DIY Bowling Party

In November, my oldest son turned 11. Up to this point, we have hosted large parties for the boys, but we have decided that after 10, we are going to focus on more simple celebrations. My 11 year old decided to invite 5 of his friends to go bowling, and I added in a few DIY details to make the bowling party theme fun.

We started with a simple DIY invite that I created on Picmonkey. If you design a 4X6 invite on Picmonkey, you can print the invites inexpensively. Mine were $0.19 each.

The main activity at the party was obviously bowling, but I wanted to add a few more activities to make the party fun and unique.

After the kids finished bowling, they were able to "guess the candies in the jar". The party guest that guessed closest to the actual number of Skittles won the jar. Fun, right?

We also had a prize punch (which has become a staple at my boys' parties). It's always a hit with party guests, and you can get the full tutorial here.

Of course, we had to have festive bowling party food. We had pizza and lots of treats at my son's personal "canteen".

And I made a simple "bowling cake". I carved a bowling pin from a rectangular cake and a bowling ball from a round cake. They were simple cakes, but they were cute and went well with our party theme.

And finally, our guests left with adorable bowling party favours (with sweet tags that I designed). You can download the tags for free here. 

I thought the bowling party theme was fun, and I enjoyed planning out all the DIY details. Have you ever hosted a bowling party? What did you do to make the party fun and unique?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

     

2017 New Year's Eve Craft for Kids

New Year's Eve is the perfect time for a quick and simple craft. Creating these New Year's Eve hats and flags is a wonderful way to entertain the kids before the countdown, and the finished products make fun party props and favours. Keep reading to download the templates for these New Year's Eve crafts for free.

To make this festive headband and flag: 

1) Print the template on card stock by: right-clicking on the image below, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. Or you can download a pdf version of the template here.

2) Color the signs and cut them out.

3) Tape one sign to a card stock headband to create a hat.

4) Tape the other other to a paper straw, craft stick or dowel to create a flag.

That's it! It doesn't get much easier than this 2017 New Year's Eve craft for kids. Enjoy... and Happy New Year!!!!!!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

2016 Year in Review (free printable)

Update: find a 2021 version here.

New Year's Eve is a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one -- not just for adults, but for kids too. With this in mind, each year I put together a Year in Review questionnaire for my boys to fill out on New Year's Eve.

It is a pretty simple questionnaire, and you can download the free printable by: clicking on the picture (above), right-clicking saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. I usually print mine at my local office supply store.

I love seeing what my boys come up with each year. Maybe someday I will make a book for each of my boys using all the questionnaires they have filled out over the years.
Happy New Year, everybody!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Elf on the Shelf Bake Sale

How cute is this little Elf on the Shelf idea? This morning we woke up, and our little elf had created an adorable Elf on the Shelf bake sale. So crafty!

I love that our elf used a little box wrapped in wrapping paper. Then, he used two paper straws, some coloured paper and sharpies to make signs.

The donuts made from Cheerios, icing, and sprinkles are a lot of fun too!

Our Elf is taking a lesson from my boys who are always raising money for their favourite charity (Cystic Fibrosis... a disease that their cousin has). I love that our Elf on the Shelf is using fun treats to remind my boys that it is important to give back during the holiday season.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find MORE easy and inexpensive Elf on the Shelf ideas here.

Felt Lightbulb Ornaments

Looking for a small holiday gift "add on", a delightful handmade ornament, or an easy Christmas craft? These simple felt lightbulb ornaments are perfect "quick and easy" holiday crafts, and I love how colourful and fun they are. Today I am sharing the step-by-step tutorial for these adorable felt ornaments.

To make these ornaments:
1) Cut two lightbulb shapes and two lightbulb tops from coloured felt.
2) Using matching embroidery floss, attach a hanger made from a piece of twine.
3) Use white embroidery floss to stitch the two lightbulb shapes together (with a small amount of cotton stuffing inside).
4) Stitch the lightbulb tops to the top of the ornament.

The best thing about these ornaments is that they can be made in many colours. You can totally make them to match any Christmas decor or colour scheme. 

I made my lightbulb ornaments in blue, red and green.

I made a bunch, and I plan to stick them in Christmas cards, add them to gifts, and hang them on my tree. Cute, right?

These ornaments would be a wonderful project for someone that is just learning to sew. The felt is easy to work with, and the stitching is easy. If you decide to make these felt lightbulb ornaments, let me know what colours you chose.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Snowman Gum

I love simple ideas. We are all busy, and don't have a lot of time, so today I am sharing an idea that is SUPER easy. Looking for a stocking stuffer, secret Santa gift, or a unique class treat? Have a look at these adorable snowmen made from gum! Cute, right?

To make this sweet treat: cut a package of gum into strips, draw the details of the snowmen with Sharpies, and tie on little felt scarves made from a tiny strips of felt. That's it!

I made these snowmen for my boys, and they thought they were pretty cute. I couldn't agree more because I absolutely love the simplicity of this little goodie.

Do you have someone in your life that might enjoy this snowman gum? Sometimes simple ideas really are the best ideas!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Christmas Photo Class Treats

My boys' school has a strict nutrition policy, but they still like to bring Christmas treats to share with their classes. This year, my boys are taking ornaments that are being shared in a fun way. We are using pictures of the boys, and inserting candy cane ornaments.

Cute, right?

I started with a picture of my son standing in front of our tree with his hand in a fist. Then, I used an X-acto knife to cut slits above and below his fist. I finished by inserting a candy cane ornament into the slot.

I made a bunch of these cute Christmas photos for my boys' classmates, and I love how they turned out!

Do you send class treats to school at Christmas? Would your little one's friends like this Christmas photo class treat?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Elf on the Shelf Kissing Booth (free printable)

There are a lot of free Elf on the Shelf printables on the web, but I am absolutely obsessed with the cuteness of this free Elf on the Shelf kissing booth! This is how we found our Elf this morning... and he was surrounded by chocolate kisses.

Isn't this "kissing booth" adorable? And what child wouldn't love to wake up to all these sweet chocolate kisses?

To download a FREE copy of the Elf on the Shelf kissing booth: click on the photo below, right click, save it to your computer, and print (on cardstock) like a regular 8x10 photo.

Print the booth on heavy card stock, cut out a window for the elf to peek through, and fold the sides in to make it stand. It's that easy!

What fun things has your elf been up to this year? I hope you have fun with this free Elf on the Shelf kissing booth. It's my Christmas gift to you. Happy holidays!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find MORE easy and inexpensive Elf on the Shelf ideas here. 

Make sure to check out the magic Elf seeds. It's my favourite!

DIY Trollhunters Sword... and some Netflix news

The holiday season has arrived, the kids will be home from school soon, and it won't be long before they start saying they're bored. That's why, starting December 23rd, Netflix and Dreamworks Animation Television will be treating families to 13 hours of adventure, suspense and limitless imagination with the all-new series DreamWorks Trollhunters. To get you and your kids ready, today I am sharing a fun DIY Trollhunters sword that you can make from cardboard and tin foil.

To make this fun and simple sword, follow the instructions and photos below:

1) Draw a sword and blade (using the picture above as a guide).

2) Print one copy of both blades on plain paper, cut them out, tape them together, and use the paper as a temple to cut a blade from cardboard.

3) Cover blade with tin foil (taping or gluing in place), and decorate with markers.

4) Print the handle onto plain paper, cut it out, and use it as a template to cut a handle from cardboard. 

5) Color the handle, and glue it to the cardboard. (My son added jewel stickers to add an extra "cool factor", but this is optional.)

6) Use hot glue to attach the handle to the blade. (If you want the sword to be really strong, you can make two handles, and sandwich the blade in the middle... but his is optional.)

Cute, right?

My boys are super-excited to play with their new sword and to check out season one of Trollhunters when it comes to Netflix on December 23, 2016!

And, as if this new series isn't exciting enough...

Just in time for long holiday trips, Netflix recently announced that members can now download many of their favourite series and movies at no extra cost. To start downloading today, make sure your Netflix app is updated to the latest version and head to the ‘Available for Download’ menu on your tablet or mobile device.

Happy viewing... and happy holidays!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (With New Year's Eve around the corner, don't forget the fun NYE countdowns available on Netflix. You can ring in the new year whenever the kids are ready for bed!)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (of course!) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Christmas Eve Gift Basket... with free printable tags

My boys have always worn matching PJs on Christmas Eve. I pick pyjamas that are festive and cozy, and I LOVE how the matching PJs look in the pictures I take on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This year, I decided to put the PJs, cookies, and cocoa together in adorable Christmas Eve gift basket with a sweet tag that you can download (below) for free!

Isn't this a great idea? I bought pre-made cookies, a box of hot chocolate, adorable PJs, and little white basket from the dollar store. You could add mugs, whip cream, and marshmallows too... but I didn't have room in my basket.

Then, I made a special, personalized tag for my boys. You can download the generic tag below and use it "as is", or you could personalize it for your kids using Picmonkey.com.

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

I wrapped my basket in cellophane, tied it with curling ribbon, and attached the tag. Easy peasy!

Do you have any fun Christmas Eve traditions? Would you consider adding a Christmas Eve gift basket to you holiday celebration? I'm not sure how much longer my boys will agree to matching PJs, but maybe bribing them with cookies and hot chocolate will allow me to continue the tradition a little longer! 

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Easy REINDEER Crafts (that kids will love)

The Christmas season is always super-busy for parents and caregivers, so it can be very helpful to have a few SIMPLE holiday crafts to keep the kids entertained. Today, I am sharing FOUR easy REINDEER crafts that are perfect for Preschoolers and older kids too. These crafts are simple to make, the supplies are easy to find, and the children will be delighted with the finished products.

Personalized ornaments are always special, and this simple reindeer photo ornament is absolutely adorable! Cut a circle from a piece of card stock, glue on a photo of a child, draw reindeer antlers, and add a red sticker nose. Attach a string, and give it as a gift or hang it on the tree. Cute, right?

This simple reindeer painting is also easy to make, and it is a sweet piece of holiday artwork. Draw a reindeer head, antlers, and nose on a piece of white paper. Colour the reindeer parts, cut them out, and glue them onto a piece of heavy coloured paper. Add a googly eye (with white glue), and cover the paper with snowflakes made from dipping a Q-tip in white paint.

Wrapping yarn is a fun way for little ones to practice using their fine motor skills, and this yarn wrapped reindeer ornament is sure to delight little ones. Start with a piece of heavy cardboard, cover it with white glue, and wrap the cardboard with yarn. Add googly eyes, a red pom pom nose, clothespin antlers, and a yarn hanger.

Making magic reindeer food is simple and fun, and the finished product can be sprinkled on the lawn on Christmas Eve to ensure that the Santa's reindeer are well fed during their annual trip around the world. You can find the recipe for magic reindeer food and the FREE printable tags here.

Christmas crafting is a fantastic way to spend time with kids, and the simple reindeer crafts are guaranteed to be a lot of fun for little ones. You can use the finished crafts for gifts, you can use them to decorate, or you can simply take them out each year as treasured keepsakes. I hope you take the time to make a simple reindeer craft with your children this holiday season. If you try one of mine, leave a comment below, and let me know which one was a favourite in your house. Happy Crafting!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Santa Crafts (that kids will love)

The Christmas season is always super-busy for parents and caregivers, so it can be very helpful to have a few SIMPLE holiday crafts to keep the kids entertained. Today, I am sharing FOUR Santa crafts that are perfect for Preschoolers and older kids too. These crafts are simple to make, the supplies are easy to find, and the children will be delighted with the finished products.

This simple Santa beard craft is one of my favorite holiday crafts. Download the beard template here, attach a craft stick to the back with white duct tape, and cover the surface of the beard with glue and cotton balls. Easy peasy!

This "Santa going down the chimney" craft is nothing short of adorable. I started by drawing a chimney on a piece of card stock. Then, I drew a pair of Santa pants on cardstock, cut them out, and taped them to a craft stick.

The secret is a slit (made with an X-acto knife) across the top of the chimney. The kids will delight in watching Santa disappear inside the chimney.

This simple paper Santa with a cupcake liner beard is another fun and easy craft for kids. Start with a red triangular piece of construction paper. Then flatten a white cupcake liner, cut it in half, and glue it to the triangle with white glue. Cut a circle from card stock for the face, and attach it with white glue. Cut a belt and gloves from black paper, and attach with glue. Finish by adding googly eyes, a paper moustache, buttons, and cotton.

This popsicle Santa hat ornament is simple to make, and the kids will be proud to craft it and hang it on the tree. Paint popsicle sticks red, and allow them to dry completely. Then, glue the sticks into a triangle shape, and attach a yarn hanger. Finish by gluing cotton balls to the top and bottom of Santa's hat. Cute, right?

Making Christmas crafts with kids is a fabulous tradition, and these simple Santa crafts are guaranteed to be a lot of fun for little ones. You can use the finished crafts for gifts, you can use them to decorate, or you can simply take them out each year as treasured keepsakes. I hope you take the time to make a simple Santa craft with your children this holiday season. If you try one of mine, leave a comment below, and let me know which one was a favourite in your house. Happy Crafting!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Socks... with free Christmas tags

I love a clever DIY Christmas gift with cute packaging, and today I am sharing a sweet idea for DIY Christmas socks. They are absolutely adorable if you package them up with my FREE downloadable "4 your mistleTOES" tags.

You can find the tutorial for the socks here.

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

You can also use these tags with nail polish, a nail file, and/or a gift certificate for a pedicure.

Wouldn't these ideas be fantastic for a friend, neighbour, or teacher? I just love the cute packaging!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)