Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

The Polar Express (Christmas Light Adventure)

For many years, our family has been going on a "Polar Express" Christmas Light Adventure, and it's one of my favourite holiday traditions. It's simple, but a lot of fun!!! (Note: Don't forget to download the UPDATED ticket I designed for you. Get if for FREE below.)



In order to embark on your own Polar Express adventure:

1) Print the tickets I designed for you.

2) Grab some hot chocolate, cookies, and popcorn.

3) Hop in your vehicle, turn on Christmas carols, and drive around looking at Christmas lights.


To print one of the Polar Express tickets I designed: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.




Then, when the trip is over and you've chosen the winner of the "best lights in town", the kids find bells from Santa's sleigh on their pillows. Pretty fun, right?





This really is one of our family's favorite holiday traditions, and I highly recommend giving it a try.


Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)


Find more ideas for easy and inexpensive Christmas family fun here.


Genius Ways to DIY Clear Plastic Ornaments... including FREE tags and a super-fun video

I love DIYing during the Christmas season, and I have the BEST ideas to share today. There really is something for everyone in this post. You are going to love my GENIUS ways to DIY clear ornaments, the FREE tags I designed, and the step-by-step video I put together for you.




1) Photo ornaments - Cut two circles, roll them up, and insert them into an ornament, and add a ribbon. For step by step instructions, check out the video here.



2) Warm wishes ornament - The large clear plastic ornaments are perfect for filling with little gifts. I filled mine with socks, toe warmers, and hot chocolate. I added a "Warm Wishes" tag, and it makes an adorable gift. Find the full step-by-step instructions here.



To download the "warm wishes" tag I designed for free: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



3)  Christmas scrunchie ornament - Insert a holiday scrunchie into an ornament, add a piece of ribbon, and tie on a "Christmas Hair Don't Care" tag. To see the step-by-step instructions, check out the video here.



To download the "Christmas Hair" tag I designed for free: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



4) Gumball ornament - Use hot glue to attach an ornament to the top of a red silo cup shot glass, add a pop top, fill with gumballs (or pom poms for a non-food option), and tie a ribbon hanger to the top. For step-by-step instructions, check out the video I made here.



5) Merry and Bright ornament - Fill this "light bulb" ornaments with Christmas M&Ms, add a piece of twine, and attach the "May your days be MERRY & BRIGHT" tag I designed. For step-by-step instructions, check out the video I made here.



To download the "May your days be MERRY & BRIGHT" tags I designed for FREE: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.




6) Keepsake ornaments - Fill ornaments with treasures you want to keep. I filled one with sea glass I found while walking the beach with my husband, and I filled other ornaments with the baby hats my boys wore just after they were born.




For a closer look at all of these DIYs, take a look at the YouTube video I made (below)...


All of these plastic ornaments are easy to make, and they are all fantastic. They are great for hanging on your own tree, and they make wonderful gifts too. Which one is your favourite?


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Gifts People Actually WANT — Useful, inexpensive, and fun!!!

I love a good DIY gift, don't you? They are thoughtful, useful, inexpensive and fun! And... they are more budget-friendly than store bought gifts. You are going to love the DIY Christmas Gift Ideas I'm sharing today.




1) Elf Cookies - First bake up a batch of your favourite cookies. I used my favourite recipe for Ginger Molasses cookies. You can find the recipe here

Then, add a cardstock hat, googly eyes, button cheeks and a Sharpie mouth. Find the full step by step instructions here.


Seriously... how cute are these little elves???



2) Scrunchie ornament - A clear bulb is a perfect vessel for gifting a Christmas hair scrunchie. Pop off the top of a dollar store ornament, insert a scrunchie and add the cute "Christmas Hair Don't Care" tag I designed. Easy peasy!



To download the tags I designed (for free): click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



3) Glowing nativity lamp - These colour changing LED lamps (that I found at Dollarama) are the perfect canvas for Cricut decals. I used nativity decals. Didn't they turn out great? 

For detailed instructions, check out the video I made here.




4) Gingerbread house gift bag - Cut the corners from brown paper gift bag, and use a chalk marker to decorate the bag to look like a gingerbread house. It doesn't need to be fancy. Have fun with it!



5) Reindeer gift bag - Start with a plain paper gift bag. Then, use glue to add googly eyes, and a red paper (or vinyl) nose. Then, draw a mouth with a Sharpie and tape candy cane "antlers" to the top of the bag. Who wouldn't want to receive a gift in this adorable reindeer gift bag?



For a closer look at all these DIY gift ideas, check out the YouTube video below.




Make sure you come back soon. I have a lot more fun Christmas content planned.

💗 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)


You might also be interested in the ideas here...

5 Easy, Inexpensive, and USEFUL Dollar Store CHRISTMAS Gifts... including FREE (and adorable) gift tags

I love a budget-friendly gift -- especially when it is cute AND useful. Today, I'm sharing 5 easy & cheap Christmas gift ideas, fun packaging options, and FREE printable tags. You are going to love these!!!




1) Chocolate and Mitten SNOWMAN - This is a great gift for all ages. It's inexpensive and super cute. Check out the step by step instructions here, and download the tag below.



To download the "warm wishes" tags: click the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.




2) Baking tool treat - Christmas is synonymous with baking, so this is a great gift. It would be fun to pair it with homemade goodies too. Check out the step by step instructions here, and download the tag below.


To download the "we WHISK you a Merry Christmas" tags: click the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.




3) Grinch goodies - I love Christmas movies, and this gift is super-cute for Grinch fans. Check out the step by step instructions here, and download the tag below.



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




4) Socks and toe warmers - This is a fun one for hockey moms, coaches, and people who spend a lot of time outdoors in winter. Check out the step by step instructions here, and download the tag below.



To download the "Warm Wishes" tags: click the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



5) Hot chocolate gift bag - Consumable gifts are the best for people that don't need more clutter in their lives... and hot chocolate screams "Christmas!" Check out the step by step instructions here, and download the tag below.



To download the "COZY Christmas" tags: click the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.




Aren't these great ideas? Do you have a favourite?



For all the details regarding how I created these gifts, check out the video I made below.



If you like these gifts, let me know. I have more ideas I'd be happy to share.

💗 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 NEW Dollarama Christmas Finds & DIYs... celebrate well for less!

I love dollar store finds, don't you? It's a great way to celebrate holidays for less. Today, I am sharing fabulous, budget-friendly finds, and DIYs that you are going to make your Christmas very merry.



For a closer look, you can check out the video I made... or keep scrolling for a written version.



1) I love this dollar store bowl that I found in the "planter" / "pot" section. I filled it with Epsom salts, and added a few acrylic reindeer ornaments. It would also be cute with bottle brush trees and mini Christmas houses and trucks. Use your imagination, and have fun with it!
 



2) Dollar store (or thrift store) frames are perfect to pair with vintage prints. Search for old pictures that are in the "public domain". Then, print at a local copy store and insert into the frame. Easy peasy!




3) Wrapping gifts in handmade packaging makes them even more special, and dollar store brown bags are perfect for DIYing. Add a circle of red cardstock or leather, glue on antlers and googly eyes, and draw on a mouth to create a super-cute reindeer bag.





4) The dollar store has fantastic crafting supplies, and these little wooden snowflakes are adorable. I have plans to use them to make Christmas tree ornaments. What would you use them for?


5) I love gifting baked goods to family and friends during the holidays, and the dollar store has a large number of adorable packaging options. I love the black and white buffalo check bags, and the clear top boxes are adorable too. The stickers are wonderful for sealing packages shut and are great for the backs of Christmas cards too.



6) The dollar store has everything you need for entertaining. Don't forget to pick up some of their fantastic napkins, and grab a packaged of their wooden spoons. The spoons are perfect for dipping in chocolate and adding to a hot chocolate bar.



7) Tree collars are very trendy, but they are pretty pricey. I grab this dollar store basket, cut it up, and popped it around the base of my tree. I think it's pretty cute for a couple of dollars.





8) Don't walk by the Christmas ornaments at the dollar store without stopping for a closer look. I am planning a gingerbread theme this year, so I brought home these adorable ornaments.




9) The dollar store has wonderful, budget-friendly treat options, but these cookies are definitely worth trying. They are a perfect festive treat to add to a hot chocolate bar.




10) I love a cozy blanket, and this furry throw from my local Dollarama is a great option. It comes in a few different colours, and it's well worth the price.




What do you think of my latest finds? Have you found anything good lately?

💗 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

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