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)

The BEST Easter Cookies 🐰 No-bake, mini-egg HAYSTACK COOKIES

These no-bake mini egg Easter cookies are an annual tradition at my house. My boys and I bake them together, we eat too many, and we share them with friends. They are easy to make and absolutely delicious... and today I'm sharing the recipe, serving ideas and a short 2 minute instructional video.

To make these adorable Easter cookies:

1)  Mix together the following dry ingredients, and set aside:

• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/4 tsp salt

2)  Put the following ingredients in a saucepan, and bring to a boil:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3)  Remove from heat, and stir in dry ingredients.

4)  Before the mixture starts to dry out, drop the mixture from heaping teaspoons onto wax paper (or use a cookie scoop), and add three candy covered chocolate eggs to the middle of each cookie. 

Allow to cool completely.

And... before you venture into the kitchen, take a peek at this short, instructional video.

These cookies are great served up with some hot chocolate.

And they make a great addition to a dessert charcuterie board too!

Do you have a favorite Easter Cookie recipe?  This one is definitely at the top of my list. If you give them a try, let me know what you think.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

***Find more Easter ideas here.

SIMPLE ideas for decorating a TIERED TRAY... using dollar store supplies

I love decorating tiered trays for the holidays. It's a simple and inexpensive way to create a fun vignette. Today, I'm sharing FIVE new EASTER tiered tray ideas made using dollar store supplies. These are all easy... but fantastic!

1) Easter-themed wood bead garland - Wooden tags and wooden shapes from the dollar store can be used to embellish wood bead garlands... which always look fantastic on tiered trays. (The beads I strung on the garland came from Amazon, but the embellishments and twine came from Dollarama.)

2) Dollar store ornaments - I found this gnome and bunny at the dollar store... but the bunny was shiney. I painted it with a matte chalk paint, and now I love the way they look together.

3) Tin buckets filled with holiday items - I found these tiny buckets and filled them with bunny tails (pom poms) and dollare store carrots. These are perfect for a tiered tray... and there is no craftiness required.

4) Expresso mugs filled with goodies - These dollar store expresso mugs come in many colours and are perfect for tiered trays. I think this pale blue colour is perfect for Easter... and it's adorable filled with these colourful foil Easter eggs.

5) Dollar store dish filled with carrots and a cute sign - I love these dollar store carrots, and they are super cute in this blue dish (also from the dollar store). I added a chalkboard sign (meant for labeling plants), and I love the result!

Here's how my tiered tray turned out. Cute, right?

I love ALL these tiered tray items... and they are all inexpensive and easy to make.

For a closer look at all these ideas... take a look at this video.

What do you think of these tiered tray ideas? Which one is your favourite?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

Twine Wrapped Easter Eggs

Is there anything better than a simple craft that looks complicated? I am absolutely obsessed with these twine wrapped Easter ornaments. They look so pretty on my little white tree (that is supposed to be for Christmas but works for other seasonal decorating too). With a few dollar store supplies, you can make a bunch of these eggs to hang from a tree, to turn into a garland, to display on a tiered tray or to pop into a basket.

Seriously... isn't this an adorable display?

I got all the supplies I needed at the dollar store. You'll need twine, ribbon, eggs, and a hot glue gun.

I started by using hot glue to make a twine handle. If you are going to be putting the eggs in a basket, you can skip this step.

Then, using hot glue, attach the thicker jute twine to the top of the egg and start wrapping.

Continuing wrapping and securing with hot glue until the entire egg is covered.

Carefully burn off the loose fibres.

Finish by embellishing with anything you like. I used some dollar store lace ribbon. I like the contrast between the rustic ribbon and the delicate lace.

You can use the same technique to cover eggs with yarn, ribbon or fabric too.

This really is a fun project and a delightful addition to Easter decor. Which do you prefer... the twine or the yarn? I really don't think I could choose. They are both adorable. Happy Easter!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

5 NEW high-end EASTER crafts... made using DOLLAR STORE supplies

I have FIVE new high-end Easter crafts for you today... and they are ALL made using inexpensive dollar store supplies. You'll find all the instructions, and an easy-to-follow "how to" video, below. I'm obsessed with the candlestick project, but they are all easy to make... and super cute!

1) Tray of Giant Easter Eggs - The first project uses giant Easter eggs and clay pots from the dollar store. Start by painting the pots white, taping the bottom off with painter's tape, painting the rims of the pots in Easter colours, and peeling off the tape. Then, use jute twine and hot glue to cover the eggs -- just keep wrapping and gluing until the eggs are completely covered in twine.

You can leave the eggs plain, or you can embellish with wooden pieces and ribbon. It's totally up to you!

I displayed mine in a dollar store tin tray filled with colourful foam eggs.

2) Classy Carrot Cloche - I think this is my favourite project in this collection... and it's really simple to make. You'll need to grab a couple of dollar store supplies: a candle stick holder, a plastic cloche, and large foam carrots.

Paint the candle stick with white chalk paint, use the top of the cloche to top the candle stick, and insert carronts wrapped in twine. (I added a little wooden bunny embellishment from the dollar store... but this step is totally optional.)

3) Easter Egg Picture - I love crafting with wooden frames from the dollar store, and these wooden white ones are my favourite. I covered the inside of the frame with dollar store contact paper, and painted wooden eggs (also from the dollar store) with craft paint in Easter colours. When the eggs were dry, I used Mod Podge to attach the eggs to the frame.

I love the simplicity of this piece of DIY artwork, and you can customize the colours to match your style and taste.

4) Neutral Farmhouse Artwork - This simple Easter picture is perfect if you love neutral farmhouse decor. Start with a wooden canvas from the dollar store, and stain the frame on the outside of the canvas. (I actually used watered down brown paint. It has the same effect as stain without the smell and mess.) Then, paint the inside of the canvas white, and use hot glue to attach rows of small dollar store carrots.

Adorable, right?!?

5) Twine-wrapped Bunnies - The last project uses the plastic cups and plastic bunny eggs that are for sale at the dollar store this time of year.

Use hot glue to wrap the plastic eggs in twine, and pop them into the plastic egg cups. Then, use hot glue to add googly eyes and pom poms. Finish by adding details with a Sharpie and craft paint.

This little cutie would be perfect for a tiered tray.

Are you a fan of neutral farmhouse Easter decor?

Or do you prefer a more traditional pastel pallette?

I actually really like all the colours and projects. No one will ever guess how easy (and inexpensive) they were to make!

For a closer look at how I made all these fantastic Easter DIYs, check out the video I made below.

Which was your favourite Easter craft? Leave me a comment, and let me know which cute project you are going to make first.

Happy Easter!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.

5 Simple (and Adorable) DIY Easter Wreaths

I love an adorable holiday DIY, and I always enjoy having a cute wreath on my door for Easter. I always opt for "cheap and cheerful" options that are easy to make. Today, I am sharing 5 of my favourite simple (and adorable) DIY Easter wreaths.

*** Click on the links for all the step by step instructions and more pictures. ***

1) Burlap Bunny Wreath - This bunny wreath is made using embroidery hoops and burlap. It's delicate and delightful! Find the full instructions for making this burlap bunny wreath here.

2) Plastic Egg Easter Wreath - This colourful wreath is perfect for brightening up a front door after a long grey winter. The plastic eggs are from the dollar store, so it's an excellent budget friendly option. Find the full instructions for making this plastic egg Easter wreath here.

3) Simple Felt Flower Easter Wreath - This wreath uses handmade felt flowers (in fun Spring colours), and a simple dollar store "add on". You can also remove the centre to use the wreath after Easter has passed. Find the full instructions for this versitile felt flower Easter wreath here.

4) Simple Chick and Grapevine Easter Wreath - It doesn't get easier (or cheaper) than this simple wreath. This is the perfect DIY for people that aren't super-crafty. So simple and fun! Find the full instructions for the simple chick and grapevine Easter wreath here.

 

5) Chicks on a Branch - This simple wreath alternative is easy to make and super fun. It's a great project to get kids involved with too. Find the full step by step instructions for the "chicks on a branch" Easter wreath here.

BONUS: And isn't this bunny wreath the cutest? Check out how easy it is to make here.

And check out the easy-to-follow "how to" video here:

I love all these wreaths, don't you? There is something really special about creating your own unique holiday decor. I hope you take the time to make one of these easy wreaths to brighten up your space this year. 

Happy Easter!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fun Easter ideas here.