Mother in laws 70th

[Starfish125]

I thought I would come here for some good old mumsnet honesty lol. My lovely mother in law turns 70 next week, I want it to be special but we have 3 children and I'm on mat leave so we aren't exactly flush and she is aware of this but this is what we have planned so far and the gifts are -

Saturday afternoon tea at a posh hotel for herself, FIL, DH and myself. (£80 altogether which we are paying for)

A Sunday roast at ours which I'm cooking for us including our children

Gifts -
A framed photo of 'born in 1954'
A 70th birthday coaster
Bunch of big flowers
70th birthday helium balloon

I'm aware i need to get her something else but I'm stumped for ideas, she doesn't drink, eat chocolate due to dental problems and I'm honestly stuck I don't want her to be disappointed but I can't spend much more either. Honest opinions please if this seems enough or a bit shit I won't be offended!

[Windymcwindyson]

Atm a posh throw would be handy!!

[Avatartar]

Make a good old fashioned chocolate cake with the z st of an orange in it, stick some roll out fondant icing on it and get some edible gel pens for the DCs to draw and colour the cake in. Lots of candles etc and sing HB to her. If she doesn’t want the fondant she can peel it off her share. It’s heartfelt and had time spent on it- very much the signs that you all care for and love her

[GreatGateauxsby]

We took my mum to a pottery cafe and all painted a cup and she painted a tea pot…
you could do plates or whatever too (cost about £40?)

it was a really cute activity and everyone loved it especially my mum.

we then got to collect when it was all fully glazed and had tea and cake to “christen the set” a week after her birthday…

[Missingmybabysomuch]

Does she enjoy jigsaw puzzles? You could get a lovely family photo and turn it into a photo jigsaw puzzle? Maybe with Happy 70th Birthday on it too. She could either just enjoy doing it or you can even glue and frame them?