Carnival Prizes

This weekend, I am throwing a "joint" DIY Carnival Party for two of my boys. I think the kids are going to be excited about all the prizes that they are going to be able to win. Today, I am sharing a "sneak peak" at some of the easy and inexpensive carnival prizes I have purchased and made for the party.

All of the prizes will be displayed in front of a fun "prize booth" backdrop that I created from a dollar store tri-fold and red duct tape. It was a simple DIY project, but I think it will have a big impact. A good backdrop really sets the stage and adds a bit of "polish".

One of the prizes I am really excited about are the pom pom poppers I made from pool noodles, balloons and duct tape. I was able to make a bunch (inexpensively), and I am sure the kids will have a lot of fun with them. You can find the full tutorial for pom pom poppers here.

Of course, I also have a bunch of dollar store goodies. My boys had fun picking out their favorite little treats.

One of the more unique prizes that will be available to be won are these LEGO crayons that I crafted from old, broken crayons. I love how bright and colorful they are, and my boys love LEGO! You can find the full tutorial for recycling crayons here.

Another way to get a lot of prizes without breaking the bank is to buy in bulk and divide up the contents. I bought a large box of sidewalk chalk, and I bagged it up in groups of two. Now I have a bunch of fun prizes for the kids to win.

It's also fun to try new ways to present prizes. I created a fun "prize punch" (from dollar store supplies) for hockey cards. You can find the full tutorial for this carnival prize punch here. I have been making these prize punches for years, and they are always a highlight of my boys' parties.

Finally, a party isn't a party without some sweet treats, and these little containers of candy make perfect prizes. I purchased big bags of candy, and then I packaged them in little condiment containers. Cute, right? With these little containers, a few bags of candy can be turned into a large number of treats.

I can't wait for all our little party guests to win some of these carnival prizes. I wonder which prizes will be the biggest hits. Do you have a favorite?

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)


PS (Here is the link to all the other DIY carnival party details.)

Simple Summer Crafts {with free printable templates}

It would be wonderful if every summer day was sunny... but the reality is that there will always be at least a few rainy days. Today I am sharing some of my favorite simple summer crafts that are guaranteed to keep the kids happy and entertained when the weather keeps them inside.

Paper fan - This adorable paper fan is easy to make, and it is guaranteed to keep you cool when the temperatures start to rise.  To make a paper fan:

1) Download the template I designed here.
2) Color the fan, and cut it out.
3) Tape a craft stick to the back of the fan.

Paper popsicle - I love this simple little paper popsicle craft. Tape a popsicle stick onto the back of a piece of paper, and decorate with markers and sticks. It doesn't get much easier than this cool treat!

Tissue paper flower - This cheerful paper flower is colourful, and it makes a great keepsake when you add a picture of the little crafter to the centre.  To make a tissue paper flower:

1) Download the template I designed here.
2)  Color the flower.
3)  Fill the petals with 1-inch square pieces of tissue paper.  Just crumple up the tissue paper squares, dip them in glue, and attach them to paper. 

Painted rocks - Children love collecting rocks, and a rock makes a fun and inexpensive canvas.  You can find everything you need to know about painting rocks here.

These rainy day craft projects are all easy, inexpensive, and lots of fun for children. What crafts will you make with your little ones this summer?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Artwork Ideas {including a "Canvas N Decor" review and discount offer}

When it comes to decorating my house, I like to keep things easy and inexpensive... and I like to surround myself with things that I love. Today I am sharing my favorite DIY artwork ideas, the latest addition to my home, and a fabulous discount offer.

Children's Artwork - Children love to see their artwork hanging in a place where everyone can see it. I have three clipboards in my boys' playroom where we hang their most recent creations.

Inexpensive Prints - Anything with an interesting pattern can be matted and put in an inexpensive frame. Scrapbook paper, wallpaper, or fabric are all good choices.

Keepsakes - Meaningful keepsakes don't need to be stuck in a drawer. I framed the shirts my boys wore to meet their baby brother for the first time, and I hung them in their room. They make me smile each time I see them.

I have also framed hockey cards, pages from our favorite books, and ticket stubs.

Photos - Don't we all have tons of photos sitting on SD cards, phones, and computers? Framing and hanging cherished photos can make a home feel cozy and comforting. Personally, I get a lot of joy from decorating with pictures.

Recently, I had one of my favorite photos of my boys printed onto a high quality canvas from CanvasN' Decor (with a gorgeous turquoise trim), and I absolutely LOVE it! I have it hanging in my room, and it is the first picture I see when I open my eyes each morning.

Check out how much my boys have grown in just a few short years!

If you love my canvas, and you want to get one of your own, you can currently save 50% on the CanvasN' Decor website (and you can save an extra 10% if you order 2 or more pieces). There is also FREE ground shipping in Canada (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut express only). 

What kind of artwork do you use to decorate your home? I still have a few bare walls in my house, so I'd love some new ideas.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I was compensated by CanvasN'Decor for reviewing their product and including it in this post, but (as always) the opinions expressed in this blog are 100% my own.

Birthday Letter... my baby boys turns 6

Today, my "baby boy" turns six, and in keeping with family tradition, I wrote him a birthday letter as a way of remembering a few of the little details that make him so special.  Here is my birthday letter to my youngest son on his 6th birthday.

To my sweet "baby" boy:

This was a big year for you, as you started "big school".  It was a tough transition (for both us), but I am so proud of how far you came this year.  You battled through your anxiety, you made lots of friends, and you excelled academically.  I know you will continue to thrive as you enter Grade One (after we have a fantastic, fun-filled summer together).

On your 6th birthday, I want you to know that I am very proud to be your mom, and here are some of the reasons you are such a special little boy:

• You have a sweet smile, a gentle spirit, and adorable dimples.
• You love to crawl in bed with me for a "morning cuddle"... and I love it too!
• You have a fantastic time playing sports with your brothers, and you want to be a hockey player when you grow up.
• You love to eat crackers... especially while sitting on the couch watching "Jake and the Neverland Pirates".
• You are getting very grown up... but you still say "bees" instead of "because".  I am guessing this cute habit won't last much longer, so I will enjoy it while I can.
• Your favorite color is green, and your favorite food is white cake with white icing.
• You stick your tongue out when you are concentrating.
• You can be shy and anxious in new situations and around people you don't know, but you are really starting to come out of your shell.  I think starting school has helped you gain confidence.
• You still love to snuggle up and read stories... and now you are able to read to me. You love to read, and you are getting very good at it.
• You have a wonderful sense of humour, and you enjoy making Daddy, your brothers and I laugh.

I love you to the moon and back my darling angel, and I hope you have a fun time at your "Carnival" birthday party.

Lots of love,

Mommy

xoxoxo

Nature Scavenger Hunt {with free printable}

A few years ago, I designed a simple scavenger hunt for my boys, and it was a lot of fun.  It continues to be a very popular post, so I thought it would be fun to design an updated version.  You can download and print the NEW nature scavenger hunt for free below.

This printable list is perfect for little ones that can't read, but it is fun for older kids too.

To download and print the scavenger hunt: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I hope you enjoy this new nature scavenger hunt.  It's a wonderful excuse to get outside, have some fun, and spend time together.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Please note: East Coast Mommy printables are for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are pinning or sharing this post, please share from this page and don't include this picture/download on your own website. Thank you!

Simple Campfire Treats

The boys and I love campfires, and (for us) no campfire is complete without a tasty campfire treat. Of course, roasting marshmallows is always fun, but today I am sharing a few of our favorite simple campfire treats.

1) Non traditional s'mores - Everyone loves s'mores, but we like to shake things up by experimenting with different cookie and chocolate choices. We love smushing a toasted marshmallow between two chocolate chip cookies or using a Reese peanut butter cup. Yum!

And if you feel really ambitious, you can set up a full s'more bar. Fill a tray with different options for cookies and chocolate, and let everyone select their favourites.

Everyone will love combining the ingredients to make their own creations.

I also like to put out a container of wipes for sticky fingers.

And if you want to put out a fun "s'mores bar" sign", you can print the one I designed for FREE. Just click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

2) Cinnamon sugar treat - This delicious snack is made from biscuit dough, butter, and cinnamon sugar. It's a delicious alternative to s'mores, and you can find the recipe here.

3) Campfire cones - This campfire treat is as fun to make as it is to eat. Just fill a waffle cone with bits of fruit, cookies, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Then, wrap it in foil (attached to a toasting fork or stick), and have the kids toast it until it is ooey gooey.

4) BBQ'd Donuts - If you have never tried BBQ donuts, what are you waiting for?!? A warm toasted donuts is the perfect campfire treat. Find the instructions here.

Aren't these all fantastic campfire treat ideas? Do you have a camping recipe that I should try this summer? I'd love to try something new!

♥ Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Last Day of School 2015

Today was the last day of school for my boys, so I thought I would share some pictures from our day... and share a few of our last day of school traditions.

We always take an end of year picture, the boys go to school, and when I pick them up, we head out for ice cream!

After ice cream, we go home where I have a finish line waiting for my boys.  They LOVE this tradition!

And, although we don't do "grading gifts", the boys always get new books.  They love new books, and I love that it helps to keep them reading over the summer!

We had a fantastic last day of school, and now we are looking forward to summer vacation. Bring on the sunshine!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)