Alphabet Crafts - Letter V

My 4 year old and I are continuing to craft our way through the alphabet, and yesterday we had some fun with the letter V.  We made a Vase craft (with thumbprint flowers), and we did some letter V printing practice.

To make the vase craft:

1)  Draw a simple vase shape on a piece of paper.
2)  Color the vase.
3)  Use paint to make "thumbprint" flower petals.
4)  Add stems and leaves to the flowers (with crayons), and glue buttons onto the centre of the flowers.

Cute, right? After our craft we did a little printing practice. If you want to practice printing the letter V with your little one, you can right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it.

Interested in more "letter v" crafts? Check out this simple "letter v" volcano. Draw a letter V and add some lines to make a volcano. Then, scrunch up bits of tissue paper, and glue them onto to the paper to create lava.

V is also for Valentine's Day, so you could add heart stickers to a V.

And, this "v is for vase" craft could not be cuter. Decorate a vase shape, and make a flower using cardstock, crayons, a picture of the child, and paper straw stem (secured with tape). Cut a couple of slits above the vase, and insert the flower. I love this one!

Fun, right? Next up... the Letter W!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more alphabet crafts here.

5 Reasons I Love Being a Mom of Boys

As a mom of three boys, I am often asked, "Are you going to try for a girl?"  I always find it a strange question because I feel extremely blessed to have three healthy boys, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.  So... to answer the question... "no, I am not going to try for a boy", and here are 5 reasons I LOVE being a mom to my sons:

1)  My boys love to move. -- Although I find it exhausting at times, I love that my boys are so active.  My guys love to play sports, chase each other around the yard, and dance around the house.  PS (Little boys make awesome dance partners.)

2)  My boys play the best games. -- My house is full of LEGO, mini sticks, light sabers and race cars.  We may not have a single princess dress, but our dress up box is brimming with Jedi robes, super hero capes, pirate clothes, and hockey jerseys.

3)  My boys are best friends and they build fantastic forts together.  A few blankets, pillows, and chairs can keep them entertained for hours.

4)  My boys don't fight about clothes. -- I don't have to fight about what they wear to school each day.  My boys are happiest in jeans and t-shirts.  Add ball caps and sneakers, and they are good to go!  (and... having three boys means lots of "hand-me-downs"... score!)

5)  My boys give big hugs and heartfelt kisses. -- They are also awesome cuddlers... and they love their mom!

And on top of all this, I can save time when I am trying to get somewhere because I don't need to use their names.  I can just say "come on boys", "hurry up boys", and "don't forget your coats boys".  :-)

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Preschool Class Treats

My 4 year old has been going to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and he wants to bring little treats to his friends on their last days together.  I came up with two simple ideas, and I have included the details (and free printable tags) below.  

For his Tuesday friends, he is bringing bubbles wrapped with little "owl" ribbons and tags that say, "Owl miss seeing you at preschool. Have a great summer!"

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

For his Thursday friends, he is bringing cookies with tags that say, "You are a smart cookie.  Thanks for being my preschool friend."

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

I can't wait for my little guy to share these treats with his preschool friends next week.  He is pretty excited to hand them out.  Do your kids like to pass out class treats on the last day of school?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East CoastMommy)

Alphabet Crafts - Letter U

My 4 year old and I are continuing to craft our way through the alphabet, and after today, we only have 5 letters left!  This time, we made a paper plate umbrella craft, and we did a little letter U printing practice.

To make the paper plate umbrella:

1)  Cut a paper plate in half, paint it, and allow it to dry completely.  (You can also add some "scalloping" at the bottom, but this step is optional.)
2)  Glue the paper plate to a piece of paper.
3)  Draw a handle on the umbrella.  (My son insisted on using a pipe cleaner, but it takes a lot of glue to make it stick.  I think drawing it is easier, but I leave it up to you!)
4)  Crumple up bits of tissue paper, and glue them onto the paper to make raindrops and puddles.

Cute, right?  After our craft we did a little printing practice. If you want to practice printing the letter U with your little one, you can right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it.

Want to make more "letter u" crafts with your Preschooler? Check out this sweet underwater scene. Start with a "U" and colour it blue. Then glue on some seaweed and add some underwater stickers.

And how sweet is this "letter U" unicorn? Start with a U, colour it, and add a unicorn head and feet. Then, glue on a googly eye and a yarn tail.

Fun, right? Next up... the Letter V!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more alphabet crafts here.

Have an "Egg"cellent Summer {free printable tags}

It's that time of year again -- school is ending and summer vacation is just around the corner.  My boys enjoy bringing little gifts to share with their classmates on the last day of school, and today I am sharing an idea for a fun treat little ones will love (and I have designed free printable tag for you to download).

Cute, right?  My boys love Kinder Eggs.  What's not to love about a chocolate treat and a toy surprise?

If you want to make these treats for your child's classmates (or just for your little ones as a special "last day of school" surprise), just right click on the 4X6 picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a normal photo.

We are really getting excited for summer around here, and we have already started to work our way through our Summer Checklist.  We are especially looking forward to our road trips to Halifax and PEI.  Maybe I'll pop a few Kinder Eggs into my purse to keep the boys happy in the van.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?  I'd love to hear about the summer adventure you have planned with your family.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East CoastMommy)

Disclosure: I’m part of theKinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation withthis group.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Alphabet Crafts - Letter T

My 4 year old and I are continuing to craft our way through the alphabet, and yesterday afternoon we had some fun with the letter T. We made a turtle puppet from a paper plate, and we did some letter T printing practice.

To make this turtle puppet:

1)  Cut a paper plate in half.
2)  Paint the paper plate yellow.
3)  Use a cotton ball to add green dots to the turtle's shell, and allow to dry completely.
4)  Cut a head, 4 legs and a tail from green construction paper, and tape to the back of the paper plate.
5)  Tape a craft stick to the back of the turtle.
6)  Glue on a googly eye, and draw on a mouth.

That's it! Isn't it a cute little craft?

After our craft, we did a little printing practice. If you want to practice printing the letter T with your little one, you can right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it.

Looking for more "letter T" crafts?

Try turning a "T" into a tree. Colour the trunk brown, and glue on scrunched up squares of tissue paper to create leaves.

This scrapbook paper turkey is another sweet and simple letter T craft. Cut a square of scrapbook paper, and glue it to a piece of cardstock. Add some heart feathers, a beak, and a heart wattle under the beak. Finish by gluing on a googly eye and drawing some feet. This would be a darling Thanksgiving craft too! 

And how much fun is this paper towel roll train that stands up on its own? The children colour a train that is printed on cardstock and cut it out. Then, an adult makes it stand by cutting slits in pieces of a paper towel roll. 

Adorable, right? Next up... the letter U.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more alphabet crafts here.

DIY Teacher Gift {Candy Flower Bouquet}

Last week I shared the DIY Candy Bouquet I made for my husband for Father's Day.  This week, I am showing you how easily it can be transformed into a fun and inexpensive teacher gift.

Isn't it cute?  You can find the full tutorial for making a candy bouquet here.  

Then, after you create your candy bouquet, you just need to add the cute "I couldn't have picked a better teacher" tag that I designed.

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

I just love this little gift on its own, but you could also add a gift card and a hand written note to make it even more special.  What is the best teacher gift you have ever gotten/received?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

6 Father's Day Gifts {kids can make}

Homemade gifts are the best, and they are especially meaningful when they are coming from a child. Today, I am sharing 6 {simple} DIY Father's Day gifts that kids can make for the special man in their lives.

1)  Find a picture of your little one, ask a few questions about his/her dad, and (with one hour photo processing) you will have a special photo gift for dad that he will love.  You can find all the DIY details here.  

2)  Print this tie, have your little one decorate it, add some elastic, and you're done.  Easy peasy!  You can download the tie template here.  

3)  Fill a paper bag with Dad's favorite treats, and add a cute tie embellishment.  Total cuteness with loads of time to spare!  You can find all the DIY details for father's day gift wrap here.  

4)  Set the mood for a festive day about dad with this adorable father's day book page banner.  This little project is sure to bring a smile to Dad's face.  You can find the simple "how to" here.  

5)  If the way to Dad's heart is through his stomach, then this gift will definitely be a winner.  This candy bouquet is easy to put together and costs less than $10.  Now that's a sweet deal!  You can find the candy bouquet tutorial here.

6) With summer just around the corner, any dad will love this little s'more kits. It's perfect for when you are sitting around the campfire spending time together. You can download the tags (for free) here.

Don't you just love a simple DIY gift that the kids can make? Happy Father's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Candy Bouquet

I love flowers, but sometimes it is fun to give a gift that is a little more unique.  This tasty DIY Candy Bouquet is cute, delicious, and costs less than $10 to make. 

To make your own candy bouquet, head to the dollar store and pick out some of the recipients favorite treats.  (I used a lot of "mini" bars and a couple of full size ones... but you can choose whatever you like.  Healthier options will work too.)  You'll also need to purchase a box, floral foam, BBQ skewers, tape, and tissue paper.

Then:

1)  Cut floral foam to fit snuggly inside the box.

2)  Using a hot glue gun, attach treats to BBQ skewers.

3)  Add tissue paper embellishments to the "candy flowers" (if desired).  Secure with tape.

4)  Insert "candy flowers"into the floral foam, and hide the foam by sticking tissue paper into the box.

That's it!  Pretty cute right?  Do you know someone who would like to receive this DIY Candy Bouquet?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Father's Day Gift Wrap

Father's Day is just around the corner, and today I am sharing a DIY gift idea that kids will love making for their dads. 

First, fill a paper bag with all of dad's favorite treats.  Then, secure the top of the bag with a custom designed tie that you can download here.

Cute, right?

What little one wouldn't be proud to present this cute gift to his/her father this Sunday?  Happy Father's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Printable Summer Checklist {2014}

A summer checklist is a great way to get everyone in the family excited about summer, and it is a perfect antidote to summer boredom because there is always a new activity or adventure on the list.  We create a summer checklist annually, and I am so excited to be able to share our 2014 Summer Checklist with you today.

To print out your own 8X10 copy, right click on the picture above, save it to your computer, and print.  This checklist is for personal use only.  Please do not reprint without written permission from me.

I have also provided some helpful links below: 

1) Celebrate Canada Day or the 4th of July
2) Watch fireworks or attend a parade
3) Have a teddy bear picnic
4) Go to a splash pad or swim in a pool
5) Host a "half sleepover"
6) Go to a farmer's market
7) Visit the library and read a book outside
8) Make homemade bubbles
9) Go fishing or hiking
10) Have family movie night outside
11) Paint rocks or make patio stones
12) Pick out a toy or treat at the dollar store
13) Plant something and watch it grow
14) Visit a wildlife park, farm or zoo
15) Grill a pizza
16) Create a simple backyard water park
17) Play baseball, soccer or street hockey
18) Make ice cream or go to an ice cream stand
19) Go for a bike ride
20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies
21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park
22) Do a science experiment
23) Play a board game
24) Go Geo-caching
25) Draw with sidewalk chalk
26) Play mini golf
27) See a play or perform a play
28) Have a lemonade stand
29) Try a new food
30) Have a Superhero day
31) Camp in the backyard or living room
32) Have a PJ day
33) Put on a puppet show
34) Make a summer reading list
35) Fly a kite
36) Have a dance party in the living room
37) Go on a scavenger hunt
38) Make moon sand or play dough
39) Have pancakes for supper
40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity
41) Visit a new city or town
42) Visit a museum or theme park
43) Roast marshmallows and make s'mores
44) Write and mail a letter or postcard
45) Run in a race
46) Craft a boat and float it down a river
47) _______________________________
48) _______________________________
49) _______________________________
50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER!

We always have 50 items on our summer checklist, but if you want to keep things simple for your family, you can just select your 25 favorite activities.

Once you have finalized your list, put it on the fridge or in a cheap dollar store frame.  Then, every time you do something on the list, "check" it off by putting a sticker over the number.  {A dry erase marker would work well too.}

As you can see, “have ice cream for supper” is the last item on the list.  We always save it until the end.  It’s a great way to celebrate the end of summer, spend time together, and reminisce about all the fun that was had.

I hope you enjoy having a summer checklist as much as we do.  Make sure to click on the links above for more details, recipes and tutorials.  Have fun! 

  

♥
Gina Bell (aka East CoastMommy)

Alphabet Crafts - Letter S

My 4 year old and I are continuing to craft our way through the alphabet, and yesterday afternoon we had some fun with the letter S. We made a Snake puppet, and we did some letter S printing practice.

To make your own snake puppet:

1) Cut a 2 inch strip of construction paper or card stock (for the snake's body). 

2) Draw and cut out a simple head and tail.

3) Fold the body like an accordion.
2) Glue a googly eye onto the head, and draw the rest of the snake's face.
3) Glue the head and tail onto the body, and allow to dry completely.
4) Attach stir sticks or craft sticks to the head and tail of the snake (using tape).

Cute, right? After our craft, we did a little printing practice. If you want to practice printing the letter S with your little one, you can right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it.

Looking for more "Letter S" crafts for Preschoolers? 

You can make a "Letter S Snake" by: colouring an S, and adding googly eyes, gluing on a paper tongue, and adding some circle stickers.

You can also make a snowman craft by gluing circles and a hat onto a piece of blue paper and then adding details (and the letters of the child's name) with markers or crayons.

Crafting a popsicle stick snowflake is another simple letter S craft that is great for Preschoolers working on their fine motor skills. An adult can use hot glue and popsicle sticks to make a snowflake, and the child can add stickers to make the snowflake glitter.

And... how cute is this shark craft? Draw a shark on a piece of paper, colour the shark, glue on blue construction paper "water", and blue on a couple of googly eyes.

Fun, right? Next up... the Letter "T"!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more alphabet crafts here.