5 Fantastic DIY Gifts for DADs/ Father’s Day Crafts / Dollarama DIY

Handmade gifts are perfect for Father's Day -- they are thoughtful and budget-friendly. Today, I'm sharing FIVE fantastic DIY gifts that dads are guaranteed to LOVE! Most of the supplies came from my local Dollarama, so you'll be able to find everything you need at your local dollar store.

Check out the video (with all the step by step instructions) here:

1) Wood slice key chain - Wood slices from the dollar store can be easily customized and turned into a super-cute, customized key chain. Find the full instructions here.

2) Dad's "pocket stuff" tray - A personalized tray is a great place for dad to drop his keys, loose change, and phone. Help dad get organized with this adorable "pocket stuff" tray. Find the step-by-step instructions here.

3) Paper heart "stuffed with treats" - A fun paper-stitched heart is a great way to gift goodies to dad. It's simple to make, and you can find the simple instructions here.

4) Dad's SNACK 'STACHE jar - Dads love a good "pun", so this jar (filled with his favourite snacks) is a great gift for Father's Day. Find the full instructions here. 

5) Handmade card - I love a card with a handwritten (and heartfelt) message inside. Find out how to make this cute shirt tie here.

Let me know which of these DIYs is your favourite. I think they are all pretty adorable. 

Happy Father's Day!

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

8 NEW EASTER Crafts for the WHOLE Family / Cheap and cheerful Easter Crafts for Kids & Adults/ Dollarama DIYs

Crafting is a great way to spend time with friends and family... and it's wonderful for mental health. And holiday crafting is the BEST! Today I am sharing 8 easy Easter crafts the whole family will enjoy. The crafts are simple and you can find most of the supplies in your recycling bin and at the dollar store.

1) Bunny treat holder - This is a cute craft, and a fun Easter party favour. Download the template here, colour the bunnies, cut them out, cut slips, and insert a treat. Cute, right? You can find step-by-step instructions here.

2) Heart shaped, yarn covered Easter chick - This little chick is totally adorable, and it's made by wrapping yarn around a dollar store wooden heart. Then, add a beak, googly eye, and beak... and voila! You can find the detailed step-by-step instructions here.

3) Coffee filter bunny suckers - Sometimes simple ideas are the best ones... and these bunnies are a perfect example. Cover a sucker with coffee filter, tie with a piece of twine, cut the top in half, twist the ears, and add the facial details. Sooooo adorable!!! You can find step-by-step instructions here.

4) Bunny cookie - This is craft is cute... and it's delicious. Place a cookie in a cellophane bag. Then, add cardstock bunny ears, googly eyes, a sticker nose, whiskers, and a mouth. This would make a wonderful Easter dinner "take home" treat. You can find step-by-step instructions here.

5) Wooden bunny ornament - I purchased a box of wooden circles (50 for $4) at my local Dollarama, but wood slice ornaments would work too. I painted the circle white, and added popsicle stick ears, a twine hanger, and a bunny face. I used a Cricut decal for the face, but stickers and paint markers would work well too. You can find step-by-step instructions here.

6) The cutest yarn chick - This is such a delightful little ornament... and it's super-fun to make. Kids and adults will love this one! You weave yarn around a piece of a toilet roll, and add a felt beak and googly eyes. You can find step-by-step instructions here.

7) Recycled bunny artwork - How cute is this bunny art? It's a fun piece made from an empty egg carton and a piece of a cardboard box. Kids, tweens and teens will love getting creative with this one! You can find step-by-step instructions here.

8) Paper Easter baskets - These are fun to craft and are perfect for gifting. Download the template I designed (below), decorate the basket, cut it out, fold it, staple in place, and add a pipe cleaner handle. You can find step-by-step instructions here.

To download the paper basket template: click on the photo below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

What do you think of the 8 Easter crafts I shared today? Let me know YOUR favourite in the comments below. Happy Easter!

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

The cutest St. Patrick's Day Crafts / Easy to make using dollar store supplies

St. Patrick's Day isn't just for the Irish. It's a fun craft theme too! Today, I'm sharing the cutest St. Patrick's Day crafts... made mostly of Dollarama supplies. Check out the post below... or pop on over to YouTube, and check out the video I made here.

1) Yarn Hat - This hat is easy and inexpensive to make. It's a great family craft too because it's fun for ALL ages. Find the step-by-step tutorial here.

2) Lucky charm - The wood rounds I used to make this come in a package of 50 for $4, so they are really inexpensive. Add a decal, some twine, and wooden beads to create an adorable "lucky charm". Find the full step-by-step tutorial here.

3) Wood block leprechaun hat - This craft is adorable, and looks great displayed on a shelf or tiered tray. Find the full step-by-step instructions here.

4) DIY St. Patrick's Day edible rainbow necklace - What's better than a craft you can eat?!?! Check out the full step-by-step instructions here.

Want a closer look, check out the video I made below.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

The CUTEST Valentine's Day crafts for kids, tweens, and teens.... and adults will love them too!

Crafting is a great way to spend time together, take a break from screens, and save money. Today, I am sharing FOUR of the CUTEST Valentine's Day crafts. They'll be a hit with kids, tweens, teens AND adults. Take a peak, give them a try, and let me know which one is your favourite.

1) Love bugs - Grab some items from your recycling bin and a ball of yarn. You are going to want to make a bunch of these adorable love bugs. Find the easy-to-follow instructions here.

2) Heart ornament - This is a simple craft that is made using dollar store supplies, but it's sooooo cute. You can hang it anywhere, but I love to decorate a pencil tree for Valentine's Day, so that's where I am putting mine. You can find the step by step instructions for this heart ornament here.

3) Simple heart card - This is such a fun card to make. Grab a box from your recycling bin, turn it into a heart template, and use it to create a delightful Valentine's Day card. Find the step by step instructions here.

4) Tumbling tower block love note - This little wooden craft could not be cute... or easier to make. It's sweet sitting on a shelf, but it's also perfect for a tiered tray. Find the simple step-by-step instructions here.

For a closer look at how I made all four of these cute Valentine's Day crafts for kids, tweens, teens and adults, check out the video I made below.

Which one is your favourite?

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

FOUR easy and adorable WINTER CRAFTS for kids and teens / Dollar store crafts and a FREE printable

Chilly winter days are perfect for crafting, and you are going to love the ideas I'm sharing today. I have 4 easy and adorable WINTER CRAFTS for kids and teens. Most use dollar store supplies, AND I'm sharing a FREE printable you can download. Check out all the fun below!

1) Wood slice melted snowman -- This is an adorable craft. It looks great on a tiered tray, but it's sweet just sitting on a shelf too. Find the FULL step by step instructions here.

2) Waterless snowman snowglobe - There is something magical about snow globes, and this version is easy to make and super-cute. Download the FREE printable below, and find the step by step instructions here.

To download the snowman and tree I used for this snow globe: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

3) Snowman lollipops - Who doesn't love a craft that is also a snack?!? These snowman suckers are sure to be a hit with crafters of all ages. Find the step-by-step instructions here.

4) Pom pom "snow buddies" - This is seriously the cutest craft! After you see how easy they are to make, you are going to want to make a bunch of these adorable snow buddies. Find the step-by-step instructions here.

For a closer look at how to make all four of these adorable winter crafts, check out the video I made here:

What do you think of these winter crafts? Which one is your favourite?

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Simple CHRISTMAS CRAFTS for all ages

Crafting with family and friends is a great way to spend time together... but you need the right crafts. You need to make something that is fun, festive, and fantastic! Today I have 5 simple Christmas crafts that all ages will enjoy creating. Take a peak, and let me know which one is your favourite. 

I even made you a video so you can check out all the step by step instructions. Check it out below:

1) Chocolate bar snowman - How cute is this little guy? It's so easy to make, and it's a fantastic craft, treat, party favour, gift, and stocking stuffer. It's a clever way to give a gift card too! Check out the step by step instructions here.

2) Elf Cookie - I love this adorable cookie craft. You bake a cookie, wrap it in cellophane, and add all the embellishments. Santa would definitely love to get his hands on this cute cookie. Check out the step by step instructions here.

3) Beaded wreath - Sometimes simple crafts are the best, and this little beaded wreath is adorable. Find all the "how to" details here.

4) Tassel beaded wreath - I think the tassel adds a subtle elegance to this adorable ornament... and tassels are really fun to make. Check out the "easy to follow" instructions here.

5) Yarn hat - I've made these with kids and adults, and they are always a hit. They are fun to make, and they look adorable on a tree. Check out the full tutorial here.

Aren't these 5 simple Christmas crafts adorable? Let me know in the comments... which one is your favourite?

I hope you have fun crafting this holiday season. Merry Christmas!!!!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Super Cute PAPER PUPPET Crafts For Kids

Paper puppets are fun to make... and even more fun to play with. I love imaginative play, don't you? Today, I'm sharing SIX paper puppets you are definitely going to want to make with your child or class.

*** Note: For best results, use cardstock for all of the super-cute paper puppet templates.

1) MONKEY Paper Bag Puppet - This paper bag puppet is super-cute and easy to make. You can draw your own monkey, or you can download the template here.

2) BEAVER Paper Bag Puppet - This craft is perfect for kids interested in animals, lessons on winter animals, and Canada Day celebrations. You can draw the components or you can download the template here.

3) Paper Doll SCARECROW Puppet - This scarecrow is adorable... and you can change its clothes! You can download the printable template here.

4) Circus Paper Puppets (ELEPHANT and CLOWN) - These two puppets are so cute for a "circus" themed crafting session. You can draw them on cardstock, or you can download the template I designed here.

5) Teddy BEAR Paper Bag Puppet - This is one of my favourite puppet crafts to make with kids. It's perfect for a Teddy Bear Picnic theme (which is always fun!) You can draw the teddy bear parts, or you can download the template here.

6) SCARECROW Paper Bag Puppet - This is such a fun craft for FALL. You can draw the details on a piece of cardstock, cut them out, and glue them onto a paper bag... OR you can download the template here.

I hope you love these paper puppets as much as I do. Let me know (in the comments), which one is your favourite?

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)