Sharpie Tinfoil Pendant

A few weeks ago I shared a cool technique that my boys and I used to create 3D Sharpie artwork. We enjoyed the project so much that I thought we could use a similar process to create Sharpie tinfoil pendants. These pendants can be used as necklace charms, keychains or backpack clips.

To make a Sharpie tinfoil pendant:

1) Cut a small (1 ½ inch) circle from an old cereal box. 

2) Cut a slightly bigger circle from tin foil. 

3) Draw a simple design on the cardboard, cover the outline of the design with glue and yarn, and set it aside to dry. 

4) Cover the dull side of the tin foil with a glue stick, wrap the tin foil around the cardboard containing the design, and secure the tinfoil with a piece of tape on the backside of the pendant.

5) Rub the tinfoil on the front of the pendant with a piece of felt to help the yarn design show through. 

6) Colour the design with Sharpies, and allow to dry.

7) Punch a hole in the top of the pendant, and add a pendant clasp. (These can be purchased inexpensively wherever craft supplies are sold, but a paper clip would work too.)

You could use a piece of yarn or ribbon, but I hung mine from a chain I had in my jewellery box. Cute, right?

I think this is a fantastic craft for kids of all ages. These Sharpie tinfoil pendants would make a fun homemade gift for Mother's Day too!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Tips for Selling Kids' Gear (and making money from the second hand economy)

Before I had kids, I had no idea they came with so much "stuff". The need to stay organized and the desire to save money have motivated me to get involved in the second-hand economy. I love to sell the gear, toys, and clothes my boys no longer use, and I love to save money by buying items second-hand. Today, I am sharing 5 tips for successfully selling kids' gear.

1) Let the kids pick the items to sell. There will be less drama, and it will be a learning opportunity for the little ones.

2) Make sure the items are clean and in working order, and take a good picture. Ensure the lighting is good and the features of the product are easily visable.

3) Price the item correctly. Remember that people are looking for a good deal on a used item, so don't overprice it.

4) Use the internet to sell your item. Yesterday, I sold a toy in one day using Kijiji.ca. 

Here's what I sold: Little Tykes Work Bench (Status: SOLD!)

5) Let the kids decide what to do with the money for the sold items. They can donate it to charity, save it, or use it to buy something else (whether it is new or second-hand). Letting them have control over the proceeds will encourage them to get rid of stuff.

For those of us who are Spring cleaning, now is the perfect time to purge. Getting rid of clothes and gear that kids no longer need is a fantastic way to de-clutter, make some money, and help the environment. 

Last year, 85% of Canadians participated in the second-hand economy.  It’s a win-win for Canadians and the environment. You can learn more about the second-hand economy in Canada, and the role Canadians play in it, check out www.secondhandeconomy.kijiji.ca.

How do you get rid of unwanted kids' gear in your home?

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure – I received compensation from Kijiji for writing this post and for sharing my honest opinion; however, (as always) the opinions on this blog are my own.

5 Secrets to Getting Siblings to Agree

As a mom of three boys that are very close in age, I often find it challenging to get a consensus... on anything. Even picking a movie on family movie night can be difficult. Today I am sharing a few simple tips on getting siblings to agree.

1) Teach compromise - Disagreements aren't always bad. It can be difficult and painful for parents, but learning to compromise is a life skill worth teaching. (And when it doesn't work... you can always try the four other options below.)

2) Take turns - This seems obvious, but it does work. Kids really want to feel that things are "fair", so keep track, and give everyone a chance to have their own way.

3) Get creative - In the past, my husband and I have had to get creative when trying to get our boys to agree. We have even made decisions based on mathematics! e.g. Everyone's first choice gets a 3 points, everyone's second choice gets 2 points, and everyone's third choice gets 1 point. Then, I add up all the values, and the winner is clear.

You could also "make it a game" using a fortune teller. Netflix has one that you can download here.

4) Let everyone win - Sometimes (not always) the best solution is to find a way to let everyone "win". e.g. On a recent vacation, my boys couldn't agree on a movie, so they watched Netflix movies on different devices.

5) Make suggestions that everyone can live with - Sometimes parents have to step in and become mediators. e.g. When choosing a movie for family movie night, I try to make suggestions that everyone will be happy with. (Below, I share a few Netflix titles that kids will have no trouble agreeing on.)

My boys are buddies, and they get along most of the time, but these tips are really helpful on the occasions when they can't agree. What works for you when you are trying to get your kids to agree on something? Leave your suggestions in the comments below. Thanks!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

DIY Travel Journals

When we travel, I like my boys to fill out travel journals. When they were younger, they just scribbled and drew pictures, but now that they are older, they can actually use their journals to chronicle their adventures. Today, I am sharing the DIY Travel Journals I just made for our recent trip to Florida. I love that I was able to create CUSTOM Travel Journals for LESS than $2!

I started with basic composition books that I purchased for just $1 each.

Then, I designed simple 4X6 tags at Picmonkey.com. I printed the tags (like regular 4X6 photos) for only $0.19 each at my local photo processing store.

I attached the tags to the journals using double-sided tape.

I was easily able to make six journals (for my boys and their cousins) for less than $8. Pretty fantastic, right?

The boys will also use double sided tape to add photos and ticket stubs to their books. I think these DIY travel journals make a fantastic keepsake, don't you? 

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Travel Snack Packs

Feeding and entertaining kids while travelling can be a challenge. I like packing lunches and snacks to take with us because it is much more economical and convenient than grabbing food "on the go". For our upcoming family trip to Florida, I packed some fun travel snack packs for my boys to take in their backpacks.

I started with a storage box from the dollar store, and I packed each section with some things that I had in my cupboard and some special "vacation treat" purchases.

I included things like: cereal, pretzels, crackers, gum, and sweet treats.

I finished by labelling my boys' travel snack boxes with their names.

Cute, right? I think this is a really fun way to pack snacks for a special trip. Do you think your kids would enjoy these travel snack boxes?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

April Fools Day Breakfast {donut seeds}

I never put a lot of effort into April Fools day because I am not a big fan of "pranks", but this year, I came up with a simple idea that my boys are going to love. Check out this cute little April Fools Day Treat -- donut seeds.

I filled a clear bag with Cheerios, and I added a little tag that said "donut seeds". To download and print the adorable tag I designed: right click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

I plan on adding some purple milk (i.e. milk tinted with food coloring). Cute, right? Do you know someone that would enjoy this special April Fool's Day breakfast? Enjoy!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Easter Teacher Gift {with free printable tags}

My boys and I love their teachers, so we like to give them little treats on special occasions. This year, we put together simple Easter gift bags for our "EGGS"tra special teachers.

I placed a chocolate bunny and chocolate eggs in a clear bag. Then, I used some curling ribbon to attach a cute little tag.

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

This really is a simple way to recognize the special teacher in your life, and the free printable tags are sweet, don't you think?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)