NEW Valentine's Day DIYs... made from recycled cardboard and dollar store supplies

What's more fun than Valentine's DIYs? What about DIYs made with FREE (or super cheap materials? I have some fantastic options for kids and adults... and they are all easy and inexpensive! (I even made a video with all the step by step instructions.)

First up is a Valentine's Day garland made from an old cardboard box. Cut hearts from cardboard, tape a piece of a paper straw to the back, and string the hearts and beads on a piece of twine.

You can also use the cardboard hearts to make framed Valentine's Day artwork with kids. Glue popsicle sticks together to make a frame, glue a string to the top, add buttons to the ends of the piece of string, and glue a piece of cardstock onto the middle of the frame.

Then, decorate hearts to put inside of the frames.

Scrunch up 1 inch squares of tissue paper and glue to a cardboard heart until it is entirely covered.

You can also wrap a heart in yarn (securing periodically with glue).

Or you can just use a paint marker or Sharpies to decorate the cardboard heart. 

Which one is your favourite? I suggest trying them all! :-)

Another simple DIY is this adorable floral canvas. I picked my favourite faux flowers at the dollar store, removed the stems, and used hot glue to attach them to the inside of a dollar store wooden canvas.

For a look at all these projects, check out the video here...

Thanks for checking out my latest easy and inexpensive Valentine's Day DIYs! Let me know which one is your favourite. Happy Valentine's Day!!!

♥
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.

Winter / Valentine's Day Porch Transformation... using Dollar Store Supplies

I have a really fun DIY for you today! I decorated my porch for winter and Valentine's Day with a few inexpensive dollar store items. Check out the dramatic transformation below!

Here's what I picked up at the dollar store: three heart picks, two strings of hearts, and two packages of glittery clothespins.

Here's a video I made showing how my porch looked BEFORE, what I did to transform it, and how it looked AFTER.

I think the garland around my door looks fantastic with my DIY Winter Wreath. What do you think?

And my Christmas greenery arrangement looks totally transformed.

Cute, right? I'm currently obsessed with how cozy my porch looks. 

Can you believe this wonderful transformation was done with dollar store supplies? I love a budget friendly DIY, don't you?

Winter can be gloomy, but with a few inexpensive supplies, you can really make your home cozy and bright. How do you decorate the outside of YOUR home this time of year?

♥
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.

Don't miss out on any of the fun... follow me on social media here.

     

Valentine's Day FREEBIES & Dollar Store DIYs

I have some fantastic Valentine's Day FREE downloads & dollar store DIYs for you today. Watch the video I made showing you all the fun ways to use my designs, and then download your own prints and tags for FREE (below).

To check out all the fun freebies and Valentine's Day DIYs, check out this video... and then grab all the free prints and tags below.

To download and print the 11x14 prints

 I designed: click on the photo below (that you want to print), right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 11x14 photo. 

PRO TIP: I print mine at Staples (on cardstock) for less than $2. The cardstock makes the picture easy to frame, and it looks high end and professional.

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

I hope you like these Valentine's freebies and dollar store DIYs. If you are looking for inexpensive Valentine's Day decor, you should totally download and print the free 11x14 pictures I designed. I love how they look in my home... hanging in my dollar frames. Budget-friendly and super cute!

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥
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.

DIY Boho Wreath for Valentine's Day

How cute is this DIY boho wreath? I love the contrast of texture between the metal frame and the soft yarn, don't you? This adorable wreath was easy and inexpensive to make, and it's perfect for Valentine's Day! Check out the simple step-by-step instructions (and easy to follow video) below.

You'll need a metal ring, scissors, something to wrap yarn around, and yarn in Valentine's Day colours. I chose pink, white, and grey.

Then:

1) Wrap the yarn around an 18" piece of cardboard or foam core about 15 times... and cut the strands at one end.

2) Loop the strands around the ring.

3) Add as many strands you like... in whatever colours you prefer.

4) Using the same colours of yarn, make 5 pom poms. If you have never made pom poms before, you can watch the video below. (It's really easy!)

5) Tie the pom poms to the ring and secure on the back with hot glue.

6) Use sharp scissors to trim the bottom of the yarn strands. You can cut it straight across, or you can make a "v" shape like I did.

That's it! Isn't this a sweet little wreath?

For more info... check out my YouTube insructional video here.

If you are looking for a simple Valentine's Day craft, you should totally try this simple wreath. It's fun to make... and super-cute!

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't miss out on any of the fun... follow me on social media here.

     

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

Personal Size Cookie Tart -- an easy and inexpensive Valentine's Day treat

I love a special homemade treat, and this adorable personal size chocolate chip cookie tart is cute and delicious. I paired my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe with some inexpensive dollar store dishes, and I'm sharing the recipe below.

Here's the recipe:

1)  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2)  In a medium bowl, whisk together the following dry ingredients:

• 2 1/3 cups all purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

3)  In a separate bowl, use electric beaters to combine the following:

• 1 cup butter (at room temperature... NOT melted)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

4)  Add 2 large eggs and 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract to the butter/sugar mixture.  Beat with electric beaters until well combined.

5)  Using a wooden spoon, mix wet and dry ingredients together (just until combined).  Then, add 2 cups of chocolate chips.  (I like semi-sweet, but you can use whatever you like.)

6)  Place 4 tablespoon size balls into an oven safe heart-shaped dish and flatten the balls into the dish. (I found my dishes at my local dollar store (Dollarama). Bake for approx 12-15 minutes. When they are done, they will be slightly brown around the edges and still soft in the middle. Don't overbake.

The remainder of the dough can be made into regular chocolate chip cookies. Drop tablespoon-size balls (using a cookie scoop for best results) onto a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake for approx. 8-10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

I made these tarts for my boys, and they were a huge hit. 

These tarts are served plain, but they'd be delicious topped with a scoop of ice cream too.

The tarts are good after they have cooled, but for the best taste, serve them warm. They'll be crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.

This tart is based on my tried and true chocolate chip cookie recipe, so I hope you give it a try. This really is the perfect easy and inexpensive Valentine's Day treat.

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't miss out on any of the fun... follow me on social media here.

     

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