Funny Frog Face {Preschool Craft}

Here is a simple craft for Preschoolers that is sure to delight your little ones -- a funny frog face.  The noisemaker tongue was definitely a hit with my three year old.  :-)

Want to make one?  Just follow the three simple steps below:

1) Using the template I designed (which you can find here), cut out the frog face and two eyes.

2)  Draw a face using a black marker or crayon, and glue the eyes in place.

3)  Cut a hole small hole in the middle of the mouth, and insert the noisemaker/"tongue".

That's it!  Easy peasy... and so much fun! Isn't this frog craft a fantastic project for Spring? It would be fantastic for "Leap Day" too.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

{Easiest} Biscuits Ever

I love a quick meal, and "soup and biscuits" is a really simple lunch or supper.  So, I thought I would share my favorite super-easy biscuit recipe.

The great thing about these biscuits is that you throw everything in one bowl, and there is no need for a rolling pin and biscuit cutters.

All you need to do is combine the following ingredients in a bowl.  I whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together.  Then, I stir in the grated butter.  Then, I gently mix in the milk (careful not to over mix it).

1 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or you can use 2 cups of white flour)
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup cold butter (grated)
1 cup milk (I use 1%)

Then, form the dough into a ball, and put on a floured surface.  Flatten the ball to make a round circle (approximately 1 1/2 inches thick), and cut the circle into 8 pieces (like a pizza).  

Put on a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Simple, right?  Give them a try and let me know what you think.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Homemade Finger Paint

This morning I asked my three year old what he wanted to do.  He said, "Paint... with my fingers".  I didn't have any finger paint in my craft cupboard, so I decided to make some.  

Want to give it a try?

1) In a medium saucepan, combine the following:  2 Tbsp White Sugar, 1/3 Cup Flour, 1 Tbsp Salt, 1 Tbsp Cornstarch, and 2 Cups Water.

2) Whisk the mixture over medium heat until it thickens.

3) Divide between containers, allow to cool, and add a couple drops of food coloring to each one.

That's it!  My little guy loved getting messy with this fun and easy to make finger paint.  Is this something your little one would like to try?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*This recipe was adapted from one I found here.

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

There are a lot of chocolate chip cookies recipes out there, but my favorite is this "soft and chewy" version.  It is adapted from the recipe on the "Chipits" bag.  If you like soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, you should give this recipe a try.

Here's the recipe:

1)  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2)  In a medium bowl, whisk together the following dry ingredients:

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

3)  In a separate bowl, use electric beaters to combine the following:

• 1 cup butter (at room temperature... NOT melted)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

4)  Add 2 large eggs and 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract to the butter/sugar mixture.  Beat with electric beaters until well combined.

5)  Using a wooden spoon, mix wet and dry ingredients together (just until combined).  Then, add 2 cups of chocolate chips.  (I like semi-sweet, but you can use whatever you like.)

6)  Drop tablespoon-size balls (using a cookie scoop for best results) onto a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake for approx. 8-10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh... but trust me... they won't last long.  :-)

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Note: If you notice that your cookies are flattening out, try putting the batter in the fridge for half an hour before baking. Also, use fresh baking soda, don't melt the butter, and don't put batter onto a hot cookie sheet.

 

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #14 {Door Hanger}

Welcome to the 14th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & 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... let's get started on this month's craft.  This month we are making adorable a fun "Spring" door hanger!

Cute, right?  First, gather your supplies.  

Then...

1)  Cut out the door hanger and the black and red parts of the lady bug.

2)  Decorate the door hanger, and then glue the bottom (black) and top (red) parts of the lady bug in place.  {My son wrote "Cameron's Room... Don't Bug Me", but you can write whatever you want.}

3)  Glue on googly eyes and black spots.

That's it!  I hope you enjoyed this craft, and I hope you hang it on your bedroom door!  {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".)

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10 {Simple} Ways to Welcome Spring

After a long winter, my boys and I are definitely ready for warmer weather.  There are so many great things about this time of year, and I have included some of them in this fun list.  Here are 10 easy and inexpensive ways to welcome Spring: 

1) Make your own bird feeders.  You can find three examples here.

2) Bake a tasty treat with a spring theme.  You can find the recipe for delicious bird nest cookies here. 

3) Get outside and have a teddy bear picnic.  You can find out how to make tasty teddy bear treats here.

4) Plant something.  Start out with something simple... like the easy to grow flowers you can read about here.

5) Mix up some homemade sidewalk paint.  You can find the simple recipe here.

6) Make and fly some homemade kites.  You can find the step by step tutorial for paper bag kites here.

7) Make your own bird houses.  You can find the instructions for making milk carton bird houses here.

8) Bring a little spring indoors with this beautiful spring photo.  You can download a free 8X10 here.

Or make this simple version using a branch and pom poms. You can find the full tutorial here.

9) Cook up a batch of spring pancakes.  You can find the simple "how to" here.

10) Make this cheery spring wreath.  You can find the full tutorial here.

Or try this simple dollar store umbrella wreath.

What is your favorite way to welcome spring?  Did it make my list?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Making Memories {10 Family Rituals/Traditions}

Special moments for children don't always involve big gestures and expensive vacations.  I believe family rituals and traditions are the basic building blocks for the memories that children will take with them into their adulthood.  Here are 10 of our favorite family rituals/traditions:

1)  We have pancakes for supper every Friday night.  (It is easy for me, and my boys love it.)
2)  We have family movie night every Friday night.  We have special snacks, get in our PJs, and cuddle up on the couch together... all of us.  (In the summer we have it outside - check it out here.)
3)  We make a big deal about birthdays.  We have a big party with friends on a convenient day, and the boys make each other cakes on their real birthdays.  (I also write a birthday letter to each of my boys on their special day.)
4)  Every Easter we egg the neighbours.  (You can read about it here.)
5)  Every Fall we take a trip to a pumpkin patch.  (You can read about it here.)
6)  Every Halloween we "boo" the neighbours.  (You can read about it here.) 
7)  We love Christmas.  We have special traditions for Christmas Eve (that you can read about here) and for getting our Christmas tree (that you can read about here).
8)  We think the first day of school is special, and we have 5 special ways of marking the occasion each year (that you can read about here).
9)  We celebrate the last day of school with an end of year banner and a trip to Dairy Queen for ice cream.  (You can read about it here.)
10) We started filling out "end of year questionnaires" on New Year's Eve.  I look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.

What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy these specials times with your family.

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)