Dollar Store {Halloween} Sign

Last Halloween I made a cute purple sign out of a $2 wooden plaque from the dollar store.  {You can find the tutorial for it here.}  I was so happy with how it turned out that I decided to make another one this year.

Want to make this adorable "Along Came a Spider..." sign?

First, get the plaque ready for decorating. 
  a)  Lightly sand the rough edges.
  b)  Paint the edge of the plaque black.  {You don't have to be neat because you will be applying scrapbook paper next.}
  c)  Cut some festive scrapbook paper to fit the top of the plaque, and apply using Mod Podge.

Then, decorate the plaque.
  a)  Create a label that says, "Along Came a Spider...".  {I used Picmonkey, but you can use whatever you are comfortable with.}
  b)  Apply the label to the top of the scrapbook paper using Mod Podge, and apply another layer on top of everything to seal it.
  c)  Apply some embellishments using hot glue.  {I used purple, glittery spiders from the dollar store.}

I love purple Halloween decorations, don't you?  Or, do you prefer the traditional orange and black?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Originally a guest post at Plaid Crafts on October 3, 2012. 

Non-candy Halloween Treats {Glasses}... with free printable bag toppers

My three year old attends a preschool {one morning a week} that has a strict "no candy" policy.  I still wanted him to have something to pass out to his friends for Halloween, so I came up a cute and inexpensive "non-candy" Halloween treat.

I found some crazy plastic glasses at Walmart {6 pairs for $2}, which my boys think are hilarious.  :-)  I put a pair of glasses in a "snack bag", added a tag that says, '"Eye" am lucky to have a friend like you!', and stuck on a googly eye for an extra touch of fun.  {You can find the free, downloadable tag I designed here.}

I think they are adorable Halloween class treats, don't you?  Do you have a great "alternative to candy" you want to share?  I would love to hear about it.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

Review and Giveaway {Yoplait} - CLOSED

Contest closed.  The winner is Jennifer DeLorey.  Congratulations, Jennifer!

Did you know that "Yoplait" products are now part of the General Mills family {made in Canada since 1971}?  This is exciting news for me {as a Life Made Delicious Ambassador} because my family loves Yoplait products.

Now that September is here, we are slowly getting into our "Back to School" routine, and Yoplait products are definitely a part of our daily lives.  

Personally, I am making an effort to not "skip breakfast" and to get more calcium into my diet.  So, I have started to have a bowl of yogurt and granola each morning.  I really enjoy the strawberry Yoplait Source.  {It is only 35 calories per serving and has no added sugar.}

And, my boys love Yoplait MiniGos and Tubes in their school lunches.  They make great after school snacks too.  {You have to love a snack that contains no gelatin, no artificial flavours, and no artificial sweeteners.}

How do you get into a "Back to School" routine?  I have a great prize package (valued at $50) that will help:  4 free coupons to re-discover some of Yoplait’s yummiest products around, a lunch bag, a Post-it note dispenser, a journal, and a pen.

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question: "What is your favorite yogurt flavour?"  {Don't forget your email address if you don't have one linked to your profile.}


The rules {I am a mom... I can't help it.):

1) Contest closes on October 15th at midnight.
2) I will use Random.org to choose the winner.
3) The winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
4) Make sure that you log in {with a profile linked to an email address} or that you include your email in your comments because if I can't contact you, you won't be able to win!
5) Contest open to Canadian Residents only.  {Readers may enter across multiple blogs, but may only win one prize.} 

Good luck!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure – I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

{Fall} Book Page Banner

Don't you just love an easy, inexpensive, and fun craft you can do with the kids?  This simple {Fall} Book Page Banner makes a great Fall/Thanksgiving decoration.

You can make your own banner in three easy steps:

1)  Draw or print out pumpkins for the kids to color and cut out.

2)  Trim a book page, and cut a "V" shape out of the bottom.  Then, punch two holes at the top of the page.

3)  Use tape or glue to attach the pumpkins to the book pages.

String together with twine, and that's it!  Cute, right?

Are you decorating for Fall?  I would love to hear what you are making.  :-)

 ♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.


Update October 11, 2012.... look how my clever boys transformed our Fall Banner into a Halloween Banner.  Sweet, right?

Quick Tip {for Halloween}

I know Halloween is still more than a month away, but I wanted to share a quick tip that will save you a little money.  {And don't we all like a money saving tip?}  Last year, I made this for my son's lunchbox.

It is a box of Smarties wrapped in gauze {that you buy at the pharmacy}.  Cute, right?  This year, I plan to wrap the entire contents of the lunch boxes like this, but gauze is expensive.  

However, when I was at the grocery store last week, I saw a package of cheesecloth for $1.99.  Once I cut it into strips, won't it make great inexpensive wrapping for my Mummies?

I was so pleased with this discovery... I just had to share it.  I can already think of some other fun projects I can use it for.  I will be sure to share them with you soon.  :-)

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

Review and Giveaway {Pillsbury Chocolately Crescents} - CLOSED

Contest Closed:  The winners are Glogirl, Nicolth pickle, Tanya H. and Brenda Penton.  Thanks to everyone that took the time to enter.  :-)

As a Life Made Delicious Ambassador, I was recently sent a box of  the {new} Pillsbury Chocolatey Crescents to try.  I was excited because, now that two of my boys are in school, I am serving after- school snacks each day.  Most days we have something healthy, but sometimes a rainy afternoon calls for a "special treat".  :-) 

The verdict:  these chocolatey crescents are delicious, and received "three thumbs up" from my boys.

And... what is a treat if you can't share it?  So, I have four coupons to give away to four {Canadian} readers who would like to try a box of Pillsbury Chocolatey Crescents for {free}.  Just leave a comment below, and I will pick four people {at random} on Monday morning {September 24}.  The coupons expire on October 31, 2012, so I will send them out as soon as I pick the winners.

Don't forget to leave your email address.  If I can't contact you, you can't win.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure – I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Scarecrow Paper Doll

How adorable is this Scarecrow Paper Doll? You can beat a simple, old-fashioned paper craft, and your kids / students are going to love this one. Download the template, print it, colour it, cut it out, and play with it for hours. It's the perfect fall craft.

I love that you can change its clothes too! Just print the scarecrow onto card stock. You can download the template I designed from my Etsy Shop for 99cents US here.) You'll also need a craft stick for the back, a couple of googly eyes, and a piece of foam core for the nose.

OK, let's get started.

1) First colour the scarecrow and his shirts.

2)  Cut out the pieces.  {Be very careful you don't cut off the "tabs" on the shirts.}

3)  Tape the craft stick onto the back of the scarecrow.

4)  Use glue or tape to attach the eyes and nose.

Now the scarecrow can be used as a puppet, and you can change his shirts {using the tabs} whenever you want.  Fun, right?

Isn't it adorable? Kids will love designing the clothes for this scarecrow paper doll. I remember playing with paper dolls when I was a little girl... and I may have played with this one too! ;-)

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You may also be interested in these FALL crafts for kids.