2017 New Year's Eve Craft for Kids

New Year's Eve is the perfect time for a quick and simple craft. Creating these New Year's Eve hats and flags is a wonderful way to entertain the kids before the countdown, and the finished products make fun party props and favours. Keep reading to download the templates for these New Year's Eve crafts for free.

To make this festive headband and flag: 

1) Print the template on card stock by: right-clicking on the image below, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. Or you can download a pdf version of the template here.

2) Color the signs and cut them out.

3) Tape one sign to a card stock headband to create a hat.

4) Tape the other other to a paper straw, craft stick or dowel to create a flag.

That's it! It doesn't get much easier than this 2017 New Year's Eve craft for kids. Enjoy... and Happy New Year!!!!!!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

2016 Year in Review (free printable)

Update: find a 2021 version here.

New Year's Eve is a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one -- not just for adults, but for kids too. With this in mind, each year I put together a Year in Review questionnaire for my boys to fill out on New Year's Eve.

It is a pretty simple questionnaire, and you can download the free printable by: clicking on the picture (above), right-clicking saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. I usually print mine at my local office supply store.

I love seeing what my boys come up with each year. Maybe someday I will make a book for each of my boys using all the questionnaires they have filled out over the years.
Happy New Year, everybody!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Elf on the Shelf Bake Sale

How cute is this little Elf on the Shelf idea? This morning we woke up, and our little elf had created an adorable Elf on the Shelf bake sale. So crafty!

I love that our elf used a little box wrapped in wrapping paper. Then, he used two paper straws, some coloured paper and sharpies to make signs.

The donuts made from Cheerios, icing, and sprinkles are a lot of fun too!

Our Elf is taking a lesson from my boys who are always raising money for their favourite charity (Cystic Fibrosis... a disease that their cousin has). I love that our Elf on the Shelf is using fun treats to remind my boys that it is important to give back during the holiday season.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find MORE easy and inexpensive Elf on the Shelf ideas here.

Felt Lightbulb Ornaments

Looking for a small holiday gift "add on", a delightful handmade ornament, or an easy Christmas craft? These simple felt lightbulb ornaments are perfect "quick and easy" holiday crafts, and I love how colourful and fun they are. Today I am sharing the step-by-step tutorial for these adorable felt ornaments.

To make these ornaments:
1) Cut two lightbulb shapes and two lightbulb tops from coloured felt.
2) Using matching embroidery floss, attach a hanger made from a piece of twine.
3) Use white embroidery floss to stitch the two lightbulb shapes together (with a small amount of cotton stuffing inside).
4) Stitch the lightbulb tops to the top of the ornament.

The best thing about these ornaments is that they can be made in many colours. You can totally make them to match any Christmas decor or colour scheme. 

I made my lightbulb ornaments in blue, red and green.

I made a bunch, and I plan to stick them in Christmas cards, add them to gifts, and hang them on my tree. Cute, right?

These ornaments would be a wonderful project for someone that is just learning to sew. The felt is easy to work with, and the stitching is easy. If you decide to make these felt lightbulb ornaments, let me know what colours you chose.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Snowman Gum

I love simple ideas. We are all busy, and don't have a lot of time, so today I am sharing an idea that is SUPER easy. Looking for a stocking stuffer, secret Santa gift, or a unique class treat? Have a look at these adorable snowmen made from gum! Cute, right?

To make this sweet treat: cut a package of gum into strips, draw the details of the snowmen with Sharpies, and tie on little felt scarves made from a tiny strips of felt. That's it!

I made these snowmen for my boys, and they thought they were pretty cute. I couldn't agree more because I absolutely love the simplicity of this little goodie.

Do you have someone in your life that might enjoy this snowman gum? Sometimes simple ideas really are the best ideas!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Christmas Photo Class Treats

My boys' school has a strict nutrition policy, but they still like to bring Christmas treats to share with their classes. This year, my boys are taking ornaments that are being shared in a fun way. We are using pictures of the boys, and inserting candy cane ornaments.

Cute, right?

I started with a picture of my son standing in front of our tree with his hand in a fist. Then, I used an X-acto knife to cut slits above and below his fist. I finished by inserting a candy cane ornament into the slot.

I made a bunch of these cute Christmas photos for my boys' classmates, and I love how they turned out!

Do you send class treats to school at Christmas? Would your little one's friends like this Christmas photo class treat?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Elf on the Shelf Kissing Booth (free printable)

There are a lot of free Elf on the Shelf printables on the web, but I am absolutely obsessed with the cuteness of this free Elf on the Shelf kissing booth! This is how we found our Elf this morning... and he was surrounded by chocolate kisses.

Isn't this "kissing booth" adorable? And what child wouldn't love to wake up to all these sweet chocolate kisses?

To download a FREE copy of the Elf on the Shelf kissing booth: click on the photo below, right click, save it to your computer, and print (on cardstock) like a regular 8x10 photo.

Print the booth on heavy card stock, cut out a window for the elf to peek through, and fold the sides in to make it stand. It's that easy!

What fun things has your elf been up to this year? I hope you have fun with this free Elf on the Shelf kissing booth. It's my Christmas gift to you. Happy holidays!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find MORE easy and inexpensive Elf on the Shelf ideas here. 

Make sure to check out the magic Elf seeds. It's my favourite!