Magical Easter Ideas for Kids... and FREE Easter basket goodies!!!

Holidays provide the perfect opportunity to make magical memories. Today, I'm sharing delightful Easter ideas (and freebies) that are guaranteed to impress the Easter Bunny!

1) Coupons from the Easter Bunny are a wonderful alternative to candy in an Easter basket, and I made some FREE ones that you can download below.

To download the coupons I designed (for free): click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.

2) Magic jelly beans are another fun option for an Easter basket. I have a free printable envelope you can print below. Fill it with jelly beans and pop it in an Easter basket. 

The kids can follow the instructions from the Easter bunny: plant it in sugar on Easter Sunday, and on Monday morning, the jelly beans will grow into something fun. :-)

To download the envelope I designed for free: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.

3) Homemade goodies are great, but this shortcut is sure to impress. Who wouldn't love a chocolate bunny on a stick? It's soooo adorable.

Just take a store-bought bunny, and attach a sucker stick to the back with some melted chocolate. Let it dry, and that's it!

Pop them in cellophane bags, tie with ribbon, and add a name tag if desired. Easy peasy!

For a closer look at these ideas (and a few bonus ones!), check out the video I made below.

Which of these ideas is your favourite? I think they are all pretty cute!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more Easter ideas here.

A FINAL Birthday Letter to my Oldest Son on his 18th Birthday

When my boys were little, I decided to write them birthday letters every year on the day they were born. My goal was to create a "snap shot" of their personalities at the different stages of their childhoods. Today, my oldest son turns 18. As he enters adulthood, I am writing my LAST birthday letter to him. It's amazing how quickly time passes! 😭

To my oldest boy,

I literally can't believe that my first baby is an adult. I guess it's true that time flies when you are having fun -- and it has been an absolute joy watching you grow up. I couldn't be more proud of the wonderful human you have become. Being your mother is a blessing I don't take for granted. 💗

Here are a few of the reasons you are fantastic:

• You are smart, kind, and friendly. Dad and I joke that you are the "Mayor of Antigonish" because you are always chatting with people everywhere we go.
• You are a hard worker, and never complain about all the things you have on your plate. You excel academically, you have two jobs, you play competitive hockey, and you still find time to volunteer and have fun with your friends.
• You are a great big brother. The three of you have a lot of fun together, and you set a wonderful example for them.
• You love: pasta, steak, pizza, peanut butter on homemade white rolls, and Reeses peanut butter cups. You also love the Toronto Maple Leafs!
• You graduated from high school this year and "killed" your Valedictorian speech. I was very proud!
• You started university, and are embracing the new experience. I can't wait to see where your new path takes you!

You may be a legal adult, but you will always be my first baby. I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mom xox

40 Simple Animal Crafts Kids Will Love

Crafting is a wonderful way for kids to explore their creative side and to learn meaningful skills... in a fun way. It's especially effective when the crafts are cute and enjoyable to play with after they are made. Today, I am sharing 40 simple animal crafts that kids will LOVE!

In no particular order, here are the links to 40 fabulous animal crafts. 

Make sure to click the links for more information, step-by-step instructions, and free printable templates.

1) Monkey puppet made from a paper lunch bag

2) Lion mask made from a paper plate

3) Octopus made from a toilet roll

4) Sheep mask made from a paper plate

5) Bear puppet made from a paper bag

6) Caterpillars

7) Paper Dog pupppet

8) Paper plate duck puppet

9) Dog made from the letter D

10) Alligator made from the letter A

11) Bunny made from the letter B

12) Cat made from the letter C

13) Elephant mask made from a paper plate

14) Elephant made from the letter E

15) Elephant puppet with a finger for a trunk

16) Fox made from the letter F

17) Frog with noisemake tongue

18) Handprint goldfish

19) Iguana made from the letter I

20) Jellyfish made from the letter J 

21) Jellyfish that can move and swim

22) Ladybug made from the letter L

23) Ladybug (love bug) with a picture of the child

24) Mouse made from the letter M

25) Bird in a torn paper nest

26) Owl made from the letter O

27) Owl with handprint wings

28) Pig made from the letter P

29) Pig with clothespin feet

30) Shape pig

31) Three little pigs puppets and houses

32) Rabbit crafts

33) Snakes

34) Shark

35) Turtle puppet made from a paper plate

36) Unicorn made from the letter U

37) Worm made from Cheerios

38) Walrus made from the letter W

39) Beaver made from a paper lunch bag

*** Find a step by step "how to" YouTube video here.

40) Zebras

Aren't these animal crafts adorable? They are all simple to make, and you can create them with really basic craft supplies. When it comes to kids, crafts don't need to be complicated to be educational and fun. Happy crafting!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You may also be interested in this collection of crafts for kids.