FIVE High End DIYs for Winter... that you can make for a couple of dollars

My house always feels bare and sad after all the Christmas decorations have been put away. That's why I love making a few simple winter decor items to display in my home this time of year. Today, I am sharing 5 budget friendly winter DIYs that are easy, inexpensive, and fun!

1) EASY Winter Wreath made using an 18" dollar store wire wreath frame - I love this wreath because it is soooo easy to make. You literally wrap yarn around a dollar store wire wreath frame, and add a few embellishments to the centre of the wreath. It's that easy! You can find the full step by step instructions here.

2) Cardboard Tri-fold Hot Chocolate Stand - This hot chocolate stand is made from a cheap cardboard tri-fold from the dollar store. It's covered with dollar store contact paper, and embellished with other dollar store items. It's inexpensive, and a lot of fun! Find all the instructions here.

3) Winter Tiered Tray - Tiered trays are perfect for displaying seasonal decor, and it's simple to put one together for winter. I used a few of my neutral coloured Christmas decorations, some dollar store trinkets, a few pine cones and wooden beads. You just need to keep the colour scheme neutral and natural. Check out my tiered tray here.

4) Re-purposed Christmas Decor - I love this simple wreath I made using a neutral coloured Christmas wreath that was marked down after the holidays -- 70% off. I found a silver and white gnome at the dollar store, and I attached it to the centre of the wreath with some hot glue. That's it! It doesn't get much easier than this project. 

You can check out a video about the first four projects here:

5) Pom pom Winter Wreath - I made this wreath several years ago, and it's still one of my favourite DIYs. If you can wrap yarn around your hand, you can make the pom poms for this wreath. Then, the pom poms can be attached to an inexpensive styroform wreath form. Find the full step by step instructions here.

What do you think of these five DIY projects?  Which one is your favourite?

My boys and I are loving the hot chocolate stand right now, but I honestly love all these budget-friendly winter DIYs.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

GENIUS Hot Chocolate Stand... made using a dollar store cardboard tri-fold

I love a good dollar store HACK, and this homemade hot chocolate stand is the perfect DIY for this time of year. Winter is the best time for hot chocolate, and this hot chocolate stand (made of cheap dollar store supplies) is easy to make, inexpensive, and super-cute. Check out the step by step instructions below.

I started with a cheap cardboard tri-fold from the dollar store, and I covered it with patterned contact paper.

Then, I cut square "windows"  in each of the side panels and taped parchment paper to the backs.

I used black electrical tape to add trim and details to the windows.

After the tri-fold was completed, I made a sign for the top. I took a scrap piece of dollar store foam core, and I covered it with contact paper. 

I trimmed the sign with black electrical tape, and added words I cut out with my Cricut. (If you don't have a cricut, you could you dollar store stickers.)

Finally, to attach the sign to the tri-fold, I cut slits in the bottom of the sign, and slid it into place.

Did it turn out cute? I think it is absolutely adorable, and I love that it only cost a few dollars.

Do you think you'll make a hot chocolate stand for your home this winter? It's a wonderful, fun backdrop for mugs and hot chocolate ingredients.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in these fun ideas for hot chocolate bars.

8 Hot Chocolate Bars that are Easy, Inexpensive and Fun

Hot chocolate bars are wonderful any time of year (when there is a bit of a chill in the air). I love them for holiday celebrations and for simple afternoons at home. Today, I am sharing 8 of my favourite DIY hot chocolate bars that are easy, inexpensive, and fun... and I've got some freebies too!

1) Snow Day Hot Chocolate Bar - This little hot chocolate bar is charming and perfect for a sledding party or a snow day at home. The little cups are adorable, and you can download the sign (for free) here.

2) Portable Hot Chocolate Bar - Sometimes it's too much fun outside to come inside for a warm drink. Keep the outdoor party going with this portable hot chocolate bar. You can find all the fun details here.

3) Christmas Hot Chocolate Bar - This jingle bell hot chocolate bar is perfect for the Christmas season... and what goes better with hot chocolate than peppermint? Find all the DIY details for a simple Christmas hot chocolate bar here.

4) Hot Chocolate Tasting Bar - Sometimes the most simple activities can be the most fun, and my boys loved when... I made them hot chocolate, we tested new products, and we rated our findings. Check out how easy it is to set up a hot chocolate tasting bar here.

5) Valentine's Day Hot Chocolate Bar - A Valentine's Day hot chocolate bar is easy to put together using mason jars and other dollar store supplies. Make it extra special by crafting this festive vase and sock gnome. Find all the info you need here.

6) St. Patrick's Day Bar - This hot chocolate bar is the perfect thing to serve at a St.Patrick's Day celebration. It's made using dollar store supplies, and the mason jar pot of gold is adorable! Find the full "how to" here.

7) Easter Bunny Bar - This bunny bar is the ultimate seasonal hot chocolate bar... in terms of both taste and decor. The easter egg nest cookies are an annual favourite in my house, and the DIY sock bunnies are too cute for words. I've also designed a free printable you can display with your goodies. Find the free printable, the recipe for the cookies, and the craft instructions here.

8) Simple hot chocolate cookie tray - If you want a simple treat that isn't much work, a charcuterie board filled with cookies is the way to go. I like to have a variety of cookies in my freezer and pantry ready to pop on a tray on a cold winter afternoon. Find some of my favourite sweet treat recipes here.

Isn't hot chocolate a great way to warm up? I love having a festive hot chocolate bar ready to go!

Have you ever set up a hot chocolate bar? I hope you are inspired by one of the eight that I shared today. Let me know your favourite in the comments below. Stay warm! 😃

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas for winter fun you can find here.

Indoor Winter Fun... hot chocolate and new product taste testing

We recently had a couple of snow days (days off from school due to a winter storm). When the snow flies, my boys love playing outside, but when temperatures get really low, there comes a point when they come inside to warm up... and it's always fun to have a fun activity and treat waiting for them. I love the idea of setting up a hot chocolate and cookie testing station, don't you?

While the kids were out sledding, I set up a little hot chocolate bar using mason jars. I had hot chocolate, marshmallows, a kettle of hot water, and some Hershey kisses to add a little more chocolaty goodness. I also laid out a few NEW products I found at the grocery store earlier in the week. (Any new and interesting products would work, but these are the ones that caught my eye.)

When the kids came inside, they set to work making their own hot chocolates. Everyone customized their beverage to their liking. 

Then, we got to work trying the new cookies I bought.

Each new product got a thumbs up or a thumbs down... and then they picked a winner.

Fun, right? 

Check out this little video we made.

I love the idea of "taste testing" as a fun indoor winter activity. It would be fun to use healthy food too. I might even work in a cooking lesson with our "tasting party" some day soon. What do you think?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. These are just a couple of new products I picked up for my kids and their friend to try... and they were a hit. 😄

DIY Hot Chocolate Bar... with free printable "Snow Day Hot Chocolate Bar" sign

Hot chocolate bars are perfect for winter. They are simple to put together, and they are popular with people of all ages. Who doesn't love to wrap their hands around a hot cup on a cold day?

Mason jars (of different sizes) are great for displaying the "hot chocolate bar" ingredients. Consider including: hot chocolate, marshmallows, cookies, whipped cream, sprinkles, and chocolate kisses.

You can also add some simple decorations to your table. I used some dollar store snowflakes, a dollar store tablecloth, and a snowman sign I designed.

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

You can also decorate white styrofoam glasses with Sharpies. How cute are these snowmen cups my boys made?

Kids (and adults) will love creating their own hot chocolate creations. Clearly my youngest son has an affection for whipped cream and sprinkles! lol

A simple hot chocolate bar is a perfect place to gather together after a fun day playing outdoors.

What would you include in your hot chocolate bar? The possibilities really are endless. Add your favourites, and have some fun!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Pom Pom Winter Wreath

I love a simple home decor project, don't you? And... I'm a little obsessed with hanging something fun on my front door. It makes me happy to come home every day and see something cheerful (that I made)... and it's a wonderful way to greet guests too. Today, I am sharing my latest creation. It's a darling "super soft" DIY pom pom wreath that is surprisingly easy to make!

Isn't it gorgeous? And I swear, the picture doesn't do it justice. I totally wish you could touch it too. I a made it with "velvet" yarn, and it is sooo soft. My kids touch it every time they walk by it. lol

I started with a styrofoam wreath form, and I wrapped it in yarn (securing it periodically with hot glue). Then I covered it in homemade pom poms.

To make simple pom poms. Wrap yarn around your fingers, slip the yarn off your fingers and tie it in the middle, cut the loops, and trim to shape. It's that easy!

Then, you use the long ends of yarn (that you used to tie the middle of the pom pom) to secure the pom pom to the wreath. Just keep making and adding pom poms until you are happy with the look of the wreath.

My only problem now, is that I can't decide where to hang my wreath. Here it is hanging on the inside of my front door. I love the look of the wreath on the blue door, but then only my family can see it.

And here is how it looks hanging outside (on the front door of my house). I think this is where it is going to stay. I have a covered porch, so it will be protected from the elements.

Isn't this a great winter wreath? I love the look of this pom pom wreath so much, I am thinking about making new versions for spring, summer, and fall too. What do you think?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 Snow Day Activities... that will entertain kids and help parents stay sane

In our part of the world, winter is in full swing and winter storms are plentiful. Snow days can be a lot of fun, but it isn't always easy for parents to keep kids busy and happy. Today, I am sharing a few simple and fun ideas that will entertain kids... and help parents stay sane on snow days.

1) Make snow ice cream - Whipping up a batch of snow ice cream is one of my boys' favourite snow day activities. It is simple to do, and the result is delicious. You can find the full "how to" and video for make snow ice cream here.

2) Craft a duct tape sled - A recycled box has never been so much fun. Find instructions for making a super-fun duct tape sled here.

3) Create a dollar store hot chocolate bar - A warm drink on a cold day is always a crowd pleaser. Click here to find out how to build an impressive (and portable) hot chocolate bar for less than $10.

4) Play in the snow - Getting outside in the fresh air is a wonderful way to spend a day. Go sledding, build a fort, build an upside-down snowman or colour snow with water and food coloring in a spray bottle.

5) Build a fort in the living room or have an indoor picnic - Sometimes the only thing you need on a cold winter day is a blanket and a little imagination.

6) Do a science experiment - Missing school because of a storm doesn't have to mean taking a break from learning. Check out a fun "Skittles" science experiment here. 

7) Bake something - Baking with kids is both educational and fun... and there is nothing like the smell of freshly baked cookies on a cold winter day. You can find the recipe for our favourite chocolate chip cookies here.

8) Craft something - Getting crafty when the weather is bad can be just what the doctor ordered. In keeping with the "snow day" theme, you might want to try making this adorable spare sock snowman. You can find the full step-by-step instructions here.

9) Play games - Playing cards and board games when the weather is nasty can be the perfect way to spend a day together. To make it extra special, you can find ideas for "games day" decor and treats here.

10) Watch a movie - Is there anything better than cuddling up on the couch when a snow day keeps you indoors? Put on some PJs, pop some popcorn, cuddle up on the couch, and watch your favorite family movie. If you are feeling extra ambitious, you might also want to decorate and invite some friends over.

What's your favourite way to keep the kids busy and happy on snow days? I hope you give some of my ideas a try. Stay warm, and have fun!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)