ECM Kids' Craft Club - #6 {Puppy Puppet}

Welcome to the 6th edition of the {East Coast Mommy} Kids Craft Club {an easy and inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here.  For everyone who is already a member... this month, we are making a Puppy Puppet!

Ready with all your supplies?

OK... let's get started.

1)  First, fold your sheet of paper into thirds, and then fold it into an accordian.  {Per below.}  Note:  You can tape the edges together after the first fold for a neater look, but it isn't necessary.

2)  Cut out the two black doggy ears and the black circle (snout), and tape or glue into place.

3)  Use tape or glue to attach the doggy's eyes and nose.

That's it!  Cute, right?

Stick your thumb in the bottom section and your fingers in the top section, and your puppy is ready perform.  :-) 

I hope you had fun making this craft.  {Don't forget to leave me a comment, or send me an email.  Your comments help me improve the club, and I love hearing from you.} 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

{Bubbles} and a {Fun Summer Lunch}

We are still working through our Summer Checklist, and yesterday we checked off #8 {Make Homemade Bubbles}.  We also had a fun little lunch.  I made some peanut butter sandwiches, cut out flower shapes with a cookie cutter, added some banana "leaves" and a cheese string stem... and voila!

Have you ever made homemade bubbles?  It is easy, inexpensive, and loads of fun.  Mix 12 cups of water with 1 cup light corn syrup.  Stir gently.  Then, add 2 cups of liquid dish soap, and stir gently again.

You can buy bubble wands, or experiment with making your own with things around the house.  My boys really enjoyed this part.

Are you working on your own summer checklist?  What has been your favorite activity so far?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
 
** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

Back to School {Banner and Lunch Idea}

It is almost time to head back to school, so today I am sharing two fun ideas with you:  a {simple} back-to-school book-page banner and a {super-easy} lunch idea.  

Let's start with the banner. 

To make the banner:

1) Draw {or print out} five apple pictures.
2) Have the kids color the pictures.
3) Trim 5 pages out of an old book, and cut a triangle shape from the bottom of each page.
4) Cut out the apples and attach to the book pages using double sided tape.
5) Hole punch the top of each page.  Then, string all the pages together using a piece of twine.

Cute, right?  Now, are you ready for the easiest lunch idea ever?  Last year, I shared my "go to" lunch idea, and I got a lot of great feedback.  So, I thought I would share another {even easier} lunch idea this year.

My boys aren't big on sandwiches -- except for peanut butter {which they aren't allowed to take to their "nut free" school}.  So, some days I give them a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast and cereal for lunch.  I put the cereal in a thermos, and they pour the milk in at lunch time.  I add some sugar-free applesauce, fruit, cheese, and homemade graham crackers for a treat .  

What are some of your favorite "go to" lunches?  With a new school year starting, I can use all the help I can get!

      

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Avonlea Village {Prince Edward Island}

I know a lot of my readers aren't local, but if you ever find yourself in Prince Edward Island, you should definitely take your little ones to Avonlea Village.

Based on the "Anne of Green Gables" books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, a visit to Avonlea Village is like stepping back in time.  We visited last week, and my boys {and their cousins} loved the perfect blend of live theatre, music, and children's activities.

Have you ever been to Prince Edward Island?  Do you have a favorite place to take your little ones?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Play Cafe

Here is a fantastic way to spend the morning, and a great way to add some fun to lunch -- have the kids create their own "Cafe".

To set up our "cafe", my boys made their own lunch menu and place mats {using self laminating sheets from the dollar store}.  Then, they helped me set the table, and I took their "orders".

It was really fun {and easy}, and the boys are still proudly using the place mats they made.  :-) 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

5 Simple Summer Crafts

Sometimes a "quick and easy" craft is exactly what little ones need on a summer afternoon.  These 5 cute and simple crafts that my boys made at camp are perfect to keep little hands busy.

Suncatcher:  This one involves glue, so my boys loved it.  Pour a thin layer of white glue into a plastic lid, add some "treasures", and allow to dry completely.  Peel out the suncatcher, attach a string, and hang it in a window.

Magnet Movers:  Draw a road on a piece of paper.  Then take two "attracting magnets" and attach one to a pom pom creature, and one to a folded paper "handle".  Put the creature on the top of the paper and the other magnet on the bottom of the paper.  The kids will have a great time moving the pom pom creatures around "like magic".

Noisemaker {Kazoo}:  Decorate a toilet paper roll, and secure some wax paper to the top with an elastic.  Easy Peasy!

Silly Frog:  Draw a simple frog on card stock, color it and cut it out.  Then, cut a slit for a party favor "tongue".  Simple and silly!

Handprint Art:  The possibilities for handprint art are endless, but this little crab is adorable.  Cover two little hands in red paint, press to paper and add a couple of googly eyes.

Have you ever made any of these?  I remember a couple of them from my childhood.  :-)

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Teddy Bear Picnic

Yesterday, we "checked" one more item off our Summer Checklist... "Have a Teddy Bear Picnic". All you need for a perfect afternoon with your little one is: a teddy bear, a blanket, and the perfect snacks!

Seriously... what is more fun than eating outside with your teddy bear?

For the main course {wink}, we had peanut butter sandwiches.

And for dessert, we made peanut butter teddy bear cookies.  They are easy, cute and super-fun!

To make these adorable cookies:

Cream together: 

• 1 cup butter 
• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar

Then, beat in two eggs.

In a separate bowl, mix:

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

Mix wet and dry ingredients together. Then, let the kids roll a 1-inch ball (for the face) and two smaller balls (for the ears). Flatten slightly.

Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for about 10 - 11 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake. 

Have you ever had a Teddy Bear Picnic with your little ones?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

{Easy} Outdoor Play

It's summer, and the boys and I are all about taking advantage of the wonderful summer weather.  Here are a couple of the easy and inexpensive outdoor actitivities we have been doing. 

DIY Target Practice {made from a Dollar Store Tarp}:

Earlier in the summer, I saw a fun target practice at Family Fun.  {You can see their version here.}  I knew my boys would love it, so I got out my twine, scissors, duct tape, pizza pans, and a dollar store tarp and went to work.  It took about 10 minutes to put together, and the boys love it.  Such a simple and fun idea.

Water Play:

My boys love playing with water in the summer.  {I considered buying a water table but decided against it because of limited storage space.}  So... on hot afternoons we get out our spray bottles, measuring cups, and plastic dishes and we make our own "water fun".  A bowl of soapy water and some sponges make a great "kid car wash" too.

The boys also like to get out their paint brushes and "paint with water".  Such a fun, refreshing, and "no mess" activity. 

I hope you are enjoying your summer.  What is your favorite "simple" outdoor play idea? 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

ECM Kids' Craft Club {4 month membership}

The launch of the East Coast Mommy Kids' Craft Club {four months ago} was a huge success, and I am now ready to launch the next four months.  If you know someone who enjoys getting mail and likes to make crafts, now is the time to join!  {The deadline for signing up for this round is Wednesday, August 15.}

The price for a four month membership remains {unchanged} at $25 {including Canadian Shipping}. 

The themes for the next four months are:
August 20 mailing - Playing with Puppets
September 20 mailing - Fall Fun
October 20 mailing - Happy Halloween
November 20 mailing - Christmas is Coming

Need a little more info....

1)  As a member of the club, each month (for four months) your child will receive:

•  mail addressed to him/her
• a personalized letter with fun info/ideas
• all the supplies he/she will need to make the "craft of the month"
• a little surprise

Note:  The craft will always be simple (taking less than 30 minutes to complete), the craft will be designed for ages 3-8 (with assistance required in the younger age categories), a link to an online step by step tutorial will be provided, and the kit will contain everything you need to complete the project (with the exception of scissors, glue, tape and crayons).

2)  The cost for a four month membership is $25 (including Canadian shipping).  Payment (via Cash, Cheque made payable to Gina Bell or email money transfer) must be received before a kit is sent out.  Payments can be sent to EastCoastMommy@gmail.com.

3)  The kits will be sent out on the 20th of each month, and I will post a full tutorial on the blog at that time.
 
Along with payment, I will also need your child's name, age, and full mailing address.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Birthday Letter {to my five year old}

Today my "middle" son turns five.  It sounds so old... more like a little boy than a preschooler.  {big sigh}  I am amazed at how fast my boys are growing up, and so grateful for the opportunity to be part of their journey.

As you probably already know, I have a tradition of writing the boys a "Birthday Letter" each year on their birthdays.  It is my way of documenting and remembering the little details of my boys' personalities at different ages.  Here is a snapshot of my sweet "second born" son at five. 
 

To my sweet five year old boy,

Here are a few of the reasons why you are the most special five year old in the whole world...

• You are very clever, and extremely funny.  {Daddy and I are always amazed and amused by the things that come out of your mouth.}
• You are so excited about starting "Big School", and you were a superstar at your Preschool graduation.
• When you grow up, you want to be a hockey player, a race car driver, and "parachuter".  {I think you might be trying to give me a heart attack!  lol}
• You love playing with dogs, watching for birds, and picking up worms.  :-)
• Your favorite shows are "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" and "Wild Kratts", and your favorite color is "red".
• You are very kind and generous.  If you have a special treat, you always give me a bite without me even having to ask.  {You also give sweet and gentle hugs and kisses.}
• You are fun, full of personality, and people are drawn to you.  {I can totally see why!}
• You still love your special "blankie", suck your thumb, and twirl your hair when you are tired.
• You love to sing and dance, and you put all your emotions into every word and step.

You are a very special little boy.  Happy Birthday my kind-hearted sweetie!

Love,

Mommy

xoxo

ECM Kid's Craft Club - #5 {Silly Fan and Glasses}

Welcome to the 5th edition of the {East Coast Mommy} Kid's Craft Club {an easy and inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here, or email EastCoastMommy@gmail.com, and I will send you the details.


For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft.  This month we are making a fan and silly glasses!

Ready with all your supplies?

Let's make the fan first.  All you have to do is color the "smiley face".  Then, have an adult help you make accordian folds until you have a fan.  Fun, right?

Now, let's make the glasses.

1. Cut out the glasses.  {An adult will probably need to help cut out the centres.}
2. Decorate the glasses with the fun "summer" stickers in your kit.  {Use as many as you like.}
3. Use tape to secure the clear cellophane over the holes.  Trim as needed.
4. Twist the pipe cleaner onto the glasses, try them on, and bend the ends around your ears.

That's it!  I hope you enjoyed these crafts, and I hope you are enjoying your summer!  {Don't forget to leave me a comment, or send me an email.  Your comments help me improve the club, and I love hearing from you.} 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

DIY Race Car Party

My two youngest boys just turned three and five, and they celebrated with a joint DIY Race Car party.  The boys had a great time, and the party was full of easy and fun DIY details.  I am so excited to share it all with you!

Here are some of my favourite race car party details:

The Pit Passes:

As the guests arrived, the birthday boys passed out personalized "pit crew" passes.  I used a photo of the boys and added the names using a free photo editing software (picmonkey.com).  I had the pictures printed (for $.15 each), punched a couple of holes in the top, and added some inexpensive ribbon.  Cute, right? 

The Decor:

To get the "race car" feel, I used a lot of black and white "checks"... with some red accents.  I accented a dollar store frame with "duck tape", and I used foam core {from the dollar store} accented with "duck tape" to make signage.

The Games:

To keep the guest entertained, we had a variety of activities:

1. There were lots of race cars and a large mat I made from "duck tape" and a sheet of plastic {used to cover tablecloths}.
2. There was a box "car" covered in brown paper for the kids to decorate with crayons and stickers.
3. There was a tattoo station.
4. There was a homemade bean bag toss... which was a box covered in race car wrapping paper and embellished with a dollar store decal of Lightening McQueen.  :-)
5. There were plenty of car-shaped race car cookies for the guests to decorate.

The Food:

I created a table of "Grand Stand Snacks", and it was a definite highlight for the kids.  I made a backdrop using dollar store foam core and decals, some "duck tape", and letters printed on my computer.

I served fun snacks named after characters from the movie "Cars".  We had:

• Luigi's Tires - chocolate cookies
• Mater's Dipsticks - chocolate covered lady fingers
• McQueen Sandwiches - sandwiches cut out with a car-shaped cookie cutter
• Grand Stand Popcorn
• Fillmore's Fuel - juice
• Sally's Specialties - fruit tray and cheese and crackers
• Finn's Finest - licorice
• Doc's Pops - marshmallow pops {dipped in red chocolate with black and white sprinkles}

The Cake:

Isn't the cake one of the best parts of a kid's party?  I started with two 8" rounds.  Then, I made a track using chocolate icing tinted with black food coloring.  I filled in the "grass" with green icing, and added some yellow jelly beans for the lines in the road.  I finished with two race car dinkies and a small checkered flag taped to the top of a toothpick.

The Loot Bags:

Each guest received a bag full of goodies from the "Souvenir Stand" as they were leaving.  They were also given their very own "Driver's Licence" (which they all thought was pretty cool).

Do you have a race fan in your house?  I think this a great party theme for boys and girls.  Everyone left smiling and I was exhausted -- both signs that a fantastic time was had by all!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Toonie Parties (an alternative to a mountain of gifts)

Every year, my boys host "toonie" parties for their birthdays. Instead of bringing toys, each guest is asked to bring a card containing a "toonie" {a $2 coin}.  Then, when the party is over, the birthday boy uses his money to pick out one special toy.  

(Last time my two younger boys had a "joint" party, and they received this cute card from one of their friends.  Sweet, right?)

I love the idea of "toonie" parties, don't you?  The birthday boys don't spend a lot of time at their parties opening presents, parents of the guests aren't asked to buy an expensive gift, and my boys don't receive a ton of toys they don't need.  What do you think?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Birthday Letter {to my three year old}

Today, my baby boy turns three. 

I believe birthdays are big milestones for children, and they always make me pause and think about how special these years are with my little boys.  In an attempt to remember the little details of my boys' personalities at different ages, I came up with the idea of writing each boy a "Birthday Letter" each year.  Here is a snapshot of my "baby" boy at three.  :-)

To my sweet three year old boy,

Here are a few of the reasons why you are the most special three year old in the whole world...

• You always say, "Do you wonder ...?"  {e.g. I was reading a story and you had a blanket on your head.  You said, "Mommy, do you wonder where this voice is coming from?}
• You are really funny.  {You are always making Daddy and I laugh.}
• You are hungry all the time, and you eat like a bird when I give you a meal.  {I think you would live on crackers if I let you.}
• You are a parrot... and repeat everything your "brudders" say. 
• You love playing soccer, baseball, and hockey with Daddy and your "brudders".
• Your favorite show is "The Wiggles", and your favorite color is "green".
• You give great cuddles, and you love to play with my hair... especially when you are sleepy.
• You are super proud that you now have a "real bed" and "big boy underwear".  {I am proud of you, but it reminds me that you are no longer a baby, and it makes me a little sad.}
• You have a special blanket that you call "Big Blanket".  You like to take off your socks so you can feel how soft your blanket is... with your feet.  :-)
•  You always give Mommy big hugs and gentle kisses, and I treasure every one.

Happy Birthday!  I love you "all the way to the moon" my little angel.

Love,

Mommy

xoxo

"Duck Tape" {Race Car} Party Decor

I am throwing a "Race Car" themed party for my two youngest boys on Saturday {and, of course, I will be sharing all the fun details here very soon}.  But I couldn't resist giving you a little "sneak peek" at a couple of the fun projects I am working on.  Check out this adorable frame:

All I did was cover a dollar store frame in this fun checkered "Duck Tape" that I found at Walmart.  Isn't it perfect for this picture of my race-car-loving birthday boys?

I also made this sign for the food table at the party.  I used the same tape to frame a piece of foam core from the dollar store.

I think these simple touches are really going to add to the fun, "race car" atmosphere of the party.  I can't wait to share them with my little boys and their friends.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.