Easter Cookie Mix Jars... with free printable tags

Every holiday requires a sweet treat, and Easter is no exception. I always enjoy baking Easter cookies with my kids, and I love sharing our sweet treats with friends and family. This Easter cookie mix jar is perfect for stocking a pantry, and it makes an adorable Easter gift too.

Isn't this mason jar filled with Easter cookie mix super cute?

To make this "Easter Cookies Mix" jar:

1) Start with a clean 1L mason jar.

2) Layer the ingredients below (patting down each layer before adding the next one):

First layer: 1 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 tsp baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon salt
Second layer: 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
Third layer: 1/2 white sugar
Fourth layer: 1 cup of candy coated chocolate mini eggs

To make the process easy: use a wide-mouthed funnel to fill the jars, and make a tool to press down the layers. I attached a round piece of cardboard to the end of skewer and covered it all with tin foil.

3) Print off the cookie tag below, cut it to look like a tag, and attach it to the cookie jar with twine or ribbon. 

To download the tag: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a 4x6 photo.

To bake the cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Then, beat 3/4 cup softened butter, 1 large egg, and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla in a large mixing bowl until well blended. Add the jar of cookie mix, and stir with a wooden spoon until fully combined. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 9-12 minutes.

This cookies are soft and chewy... and sooooo delicious!

Isn't this an adorable Easter DIY? It's a fantastic Easter cookie recipe, and it's an easy, inexpensive and adorable homemade gift. If you give it a try, let me know what you think.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

"Bunny Butt" Easter Garden... made using dollar store supplies

I love cute seasonal decor... especially when I can make it myself (CHEAPLY) using dollar store supplies. This "bunny butt Easter garden" really is easy to make... and it is totally adorable!

First, you'll need to gather your supplies.

You'll need:

• yarn (I used grey)
• some sort of bucket/container (any kind will work)
• floral foam
• dollar store moss
• 4 dollar store carrots
• 4 toothpicks
• dollar store greenery (optional)
• scrap pieces of felt
• a white pom pom 
• scissors and a hot glue gun

1) You can leave the carrots as they are, or you can upgrade them by pulling out the tops and using hot glue to insert dollar store greenery.

2) Insert a piece of floral foam into the container.

3) Insert toothpicks into the ends of the carrots, insert the carrots into the floral foam, and cover the floral foam with dollar store moss. (You can glue it down if you like. I didn't in case I want to change up my arrangement next year.)

4) Make a large pom pom (for the bunny's butt) using yarn. Wrap the yarn around your hand 65-90 times (depending on the weight of the yarn), tie a strand of yarn around the centre of the ball of yarn, cut the loops, and trim the pom pom until it is round and fluffy.

If you have never made a pom pom before, you would like more instruction, you can watch a "how to make pom poms video" here.

5) Attach the pom pom to the edge of the bucket using hot glue. Then, attach a pom pom tail using more hot glue. Finish by attaching bunny feet. (I used felt, but you could foam or cardstock if that is what you have on hand.)

Seriously.... how cute is this project? It really is a fabulous piece of Easter / Spring decor that you can make for only a few dollars.

And... if you want to see a quick video before you make your own bunny butt Easter garden, check out the video below.

I set my garden beside this cute picture I made. You can find the FREE printable for this cute Easter photo here.

Don't you just love it? If you make one, send me a picture. I always love seeing the variations my readers come up with. And, of course, if you have any questions about this "bunny butt Easter garden" made using dollar store supplies, please let me know.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

DIY Dollar Store EASTER Pictures... with free printable photos

I love decorating for holidays, but because they pass so quickly, I never want to spend a lot of money on special decor. The dollar store provides a lot of inspiration, but some of the items are a little tacky. So.... it's always fun to do a little DIY to upgrade inexpensive dollar store finds. Today, I am sharing TWO simple and gorgeous Easter pictures that can EASILY be made using dollar store supplies. I'm sharing two FREE printables too!

To make both these Easter pictures, you'll need a couple of dollar store frames, some of these cute dollar store carrots, and the FREE printables I designed (below).

For the first picture:

1) Download the print I designed (below). Click on the picture, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it alike a regular 8x10 photo.

2) Place the photo into the frame.

3) Use hot glue to attach the dollar store carrots to the bottom of the photo.

For the second picture:

1) Download the print I designed (below). Click on the picture, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it alike a regular 8x10 photo.

2) Place the print in a dollar store frame.

Isn't this an easy DIY? I absolutely love both versions, don't you?

These pictures would look great with farmhouse decor, but they would look great with other styles too. I love how simple they are to make, but they really take dollar store items to a whole new level.

 ♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find more wonderful Easter ideas here.

Simple St.Patrick's Day Treat Idea... with free printable cards

One of my favourite things to do on this blog is give away things for FREE. Today, I am sharing an adorable FREE printable St. Patrick's Day card that is perfect to share with friends and family. It would make a wonderful party favour too.

All you need is the FREE card below and some chocolate gold coins (or real coins).

First download and print the free cards. Click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Then, use an x-Acto knife to cut a slit (the same width as the coin) above the cauldron. 

Note: Be careful with the sharp knife, and make sure you use a cutting mat.

Finish by inserting a chocolate coin (or real coin) into the slot. You can leave it as is... or you can secure it on the back with a piece of tape.

I made three with loonies and three with chocolate coins, and I plan on giving them to my boys on St.Patrick's Day. Cute, right?!?

I think these would be fun to share with neighbours and classmates, and they'd make fun and inexpensive party favours too.

Who will you share your lucky coins with this St.Patrick's Day?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE St.Patrick's idea here.

St.Patrick's Day Yarn Ornaments

Holiday crafts are so much fun, and the two I am sharing with you today are super-cute and easy to make. They use yarn and dollar store supplies, and are perfect for kids and adults. Check out the adorable St.Patrick's Day crafts below.

The first craft is a green yarn hat ornament. Trust me, when you start making these hats, you are going to be totally addicted. 😄

1) Cut a 1 cm slice from an empty toilet roll. Then, cut approximately 35 strands of yarn (30cm in length). Note: You may need more or less yarn. It will depend on the weight/thickness of the yarn.

2) Loop all the strands (one at a time) through the cardboard roll and pull tight. Continue until the entire cardboard piece is covered.

3) Push all the yarn down through the centre of the roll to create a hat "brim", and tie the top of the hat (about an inch from the top) with a piece of matching yarn. Tie a loop (at the top of the piece of yarn used to tie the top of the hat) to create a hanger for the ornament.

4) Trim the top of the hat to make a pom pom, and use hot glue to attach a felt shamrock to the front of the yarn hat.

You can display the leprechaun hat as it is, or you can make a pom pom and transform it into a St.Patrick's Day gnome.

To make the St.Patrick's Day gnome:

You'll need to make the hat (above), and then you'll need to make a pom pom for the beard. You can find a video explaining how to make pom poms here.

1) Wrap yarn around your hand approximately 60 times (or more if the yarn is a lighter weight/thinkness).

2) Carefully remove the yarn from your hand and tie a piece of yarn tightly around the centre.

3) Cut the loops with sharp scissors, and trim the pom pom until it is round and fluffy.

4) Then, assemble the ornament. Use hot glue to attach the hat to the handmade pom pom.

5) Use hot glue to attach the pom pom nose.

Cute, right?!? You can hang them anywhere, or set them on a shelf. I have a bunch around my house, but I especially love them hanging from this little white tree.

Check out this video for another way to learn how to do this simple craft.

This really is the perfect craft project for St. Patrick's Day. It fun for kids, and adults will love it too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE St.Patrick's idea here.

FREE St.Patrick's Day Printable Sign

I love an inexpensive piece of holiday decor, don't you? So, for St.Patrick's Day, I designed a simple sign to fit a dollar store frame. It's a pretty cute addition to my St.Patrick's Day decorations, and I'm sharing it (for FREE) below.

Isn't it cute? All you need to create your own St.Patrick's Day sign is the free dollar store sign I designed and a cheap white dollar store frame.

To download the print I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Doesn't it look cute next to this little vase of pom pom flowers I made?

I hope you make this simple piece of DIY St.Patrick's decor for your home this year. It's bright, cheerful, festive, fun... and FREE!

Happy St.Patrick's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE St.Patrick's idea here.