Making Magnets: Three Ways

My fridge has become a catch-all for pictures, appointment cards/invites, notices, and artwork. I thought it would be fun to make some super cute (not to mention... easy, quick, and inexpensive!) magnets.  I am already feeling more at peace with the chaos covering my fridge.  :-) 

Check out the three magnet projects I did, and let me know what you think.

Project #1:  Clothespin magnets

You'll need:

• clothespin
• magnet strip (I cut mine from a roll)
• ribbon
• button (or other embellishment)
• glue gun

  

Directions:

1)  Using your glue gun, glue the ribbon to the outside of the clothespin.  Add a button for embellishment.

2)  Attach a strip of magnet to the back of the clothespin.

Project #2:  Photo magnets

You'll need:

• Pictures
• Photo Magnet paper (I got mine at the Dollar Store)
• Scissors

Directions:

1)  Cut the paper to the rough size of the photo.

2)  Remove the paper from the back of the magnet paper, and attach photo.  Cut out the picture.

Project #3:  Photo pockets

You'll need:

• Labels or stickers
• Magnetic Photo Sleeves

Directions:

1)  Attach labels or stickers to identify the contents of the photo sleeve.  Then, use the sleeve as a "pocket" for loose papers that you might need to keep handy.  I like to use mine for appointment cards, birthday invites, etc....

Which is your favorite?


♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Super Summer Checklist

We had our first sunny day yesterday, and it got me thinking (and excited) about summer.  I LOVE summer!  So.... I made a "to do" list today... and it doesn't involve cleaning the dust bunnies out from under my couch.  :-)  Here is a list of:

50 fun things the boys (including my handsome husband whenever possible) and I are going to do this summer.

1) Celebrate Canada Day

2)  Read a book outside

3)  Have a teddy bear picnic

4)  Go to a splash pad

5)  Swim in our blow up pool

6)   Go to a farmer's market

7)   Go to the library

8)   Make homemade bubbles

9)   Play pirates

10) Have family movie night – outside

11) Collect shells at the beach

12) Build a sandcastle

13) Swim in the ocean

14) Visit a wildlife park

15) Draw with sidewalk chalk

16) Run through the sprinkler

17) Play baseball

18) Play soccer

19) Ride our bikes

20) Take a ferry boat ride

21) Spend time at a cottage

22) Do a science experiment
23) Watch fireworks

24) Go on a nature walk

25) Make cookies

26) Play mini golf

27) See a play

28) Have a superhero birthday party

29) Make play dough

30) Play hopscotch

31) Camp in the backyard

32) Take a trip to Halifax

33) Take a trip to PEI

34) Play with our giant Frisbees

35) Make an obstacle course

36) Fly a kite

37) Go on a scavenger hunt

38) Make a summer craft

39) Ride Theodore Tugboat

40) Play street hockey

41) Visit a museum

42) Attend the Antigonish Highland Games 

43) Paint with chocolate pudding

44) Have ice cream for supper

45) Roast marshmallows 

46) Make a collage

47) Mail a letter

48) Take a bubble bath

49) Have pancakes for supper

50) Have a PJ day

 

The boys decorated our lists, and we bought some cheap frames at the dollar store.  Every time we do something on the list, they "check" it off by putting a sticker over the number.  This is already so much fun!

You can download a pdf version of our list here.

What is your favorite summer activity?  Did it make my list?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS...**You can find the 2013 version here.**

Featured at:

Double Duty Felt Flower

This craft is great because the end product can be used in two ways -- as an adorable felt flower ring (for a child or an adult) or as a tiny ponytail holder for a little girl with fine hair.

You'll need:

• Hair Elastic (the small ones -- about the size of a Cheerio) 
• Scrap felt
• Button
• Scissors
• Needle & Thread
• Paper and Pen (to make a template for the flower)

Directions:


First, cut two tiny flowers out of felt. (Use a paper template to make it easier.)

Second, sew the button onto the middle of one of the flowers, and stitch the two felt pieces together (button side up).

Third, sew the elastic onto the back of the flower.  (For the ring, or fine hair, use a tiny elastic.  But for thicker hair, you can use a bigger elastic.  I have a big one for myself!  :-)

That's it... easy as 1, 2, 3! 


These are so easy, you could make a bunch for Christmas gifts or for party favors (for a birthday, a shower, or a destination wedding)

♥ 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Learning through Planting

Let me start out this post by being perfectly honest.... I know NOTHING about gardening.  {Seriously!}  However.... I have been wanting to plant something with the boys for a long time.  So... armed with some advice from a friend, the boys and I headed to Canadian Tire and the Dollar Store to collect the things we needed.  We bought: Three pots... one for each boy Potting soil Watering Can Seeds We are growing Nasturtium.  The seeds are big (which made for easier planting), and the flowers will be bright yellow and orange.  Also, the package says they are "very easy to grow and tolerant of drought and poor soil".  Sounds foolproof, right?  We'll see!  lol First, the boys filled the pots with soil. Second, the boys planted the seeds 1 inch apart and 1 inch deep.  They loved pushing the seeds down into the dirt. Third, the boys watered their seeds.  (These plants like damp watering and full sun.) That's it!  Not sure how successful this will be... but I will keep you posted.  :-)  If nothing else, the boys learned something, and we had a fun afternoon planting seeds! **Update (June 26):  Look what we did!  The plants grew, and we moved them outside.  Fun, eh?  Maybe next year we'll tackle a real garden.  :-) ♥  Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy) ** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

Tiny Tooth Fairy Bag

Think about it... if you were a child, wouldn't you be afraid of a fairy coming into your room while you were sleeping????  This little tooth fairy bag is the perfect solution because it can be hung outside a child's room.  

It is a great size for a tooth and a coin or two, and it is quick and easy to make with scraps of felt and ribbon.

You can make your own using this tutorial as a guide, or you can buy one from me at Cute as a Button Designs.  Here is how I made it:

You will need:

• a 6cm X 12cm piece of scrap felt
• a small piece of white scrap felt (for a tooth)
• a 19cm length of ribbon
• thread and a needle
• scissors

Directions:

Cut a small tooth shape out of a piece of white scrap felt and stitch it to the top section of the 6cm X 12 cm rectangle of felt.

Flip the felt over (so that the "wrong side" is facing up and the tooth is on the bottom) and stitch on the ribbon.

Fold the fabric in half (so that the tooth is on the front of the bag) and stitch the two sides closed -- leaving an opening at the top.

I made three blue ones for my boys.

Now everyone can sleep soundly knowing that the tooth fairy won't be going in anyone's room in the middle of the night {wink}!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (If you like this, you should also check out this post on how to make a "tooth taxi".)

* If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

5 Unique "Loot Bag" Ideas

Children love "Loot Bags", but as a parent they are something I struggle with.  I am always on the lookout for fun alternatives to the "traditional" loot bag. Today I am sharing five of my favorite easy party favor ideas.

Here are five things I think are easy, inexpensive, and unique:  

   

1)  Something Personal/Handmade:   

• These cute "treat jars" {see below} can be easily put together using a picture of the birthday boy/girl, an old baby food jar, some paint, and some Modge Podge.  Super easy!

• Frames can be painted/decorated, and a picture of the guest can be taken at the party and delivered at a later date.  {You could write something like.... "The content of this frame is currently hollow, but a really cute picture is certain to follow.  Thanks for coming to my party."}

•  Bags can be filled with balls, and a tag can be attached that says "Thanks for coming.  I hope you had a BALL at my party."

2)   Something Practical:

Check out these personalized labels from Oliver's Labels.  What a fantastic idea!  For $4.99 (with a minimum order of 6), each party package contains: 5 original labels, 5 mini labels, 2 shoe labels, and a mini bag tag.  Fun and practical... it doesn't get much better than that.

3)  Something Yummy:

Who doesn't like cookies?  ... and these ones from Noelle's The Custom Cookie Company are delicious and fun!  For $5.25 each, you can get custom cookies to match the theme, colours, or decor of the party.  I love the idea of a number with the birthday boy/girl's name on it.  The Pirate happy faces are also adorable, and would be popular with my boys.

4) Something Girly:

Full disclosure... I make these Personalized Princess Wands {and sell them here}... but I had to include them because I think they are so really cute.  The Wands are $10 each, but you could make your own if you wanted to keep costs down.  I painted a dowel pink and added a hand-stitched felt star to the top. 

5)  Something Educational:

I love books, and so do my boys!  I really like the idea of letting the birthday boy/girl give out their favorite book to their friends.  

Now aren't each of these things better than a bag full of candy?  What are some of your favorite loot bag ideas?  

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (I have a great list of 30 unique loot bags ideas that you can find here.)

Artwork Storage Solutions

Ever wonder what to do with all the artwork your kids bring home from school?  It is easy to become sentimental about it, and before long, it becomes overwhelming.  But don't worry, I am here to help.  :-)

Honestly, a lot of the artwork in this house ends up in the garbage.  (Shhhhh!  Don't tell my boys.)  I do, however, keep the more "special" pieces.... you know the ones... handprints, mother's day cards/drawings, and the ones the boys are "extra" proud of.

Here is a marble painting my 5 year old did in Art class. I framed it and hung it in his room.  He is really proud of his framed masterpiece.

Here are some other great ideas for the avalanche of artwork that kids create:

1. Create a "made by me" gallery of framed artwork.  Switch out the artwork as the kids create new favorites.  (You could use frames or decorated clipboards.)    
2. Get a file box for each child.  Create a file for each years' projects.
3. Scan or photograph the artwork and keep electronic files -- they take up a lot less space.
4. For the artwork that ends up on your fridge, why not make these easy and super cute magnets? 

What are some of your best Artwork Storage Solutions?

♥ 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

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