Summer Crafts for Kids (with a "how to" video and free printable templates)

Summer is the perfect time to craft with kids, and these crafts are simple AND fun! The video (below) is easy to follow, the templates are free, and the supplies are easy to find.

Here are the crafts:

And here are the instructions:

Let me know which one is your favourite! I think the Cheerio worm is mine... but they are all fantastic. :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 dollar store finds and DIYs for CANADA DAY

Do you love holiday decor on a budget? I have TEN dollar store finds and DIYs for Canada Day that are super-cute and budget-friendly. Take a look, and let me know which one is your favourite.

You can see ALL my finds and DIYs (and find out how to get the free Canada Day print I designed) here:

Happy Canada Day!!!!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 AMAZING dollar store finds, hacks and diys for SUMMER

I love summer, and living well on a budget, don't you??? If you answered "yes" you are going to really enjoy this post and video. Today, I'm sharing 10 AMAZING dollar store finds, hacks and diys for SUMMER.

1) DIY Solar-Powered Lamp - I love this cute little lamp, and it's perfect for summer patios. It's also super-easy to make with a few cheap supplies from the dollar store. Find the step-by-step instructions here.

2) Summer entertaining hack - Dishes from the dollar store are perfect for summer entertaining. They are cheap... but they don't need to look it! Pop a margarita glass in the center of a bowl for an impressive way to serve chips and dip. Get a closer look here.

3) Hack for keeping food cold when entertaining this summer - Add water to the bottom of a dollar store bowl, freeze it, and insert a second (identical) bowl on top. Fill it with food, and your good to go! See a visual demonstration here.

4) DIY First Aid Kit - Summer adventures are often accompanied with bumps and bruises, so having basic first aid items ready at all times is advisable. I love grabbing a plastic container at the dollar store and filling it with supplies. I also use duct tape to add a cross to the top to make it recognizable. Find out more here.

5) Water Fight Supplies - The dollar store has everything you need for summer water fights. I love these balloons, but for a more environmentally option, consider cutting sponges into strips and securing the centres together with an elastic. Then, you can dip the sponge balls in water and throw. Both options are perfect on a hot summer day!

6) Wipes - Baby wipes are perfect to have on hand during summer. They are perfect for picnics and for wiping sticky fingers when kids are eating s'mores.

7) Wasp deterent - I've bought these paper wasp nests at the dollar store for years, and I swear they work. I have no idea what crazy science makes these effective, but I'm a believer!

8) Cupcake wrappers - Everyone has cupcake wrappers for making cupcakes and muffins, but they have other uses too. Poke a hole in the middle, pop in a straw, and use them to keep flies out of summer drinks. They also work for catching popsicle stick drips.

9) Custom roasting sticks - Campfires are made for roasting, and these customized sticks are inexpensive and easy to make. Find the "how to" instructions here.

10) Candy tray - I love a simple, summer candy tray. I made this one from a dollar store picture frame, and you can find the "how to" here.

For a closer look at all 10 AMAZING dollar store finds, hacks, and diys for SUMMER, check out the video below.

Let me know in the comments if you have a favourite summer HACK. I love learning new things!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

The BEST budget-friendly DIYs for Easter... high end looks with dollar store supplies

When looking for budget-friendly Easter decor, the dollar store is the first place to shop. The supplies are inexpensive, and it is super-easy to transform them into fantastic, high-end decor. Here are a few of my latest finds and DIYs.

1) This gorgeous bunny wreath is made using 100% dollar store supplies. It is soooo easy to make. Check out the full tutorial here.

2) The dollar store has many Easter basket options, but they look more high-end when you personalize them. I used my Cricut to add a name to the back, but you could easily using alphabet stickers. Get a closer look here.

3) The Easter eggs at the dollar store come in beautiful on trend colours. I love using them to decorate my little white (dollar store) tree. Cute, right? Check out my other ideas for these eggs here.

4) The wooden ornaments at the dollar store come is super-cute seasonal shapes. I love these bunnies for Easter. I used mine to make this wood bead garland, but I have other ideas you can check out here.

5) Dollar store window clings are inexpensive and perfect for DIYing. I like to create artwork by applying window clings to dollar store frames. Check out how easy it is to make your own here.

For a closer look at these products (and step by step instructions for the DIYs), check out the video below.

What do you think? Are you going to try any of these budget-friendly DIYs for Easter? I think the bunny wreath is my favourite, but they are all easy, inexpensive, and fun!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

GORGEOUS Summer Decor DIYs... made using dollar store supplies and a FREE download

If you love SUMMER, FREE things, CHEAP decor, and craftting... this post is for you! Today, I'm sharing gorgeous summer decor DIYs that I made using dollar store supplies, and I am sharing a summer print that you can download for free.

First up... is this beautiful piece of porch decor I made using dollar store supplies.

I started with this galvanized planter that I found at my local Dollarama. 

I used my Cricut to add a decal to the front, but you could leave it plain, paint the front, or add stickers. It's totally up to you.

I finished by inserting floral foam into the bucket and inserting dollar store florals and greenery. Cute, right?!? For a closer look, you can check out the YouTube video here.

It looks great on my porch next to the dollar store bird house planter I made last year.

Next up... is this FREE summer downloadable print I designed for you. 

To get your copy: click on the photo below, right-click, and save it to your computer. Then, print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

You can display it on a dollar store clipboard embellished with ribbon and paper flowers.

Or, you can pop the picture is a dollar store frame (or a frame you already have). I have a frame in my house dedicated to seasonal and holiday prints, and I just switch out the photo periodically.

The last project I have to share today is a fun way to upgrade a wooden dollar store shelf. The dollar store has tons of these shelves with words on them. 

I painted mine with white chalk paint, added some wooden beads for feet, and secured a bit of ribbon around it with hot glue. I styled mine with dollar store greenery and lemons.

You can get a closer look at the "before" and "after" here.

Look how cute the tray looks with the free print. No one would guess that this summer decor came from the dollar store!

I also made a short little video showing how I made ALL these projects. Check it out below!

What do you think of these dollar store DIYs? Which one is your favourite? If you would have done something different, let me know in the comments below. I'm always looking for inexpensive home decor ideas.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find more budget friendly DIY ideas here.

The BEST ***NEW*** Dollar Store DIYs for SPRING 🌸

I love seasonal decorating on a budget, don't you? And Spring is the perfect time for a bit of a decor refresh... and little dollar store DIY. Today, I' sharing a few NEW dollar store DIYs for Spring.

One of my favourite DIYs I made this year was a fence I crafted from dollar store plant markers. They are inexpensive and perfect for crafting a versatile piece of Spring decor.

I started by painting the plant markers with white paint and dry brushing them with a bit of grey paint. Then, I used hot glue to attach the posts together with another one of the posts.

I love this fence as a back drop for other Spring decor items. 

These great rounds are another fantastic dollar store crafting material. I bought this package of 6 rounds for $4. You can't beat that!

I taped off sections of the round, and painted them in different colours.

Then, I used my Cricut to cut out the words "Hello Spring", and I hung my round over a wreath I purchased at the dollar store a couple of years ago. 

If you don't have a Cricut, you can use a stencil, paints, stickers, or window clings attached with Mod Podge. 

Another great project uses the clay pots they sell at the dollar store. I started by painting them with white chalk paint.

Then, I taped them off and painted the rims with different Spring colours -- one light green, one light pink, and one light blue.

When they were dry, I used my Cricut to add the words "Plant", "Bloom", and "Grow" to the pots. Then, I filled the pots with floral foam and fake flowers. I think it looks great in front of the fence I made. Not bad for a couple of dollars, right?

The last craft was a tiny faux book stack I made with scraps of wood. You could also use dollar store jenga blocks glued together.

I painted one dark pink, one light pink, and one white. Then, I attached them together with hot glue, and wrapped them with twine. 

I finished by attaching a bit of Spring greenery to the top.

I displayed them on top of a dollar store candle holder I painted with white paint, but they would be adorable on a tiered tray too.

How great are these dollar store DIYs for Spring? Which one is your favourite?

For more information on crafting these simple projects, take a peek at this short video.

 

I hope you enjoyed these dollar store DIYs. I love easy and inexpensive home decor, and the dollar store is a fantastic place to get inspiration and supplies. 

I'll be back soon with even more ideas, so don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and YouTube channel.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in these fantastic Spring Dollar Store DIYs here.