*NEW* DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas (made using DOLLAR STORE supplies)

Mother's Day is coming up, and it's time to start thinking about getting a gift for the special lady / ladies in your life. Today, I have FIVE fantastic Mother's Day gift ideas that are super-cute, thoughtful, and budget friendly. They use almost all dollar store supplies. I even made a video to let you see how simple they are to make.

1) Chocolate bar bouquet - I absolutely love this idea. I started with a dollar store pot, chocolate bars, dowels, and floral foam. 

Then, I used hot glue to attach dowels to the backs of chocolate bars.

I used my Cricut to add words to my pot, but this step is optional.

To finish my bouquet, I placed a piece of floral foam in the pot, inserted the chocolate bar "flowers", and filled in the blank spaces with tissue paper.

2) Personalized candle - This is an adorable personalized gift, and a great way to upgrade a dollar store pillar candle.

To make it, I printed a photo on my picture, cut it out, and positioned it on the candle. Then, I covered the picture with wax paper, and applied heat with my heat gun. I let it cool for 5 minutes and then peeled off the wax paper. That's it!

Note: The picture is paper, so if you aren't just going to use it for decorative purposes, make sure you only burn it until you reach the top of the picture.

3) Gorgeous Faux Flower Arrangement - Fake florals can look cheap, but with a little effort they can look high end. I started with these dollar store roses and dollar store milk jug.

I added some twine and beads to the milk jug, separated the flowers, and arranged them until the bouquet looked full and beautiful.

4) Custom Cutting Boards - These dollar store cutting boards are inexpensive and great for DIYing.

On one of the cutting boards, I used a wood burning tool to trace out one of my son's drawing. On the other one, I added a vinyl monogram and ribbon bow. I think they both make great gifts!

5) Unique dollar store find - You can always find unique items at the dollar store, and it's fun to "gift" them in a creative way. Recently I found this "wine buddy" cooler, and I absolutely love it!

I put a bottle of wine in my portable cooler, and poped it in dollar store basket. Then, I added a bag of chips (for the dollar store), and it's ready to go!

For a closer look, check out the YouTube video I made here.

Aren't these Mother's Day gift ideas fanstastic?

Let me know which one you like the best. I think the candle might be my favourite, but they are all fantastic.

Happy Mother's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the Mother's Day gift ideas here.

The BEST ***NEW*** Dollar Store DIYs for SPRING 🌸

I love seasonal decorating on a budget, don't you? And Spring is the perfect time for a bit of a decor refresh... and little dollar store DIY. Today, I' sharing a few NEW dollar store DIYs for Spring.

One of my favourite DIYs I made this year was a fence I crafted from dollar store plant markers. They are inexpensive and perfect for crafting a versatile piece of Spring decor.

I started by painting the plant markers with white paint and dry brushing them with a bit of grey paint. Then, I used hot glue to attach the posts together with another one of the posts.

I love this fence as a back drop for other Spring decor items. 

These great rounds are another fantastic dollar store crafting material. I bought this package of 6 rounds for $4. You can't beat that!

I taped off sections of the round, and painted them in different colours.

Then, I used my Cricut to cut out the words "Hello Spring", and I hung my round over a wreath I purchased at the dollar store a couple of years ago. 

If you don't have a Cricut, you can use a stencil, paints, stickers, or window clings attached with Mod Podge. 

Another great project uses the clay pots they sell at the dollar store. I started by painting them with white chalk paint.

Then, I taped them off and painted the rims with different Spring colours -- one light green, one light pink, and one light blue.

When they were dry, I used my Cricut to add the words "Plant", "Bloom", and "Grow" to the pots. Then, I filled the pots with floral foam and fake flowers. I think it looks great in front of the fence I made. Not bad for a couple of dollars, right?

The last craft was a tiny faux book stack I made with scraps of wood. You could also use dollar store jenga blocks glued together.

I painted one dark pink, one light pink, and one white. Then, I attached them together with hot glue, and wrapped them with twine. 

I finished by attaching a bit of Spring greenery to the top.

I displayed them on top of a dollar store candle holder I painted with white paint, but they would be adorable on a tiered tray too.

How great are these dollar store DIYs for Spring? Which one is your favourite?

For more information on crafting these simple projects, take a peek at this short video.

 

I hope you enjoyed these dollar store DIYs. I love easy and inexpensive home decor, and the dollar store is a fantastic place to get inspiration and supplies. 

I'll be back soon with even more ideas, so don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and YouTube channel.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in these fantastic Spring Dollar Store DIYs here.

NEW Spring Decor DIYs... using dollar store supplies

As winter comes to an end, I love adding inexpensive Spring decor to my home. Don't you love how the colours and textures of Spring make your home feel bright and re-freshed? 

Today, I'm sharing a few NEW Spring Decor DIYS that I made using dollar store supplies. (And don't forget to check out the short, easy-to-follow "how to" video below.)

One of my favourite dollar store hacks is making use of their seasonal florals. This year I found these fantastic apple blossom and pussy willow stems.

I cut pieces for the stems, and arranged them in this dollar store milk jug. Then, to dress up the milk jug, I added some twine and wood beads. Cute, right?!?

Bird houses are another option for Spring decor, and I love this unfinished wooden one I found at my local dollar store.

I ripped the hanger from the top, painted the birdhouse white, used hot glue to attach strips of twine to the roof, and wrapped a ring of greenery around the base. It's a perfect piece of decor on it's own, but it's also perfect for a tiered tray.

And... if you are looking for an inexpensive Spring tiered tray option, I have a simple (and inexpensive) DIY option you are going to love.

I started with two plastic plates and a candle holder from Dollarama.

Then, I painted the candle holder with white chalk paint and used hot glue to attach the plates to the candle holder. I decorated it with the birdhouse, wooden beads and some Spring florals. No one will ever guess this is a dollar store DIY!

To see the step by step instructions for all these dollar store crafts / dollar store DIYs, check out the "how to" YouTube video I made below.

I love how all the projects look together, don't you?

Are you interested in more Spring DIYs? I have more great easy and inexpensive projects coming soon, so make sure to take the time to follow me on social media so you don't miss out on any of the fun.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the Spring DIYs here.

Fun Ways to Decorate a Room for a Hockey Fan

*Disclosure - I was given the opportunity to try the hockey wall decals from HockeyRooms.ca, and I was compensated for my honest review and promotion of the product. As always, the views expressed on this blog are 100% my own.

I just revamped my youngest son's hockey-themed bedroom, and I can't wait to show you how cute it turned out. I have a fantastic product to introduce you to, and a couple simple DIY projects that will make the room even more fun!

 

First, I cleared my son's walls and room of clutter, and gave it a good cleaning. There were some things (like a "picture book" bookcase (and more) that he has outgrown.

Then, I installed some awesome wallpaper decals from hockeyrooms.ca. They were easy to install, and they really upped the "wow" factor of the room. 

Finally, I completed the room with a few simple DIY projects that added a personal element to the space.

Check out the details, before and after pictures, and short below.

On this wall, I added boards and glass decals from hockeyrooms.ca, and then I set up gallery wall above the boards. I included hockey pictures of my son, and a hockey art project we did together. Didn't it turn out great?

On the wall by the window: I removed the rocking chair, added more decals, cleaned up his books and shelf, and added the letters of his name (which I already had) to this hockey stick hanger he was given as a gift many years ago.

On the wall beside his bed: I added a football poster that he loves (even though it has nothing to do with hockey... lol), I left a bit of blank space to keep the room from feeling cluttered, I and cleaned out the baskets on his dresser.

I also added a command strip hook to the wall so he could hang his favourite jerseys.

And, of course, just to finish off the room, I applied the hockeyroom.ca decals to the space in between the closet door and the door to his room.

If you are interested in seeing how I installed the high-quality wallpaper decals (and you'd like a closer look at my son's room), check out the short video below. Keep watching until the end if you want to see my son's adorable reaction. 💗

I'm so pleased with how my son's room turned out, and he is beyond excited. If you have a hockey lover in your home, I highly encourage you to check out the products at hockeyrooms.ca

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (Let me know if you have any questions.)

Top 10 GIANT TIGER Finds for Easter... including fun DIYS and gift ideas

*Disclosure - I was given the opportunity to write about my favourite Giant Tiger products, and I was compensated for my honest review and promotion of the products. As always, the views expressed on this blog are 100% my own.

I am so excited to be able to share my favourite Giant Tiger finds for Easter. I have great ideas for filling Easter baskets, fun Easter gift options, Easter crafts, and Easter decor. 

1) Easter Candy - What's better than an Easter basket full of candy? What about a Easter basket made of candy? Pretty cute, right?!?!

First, head to Giant Tiger and get all your favourite goodies. The selection and prices are fantastic!

I chose some of my boys' favourite treats in coordinating colours, but you can choose anything you like. The only requirement is four boxes of candy that are the same size.

Then, use hot glue to attach the ends of the boxes together, and use hot glue to attach a piece of cardboard to the bottom of the boxes.

Finish by filling the box with all your Easter treats!

 

2) Travel Mug - If someone on your Easter list is a coffee or tea drinker, these travel mugs from Giant Tiger are a perfect and inexpensive addition to their Easter basket. (I got mine on sale at Giant Tiger for only $4.)

These are wonderful plain, but they are even better after a little DIY.

I added a fun little "punny" Easter decal to this one. Isn't it adorable?!?

3) Pastel Retro Hoodie - This licensed hoodie is an excellent addition to an Easter basket. The retro design is adorable and the colour is perfect for Spring. And you can't beat the price of $24.97!

4) Luxurious (budget-friendly) Throw - Cuddling up and watching movies is one of my family's favourite things to do. We are always looking for quality throws at affordable prices, so I was super-excited to find this gorgeous throw at Giant Tiger for only $20. The blanket is soft, and the sherpa lining is really cozy. 

It would also be a great addition to a "family movie night" Easter basket. What could be better than a basket filled with this throw, movie treats, and the movie "Hop"?

5) Tie Dye Kit - When I was a little girl, I always found bubbles and a skipping rope in my Easter basket. When you're a kid, it's fun to receive an Easter gift that you can play with. My kids are a bit old for bubbles and skipping ropes, but I think they'll have fun with this tie dye kit. I can't wait to help my boys make colourful shirts for Spring.

6) Socks (for a fun craft) - Giant Tiger has three pairs of these socks for ONLY $6... and they are the perfect supply for an adorable Easter craft -- "no sew" sock bunnies. This is an excellent Easter craft for families to make together.

Isn't this little sock bunny adorable?

First, using a funnel, fill a sock with rice, and seal the top with an elastic.

Then, use a ribbon to separate the body from the head.

Make ears by using sharp scissors to cut the top of the sock in half and shape the pieces.

Finish by using hot glue to embellish the bunny. Use googly eyes, pom poms, buttons, or whatever else you have on hand. (And you can add a pom pom tail to the back too!)

7) Mini Massager - "Pampering" gifts are always appreciated, and this mini massager is a cheap and cheerful Easter basket option. It's a perfect budget-friendly gift for kids and adults!

8) Bubble Popper Fidget Toy - Popper fidget toys are really popular right now, and this Octopus from Giant Tiger is adorable. I think it would be a super-cute addition to an Easter basket.

9) NHL-themed KanJam - My boys spend the winter playing hockey, but when Spring comes, it's time for them to get outside and play. This frisbee game I found at Giant Tiger is perfect for my boys to play when the weather starts to get warmer... and the fact that I found a version featuring their favourite team is a bonus!

10) Flameless LED Candles - I love the ambiance created by flameless candles, and this three pack from Giant Tiger (for only $15) is awesome. It's hard to see in the picture, but they look and feel exactly like real candles.

They are gorgeous plain, and the light blue colour works well for Easter, but I thought I would take them to the next level with a little DIY.

I used my Cricut to write the word "HOP" on the candles. You could also use stickers if you don't have a Cricut.

I styled them on a wooden tray I already had, and filled the bottom of the tray with little white rocks. Cute, right?!?

Or, for a simpler display option and a different look, you could just set them on metal tray.

Aren't these easy and inexpensive Giant Tiger finds perfect for Easter? Giant Tiger really is a one-stop-shop destination for all things Easter.

Do you have a favourite item on my list? I know my boys will love all my purchases... but I'm pretty sure the candy baskets will be a highlight on Easter morning.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)