Allergy-safe Halloween Class treats {funny glasses}... with free printable gift tags

My kids love bringing Halloween treats to share with their classmates, but their schools are starting to get super-strict when it comes to allergies and sugar. So, in an effort to make sure no one is left out, we try to come up with fun "non food" Halloween treats. This year, my middle son decided to share some silly glasses with his friends.

On a trip to Walmart, we found these hilarious glasses for less than $0.50 each. I picked up a bunch and designed some fun tags to accompany them.

Our tags say, "EYE hope you have a SPECtacular Halloween!" Pretty punny, right?

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

My 11 year old is super-pumped to share these Halloween treats with his friends, and I love that they are sugar free and allergy safe.

Will you be sharing Halloween class treats this year? Will you be opting for homemade goodies or a non-food option? I've seen a lot of dollar store glasses that would work well with these tags too. If you decide to use this idea, let me know how they turn out.

Happy Halloween!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

First Day of School Class Treats

The first day of school is a big deal for kids, and it is an occasion that deserves to be celebrated. For this reason, I have always loved sending my boys back to school with treats for their teachers and classmates. Today, I am sharing some of our favourite ideas for first day of school class treats (for both classmates and teachers).

When it comes to treats for classmates, I like to find something that is simple and inexpensive. Then, I "up" the cute factor by adding a funny tag. Here are some of the trinkets and treats my boys' have shared:


Dollar store glasses - These colourful classes are super-cute, and I love the "I am really LOOKING forward to having you in my class!" tag that you can download for free here. 

Colourful pencils, pens, or markers - Something bright and cheerful to write with makes a practical first day of school treat. Just attach it to the "Let's start the year off WRITE!" tag that you can download for free here. 

"excel" gum - Gum is a great treat for older children to share with their friends. I love the idea of attaching a punny note that says, "We are going to have an 'EXCEL'lent year!" You can download the gift tags I designed (for free) here.  

Cookies - If school nutrition policies are not a concern, these packages of peanut-free cookies make a sweet treat. You can make it extra special by stapling "Happy first day of school to one smart COOKIE!!" tags to the tops of the bags. Get your FREE printable tags here. 

Goldfish - Little bags of crackers are inexpensive and easy to share, and they become a fun treat if you add a cute "o-FISH-ally wishing you a fantastic first day of school!" tag that you can download for free here.

LEGO crayons - Recycle last year's broken crayons, and make a unique gift to share with classmates. It's a great way for kids to "BUILD" new friendships. Read more here. 

Don't forget to bring a first day of school gift for the teacher too. Here are a couple of inexpensive gifts that my boys' have shared:


First day of school survival kit - Fill a fun container with chocolate, advil, coffee gift cards, hand sanitizer, etc... It's a cute gift that is useful too! Download the free printable tags here. 

Handmade pencil holder - I love the idea of a child crafting a gift for their teacher. You can give it on its own, or you can fill it with chocolate or markers. You can find the instructions for making this cute gift here.

You can download "A SWEET treat for a SWEET teacher!" tags here.

And a jar of cookie mix makes a useful teacher gift too... and you can get the directions and FREE printable gift tags here.

And, you can download, "MARK my words, we are going to have a great year!" tags here.

Sharing inexpensive treats on the first day of school is a wonderful way to start a new. Happy "back to school" everyone!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

First day of school treats... "I'm LOOKING forward to having you in my class"

Bringing class treats on the first day of school is a great way to start the year, but sometimes allergies and nutrition policies make baked goodies out of the question. So, for my boys, I like to come up with cute ways to package dollar store trinkets. I recently found these colourful "party glasses" at the dollar store, and I thought they would be perfect for sharing with a cute tag that says, "I am really LOOKING forward to having you in my class." Cute, right?

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

I love how cute the brightly coloured glasses are with the little tags, don't you?

These glasses with the "punny" tags make wonderful gifts for kids to give their classmates, and they would be fun little treats for teachers to give their students too.

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Let's start the year off WRITE {first day of school class treats}... with free printable tags

It's always fun to bring treats to share with the class, and bringing goodies on the first day of school is a great way to kick off a new year. My boys like to bring little trinkets instead of edible goodies on the first day because allergies and school nutrition policies are sometimes a concern. Today, I am sharing the simple little treat my youngest son is bringing to share with his new classmates this year... and I am including FREE printable "Let's start this year off WRITE" tags for you to use.

These simple treats are inexpensive, cute, and easy to put together. It doesn't take long to make enough for a whole class.

First, you'll need to print the tags I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Then, with the help of a cutting mat and an x-acto knife, cut two slits in each tag and insert a colourful pencils.

It doesn't get much easier than this little DIY gift!

Do you ever send treats on the first day of school? I think these "Let's start the year of WRITE" gifts make a fun treat for teachers to give to their students on the first day too. They are easy, inexpensive, and fun!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Last Day of School Class Treats: BALLS (with free printable tags)

This is my boys' last week of school, and they want to bring treats to share with their classmates on the last day. I think it's fun to make punny tags to attach to little trinkets, and today I am sharing the two different last day of school treats my boys are sharing with their friends this year.

My middle son decided that he wanted to give out bouncy balls and KitKat bars. I packaged the two items in little cellophane bags, and I added a tag that says, "It was a BALL having you in my class. Enjoy your summer BREAK!" Cute, right?

To download the tags I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

I think the kids are going to love these adorable treats.

My youngest son isn't allowed to bring edible treats to his school, so he is bringing balls and little bottles of slime. I think these packages are equally cute, so I don't think they'll miss the sugar at all!

To download the tags I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

 Don't these little goodie bags look cute? I love the bright colours.

I think sharing treats with friends is a great way to end a school year. The treats are small, but I am sure the kind gesture will be appreciated.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Unique Easter Class Treats ("stretchy bunnies" two ways)

My boys love to share holiday treats with their friends, so I am always looking for ways to turn dollar store trinkets into adorable class treats. This year, for Easter, my middle son requested that I do something fun with "stretchy bunnies" that we found. I am sharing two fun options for unique Easter class treats with you today.

How cute is this photo card I made?  My son loves that he is holding a "stretchy bunny" and soft little chick. The bunnies were $1.25 for eight, and the chicks were $2 for ten. I both both trinkets at the dollar store.

I started with a photo of my son holding out his hands, and I added some Easter details with Picmonkey.com.

Then, I used an x-acto knife to cut slits in the picture. I inserted the bunny, and I inserted the feet of the chick. I also added a bit of tape to the back of the picture to make sure the chick's feet didn't slip out.

Another option for gifting "stretchy bunnies" is to put them in plastic eggs, package them with chocolate eggs, and add tags that say, "Have an 'EGG'cellent Easter!"

I made personalized tags at Picmonkey.com, but I also designed a generic tag that you can download for free below.

To download this sheet of three generic tags I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Although both options are adorable, my son decided to go with the photo option, and I think it was an excellent choice. They are seriously adorable!

My 10 year old is super-excited to share these easy and inexpensive Easter treats with his friends... and I'm not surprised. They are pretty cute! Do you have someone that would love to give or receive these trinkets too?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

15+ PUNNY Valentine Ideas... with free printable tags

I have always loved creating unique Valentine's for my boys to share with their friends and classmates. Over the years, I have come up with a lot of fun ideas that my boys and their buddies have loved. Usually, I pair "trinkets" with clever and "punny" tags. Today, I am sharing 15 of my favourite PUNNY Valentine ideas... and the sweet tags I designed.

Below, you will find links to all my favourite PUNNY valentines and the FREE printable tags I designed. Click on the links to access the free tutorials and tags.

1) I hope you have a 'DINO'mite Valentine's Day!

2) Have a SUPER Valentine's Day!

3) You're #1 in my BOOK!

4) You're friendship BLOWS me away!

5) I am BEARY happy to have a friend like you!

6) It's PLANE to see you're a great friend!

7) The FORCE of our friendship is strong!

8) You are one in a MINION!

9) COLOR your HEART out!

10) You've got the WRITE stuff!

11) I am CRAZY about you!

12) Have a WANDerful Valentine's Day!

13) You BLOW me away!

14) I hope you have a BALL on Valentine's Day!

15) I think you're {SPEC}tacular!

Bonus: Check out this "Wheelie" cute and clever class Valentine and free printable tags.

And how adorable is this bubble gum Valentine?

And who wouldn't love this simple sock Valentine?

Homemade Valentines are definitely more heartfelt and fun. This collection includes tons of free printable Valentines and tags... and there are many fantastic "non-candy" ideas that are perfect for class parties. I love the Superhero masks and recycled crayons, but they are all wonderful! Do you have a favourite?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more wonderful Valentine's Day ideas here.