Budget-Friendly YELLOW Wreath for Summer... made from a $3 placemat

When it comes to budget-friendly DIY decor, sometimes it helps to think outside the box. Recently, I made a fun "flamingo" wreath using a $3 Walmart placemat, and I loved it so much that I decided to make a cheery yellow version. Now I can't decide which one I like more!



Here's the one I made a few weeks ago. I love how whimsical and fun it is, don't you? (You can find all the instructions for my flamingo wreath here. 





Now you can see why I wanted to make another one. 


Here's how I made my budget-friendly, cheery yellow wreath:


1) I started with this fun lemon placemat that I purchased at Walmart for only $3. I also used a dollar store pizza pan, hot glue, and dollar store jute rope. 




2) Then, I used my cricut to write out "Hello Sunshine". If you don't have a cricut, you could use alphabet stickers from the dollar store to spell out the words.




3) Attach the words "Hello Sunshine" to the placemat.




4) Use hot glue to attach the placemat to the pizza pan. (You can use stronger glue if you are worried about the hot glue melting in the heat.)




5) Use hot glue to wrap the jute twine around the edges of the placemat. (I wrapped it 4 times to make sure the pizza pan wasn't visible at all.)




6) Add a piece of twine to the back of the pizza pan using duct tape... and you are ready to display your gorgeous, budget-friendly, yellow summer wreath.

Note: The placemat I used is made of polypropolene, so it's naturally durable and resistent to water. I have mine under a covered porch, so I didn't spray it with any type of sealer... but you could if you wanted to.





For another look... check out the "how to video" I made here.




I love the pop of colour this wreath adds to this little seating area on my deck. What do you think?



I love how easy it was to make this cheap and cheerful wreath. If you see a cute placemat, I hope you consider turning it into summer decor. It really is an easy and inexpensive way to decorate a porch or patio.



Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)


You might also like the summer DIY decor ideas here.

Father's Day gifts kids can make for their Dads

Handmade gifts from kids make the most special Father's Day gifts. Over the years my boys have made many goodies for my husband, and they are always appreciated. Today I am sharing a really easy Father's Day DIY the special man in your life will love. Print the templates (below), follow the simple instructions, and you are "good to go"!


How cute is this "#1 Dad award" kids can make for the their fathers? 

Print the template (below), colour it, glue it to a colourful piece of cardstock, punch a hole in the top of the "medal", and insert a piece of yarn or thread.


To print the template: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print.



A coupon for a special activity is another great gift. You can print my template below, colour it, and fill it in with whatever you want!


To print the template: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print!


These gifts would be great placed inside a homemade Father's Day card, and this "shirt card" is my favorite. You can find the full tutorial (and video) here


How happy would these gifts make a father on Father's Day?


I hope you take the time to make these sweet Father's Day crafts with your kids. I think these homemade gifts will be big hits with Dads!


Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)


You might also like this:

Simple (budget-friendly) YELLOW Summer DIYs

The first step to creating inexpensive decor that looks high-end is to select a cohesive colour palette... and yellow is the perfect choice for summer. Today, I am sharing budget-friendly summer decor DIYs that are easy to make and look fantastic.



*** Check out the fantastic ideas below, and click on the links for additional information. ***


Free lemonade print - This lemonade print is super-cute and couldn't be easier to make. I spray painted a dollar store frame yellow, and then I designed a simple lemonade print to put inside. It's cheerful and fun... and you can download your own copy for free here.



Serve yourself lemonade tray - The perfect companion to the lemonade sign is this simple "serve yourself lemonade" tray. The tray is actually a dollar store picture frame with wooden balls glued to the bottom. Pretty clever, right? Find all the info you need to make your own here.




Tiered tray - Decorating a tiered tray for different seasons and occasions is easy and fun. I love how cheerful and bright my summer tiered tray turned out. The birdhouse on the top was a plain wooden house I found in the dollar store craft section. I painted it yellow, and added brown "wood grain" contact paper to the room. I also love my jar of yellow and white dollar store buttons, my dollar store greenery and yellow flowers, and the book stack I made from scraps of wood.



Flower arrangement - What is summer decor without flowers? I found this "flowers & garden" tin at the dollar store and knew it would make a lovely summer garden arrangement. I inserted a piece of floral foam, covered the foam with moss, and inserted dollar store flowers. I think it looks really high-end, and it only cost me a couple of dollars. What do you think?




And look how cute it looks when you display it all together.




If you want a closer look at my projects, check out this video.


This simple yellow wreath is fantastic too. Can you believe it was made with a dollar store pizza pan and a $3 placemat from Walmart?!?! You can find the full step by step instructions here.




I alsolutely love my NEW summer decor, and I can't believe it only cost me a few dollars. Which summer DIY is your favourite? I love the tiered tray, but my kids would definitely pick the lemonade tray. 😄



Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)


You might also like the DIY planter I made using dollar store supplies here.




FREE printable Farmhouse Lemonade Print... and a dollar store frame upgrade

I love updating my decor with the changing seasons, but I don't like to spend a lot of money. DIYing dollar store items is a wonderful way to create unique items on a budget. Today, I am sharing a super-cute FREE lemon-inspired print that looks great in an updated dollar store frame. It's the perfect inexpensive piece of Summer decor.



I started with a cheap, white, plastic dollar store frame. I took it outside, and I added a couple coats of yellow spray paint.



When it was completely dry, I inserted the cute "lemonade" print I designed.



I created two versions of the print.

To download the 8x10 version of the print: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.




To download the 4x6 version of the print: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



I plan on creating a few more pieces of lemon decor and making a little "Summer" vignette... but for now, I love how it looks with this dollar store lemonade pitcher, dollar store napkins, and Walmart lemon placemats. Cute, right?



Don't you just love lemon decor for Summer? There is something so cheerful about bright yellow decorations. A few pieces of lemon decorations will make your home feel fresh and full of sunshine.


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)


You might also be interested in this fun DIY wreath for summer.

A Super-Cute Summer Wreath Made from a $3 Walmart Placemat

I really enjoy a good DIY, and I especially love when I can re-imagine something simple into something super-cute and fabulous. Recently, I found a vinyl placemat with a wonderful summer design, and I knew instantly it would make a fantastic (and budget-friendly) summer wreath. I'm sharing how I did it below.



I started with this cute flamingo placemat I found at Walmart for $3. I also purchased a dollar store pizza pan (slightly larger than the placemat) and some nautical rope.




I glued the placemat to the centre of the pizza pan. (I used hot glue, but you can add some industrial strength glue if you are worried about the glue melting in the sun.)




Then, I glued three rings of nautical rope around the edge... one at a time. (Again, I used hot glue.)




When it was done, it looked like this...




I added a bit of twine to the back to make a hanger. (I used hot glue to attach it, and I secured it with a piece of duct tape.)




It looks great hanging on my front door.




But I also like the way it looks on my front porch by my blue adirondack chairs.




Where do you think my wreath looks better?

Don't you love this idea? It's an easy and inexpensive way to create an adorable summer wreath to match your decor. The stores are filled with some great placemats this time of year, and you can use any one you like. You could even try making a rectangle version with a dollar store cookie sheet as the backing for the wreath.

I am really pleased with how this project turned out, but let me know what you think.



Gina Bell
 (aka East Coast Mommy)



You might also be interested in DIYing the fun planter here.




AND you might also like the ideas for summer you can find here.

25 Mother's Day Gifts for Kids and Adults to Make for Their Moms

What do moms really want for Mother's Day? In my opinion, the thing every mom wants most is a break... but thoughtful cards, homemade gifts, and yummy treats are always appreciated. Below, I have a collection of 25 DIY Mother's Days gifts that are perfect for kids AND adults to make for their moms.



1) Edible Mother's Day Bouquets - Turn mom's favourite treats into edible bouquets with the simple tutorials you can find here.




2) Sharpie pendant - Any mom would be proud to wear one of these lovely pendants made from tin foil and sharpies. Find the step by step instructions here.




3) Popsicle stick frame - Popsicle stick frames can be made for a special photo, drawing, or button heart. 



4) Hockey mom artwork - Any hockey mom would love this artwork that you can download here for FREE. There is a version for the mom of multiple kids too. 



5) Custom coffee mug - There are countless options for making moms custom coffee mugs (including this cheeky option). Find out how to create your own version here. You can also make your own custom wine glasses if you have a Cricut crafting machine. I made a cute one here.




6) Paper Flower with Photo - No mom can resist a handmade treasure featuring a photo of their little one. This simple vase and photo flower card are sure to make her smile. Find the step by step instructions here.


These are cute too....



7) Card and Handmade Flower Pen - This simple card comes with a cheerful, handmade flower pen. Or you could just make a vase full of flower pens. Find the step by step instructions for making flower pens here.




8) "Love you to Pieces" Card - Handmade cards are always special, and this one is perfect for little crafters. If a child can rip paper, they can make this simple keepsake. Find the printable template (to get you started) here.



9) Handprint Calendar - Give your mom a year's worth of love by making her a special handprint calendar. No mom can resist adorable handprint artwork.



10) Mason Jar Vase - This beautiful mason jar vase is perfect for children of all ages. It can be filled with real flowers or handcrafted paper ones. Find the step by step instructions for making this vase here.



11) Mother's Day Banner - Kids can easily transform an old book into festive Mother's Day decor that their special lady will love. Find the step by step instructions here.



12) Sweet Treat - Serving mom a sweet treat for Mother's Day is always a great option. She'll enjoy a few minutes to herself with a cup of coffee/tea and a delicious, freshly baked goodie! You can find my favorite recipes here.




13) Mother's Day Photo - Moms are often behind the camera documenting their family's special moments. Why not take a minute on Mother's Day to snap a photo of your special lady with her tribe?



14) Mother's Day Treat Box - Every mom needs a treat to help her through the day, and these treat boxes are easy to make... and adorable. All you need to create this sweet treat is some dollar store supplies and the special tags I designed (that you can download for FREE here).



15) Breakfast in Bed - Every mom deserves breakfast in bed, and this one is full of love... literally. Check out the details here.






17) Mother's Day Painting - This simple painting is the perfect art project for kids. This colourful canvas is sure to brighten Mom's day. Fin the full instructions here.



18) Mother's Day Pom Pom Bouquet - How cheerful is this yarn pom pom bouquet? It's colourful and fun... and pom pom flowers will never die. 😀 Find the full "how to" here.



19) Button picture frame with FREE download - Moms really are the buttons that hold everything together. Decorate a dollar store frame with buttons, and download the free quote/print here.



20) DIY Socks - Let mom know you want her to "put her feet up" by creating a fun pair of personalized socks. Find the step by step instructions here.



21) Planter Made with Dollar Store Supplies - Using $10 worth of dollar store supplies, you can make your mom this adorable plater. You can customize the colours and the words on the sign too. Find the easy to follow, step by step instructions here.




22) Custom Photos - Take pictures holding a chalkboard or empty picture frame, use photoshop to add sweet messages, and pop the photos into inexpensive frames. What mom wouldn't love to display this heartfelt gift. Find more details here.



23) An Ice Cream Date - The best gift is time together, so why not give the gift of a one-on-one date with mom. Buy a gift card for your favourite ice cream shop, and wrap it up with the promise of special ice cream date together.



24) Teacup Birdfeeder - This is a simple DIY gift, but it's super-cute. Moms will love hanging this outside, and watching the birds come to enjoy it. Find the step by step instructions here.



25) DIY Spring Decor - Crafting some Spring home decor (using dollar store supplies) for mom is a wonderful idea. The bright and cheerful colours are sure to bring a smile to mom's face. Some easy and inexpensive ideas are: an umbrella "vase" wreath, custom spring pictures, a faux flower arrangement, a candy tray, items for a tiered tray, and a boho yarn wreath. You can find all the step by step instructions for these DIY projects here and here.








This video has some great ideas too!



BONUS ideas*** 

Summer decor - How cute are these DIYs? Moms will love these! Find the step by step tutorials here.





However you decide to spend Mother’s Day, I hope you pamper the special mother in your life… because she deserves itHappy Mother’s Day to all the lovely, hardworking ladies doing their best every day to make the world a better place.


Gina Bell
 (aka East Coast Mommy)


You might also like the fantastic Mother's Day DIYs here.


Don't miss any of the fun....