DIY Dollar Store EASTER Pictures... with free printable photos

I love decorating for holidays, but because they pass so quickly, I never want to spend a lot of money on special decor. The dollar store provides a lot of inspiration, but some of the items are a little tacky. So.... it's always fun to do a little DIY to upgrade inexpensive dollar store finds. Today, I am sharing TWO simple and gorgeous Easter pictures that can EASILY be made using dollar store supplies. I'm sharing two FREE printables too!

To make both these Easter pictures, you'll need a couple of dollar store frames, some of these cute dollar store carrots, and the FREE printables I designed (below).

For the first picture:

1) Download the print I designed (below). Click on the picture, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it alike a regular 8x10 photo.

2) Place the photo into the frame.

3) Use hot glue to attach the dollar store carrots to the bottom of the photo.

For the second picture:

1) Download the print I designed (below). Click on the picture, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it alike a regular 8x10 photo.

2) Place the print in a dollar store frame.

Isn't this an easy DIY? I absolutely love both versions, don't you?

These pictures would look great with farmhouse decor, but they would look great with other styles too. I love how simple they are to make, but they really take dollar store items to a whole new level.

 ♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find more wonderful Easter ideas here.

Simple St.Patrick's Day Treat Idea... with free printable cards

One of my favourite things to do on this blog is give away things for FREE. Today, I am sharing an adorable FREE printable St. Patrick's Day card that is perfect to share with friends and family. It would make a wonderful party favour too.

All you need is the FREE card below and some chocolate gold coins (or real coins).

First download and print the free cards. Click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Then, use an x-Acto knife to cut a slit (the same width as the coin) above the cauldron. 

Note: Be careful with the sharp knife, and make sure you use a cutting mat.

Finish by inserting a chocolate coin (or real coin) into the slot. You can leave it as is... or you can secure it on the back with a piece of tape.

I made three with loonies and three with chocolate coins, and I plan on giving them to my boys on St.Patrick's Day. Cute, right?!?

I think these would be fun to share with neighbours and classmates, and they'd make fun and inexpensive party favours too.

Who will you share your lucky coins with this St.Patrick's Day?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE St.Patrick's idea here.

St.Patrick's Day Yarn Ornaments

Holiday crafts are so much fun, and the two I am sharing with you today are super-cute and easy to make. They use yarn and dollar store supplies, and are perfect for kids and adults. Check out the adorable St.Patrick's Day crafts below.

The first craft is a green yarn hat ornament. Trust me, when you start making these hats, you are going to be totally addicted. 😄

1) Cut a 1 cm slice from an empty toilet roll. Then, cut approximately 35 strands of yarn (30cm in length). Note: You may need more or less yarn. It will depend on the weight/thickness of the yarn.

2) Loop all the strands (one at a time) through the cardboard roll and pull tight. Continue until the entire cardboard piece is covered.

3) Push all the yarn down through the centre of the roll to create a hat "brim", and tie the top of the hat (about an inch from the top) with a piece of matching yarn. Tie a loop (at the top of the piece of yarn used to tie the top of the hat) to create a hanger for the ornament.

4) Trim the top of the hat to make a pom pom, and use hot glue to attach a felt shamrock to the front of the yarn hat.

You can display the leprechaun hat as it is, or you can make a pom pom and transform it into a St.Patrick's Day gnome.

To make the St.Patrick's Day gnome:

You'll need to make the hat (above), and then you'll need to make a pom pom for the beard. You can find a video explaining how to make pom poms here.

1) Wrap yarn around your hand approximately 60 times (or more if the yarn is a lighter weight/thinkness).

2) Carefully remove the yarn from your hand and tie a piece of yarn tightly around the centre.

3) Cut the loops with sharp scissors, and trim the pom pom until it is round and fluffy.

4) Then, assemble the ornament. Use hot glue to attach the hat to the handmade pom pom.

5) Use hot glue to attach the pom pom nose.

Cute, right?!? You can hang them anywhere, or set them on a shelf. I have a bunch around my house, but I especially love them hanging from this little white tree.

Check out this video for another way to learn how to do this simple craft.

This really is the perfect craft project for St. Patrick's Day. It fun for kids, and adults will love it too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE St.Patrick's idea here.

FREE St.Patrick's Day Printable Sign

I love an inexpensive piece of holiday decor, don't you? So, for St.Patrick's Day, I designed a simple sign to fit a dollar store frame. It's a pretty cute addition to my St.Patrick's Day decorations, and I'm sharing it (for FREE) below.

Isn't it cute? All you need to create your own St.Patrick's Day sign is the free dollar store sign I designed and a cheap white dollar store frame.

To download the print I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Doesn't it look cute next to this little vase of pom pom flowers I made?

I hope you make this simple piece of DIY St.Patrick's decor for your home this year. It's bright, cheerful, festive, fun... and FREE!

Happy St.Patrick's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE St.Patrick's idea here.

High-end Farmhouse EASTER Decor... using a free printable and dollar store supplies

 I love decorating for the holidays, and it's super-fun to craft my own inexpensive decor. For Easter, I was inspired to create some high-end farmhouse Easter decor using items I found at the dollar store. Today, I'm sharing my creations with you, AND I'm giving you the printable signs for FREE.

This is the first one I made. Cute, right?

I was inspired by this inexpensive wooden frame and these adorable little carrots that I found at my local Dollarama.

I started by designing this simple printable sign. 

You can print yours (for free) by: clicking on the picture below, right-clicking, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Then, to make the sign, pop the picture into the frame, and use hot glue to attach the carrots. Seriously... it doesn't get much easier than that!

And, in case you aren't able to find the carrots that I used, you can print the sign with the carrots already included (below).

To print this version of the sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

After you print it, just pop it into a dollar store frame, and it's ready to display.

I love both of these pictures because they are perfect for Easter... but they are generic enough that you could display them earlier if you wanted to. 

What do you think?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

8 Hot Chocolate Bars that are Easy, Inexpensive and Fun

Hot chocolate bars are wonderful any time of year (when there is a bit of a chill in the air). I love them for holiday celebrations and for simple afternoons at home. Today, I am sharing 8 of my favourite DIY hot chocolate bars that are easy, inexpensive, and fun... and I've got some freebies too!

1) Snow Day Hot Chocolate Bar - This little hot chocolate bar is charming and perfect for a sledding party or a snow day at home. The little cups are adorable, and you can download the sign (for free) here.

2) Portable Hot Chocolate Bar - Sometimes it's too much fun outside to come inside for a warm drink. Keep the outdoor party going with this portable hot chocolate bar. You can find all the fun details here.

3) Christmas Hot Chocolate Bar - This jingle bell hot chocolate bar is perfect for the Christmas season... and what goes better with hot chocolate than peppermint? Find all the DIY details for a simple Christmas hot chocolate bar here.

4) Hot Chocolate Tasting Bar - Sometimes the most simple activities can be the most fun, and my boys loved when... I made them hot chocolate, we tested new products, and we rated our findings. Check out how easy it is to set up a hot chocolate tasting bar here.

5) Valentine's Day Hot Chocolate Bar - A Valentine's Day hot chocolate bar is easy to put together using mason jars and other dollar store supplies. Make it extra special by crafting this festive vase and sock gnome. Find all the info you need here.

6) St. Patrick's Day Bar - This hot chocolate bar is the perfect thing to serve at a St.Patrick's Day celebration. It's made using dollar store supplies, and the mason jar pot of gold is adorable! Find the full "how to" here.

7) Easter Bunny Bar - This bunny bar is the ultimate seasonal hot chocolate bar... in terms of both taste and decor. The easter egg nest cookies are an annual favourite in my house, and the DIY sock bunnies are too cute for words. I've also designed a free printable you can display with your goodies. Find the free printable, the recipe for the cookies, and the craft instructions here.

8) Simple hot chocolate cookie tray - If you want a simple treat that isn't much work, a charcuterie board filled with cookies is the way to go. I like to have a variety of cookies in my freezer and pantry ready to pop on a tray on a cold winter afternoon. Find some of my favourite sweet treat recipes here.

Isn't hot chocolate a great way to warm up? I love having a festive hot chocolate bar ready to go!

Have you ever set up a hot chocolate bar? I hope you are inspired by one of the eight that I shared today. Let me know your favourite in the comments below. Stay warm! 😃

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas for winter fun you can find here.