FOUR Easy Easter Crafts to Make... using jars

I love crafting with inexpensive supplies, and I have FOUR wonderful Easter DIY ideas to share today. They are all easy to make and use items you can find at the dollar store. They can be used as Easter basket treats, DIY gifts, and simple handmade decor. Take a look, and let me know which one is your favourite.

1) Easter cookie mix in a jar -- Every holiday requires a sweet treat, and Easter is no exception. I always enjoy baking Easter cookies with my kids, and I love sharing our sweet treats with friends and family. This Easter cookie mix jar is perfect for stocking a pantry, and it makes an adorable Easter gift too. You can find the full instructions and FREE printable gift tags here.

2) Chocolate bunny in a jar -- This chocolate bunny in a jar would be an adorable addition to an Easter basket. It makes fun decor and a wonderful gift too. Simply add some Easter grass, chocolate eggs, and a chocolate bunny to a jar. Cut a piece of scrapbooking paper for the lid, and embellish with some ribbon and twine. It's that easy!

3) Treat jar -- This is such a simple idea, but it is totally adorable. You can make this jar in minutes, and fill it with your favourite goodies. It would be great in an Easter basket, but it would be a fun gift to share with family and friends too. I even like it as a piece of Easter decor. Fill a jar with goodies, glue a plastic bunny (from the dollar store) to the top, and embellish with a piece of ribbon. Cute, right?!?

4) Painted jars - Holidays are a wonderful excuse to get crafty, and Easter is one of the best. Easter colours are fantastic, and what is cuter than bunnies and chicks? With a few dollar store supplies, you can easily transform an old jar into a delightful DIY Easter vase.You can find the step by step instructions for these adorable painted jars here.

I made a short video sharing these projects too. Check it out here:

Aren't these "jar" crafts the cutest?

Are you going to make any of these Easter DIYs this year? Which one is your favourite? I'm not sure I could pick just one... but I am on my second jar of cookie mix. 😉

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

"Bunny Butt" Easter Garden... made using dollar store supplies

I love cute seasonal decor... especially when I can make it myself (CHEAPLY) using dollar store supplies. This "bunny butt Easter garden" really is easy to make... and it is totally adorable!

First, you'll need to gather your supplies.

You'll need:

• yarn (I used grey)
• some sort of bucket/container (any kind will work)
• floral foam
• dollar store moss
• 4 dollar store carrots
• 4 toothpicks
• dollar store greenery (optional)
• scrap pieces of felt
• a white pom pom 
• scissors and a hot glue gun

1) You can leave the carrots as they are, or you can upgrade them by pulling out the tops and using hot glue to insert dollar store greenery.

2) Insert a piece of floral foam into the container.

3) Insert toothpicks into the ends of the carrots, insert the carrots into the floral foam, and cover the floral foam with dollar store moss. (You can glue it down if you like. I didn't in case I want to change up my arrangement next year.)

4) Make a large pom pom (for the bunny's butt) using yarn. Wrap the yarn around your hand 65-90 times (depending on the weight of the yarn), tie a strand of yarn around the centre of the ball of yarn, cut the loops, and trim the pom pom until it is round and fluffy.

If you have never made a pom pom before, you would like more instruction, you can watch a "how to make pom poms video" here.

5) Attach the pom pom to the edge of the bucket using hot glue. Then, attach a pom pom tail using more hot glue. Finish by attaching bunny feet. (I used felt, but you could foam or cardstock if that is what you have on hand.)

Seriously.... how cute is this project? It really is a fabulous piece of Easter / Spring decor that you can make for only a few dollars.

And... if you want to see a quick video before you make your own bunny butt Easter garden, check out the video below.

I set my garden beside this cute picture I made. You can find the FREE printable for this cute Easter photo here.

Don't you just love it? If you make one, send me a picture. I always love seeing the variations my readers come up with. And, of course, if you have any questions about this "bunny butt Easter garden" made using dollar store supplies, please let me know.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

St.Patrick's Day Yarn Ornaments

Holiday crafts are so much fun, and the two I am sharing with you today are super-cute and easy to make. They use yarn and dollar store supplies, and are perfect for kids and adults. Check out the adorable St.Patrick's Day crafts below.

The first craft is a green yarn hat ornament. Trust me, when you start making these hats, you are going to be totally addicted. 😄

1) Cut a 1 cm slice from an empty toilet roll. Then, cut approximately 35 strands of yarn (30cm in length). Note: You may need more or less yarn. It will depend on the weight/thickness of the yarn.

2) Loop all the strands (one at a time) through the cardboard roll and pull tight. Continue until the entire cardboard piece is covered.

3) Push all the yarn down through the centre of the roll to create a hat "brim", and tie the top of the hat (about an inch from the top) with a piece of matching yarn. Tie a loop (at the top of the piece of yarn used to tie the top of the hat) to create a hanger for the ornament.

4) Trim the top of the hat to make a pom pom, and use hot glue to attach a felt shamrock to the front of the yarn hat.

You can display the leprechaun hat as it is, or you can make a pom pom and transform it into a St.Patrick's Day gnome.

To make the St.Patrick's Day gnome:

You'll need to make the hat (above), and then you'll need to make a pom pom for the beard. You can find a video explaining how to make pom poms here.

1) Wrap yarn around your hand approximately 60 times (or more if the yarn is a lighter weight/thinkness).

2) Carefully remove the yarn from your hand and tie a piece of yarn tightly around the centre.

3) Cut the loops with sharp scissors, and trim the pom pom until it is round and fluffy.

4) Then, assemble the ornament. Use hot glue to attach the hat to the handmade pom pom.

5) Use hot glue to attach the pom pom nose.

Cute, right?!? You can hang them anywhere, or set them on a shelf. I have a bunch around my house, but I especially love them hanging from this little white tree.

Check out this video for another way to learn how to do this simple craft.

This really is the perfect craft project for St. Patrick's Day. It fun for kids, and adults will love it too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE St.Patrick's idea here.

TOP 15 Valentine's Day Crafts to Make This Year

Holidays are the perfect time to create handmade gifts and decor, and Valentine's Day is one of my favourite times to get crafty. Pinterest has provides endless inspiration, but today I am sharing the top 15 Valentine's Day crafts to make this year. There is something for every age and skill level on this list!

How cute is this crafty Valentine's Day vignette? Below, you'll find links to tutorials for these crafts and more!

Here are links to 15 fantastic Valentine's Day crafts (in no particular order):

1) Sock gnome - Gnomes are super trendy now, and this Valentine's Day gnome is easy to make using dollar store supplies. (The beard is made from a dollar store mop!) I've even designed FREE gift tags you can use to share your creations with family and friends. Find everything you need here.

2) Pom pom gnome ornament - There has never been a cuter yarn craft. Kids and adults will love creating these adorable pom pom gnome ornaments. They can used as decor (or given as gifts). You can find the full step by step instructions (and short "how to" video) here.

3) Yarn wrapped hearts and pom pom flowers - Filling a vase with yarn wrapped hearts and pom pom flowers is a simple craft that anyone can do. To make the heart flowers: cut a piece of cardboard into the shape of a heart, wrap it with yarn (securing periodically with yarn), and hot glue a dowel to the finished heart. To make pom pom flowers, you can follow the step by step instructions (and video) here.

4) Love bugs - This is one of my most popular Valentine's crafts, and it isn't hard to see why. When my boys were younger, they loved making a bunch of these little critters. I've even made love bug kits for them to share with their friends on Valentine's Day. You can find the step by step instructions (and "how to" video) here.

5) Argyle sweater wreath - Nothing says "cozy and warm" like an argyle sweater, and this argyle sweater inspired wreath sure to heat up your Valentine's Day decor. It's simple to make using yarn and felt, and you can find all the instructions you need here.

6) Pom pom wreath - The best thing about this "classy" looking wreath is that it started as one of those "tacky" tinsel wreaths they sell at the dollar store. You can read all about the transformation, and learn how to make your own pom pom wreath for Valentine's Day here.

7) Felt flower wreath - Sometimes simplicity speaks volumes, and I love this uncluttered (and easy to make) felt flower wreath for Valentines Day. I love the different shades of red and pink mix with the rustic look of the twine wrapped wreath, don't you? You can find the instructions for making this wreath here.

8) Heart rosette wreath - I made this wreath in 2012, and it is still my favourite piece of Valentine's Day decor. The felt flowers are simple (and inexpensive) to make, and they look fantastic when they are glued together to create this gorgeous wreath. You can find the step by step instructions for making this wonderful craft here.

9) Tissue paper hat - Kids love making Valentine's crafts too, and they are great for helping children hone their fine motor skills. This craft is particularly fun and effective... and children will proudly wear their creation. You can find the step-by-step instructions for this Valentine's Day tissue paper hat craft for kids here.

10) "I love you pieces" artwork - This is another great craft for young kids working on their fine motor skills. It also makes a nice Valentine's Day card for children to give to their parents.  You can find the full instructions, and download the FREE template, for this craft here.

11) Valentine's Day Candle Holder - This is a simple craft for kids to make and share on Valentine's day, and it's a great way to recycle old jars. It great for gifting, and it works well with a battery operated candle inside. You can find the full instructions here.

12) Valentine Mailboxes - Don't we all remember making Valentine mailboxes when we were little kids? And wasn't it fun opening them up and reading all the cards inside? You can find three simple mailboxes for kids to make here.

13) Heart people - I made this simple craft when I was a little girl, and I made it with my boys when they were young. The accordian arms really give this Valentine's Day craft its personality. You are going to want to make these heart people with your little ones this year! Find the full instructions here.

14) Kiss countdown - My kids have always loved having Advent calendars for Christmas, so I thought it would be fun to countdown to Valentine's Day too. How cute is this "kiss' countdown? Find the full instructions here.

15) Valentine's Day prize punch - I came up with the idea for a "prize punch" many years ago, and they have become a staple at all our parties and celebrations. Of course, making one for Valentine's Day was a "no brainer". Find out how simple it is make one for your family here.

Aren't these all fantastic ideas for creating wonderful Valentine's Day crafts?

Do you have a favourite Valentine's Day craft? Did it make my list? I'm really loving the yarn inspired crafts this year, but they are all super-fun. Which one will you be making first?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

If you are looking for more Valentine's Day inspiration, check out more than 30 Valentine's Day ideas here.