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)

2023 Christmas Finds for LESS

When it comes to saving money, prepping EARLY for Christmas is key. I also love to stock up on dollar store finds before they are all sold out. Today, I'm sharing some of my favourite 2023 Christmas dollar store finds.

Check out my list below... or take a closer look by watching the video I made here:

1) These LED lights are great. They come with a remote, so you can change them into any Christmas colour you like. They are fantastic plain, but they are also a great surface for Cricut decals. I'm planning to add a nativity scene to mine.

2) Reindeer are super trendy this year, and these dollar store reindeer ornaments are super-cute. I'm planning to paint mine with black spray paint for a high-end look.

3) These snow globes are cheap and super cute. The DIY possibilities are endless. I bought a bunch, and I have some fun plans for them, so stay tuned. 😉

4) I've been seeing a lot of "bell" décor in high-end stores this year, but it's quite pricey. I have a plan to DIY my own bells using these dollar store supplies. I think it's going to be great! :-)

5) Kleenex boxes look ugly and can take away from the look of Christmas décor. That's why I love this plain white kleenex box cover. Cute, right? You could also DIY these boxes. You could add a monogram... or you could add something with a Christmas theme.

6) Bottle brush trees are versatile and inexpensive. I love these beige ones with a wooden vase. They look great on a tiered tray, and they are fantastic for DIYs.

7) I love lights that add a nice glow to décor. These dollar store lanterns are a great size, look fantastic, and add a festive glow to the holidays.

8) The dollar store has really fun wrapping paper options, but the good ones sell out quickly... so make sure to grab your favourites right away. Here are the ones I bought...

9) You don't have to be a child to have fun with a toy train. I found this one at the dollar store, and it's a great size. I plan to put it around the base of my tree. 

Which of these 2023 Christmas bargains is your favourite? I love getting ready for Christmas early so I can relax when the holiday season arrives. Where do you fall -- team "early" or team "last minute"?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

NEW Budget-friendly Christmas HACKS... including FREEBIES and dollar store DIYs

I absolutely love saving money during the holidays, don't you? Today, I have some fantastic HACKS for you--including freebies and dollar store DIYs. For more info, check out the video at the bottom of this post!

One of my favourite traditions is "The Polar Express" adventure my family goes on every year. I print tickets to the Polar Express, we grab cookies and hot chocolate, and we head to our van to tour around looking at Christmas lights. Then, when we get home, there are gold bells on my boys' pillows. Fun, right?

To grab your free "bell tags" and "Polar Express tickets": Click on the picture below, right-click, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

Another fun HACK is to use dollar store supplies to create a DIY candy dish. I used a dollar store candle stick holder, the bottom of a clay pot, a round glass vase, and a cabinet knob. I spray painted the candle stick holder and clay tray red, glued it all together, and filled it with candy. I think it adds a nice bit of whimsey to the holidays.

This HACK is SUPER-EASY. Grab a dollar store cloche, add a bit of ribbon to the bottom, add an ornament and fake snow, and place it on a dollar store candle stick holder or riser. EASY PEASY!

How beautiful is this dollar store wreath? I wrapped a dollar store wreath form with a dollar store scarf. Then, I added some greenery and fake flowers. What do you think?

For a closer look at (and instructions for) these hacks, check out the YouTube video below.

Let me know what HACKS you like the best, and make sure to "like" my YouTube video and hit "subscribe". It means a lot to me and REALLY helps my channel.

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the Christmas DIYs here.

5 Ways to Save Money on CHRISTMAS DECOR by DIYing Things you Already have in your Home

Who doesn't love saving money? And what better way to save money during the holiday season than using stuff you already have to decorate your home? Check out these 5 budget friendly DIYs!

1) Use glass vases/jars/containers/bowls - Everyone has a glass vessels in their home, and they are easy to transform into Christmas decor. I added Epson salts and glitter to this jar, and then I added bottle brush trees, mini lights, and a fun ornament. Cute, right?

2) Use greenery - We had a lot of fallen branches and trees in our back yard, and I harvested what I needed to make an arrangement. I added a few dollar store picks, and inserted everything in a pot of soil I had leftover from my Fall mom. I can't believe this gorgeous arrangement only cost me a few dollars!

3) Raid the recycling bin - How cute are these fake cookies? I cut house shapes from an old cardboard boxese, and I added "icing" with a white chalk marker. They look cute on a plate, but they also look nice strung up on a piece of twine.

4) Use existing artwork in your home - My walls are filled with artwork, so it's fun to add a Christmas spin to them. You can wrap them like presents, or change out the artwork to something with a Christmas theme. You can grab some free "Movie Quotes" that I designed here.

For a closer look (and more step by step instructions, check out the video below.

I love this these ideas, don't you? Let me know your favourite in the comments. 

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the Christmas DIYs here.

FREE Holiday Prints for Christmas Movie Lovers (Elf, It's a Wonderful Life, The Polar Express, and The Santa Clause)

Last week, I shared a fun, FREE "Elf Movie" print, and so many people loved it that I decided to design a few more to share. I love that these are large pieces of artwork that you can print at a local copy store for about $1. Then, you can use dollar store frames... or frames you already have in your home. It doesn't get more budget-friendly than these FREE holiday prints for Christmas movie lovers!

Here's the one for "It's a Wonderful Life":

Here's the one for "Elf":

Here's one for "The Polar Express": 

And here's one for "The Santa Claus":

Aren't these great? I have all of my in dollar store frames, and my plan is to hang three on my wall, and change out the frames with new prints with the change of holidays / seasons.

To download your 11x14" prints FOR FREE: click on the photo you want (below), right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular photo.

What's your favourite Christmas movie? 

I just love budget-friendly holiday decor, don't you?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the Christmas DIYs here.