DIY Easter Vases... from jars

Holidays are a wonderful excuse to get crafty, and Easter is one of the best. Easter colours are fantastic, and what is cuter than bunnies and chicks? Today, I am sharing a great craft for kids AND adults. With a few dollar store supplies, you can easily transform an old jar into a delightful DIY Easter vase.

To make these adorable Easter vases:

1) Paint jars with craft paint. I used white paint to make a bunny vase and yellow paint to make a chick vase.

2) After the paint has completely dried, use hot glue and twine to wrap the tops of the jars.

3) To make the bunny: draw a mouth and whiskers with a Sharpie, and then use hot glue to attach googly eyes and a pom pom nose.

4) To make the chick: use hot glue to attach googly eyes and a felt beak.

You can fill the vases with artificial flowers or real flowers. They would be great filled with treats too.

I am planning on displaying my vases with the cute sock bunnies I made last year. (You can find the tutorial for my sock bunnies here.)

Do you like crafting with kids? Or do you prefer to craft by yourself? Either way, this is a great little Easter project. I hope you have fun making these cute DIY Easter vases.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more easy and inexpensive Easter crafts, recipes and activities here.

10 Fantastic Crafts for Tweens and Teens

The last couple of weeks, my family and I have been social distancing because of Covid-19. In order to keep everyone happy and entertained, I have been doing a different craft and activity with my boys every day. I am trying really hard to find crafts that appeal to my older kids, and today I am sharing 10 of the crafts and activities we have been doing together. I hope you enjoy them!

Click on the links (below) for more details and "how to" videos.

1) We made pom poms... and we used them to make other fun crafts... including these adorable pom pom chicks and pom pom flowers.

Find the full video tutorial for making pom poms here.

2) We made made felt finger puppets, and we learned how to sew on buttons.

Find the full "how to" hand sewing video here.

3) We made no-sew bags using old t-shirts and jerseys. It's a simple craft and a great way to recycle old pieces of clothing.

Find the full DIY recycled t-shirt bags video here.

4) We did two Simple science experiments. We made rainbows with Skittles and we used vinegar to make a bouncy egg. 

Find our science experiments video here.

5) We did weaving using a toilet roll and popsicle sticks. My boys LOVED this craft, and spent hours making long scarves and snakes.

 Find our toilet roll weaving video here. 

6) We made tassel bookmarks. My boys designed their own bookmarks, and we used yarn to add homemade yarn tassels to the tops.

Find our tassel bookmark video here. 

7) We made God's eyes... a classic camp craft. We used popsicle sticks and yarn to make this super-cute and colourful ornaments.

You can find our God's eye video here. 

8) Painting rocks is a wonderful creative endeavor. It's a perfect easy and inexpensive activity that kids and adults can do together. It's also a fantastic way to add colour and kindness to the world. I have tips for painting rocks and painted rock inspiration here.

9) We made nest brownies. Using a few shortcuts, we crafted up some tasty treats.

Find the full brownie tutorial here.

10) We made 3D handprints. We used paper and markers to create simple drawings. My kids thought the 3D effect was pretty cool.

You can find our 3D handprint video here.

If you are looking for simple crafts and activities to entertain your kids, I highly recommend giving one of these a try. It is often hard to find crafts that aren't to "babyish" for tweens and teens... and these ten are sure to please kids of all ages.

If you give them a try, let me know how it goes. I'd love to hear your favourites!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't miss out on any of the fun... follow me on social media here.

     

You might also like the ideas you can find here.

EGGcellent Ways to Decorate Your Front Door for Easter

Disclosure: I received compensation from Schlage for including their lock in this post; however, be assured that the opinions expressed in this blog are 100% my own... and I know you are going to love my new DIY wreaths.

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I love to decorate my front door for the holidays. So, with Easter just around the corner, I have TWO new DIY wreath projects to share with you. I also have a fantastic giveaway (worth $349), so make sure you read to the very end.

The first project I have for you is an adorable burlap bunny made from embroidery hoops. I absolutely love the simplicity of this one, don't you?

To make a burlap Easter bunny from embroidery hoops:

1) Use strong tape to attach the smaller hoop to the larger hoop. (I used electrical tape because it is a little bit stretchy.)

2) Insert burlap into the hoops.

3) Trim the burlap.

4) Use hot glue to attach a ribbon to the neck (and hide the tape).

5) Cut ears from burlap, and use an elastic to create ears.

6) Use hot glue to attach ears to the bunny.

7) Use hot glue to attach a twine hanger, flower embellishments, and a pom pom tail.

Isn't my burlap bunny adorable hanging on the interior of my home?

And here it is hanging on the outside of my front door.

I also made this colourful Easter egg wreath from plastic eggs I purchased at the dollar store.

To make a plastic Easter egg wreath:

1) Use hot glue to attach eggs to the exterior of a wreath form.

2) Use hot glue to attach additional layers until the entire wreath is covered.

Doesn't my Easter egg wreath look great hanging on my front door? I love the way the bright colours contrast with my black door and satin coloured hardware.

Both of my new wreaths look fantastic with my new Schlage Encode handle (which is not only beautiful, but also functional). The smart, keyless entry is perfect for my busy family and my three boys (who are now sometimes coming home without a parent). 

No more worrying about whether the front door is locked. With a Schlage smart lock, you can enjoy peace of mind and freedom from keys. And, with the Schlage Home App, I can even receive a notification once my boys get home from school. It's so easy!

And... I have some great news! Schlage Canada has offered to give one of their Schlage Encode locks to one of my readers (in your choice of style and finish). This prize has a retail value of $349! Pretty awesome, right?
Just fill out the form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you take the time to enter this fantastic contest... and I encourage you to try making one of these easy and inexpensive Easter wreaths for your home. You'll be glad you did. Happy Easter!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more easy and inexpensive Easter ideas here.

5 Simple Crafts and Activities for Tweens and Teens (and younger kids will love them too)

This week (as my family continues to social distance because of Covid 19), my boys and I made videos of the crafts that we did together. These activities and crafts are fantastic for older kids... but younger kids will love them too. I've included the links to our videos (with full instructions) below.

1) MONDAY we did two Simple science experiments. We made rainbows with Skittles and we used vinegar to make a bouncy egg. 

Find our science experiments video here.

2) TUESDAY we did weaving using a toilet roll and popsicle sticks. My boys LOVED this craft, and spent hours making long scarves and snakes.

 Find our toilet roll weaving video here. 

3) WEDNESDAY we made tassel bookmarks. My boys designed their own bookmarks, and we used yarn to add homemade yarn tassels to the tops.

Find our tassel bookmark video here. 

4) THURSDAY we made God's eyes... a classic camp craft. We used popsicle sticks and yarn to make this super-cute and colourful ornaments.

You can find our God's eye video here. 

5) FRIDAY we made 3D handprints. We used paper and markers to create simple drawings. My kids thought the 3D effect was pretty cool.

You can find our 3D handprint video here.

If you are looking for simple crafts and activities to entertain your kids, I highly recommend giving one of these a try. It is often hard to find crafts that aren't to "babyish" for tweens and teens... and these five are sure to please kids of all ages.

If you give them a try, let me know how it goes. I'd love to hear your favourites!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the ideas you can find here.

Flexible Schedule... for kids social distancing

My boys are just coming off what was supposed to be their March break. We have been social distancing for a full week now, and I have been trying to keep things relaxed and fun for my boys. However, we are getting to a point where we all need a bit of structure. I decided to put together a flexible schedule that allowed my boys to pursue their individual interests and still have fun. Here's what I came up with:

I'm going to try this schedule for the next week, and we'll tweak it as we go.

Are you using a schedule at your house? If you want to use my social distancing scheduling, you can: click on the schedule above, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

And... don't forget to look around the blog. Use the search bar to find lots of recipes, craft ideas, children's activities, etc...

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like this post.

And the ideas for older kids here.

Simple MAGIC TRICKS that kids will love

Who doesn't love magic? And there is nothing more fun than a kid learning a magic trick and showing it to their friends and family. It's a great way for kids to learn about confidence and performing too. Today, I am sharing a few simple magic tricks that kids can master at almost any age.

Disappearing Toothpick - I love this simple trick. Kids hold a toothpick (and through slight of hand) it disappears and appears again. All you need is a toothpick, a piece of tape, and this video!

Magical coloured potion - With a few magic words, kids can turn clear liquid and white powder into a magical and colourful magic potion. Find the full instructions (and secret behind this trick) here.

Magic bag that doesn't leak - Younger kids will love this one because it is super easy. With a few magic words, you can poke holes in a bag of water... and not have any of the water leak out of the bag. Fun, right? Find the instructions here.

My boys loved these tricks when they were younger, and recently they have moved onto card tricks... which are also fun.

Do your kids like magic? I hope they give these simple magic tricks a try. Let me know how it goes!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like this post.

10 Things to Do With Kids... while social distancing from the rest of the world

Given recent events concerning the Coronavirus / Covid-19, and the increased emphasis on "social distancing", parents are being faced with the task of entertaining their children... and retaining their sanity. 😀 Today, I am sharing 10 things you can do with kids... while social distancing from the rest of the world.

1)  Have an indoor picnic - Make breakfast, lunch or dinner a little more fun by laying a blanket down on the kitchen floor and having an indoor picnic. It's a simple idea, but a good way to "change up" the regular mealtime routine.

2)  Read together - Check out your bookshelves or browse an online bookstore and pick out some new books. Then, cuddle up and read together.  

If you are looking for inspiration, I have a list of our 10 favorite picture books here and a list of some of our favourite books for older kids here. 

I even have a list of books for Moms here. It's important for kids to see their parents reading for pleasure too!

3)  Dress up - When my kids were younger, they loved to dress up as Harry Potter, Pirates, Spies and Jedi.  They are older now, but if we are stuck in the house for long periods of time, I bet I can totally sell them on a themed party!

4)  Bake something - My boys love baking and cooking together... and then eating the fruits of their labour.  I've been wanting to teach them more baking and cooking skills, and now seems like the perfect time.

Some of our current favorites are:  banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and energy balls... but I'm looking forward to trying some new recipes with them.

5)  Make a craft, paint, learn a magic trick, do a science experiment, or play with play dough - EastCoastMommy.com is full of fun craft ideas, so take a look around.  You might also want to check out my "Activities and Crafts for Kids" Pinterest board here.

6) Have a puppet show - For the puppet theatre, use a spring loaded curtain rod and an old sheet in a doorway. The sheet works well because it already has an opening for a rod -- no sewing required. (You could also use a cardboard box for a theatre.) For puppets, print pictures off the internet onto cardstock, color them, cut them out, and attach popsicle sticks to the back.

7) Play games, take out the LEGO or build a puzzle - My boys love cards and board games, and I think playing games together is a great way to spend an afternoon.  If you want to make it extra special, you can check out some fun snack and decor ideas here.

8) Watch a movie - Put on some PJs, pop some popcorn, cuddle up on the couch, and watch your favorite family movie.  If you want to make it extra special, you can find some tips for throwing a movie party here.

9) Have an indoor concert, karoke party or dance contest - Isn't singing and dancing a great way to spend an afternoon... and burn off some energy?  If you are looking for some great music for younger kids, you can read about some of our favorites here.

10) Get outside - Is there anything better for kids than playing outside? (And if you should be fine if you are in your yard away from other people.)  

Depending on the weather where you are, you might want to check out some summer activities here and here or some winter activities here.

How are you coping with all the Coronavirus / Covid 19 precautions and protocols? I'm trying hard to keep my kids entertained... and not focused on the news. These are anxious times, and it's tough for kids of all ages to understand what is going on. I hope some of these ideas help you to help your kids manage their anxieties and have some fun.

Stay safe!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the ideas you can find here.