DIY Mother's Day Edible Arrangement

Every year I have a hard time making up my mind on what I want to get for my mom (& my husband's mom). I decided that this year I wanted to make them an edible arrangement. I looked up how much it would be to purchase one for each of the mothers...the size I made for them would run about $40 each (not including tax, shipping, & handling)!! You won't believe how much money you will save if you make the arrangement yourself....not that the moms aren't worth it, but if you're working within a budget, this is the route to go. It looks just as nice as the "real" edible arrangements for a fraction of the price.

What you need if you're making 2 edible arrangements: 

2 containers of your choice

2 small pieces of foam

2 pineapples

1 cantaloupe

1 honeydew

1 bunch of red grapes

1 container of strawberries

1 head of kale

a package of skewers (I saved some real edible arrangement skewers & 

when I ran out I used wooden skewers)

melting chocolates

1 large flower cookie cutter

1 small flower cookie cutter

1 fruit baller

picture of real edible arrangement skewers from www.momendeavors.com
ps. she has a good tutorial on how to make your own edible arrangement too!

fruit baller picture from amazon.com

Before working on anything else, I cleaned the grapes and strawberries first to let them drain while I worked on starting the arrangement.

I shoved the foam into the containers and made sure it was snug in the bottom.

I didn't want the foam to touch the fruit, so I added the kale first. Plus the kale looks pretty. =)

I cut the pineapple in thick slices, but thin enough to where my large flower cookie cutter could cut through.

I stuck all the skewers in the foam first and then put the pineapple on.

I then cut up my honeydew and used my small flower cookie cutter.

I stuck the skewers in first again then added the honeydew flowers. I added a grape for the middle of the 'flower'. =) Side note: I found on another blog (I can't remember the blogger =( or I would recognize her blog by name), but she had a great idea for keeping the fruit from sliding down the wooden skewers...she used gum drops to keep the fruit in place! Brilliant idea!

Next it was time to make the middles of the pineapple flowers. I cut the cantaloupe into large slices and cut out the seeds. I used my fruit baller to carve out the flower middles for the pineapples.

I started adding in strawberries and grape 'kabobs' to fill in the blank spots.

Each bouquet had 2 chocolate covered strawberries. Covering them in chocolate was simple. You put a couple of the chocolate melting chips into a bowl and throw it in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir and you have instant melted chocolate for your strawberries. I just spooned the chocolate onto the strawberries and smoothed it all out. I let them harden again before adding them to my arrangement.

TA-DAH!!!

I was really excited to give them away!

I bought clear cello gift bags at Michael's for $1 each. I bought the ribbons at The Dollar Store. I found the containers at the dollar section at Target. All of the fruit came to about $20...we go to a local produce store that has really great prices. So, that brings each homemade edible arrangement to about $13 each. Not bad!

I had a lot of fruit left over. I just made a large fruit salad and brought it over to my parent's place when my hubby & I went over there to celebrate Mother's day with my side of the family. My family devoured it! =)

Branson & his mom.

Me with my mommy. =) I'm glad I decided to go with this...my mom told me later that she has always wanted an edible arrangement! So, yeah for me!! Brownie points!! =) haahaa!!

Every day is a good day to say 'I love you.' to your mom. Don't ever take her for granted.

I love you, Mom!

We only have One Mom, One Mommy,

One Mother in this World, One life.

Don't wait for the Tomorrow's

to tell Mom, you love her

Author Unknown 

Hope you had a great Mother's Day! God bless all the mommies out there! I hope to inspire some of you to make your own edible arrangement! It doesn't just have to be for Mother's Day. It would be a great birthday present or a 'just because' present! Have fun!!