Summer is definitely my favourite season. Who doesn't love decorating with cheerful colors, vacations, and warm temperatures? Today, I'm sharing a few genius ideas for summer... including food, decor, and more. I use a lot of dollar store supplies AND I have freebies too!
I even made a fun video with all the info you need!
1) Hand painted lemon slice coasters- I found a six pack of rounds at the dollar store, and I thought it would be fun to turn them into lemon slice coasters. They are super simple and fun to paint -- at any age. I'm not much of a painter, but I think they turned out really cute! You can find the full step-by-step instructions here.
2) Cheesecakes in jars - I love these individual cheesecakes. They are portable and perfect for camping, picnics, and bbqs. And... the best part is how easy they are to make. Find the instructions for these "no bake" cheesecakes here.
3) FREE Summer print - I love cute summer print, and this one is FREE and looks adorable in a dollar store frame.
To download the picture I designed:click on the picture you want (below), right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular photo.
4x6
5x7
8x10
4) Printable SUMMER Tic Tac Toe - I'm obsessed with these little games I designed. They are perfect for summer days, camping, and road trips. I love the bright colours and the fact that they are an activity AND a snack. Cute, right?
To download the games I designed for free:click on one of the photos below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regurlar 4x6 photo.
5) FREE Summer decor - I love inexpensive seasonal decor, and these summer prints are super-cute and FREE. Grab copies here, pop them in a dollar store frame, and enjoy!
I hope you enjoy these budget-friendly ideas for summer. Let me know which one is your favourite in the comments below... and don't forget to watch my video for a closer look.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you are going to LOVE the DIY Harry Potter party video I made. I have ideas for invites, decor, costumes, wands, activites, games, food, party favours, and MORE!!!
Every party needs aninvitationto set the stage and let
guests know what to expect. For this party, I used my home printer to create an
acceptance letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Of course
the letter was from the head mistress of Hogwarts -- Minerva McGonagall. I rolled up the invite
like a sheet of parchment, tied it with a ribbon, and added a picture of the
birthday boy. So easy… but so cute!
Creating an entrance to the magical world of Harry Potter is
easy, inexpensive, and fun. Grab a dollar store paper tablecloth, sponges and
red paint. Then, dip the sponge in the paint and press it onto the tablecloth
to create a brick. Continue the process until the entire table cloth is
covered. Hang it up in a doorway, and cut a slit in the middle to allow people
to walk through. You can also make a 9 3/4 platform sign from a piece of dollar
store foam board. This was a BIG hit at our party!
I wanted all the guests to get the full Harry Potter
experience, so I set up a “Madam Malkins Robes for all Occasions” shop. Everyone
could shop for robes (which were black capes I bought on clearance after
Halloween). I also had homemade glasses and ties that the kids could decorate.
Every wizard needs a wand, so I set up an Ollivander’s wand
shop for the party guests. To make cheap wands, grab a package of dowels, hot
glue, and brown paint from the dollar store. Drizzle hot glue around a dowel,
let dry, and paint with brown paint. Then, if desired, you can add a jewel to
the bottom like I did. Pretty fun, right?
I also thought it would be fun to let the kids shop for
their school supplies at Flourish and Blotts… just like the characters did in
the books and movies. I made a spell book from a duotang, and filled it with a
list of spells, a word search, and some Harry Potter trivia. I also made quills
by hot gluing feathers to the ends of pens. It was really easy to do, and a fun
takeaway from the party.
Of course themed party food is an important part of any
party, and I had a lot of fun with this one. I had lots of food laid out, but
the stars of the show were two easy-to-make cakes. The first cake was a quidditch
cake. I started with a plain chocolate cake, and added 3 quidditch posts made
from paper straws and pipe cleaners covered in black electrical tape. Then, I
added a snitch made from a Fererro Rocher chocolate and parchment paper wings.
The second cake was a rectangle cake that I carved into the shape of a crest. Then, I added a lightening bolt cut from a fruit roll up, a snitch, Bernie Bott’s every flavour jelly beans, and a chocolate frog. The cakes really were easy to make, and they turned out super-cute.
I love sending guests home with a fun goodie bag, and for
this party, I had the perfect idea for a party favour. I set up Honeyduke’s
sweet shop, and filled it with Harry Potter themed goodies. Each guest was
given a bag to fill, and a fun tag to tie the top of the bag with. Some of the
items in my shop included: bernie bott’s every flavour beans, golden snitches,
black liquorice wands, Mad Eye Moody’s Eyeball Gun, Remus’s werewolf fangs,
chocolate frogs, and fizzing whizbees.
Have I inspired you to host a Harry Potter party? You could also just grab a few of these ideas for a fun family movie night. Make sure you check out the video here, and let me know which of these ideas is your favourite.
When the Easter decorations have been put away, it's a clear sign that Spring is on its way. I love getting organized and refreshing my home for Spring, and my YouTube channel is full of easy and inexpensive ideas for making the most of the season. Check out some of my favourite budget-friendly SPRING finds and DIYs below.
These Spring DIYs are made mostly using dollar store supplies. The umbrella wreath could not be easier, and it's one of my most popular Spring decor projects.
The DIYs are also super-easy. I love the clever use for garden markers.
What's easier than putting a FREE print in a dollar store frame??? That idea and more here:
I love using a tiered tray to create a Spring vignette... and it's sooo easy to make one using glue, dollar store plates, and a dollar store candle holder. The full instructions and more simple ideas here:
And if you are looking for an easy transition from Spring to Summer, you are going to want to check out this video:
If you like these ideas, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I have many more fun videos planned, you don't want to miss out.
Holidays provide the perfect opportunity to make magical memories. Today, I'm sharing delightful Easter ideas (and freebies) that are guaranteed to impress the Easter Bunny!
1) Coupons from the Easter Bunny are a wonderful alternative to candy in an Easter basket, and I made some FREE ones that you can download below.
To download the coupons I designed (for free):click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.
2) Magic jelly beans are another fun option for an Easter basket. I have a free printable envelope you can print below. Fill it with jelly beans and pop it in an Easter basket.
The kids can follow the instructions from the Easter bunny: plant it in sugar on Easter Sunday, and on Monday morning, the jelly beans will grow into something fun. :-)
To download the envelope I designed for free: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.
3) Homemade goodies are great, but this shortcut is sure to impress. Who wouldn't love a chocolate bunny on a stick? It's soooo adorable.
Just take a store-bought bunny, and attach a sucker stick to the back with some melted chocolate. Let it dry, and that's it!
Pop them in cellophane bags, tie with ribbon, and add a name tag if desired. Easy peasy!
For a closer look at these ideas (and a few bonus ones!), check out the video I made below.
Which of these ideas is your favourite? I think they are all pretty cute!
If you like EASY holiday desserts, you are going to LOVE the quick and delicious recipes I'm sharing today. I have short cuts to share... and a step by step video. Take a peek, and let me know which Easter dessert is your favourite!
2) Mini egg brownies (from a mix) - If you like a good short-cut, you are going to love this quick and easy Easter dessert. Check out the easy "how to" here.
3) Soft and chewy mini egg cookies - To make a delicious Easter cookie, all you need to do is add mini eggs to your "go to" chocolate chip cookie recipe. You can find mine here.
If you like making holidays special AND saving money, you are going to love the ideas I'm sharing today. I have OVER 20 Easter DIYs, crafts, decor ideas and recipes. You definitely going to be making my Easter cookies and my adorable "bunny trail" wreath.
To get all the info on my favourite Easter projects, make sure to check out the video below...
and for MORE INFORMATION, here are the links I referred to in the video:
Let's be honest... Valentine's Day is all about the chocolate. And homemade chocolate treats are guaranteed to impress family and friends. Today, I'm sharing EASY chocolate dipped goodies. You are going to be amazed at how simple the chocolate dipped heart-shaped strawberries are to make!
My favourite part of my Valentine's Day treat tray starts with heart-shaped strawberries. You halve the strawberries and cut a "V" from the top. (Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions.)
Insert a skewer, dip in melted chocolate, and place on wax paper to set.
Cute, right?!
You can also dip other things in chocolate. Try cookies, caramels, and cashews.
Then... when all the items have set... lay everything out on a tray. I added a bowl full of candies to the middle to add a bit of interest. Doesn't it look great? AND it tastes even better than it looks!
Check out this video for all the instructions / recipe video.
Thanks for checking out my latest easy and inexpensiveValentine's Day treat ideas! Let me know which one is your favourite. Happy Valentine's Day!!!
♥ Gina Bell(aka East Coast Mommy)
If you are looking for more Valentine's Day inspiration, check out more than 30 Valentine's Day ideas here.
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