Easter Teacher Gift (with free printable tags)

I think teachers are awesome, and I think it is important for me to teach my boys to show their appreciation to these important role models whenever possible.  So, on holidays, we like to make special treats for them.  This year, I designed special tags to let my boys' teachers know that we think they are 'EGG'cellent!

Aren't easy and inexpensive DIY gifts the best?  To make these Easter teacher gifts, I bought big bags of candy-coated chocolate mini eggs and attached adorable little tags.  

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

You can use the tag as it is...

... or you can cut it out.  You can't lose because both options are adorable!

My boys are super-excited to share these sweet treats with their teachers.  Do you like to give an Easter gift to your little one's teacher?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more ideas for easy and inexpensive Easter crafts, recipes, and activities here.

13 Snowman Crafts and Activities

Winter is winding down, but there is still time to squeeze in a little more winter fun.  Today I am sharing a fantastic collection of fun and easy snowman crafts and activities that I have done with my boys.  They are guaranteed to brighten up a dreary winter day.

Check out the links below for more details, great tutorials, and free printables.

1) Snowman snack - Kids will love transforming Oreos into these adorable (and tasty) snowman snacks. They are a perfect snack after an afternoon of sledding. Get the full "how to" here.

2) Snowman door - The kids will have a fantastic time transforming a plain white door into an adorable "indoor" snowman.  Find the secret behind this cute creation here. 

3) Snowman Mug - Grab some markers and white dollar store mugs, and you'll have everything you need to make these adorable snowman mugs.  Find the full tutorial here.

4) Snowman Party Favor - These treat bags make sweet winter snacks and adorable winter party favors.  Find the free printable tags here.

5) Snowman Gift Tag - Make a present extra special by having kids make their own homemade gift tags. Find the tutorial for this super-cute snowman tag here. 

6) Snowman Kisses - Print this adorable box, place a chocolate kiss inside, and share it with someone special. You can download the template for this sweet "kiss" box here.

7) Toilet Roll Snowman - Grab some toilet rolls from the recycling bin and a few craft supplies, and the kids will love crafting these adorable little snowmen.  You can find the full step-by-step tutorial here. 

8) Snow Globe - This paper snow globe is a lovely craft for a snowy day.  With a few simple supplies, you can make an adorable snowman that is guaranteed not to melt indoors.  You can find the full tutorial here. 

9) Snowman Soup - Snowman soup is fun to make and a delicious treat on a snowy day.  Find all the details here. 

10 ) Upside-down Snowman - Put a spin on a traditional winter activity by building an upside-down snowman.  You can read about this fun snow day activity (and more) here.

11) Olaf Hat - I love this simple Olaf hat craft. Just click the link, print the template, and start crafting!

12) DIY Olaf Costume - Who wouldn't love to dress up as this adorable snowman. Click the link for the full step-by-step tutorial for this NO-SEW costume.

13) Spare Sock Snowman - Seriously... have you ever seen a cuter spare sock? Click the link for the simple step-by-step tutorial.

I hope you enjoy these fun and easy snowman crafts and activities us much as my boys and I did.  Enjoy the snow while you can. Spring will be here before we know it!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

March Break Science Fun {Color Changing Carnations}

A break from school doesn't need to mean a break from learning... especially when simple science experiments are so much fun. Check out this fantastic experiment I recently did with my boys - coloring carnations.

This is an easy experiment that teaches kids about how flowers/plants absorb water.  It's also fun for the kids to watch the flowers magically change color.

To do this experiment, you'll need: plain white carnations, glass containers, and food coloring.

1) Fill the glasses with water, and then add several drops of food coloring to each glass.  We added about 15 drops of food coloring to each container.  (We used blue, red, and green food coloring, and we found that the red food coloring had the best results.)

2) Then, make a fresh cut to each of the flowers, and put them in the containers.

After a few days, the flowers will start to change color.  The kids will be able to see how the water (and the food coloring) travels up the stem of the flower and into the pedals.

I love simple experiments that make kids curious about "how things work", don't you?  Have you ever done this colored carnations experiment with your kids?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Easter Bunny Treats {with free printable tags}

Holidays are the perfect time to share treats with friends and classmates, but many schools discourage kids from bringing sugary snacks.  So, this year, my 5 year old will be sharing this non-candy Easter Bunny "treat" with his class.

Cute, right?  I found some inexpensive stretchable bunnies and bunny jumpers at the Dollar Store and Walmart, and I knew my youngest son would love them.

I packaged the bunnies in clear bags, and I designed a simple tag that said, "Some 'bunny' thinks you are a special friend."

To download the tags for free, right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

I love this little Easter Bunny party favor, don't you?  It's inexpensive, sugar free, peanut free, and totally adorable!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

THE BEST Cupcakes from a Mix

Impressive and delicious treats don't have to be labour intensive. I just made 36 cupcakes for my 5 year old to take to school, and they were easy to make and everyone loved them. Want to know my secret? I started with store bought cake mixes and icing!

To make the most delicious cupcakes from a mix, I always start with one of my favorite cake mixes. For white cupcakes, I use Duncan Hines Golden Yellow. For chocolate cupcakes, I use Duncan Hines Chocolate Fudge. You'll also need:

• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup melted butter (cooled slightly)
• 1 cup water

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Melt 1/2 cup real butter in the microwave, and let it cool slightly.
3) Fill two muffin tins with paper liners.
4) Mix a cake mix, 3 eggs, 1 cup water, and 1/2 cup melted butter using an electric mixer. {I mix the batter on low until it is combined, and then I mix it on high for one minute.}
5) Fill muffin tins with the thick, creamy batter. {I use an ice cream scoop to measure, and one cake mix makes 24 cupcakes.}
6) Cook for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
7) Let cool completely before decorating.

I like to frost my cupcakes with Duncan Hines Buttercream icing (which is the only type of icing my 9 year old will eat). It is delicious, and has a great texture for decorating cupcakes. I use a piping bag and a large star tip to quickly decorate a huge batch of cupcakes.

Give it a try and let me know what you think. I am pretty sure you will agree that these are the yummiest and easiest cupcakes you have ever made.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Shamrock Crafts

Holidays are fun, and perfect for crafting! How cute is this Shamrock headband that my 5 year old made for St. Patrick's Day?

My boys and I recently crafted three different types of Shamrocks. You can find all the fun details over at CBC Parents here.

Check them out and let me know which one is your favorite.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Leprechaun Bait {with free printable tags}

Every year, my boys build a leprechaun trap in the hopes of catching a leprechaun (and his treasure) on St. Patrick's Day.  It is a fun tradition that my boys like to share with their friends, so each year, we make little packages of leprechaun bait for them to take to school to give to their classmates.

This year, I designed this adorable little tag that you can download for free.  To download the tag: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

Add these tags to little bags of "Lucky Charms" cereal, and you have adorable packages of leprechaun bait.

Aren't these bags of leprechaun bait sweet?  They are fantastic class treats, and they make fun St. Patrick's Day party favors too! 

Good luck catching a leprechaun!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)