Elf on the Shelf Valentine

I had a fun idea this afternoon, and I am so excited to share it in time for you to surprise your little Valentine.  Our "Elf on the Shelf" is going to send a special Valentine to my boys.  Fun, right?

Want to print your own?  You can right click on the image above {and save and print it}, or you can download the 4 X 6 print here.

I sent mine for 1 hour processing, so this project cost me $0.25.  Not bad considering how much excitement this is going to bring when my boys find a message from our Elf on the Shelf waiting for them on Valentine's morning.  :-)

♥ 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Snowman Mugs

I have seen a bunch of "Sharpie" mugs on Pinterest, so I thought it would be fun to make my own version for my boys.  Won't these snowman mugs be adorable filled with hot chocolate and marshmallows?

All you need to make one of these adorable mugs is a white mug {I got mine at the dollar store}, some oil-based Sharpies, and a little imagination.

Want to make one?  It is sooooo easy!

First, wash the mug well and let dry completely.  Then, decorate the mug with Sharpies.

When you are finished, bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, and allow to cool in the oven.  Easy Peasy!

We made snowmen, but you could draw or write anything.  They would make great personalized gifts too.  What are you going to create with your dollar store mug?

♥ 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (I have had a couple of people report that their marker came off when they washed their mugs.  I can only guess that it has something to do with type of Sharpie or the type of mug they used.  I came across a bunch of tips here that might help.  Good luck!)

I also had a reader (below) share the following: I washed my cup in hot soapy water and let dry. I then wiped my entire cup where I was crafting (mostly outside) with vinegar and let it air dry. I then did my patterns with the sharpies. I put my cups and plates in a cold oven, set at 350 degrees. When the temperature reached 350, I then timed it for 45 minutes, shut the oven off and left them there until the temperature of the oven was again cold. This procedure worked well.

5 Easy Valentine's Day Treats

As a busy mom, I love making the holidays special for my boys, but I am always looking for ways to save myself a little time.  Here are 5 fun Valentine's Day treats that will make you look like you spent all day in the kitchen... even though you didn't.  :-)

1)  Heart-shaped "Kiss and Hug" brownies - Make brownies {from a box} extra special by cutting them out with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.  Add a "kiss" and "hug" {using store bought icing}, and you are sure to impress.

2)  Super-simple cupcake/brownie toppers - Take a piece of pink cardstock and cut out a circle.  Add a Valentine's Day sticker, tape a tooth pick to the back, and stick it into a cupcake or brownie.  Easy peasy!

3)  Pre-made cookies - Why not "dress up" some pre-made cookies?  Use store bought icing to make a "sandwich" and roll in some sprinkles.  So fun!

4)  Cookie pops - Isn't all food more fun if you put it on the end of a stick?  Just insert a lollipop stick into a pre-made cookie, and bake according to the directions on the package.  You can even wrap them up and give them to friends.  Share the love!

5)  Peanut butter "heart" cookies - Everyone has a "tried and true" peanut butter cookie recipe {and if you don't, you can find one here}.  Just allow the peanut butter cookies to cool about 2 minutes, and then top them with a chocolate hearts.  Yummy!

Are you hungry yet?  What is your favorite Valentine's Day treat?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Preschool Craft {Heart Person}

Valentine's Day is in a couple of days, and I have the perfect craft to do with your little ones -- it is simple enough for Preschoolers, but it is also great for older kids. All of my boys had fun making these adorable heart people.

Here’s how you make “Heart People”:

1) Gather your supplies (which you probably already have lying around your house)… red or pink construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, googly eyes, pom poms and/or buttons.

2) Cut out a big heart. (I drew one and had the kids trace it and cut it out.)

3) Make faces on the heart using markers, googly eyes, pom poms and/or buttons.

4) Make legs and arms by cutting strips of paper and folding them “accordion style”.

5) Glue on arms and legs. (You can also add “heart-shaped” hands and feet if desired.)

Cute, right? I made these when I was a little girl, and I had a great time making them with my boys.

Do you remember making Valentine's Day crafts when you were little? What did you make?

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you enjoy lots of sweet treats and cuddles with your little ones this year.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more fantastic Valentine's Day ideas here.

And check out some more wonderful Preschool crafts here.

DIY Valentine's Day Decor {With Free Printable}

Who doesn't love fun and frugal holiday decor?  I put together this cute vignette on my hall table for less than $7 using dollar store purchases and some things I had lying around the house.

Cute, right?  Here's the way it broke down:  Felt signs $1.25 each, garland for inside glass container $1, dollar store frame $2, and dollar store bucket filled with chocolates $1 {for a grand total of $6.50}.

I think the the three DIY elements are what make it so much fun. 

1)  The "Happy Valentine's Day" sign I made using Picmonkey.  {You can download your own copy here.}

 2)  The Love Bugs my boys made last year.  {You can find the full tutorial here.}

3)  The Valentine's Day Vase that I made using an old baby sock.  I cut the foot off the sock, slipped the sock onto a vase I already had, and used a glue gun to add a felt heart and button.  {I was inspired by a project I saw here.}

I hope you love these little projects as much as I do.  Happy Valentine's Day!

♥ 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Snow Day Snack

A few days ago we had a "snow day", so the boys and I made some "snowman cookies".  They were inspired by some beautiful cookie pops made by Amy at The Idea Room.  My boys made our version, so they didn't turn out quite as fancy as Amy's.  :-)

Here is how we made our version:

1)  I melted some white chocolate baking squares in the microwave {2 minutes on medium in a small microwave safe bowl}.  Then, I let the boys stir the chocolate until it was completely melted and smooth.

2)  I let the boys dip Oreos in the melted chocolate, and then they laid the cookies on wax paper.

3)  Using candy corn and chocolate chips, the boys made snowman faces on the cookies, and then we left them to harden.

Fun, right?  The boys loved snacking on snowman cookies and hot chocolate after an afternoon of sledding.

What is your favorite winter time snack?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Giveaway {Peanut Butter Cheerios} - CLOSED

Thanks to all that entered.  The winner is:  

the monks27 February 2013 19:03

My 2 year would go crazy for these. She loves "pinga butter toast" but because her daycare is nut free with several children with a severe peanut allergies, real peanut butter (instead of wow butter) is a very special treat in our house. I think these would be a great addition to our very limited toddler routine and have been looking for them since I first saw your post but haven't been able to find a box. 

My boys love peanut butter and they love Cheerios.  So, when Life Made Delicious asked if I wanted to try new Peanut Butter Cheerios, I didn't hesitate to say yes.  {In fact, when I got the email, this is what my boys were eating for lunch.  lol}

My three adorable taste tasters are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our box of Peanut Butter Cheerios.  :-)

Do you want to try them too?  On February 4, a coupon will go live on the Life Made Delicious facebook page for a buy one get one free opportunity to try them {redeemable on March 16/17}.  There are only a limited number of coupons, so don't delay.

And... of course, I am giving you an opportunity to win a great prize package worth $50.  Just leave a comment below letting me know your favorite way to enjoy peanut butter... smooth, crunchy, with chocolate, etc...

This contest will run from January 31 to February 28th and is open to Canadian residents only.  (One winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 to respond/claim prize.)  You may enter across multiple blogs but may only win one prize.

Good luck!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure – I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.