secretly I take pride when the tears start flowing.
I approach the subject of gift giving with the strategy of selecting an item I know will be sentimental and tug on the receiver's emotional side. But the truth is that as our family members have aged we no longer want "stuff". My mom is in the process of down-sizing to prepare for retirement so I know that she will not find the same joy in yet another "World's Best Mom" coffee cup or cooking gadget that she once did.
As a result of this, I hit that wall where I felt like no gift could really surprise her—or show her how much I genuinely appreciated everything she’s done for our family. No gift except for one... the perfect one, custom refrigerator magnets. And no, I’m not talking about the flimsy ones you get from real estate mailers. I’m talking real-deal, high-quality, personalized fridge art. Tiny pieces of emotion that say “I thought about this just for you.”
So if you also find yourself stuck in this impossible rut of not wanting to gift another generic item that will be viewed as more clutter to shuffle around the house, this blog is for you. Or maybe your mom is just impossible to shop for because she is picky yet you still want to gift her something meaningful. Or maybe you need to find a gift for someone that you don't know on a personal level and feel awkward trying to pick out a sentimental gift for them.
This blog is for all of you so let's not waste any more time and I'll share with you the reasons that I believe photo magnets make the most amazing mother's day gifts for the moms who (seemingly) have everything.
Turn a Cherished Photo into a Keepsake She’ll See Every Day
The first time I made a custom photo magnet for my mom, it was for her 60th birthday. My siblings and I planned a huge surprise party for her and I was trying to think of a gift that would be perfect for this momentous celebration. I just received my magnet making equipment, so I instantly went to work digging up as many old pictures of the family that I could find.
I created magnets with photos of the entire family throughout the years including my siblings, the grandkids, our spouses, the grandparents, and any other sentimental photos that I knew would bring back great memories for her. My favorite was a picture of her and my stepfather dancing at a wedding. It was a candid photo that someone had snapped of my stepdad holding her close and she was resting her head on his chest with the happiest look on her face.
When she opened her gift and took in each of the photo magnets, the tears started pouring out. And that woman does not cry easily. Success!
Here’s what I’ve learned about using photo magnets as personalized Mother’s Day gifts: it’s not about making the photo perfect. In fact, the messier and more real it is, the better. People connect with moments, not poses. Think:
- Her holding your baby for the first time
- The two of you on a random Tuesday, laughing over takeout
- A grainy but golden picture from the '90s family road trip
Pro tip: If you’ve got siblings, make a whole set. One magnet per kid or per memory. Bundle it into a gift set so she can rearrange them like her own little gallery wall right on the fridge.
Use high-res photos if you can. Most custom magnet shops (like mine) can work with you if you aren't sure about the quality. I can send you a preview of the image before it goes to print if I know you are concerned, so take advantage of that. If you don’t have digital copies, take a photo of the photo using natural light—seriously, just prop it on a windowsill and snap away.
And don’t overthink it. One good photo, well-placed, becomes a keepsake she’ll look at every day while grabbing her oat milk creamer.
For a custom photo magnet click here.
Use Her Favorite Quote, Mantra, or Song Lyric
Is your mom a quote person? Does she love a good mantra, maybe one that she drilled into your head as you grew up? If this sounds like your mom, be observant next time you are around her. If there are specific quotes she has around her house, on her phone, or just mantras she repeats a lot these can make great magnet gifts!
Words have power. And putting the right ones on a magnet? That’s next-level thoughtfulness. Imagine the surprise on your mom's face when she opens a magnet and reads a quote she used to say to you growing up. She will be shocked that you remembered and it will make her feel so special!
It doesn't have to be just a quote though. Here are some other similar ideas for her favorite... :
- Bible verse
- Poem line
- Song lyric
- An inside family joke
Tip for designing quote magnets: Shorter is better. While longer quotes can fit on a magnet, the size gets compromised. You want it to be legible at a glance—remember, it’s going on a fridge or office cabinet, not a novel.
Bonus: You can pair a quote magnet with a personalized photo magnet and make a gift set!
For a custom quote magnet click here, or if you already have the design created as an image using Canva or something similar click here.
Immortalize a Child’s Drawing or Handwritten Note
Okay, this one makes people melt, especially for the Mother's Day holiday.
If you want a guaranteed tear jerker, try to find some of your old art (or your kid's art if you are a mother looking for a grandmother gift). If you are one of the lucky few to still have this lying around, scan it, maybe upscale it or clean it up if necessary, and voila! Your perfect magnet gift is ready.
Pro tip: If you are a father to small children, have them draw a custom picture for their mom. It will melt her heart, and she will smile every time she sees the magnet on her fridge. The magnets are much more durable and less susceptible to kitchen mishaps than the original drawing so she'll have them for awhile.
A handwritten note also makes an amazing magnet idea. If you do not fancy yourself an artist but would like to give a personalized token of love then this may be the perfect solution for you! You could write a message or simply "I love you" and sign your name.
For this option you would use our custom photo magnet listing here.
Celebrate a Place That Holds Meaning
Now this one’s a sleeper hit.
It is more common to think of giving magnets with images of friends, family or even pets. But a less common option that is just as meaningful is a magnet with an image of a special place. Maybe it is the place your parents got married or went on their first date. Maybe it's a special place that your mom always took you when you were young.
Whether you have a picture of the exact place (or even better a picture of family in the place) or you just make an image with coordinates or a map of the place, this can be just as much of a tear jerker gift as any of the others mentioned above.
Some suggestions for place magnets would be:
- A particular vacation house you visited yearly for summer or Christmas
- A map of your mom's hometown
- A picture of the house where you grew up
- The garden she planted from scratch
Quick tip: You can find exact coordinates by right-clicking on a location in Google Maps and copying the numbers. Drop those into your magnet design, and you’ve got something wildly personal that most people wouldn’t even think to make.
These are especially great for moms who love to travel or who are sentimental about their roots. And paired with a matching quote or photo magnet? Chef’s kiss.
For this option you would use our custom photo magnet listing here.
Combine It All into a Custom Mother’s Day Gift Box
So here’s where you tie it all together—and honestly, it’s where the magic happens.
Instead of giving just a magnet, I like to build a little DIY Mother’s Day gift box around it. Doesn’t have to be fancy. I usually grab a small gift box that you can get from TJ Maxx, Marshalls or even Dollar General. Line the box with tissue paper or filler, and then add:
- Your custom magnets
- A handwritten card
- Some small bags of tea, single-serve bags of coffee, or her favorite candy
- Maybe a beautiful fragrant flower or spring-themed sticker sheet
Wrap it with twine, slap a tag on it that says “For the best mom ever,” and you’ve got yourself a showstopper.
It’s inexpensive, but it looks intentional and feels incredibly personal. Like, “someone put love into this” personal. Which, let’s be honest, is what moms really want. Not stuff. Not clutter. Just love, thoughtfulness, and maybe something cute to stick on the fridge.
When She Has Everything, Give Her Something from the Heart
Here’s the thing: if your mom has everything, then give her something that only you can give—your memories, your words, your time, your heart.
A custom magnet might be small, but it carries the weight of a thousand “I love you's". It’s affordable, personal, and something that will bring her happiness every single day while reaching for her morning creamer.
Happy gifting, and happy Mother’s Day. 💕