East Coast Mommy

ECM Kid's Craft Club - #1 {Bunny Puppet Tutorial}

2012-03-03T14:31:00.009-04:00

The East Coast Mommy Kid's Craft Club is an easy and inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail.

For those of you that ordered this kit.... Welcome! (If you missed it, there will be more coming soon, and you can still take part by gathering your own supplies and following the tutorial below. If you want a .pdf version of the template, just send $0.99 via Paypal to ginastephaniebell@yahoo.ca, and I will email it to you.)

Here are the instructions for the first craft -- an adorable bunny puppet.

Step 1 - Make sure you have all the supplies (included in the kit): two templates, two googly eyes, one black button, one white pom pom, a piece of pink felt, and a popsicle stick. You will also need some scissors, glue, and a black crayon/marker/pen.

Step 2 - Cut out bunny (which has been printed on cardstock). Then, cut belly and ears from pink felt. (For younger kids, you may want to just color the template pink and cut the pieces out.)

Step 3 - Glue on: ears, eyes, nose, and belly. Allow to dry completely. Then, draw a mouth and some whiskers. (I used a black pen.)

Step 4 - Finally, glue on Popsicle stick and a pom pom tail. Cute, right? :-)

That's it! I hope you had fun, and I look forward to having you join me for the next ECM Kid's Craft Club.

Let me know what you thought of the first edition of the ECM Kid's Craft Club. You comments help me to get better, and I love hearing from you.

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (It goes without saying... but I will say it anyway because I am an overprotective mother... "assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

Simple Math Lessons

2012-03-01T22:02:00.005-04:00

My boys love collecting coins and playing with money. So, I thought it was a perfect time to do a little "math" lesson with them and teach them about sorting, making patterns and the value of money.

All you need is some change and some old baby food jars. Easy Peasy!

First, get the kids to sort money into piles (i.e. all the pennies in one pile, all the nickels in one pile, etc...)

You can also spend some time making patterns with the money. (i.e. penny, nickel, penny, nickel, ?) The kids will have fun guessing "what comes next?".

Finally, help the kids to count out the coins (100 pennies, 20 nickels, 10 dimes, 4 quarters, and one loonie), and put them in labeled jars. It is a great way to help kids {visually} understand what money is worth.

Isn't this a great way to get the kids interested in Math?

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

**Originally posted at Greenmommy.ca on February 24, 2012.

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Kids Craft Club {test}

2012-02-27T14:36:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I might be starting a Kid's Craft Club, and I received a lot of interest. My boys love crafting and love getting mail addressed to them... so, the plan is to put together simple craft kits and send them out via mail (addressed to the special little one in your life).

I have decided to do a little test before I do a full launch. It will help me to fine tune the process. Here is the first craft -- a bunny puppet:

Here is how it is going to work:

1) There are 25 kits available, and they will be mailed out (with a personalized letter and few stickers) on a first come, first serve basis. The cost of each kit is $5 (including shipping and handling). The crafts will be simple (taking less than 30 minutes to complete), and you will get everything you need to complete the project (with the exception of scissors, glue, and crayons).

2) Payment (via Paypal or email money transfer only*) must be received before a kit is sent out. Payments can be sent to ginastephaniebell@yahoo.ca.

3) I will send out the kits on or before March 8, and I will post a full tutorial on the blog.

Note: For this test, I am limiting orders to Canada {sorry my international friends} -- I definitely plan to expand this going forward.

If you are interested, please send payment to ginastephaniebell@yahoo.ca. I will also need your child's name, age, and full mailing address.

I think this is going to be a lot of fun! Thank you for being a part of it. :-)

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Email money transfers need to be at least $10, so if you are only ordering one kit/letter, you will need to use Paypal. If you don't have a Paypal account, email me, and you can send a cheque. Shipping will be slower in this case, as the cheque will need to clear before a kit is sent out.

Homemade Butter

2012-02-24T09:39:00.002-04:00

Last summer, we visited a farm, and my boys were amazed to see how milk is made. Since then, I have been planning to show them how to turn cream into butter. I remember doing it when I was a kid, and I knew they would love it.

All you need is some whipping cream (we used 250ml) and a jar or container with a tight lid.

Here's how we did it:

First, we poured the cream into a container and made sure the lid was on tight.

Then, we started shaking. The boys all took turns, but they tired easily. {Be prepared to do most of the shaking yourself! lol}

We kept shaking and shaking -- seriously, I think shook it for about 20 minutes. First it turned to cream, and then, when I was close to giving up, it magically turned to a clump of butter.

Finally, we drained off all the liquid. (I put it in a strainer, rinsed it with cold water, and squeezed it in some paper towel.)

My six year old thought it was an amazing magic trick, and he immediately went to get his magic wand and hat. (He cracks me up!)

I hope you try this with your little magician. Let me know how it goes. :-)

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

**Originally posted at Greenmommy.ca on February 17, 2012.

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{Review and Giveaway} - OnlyGreen Shampoo and Bubble Bath

2012-02-21T17:15:00.003-04:00

This contest is now CLOSED. The winner of the OnlyGreen products is Comment #11 (Jessica T).

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Beth M. from OnlyGreen. She was interested in having me review some of her "green" children's products. I jumped at the offer because my boys have dry and sensitive skin, and I am always on the lookout for great products to use at bathtime. I chose to review the Vada Jr. bubble bath and the Vada Jr. shampoo/bathwash.

I love these products because they are environmentally friendly... but they still smell great. {They are scented with pure essential oils.} I tried the Bubble Gum and the Eucalyptus/Peppermint, and both scents were subtle and very pleasant. I was also impressed with how foamy the bubble bath was -- lots of fun for little boys! :-)

So... ready for a chance to win???

Comment (below) letting me know which OnlyGreen product you would most like to try, and you will win both of the products I tried ($26 value). Just leave your answer (and email address if you aren't logged in) before Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

You can visit Beth's online store here.

Good luck!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Rules {I am a mom... I can't help it}:

The winner of the contest will be chosen by the Random Number Generator.
To enter the contest, you must leave me a comment telling me your favorite OnlyGreen product. Contest is open to Canadian and US residents only.
This contest is not being hosted or sanctioned in any way by facebook.
Contest closes on February 28, 2012 at 11:59pm.
Prize will be accepted as awarded.
Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond. After 48 hours the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.

Please note: I was provided with this product (free of charge) for reviewing purposes only. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are 100% my own.

Catching a Leprechaun

2012-02-17T11:24:00.016-04:00

I know St.Patrick's Day is a few weeks away, but when you're a busy mom, the next "special day" has a way of sneaking up on you. So, why not get a head start and put together this adorable, easy and inexpensive little gift for your little one to pass out to his/her friends?

To make Magic Leprechaun Food, all you need to do is fill little bags with "Lucky Charms" cereal, and attach a cute little note. (Click here for a "pdf" version of the one I designed. There are two on a page, and they can be cut to fit on top of a snack/sandwich baggie.) Easy, right?

Our note said:

On St.Patrick's Day, I am going to try and catch a leprechaun. I am using this "Lucky Charms" cereal for bait, and thought you might like to try catching one too.

But..... you should know..... Leprechauns are very tricky! They have been known to steal the bait without getting caught. Keep a lookout though... sometimes they leave footprints, play tricks, or drop some of their treasure. Good luck!

Then... on the Eve of St. Patrick's Day, the kids can build a trap to try and catch a Leprechaun. Last year, we made ours out of a diaper box. We covered the box with green paper and decorated it with rainbows and pots of gold. {See below.}

In the morning, we didn't find a Leprechaun, but we did find some shiny pennies and gold bars (Caramilk bars).

This idea is simple and fun, and I guarantee the kids will love 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.

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Valentines Day 2012

2012-02-14T14:53:00.001-04:00

Happy Valentines Day! Such a fun day to share with my boys. We are celebrating with balloons, milk in wine glasses, heart-shaped food, and special treats.

..... and, in case you missed any of the fun we have been having, here is a quick recap {with links}of some of the things we have done to prepare for Valentines Day 2012.

1) Our 2012 "Kiss" Countdown to Valentines Day.

2) My Felt Rosette Wreath {both versions}.

3) The treats we made for classmates: recycled crayons, bookmarks, heart-shaped graham cracker cookies, and sucker/picture Valentines.

4) Adorable Love Bugs made of yarn and egg cartons.

Wishing you lots of hugs and kisses today!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

Valentines Bookmarks {for classmates}

2012-02-14T12:37:00.001-04:00

My son is not allowed to have candy or sweets at his Preschool, so I thought a bookmark would be a cute Valentine "treat" he could take to his little friends. It was so simple to make that we were able to assemble enough for his whole class in no time. :-)

First, we printed some bookmarks on our computer (you could hand write them too), and cut the paper into strips. (I used a paper cutter but scissors would be fine.)

The bookmarks say, "I ♥ having a friend like you".

For the "heart", I used a heart-shaped picture of my four year old. I printed them on my computer, and used a heart-shaped punch to cut them out. (Again... scissors would work too.)

Finally, I punched a hole at the top of the bookmark and added a little ribbon.

Easy, inexpensive, and a great alternative to candy and chocolate! Happy Valentines Day!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Originally posted at Greenmommy.ca on February 10, 2012.

Our FIRST Lost Tooth

2012-02-13T11:59:00.001-04:00

We had a big event in our house this weekend -- my six year old lost his first tooth! Luckily, I had a Tooth Fairy Bag already made for him. (You can find the tutorial here).

We put the tooth in the bag, and in the morning, the tooth was replaced with money. Amazing! {wink}

The tooth fairy also left a certificate and a trail of fairy dust/gold glitter. (I found this adorable "First Lost Tooth" certificate here.)

The fact he is losing his baby teeth doesn't mean he isn't going to be my "baby" anymore, RIGHT??????

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

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Simple is Better

2012-02-10T08:39:00.002-04:00

My boys teach me a lot of things -- the most recent lesson being -- "often, simple is better". Today, I want to share two REALLY simple and super-fun things you can do with your kids.

1) Snow Painting - All you need is a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of food coloring. The kids will have a ball using the snow as their canvas. {I know mine did.}

2) Glow in the Dark Bathtime - All you need to do is throw a bunch of glow sticks into the bathtub. Does it get any easier than that? We did this last night, and my boys thought it was awesome! {Seriously awesome!}

So... this weekend, give one of these activities a try. It takes very little effort, and your kids will have a ball... guaranteed.

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

*Originally posted at Greenmommy.ca on February 3, 2012.

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Sucker Valentines

2012-02-04T14:56:00.002-04:00

I am not a huge fan of suckers, but I couldn't resist making this adorable Valentine for my six year old to share with his classmates. (I guess a sucker on Valentines Day isn't going to hurt. :-)

The original concept for this idea, wasn't mine -- there are tons of versions on Pinterest. For my simple version, I got my husband to hold up a dollar store tablecloth behind my six year old. Then, I got him to pose like this.....

Next, I used an Exacto knife to cut two slits in the picture -- one on top of his fist and one on the bottom. I inserted a sucker and "ta da", a super cute valentine. My six year old can't wait to pass out these Valentines to his first grade friends!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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The Hungry Caterpillar

2012-02-03T14:32:00.000-04:00

I love to cuddle up and read with my boys. I think a love of books is a great gift you can give your children. We have a lot of favorites around here, but "The Hungry Caterpillar" is definitely one of our staples.

While we were reading it the other day, I was reminded of a craft I made when I was a kid.... caterpillars out of egg cartons. {Don't you just love nostalgic crafts?}

It is a simple craft, but the kids loved it!

I just gave the kids an empty egg carton, and let them color it with markers. Then, they added some googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae.

You can also help your caterpillar "turn into a butterfly" by adding some wings made of cardstock.

What are some of your favorite books to read with your children? I am always looking for new stories {aka "excuses to cuddle up on the couch with the boys"}.

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

E Buchwald.

**This was originally posted at Greenmommy.ca on January 27, 2012.

Heart Rosette Valentines Wreath {take two}

2012-01-31T14:58:00.005-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a heart-shaped felt rosette wreath I made (using a cardboard box wreath form). I changed my mind about the ribbon, and thought I would show you my new version. Here it is:

And in case you missed it, here was what it looked like before. (The full tutorial for the original wreath can be found here, and you can find a tutorial for felt rosettes here.)

I definitely prefer the new version. What do you think?

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins {YUM!}

2012-01-30T18:37:00.000-04:00

I don't normally share recipes on this blog, but my four year old and I were baking today, and I thought I would share our favorite Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe with you.

The recipe we use can be found at DianaDesserts.com (but we make "mini muffins", and reduce the baking temperature to 350 degrees).

I love three things about this recipe:

1) The muffins are moist and delicious.

2) It is a fun to bake them with kids. "Little hands" can fill the tins with muffin liners, mash the bananas, and add and stir the ingredients.

3) They make perfect "little treats" for school lunch boxes. (I freeze them in individual snack bags, which makes them easy to "pop" into lunches each night.)

Give them a try, and let me know what you think.

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Recycled Crayon Valentines

2012-01-27T14:37:00.004-04:00

I am always on the lookout for cute, easy and inexpensive gifts the boys can give to their little friends. This year, my four year old is bringing these adorable heart-shaped crayon Valentines to his Preschool pals.

Want to make some? Dig out your old broken crayons, and follow these simple instructions.

Step 1 - Soak the crayons in water, and put the kids to work peeling the paper off the crayons.

Step 2 - Break up the crayons and put them in a heart-shaped muffin tin. I found this silicon one at the dollar store. (Don't forget to put the flimsy silicon muffin tin on a proper cookie sheet before you pop it into the oven.)

Step 3 - Melt the crayons in the oven. (I set my oven to 300 degrees, and it took about 10 minutes for all the crayon bits to turn to liquid.)

Step 4 - Carefully remove the tray from the oven, and let the crayons cool completely. (I put mine outside to speed up the cooling process.)

Once you "pop" the crayons out of the tin, they are ready to give out. I attached ours to cards (which I printed on my computer) that read, "I ♥ having a friend like YOU!", but you can package them any way you like.

Much better than a bin of broken crayons, don't you think?

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

**Originally posted at Greenmommy.ca on January 20, 2012.

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I Heart Naptime

"Kiss" Countdown 2012

2012-01-24T17:09:00.007-04:00

Last year I made a "Hershey's Kiss" countdown to Valentine's Day for my boys. It was a huge hit {which is not surprising given that it involved eating chocolate each morning}!

This year, I decided to let them make their own, and here it is:

The boys started with a piece of foam core (from the dollar store), and I used hot glue to attach a "Kiss" sign (which I also got at the dollar store). I printed some numbers from 1-14 on the computer, and they cut them out and glued them on. Then, they added some foam letters and heart-shaped felt stickers.

To finish it off, I used double sided tape to add Hershey's kisses under each number. I used three (one for each of my boys), but you can use any number.

Now we are ready for Valentines Day... and all the "kisses" that come with it! ;-)

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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It's NOT about Perfection

2012-01-23T13:36:00.002-04:00

I had such a great response to my I am NOT a Supermom post a couple of weeks ago, that I thought I would share something my six year old reminded me of last week: It is fun to make crafts with kids, but it really doesn't matter how they turn out.

The other day, my son came up with a craft all on his own. {See above.} He asked me for the supplies he needed, and he went to work. He was super-proud of the Valentine decoration he came up with.

Craft/projects don't have to be difficult or fancy. The point of doing projects with kids is: to spend time together and to let them be creative.

I LOVE when my kids teach me important lessons. :-)

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Babyfood Jar Tealight Holders

2012-01-20T07:37:00.001-04:00

These cute tealight holders are fun to make with the kids, and they use supplies right out of your recycling bin -- empty baby food jars. My boys loved this activity because it is a little messy and involves using scissors and glue. :-)

First, gather your supplies: empty babyfood jars, tissue paper, a paintbrush, and glue. (You'll need to thin out the glue to the consistency of paint -- approximately 3 tbsp glue for each 1 tbsp water.)

Then, follow these three simple steps:

Step 1: Using the paintbrush, apply glue to a small section of the babyfood jar.

Step 2: Cut tiny pieces of tissue paper, and apply to the area where you have just applied the glue. (Keep applying glue and tissue paper until the entire jar is covered.)

Step 3: Wait for the glue to dry, and then apply a coat over the top of the tissue paper. (You can add a second top-coat if desired.)

That's it! You can use a glue gun to attach a piece of ribbon or other embellishments, but this is totally optional.

Remember to never leave a burning candle unattended... especially around children. I intend to use some battery operated tealights I found at the dollar store. Better safe than sorry!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

**Originally posted on Greenmommy.ca on January 13, 2012.

Love Bugs

2012-01-13T20:55:00.007-04:00

Recently, I received a "Rainy Day Survival Kit" from CraftProjectIdeas.com. The box was full of fun supplies, and the boys and I were excited to put them to good use. We decided to make some "Love Bugs" for Valentines Day.

Cute, right? Want to make one {or a bunch}? Here's what you'll need: yarn, an empty egg carton, googly eyes, pom poms, pipe cleaners, a scrap of cardboard, scissors, and beads {or other embellishments}.

Step 1: Wrap yarn (approximately 60-100 times... depending on the thickness of the yarn) around a piece of cardboard (which should be approximately 3-4 inches high). When you have finished wrapping, tie a piece of yarn tightly around the top of the wrapped yarn and cut the bottom. (See picture below.)

Step 2: Spread out the yarn, and glue it to the top of an egg carton.

Step 3: This is when I got the boys involved. I gave them the egg cartons covered in yarn, and let them decorate their "Love Bugs" any way they wanted to. (I helped them add the pipe cleaner antennae because it was a bit tricky, but they did the rest themselves.)

The boys added: beads (with their initials) to the antennae, googly eyes, pom pom noses, and pipe cleaner mouths. So much fun!

I think they turned out really cute, and they are a perfect Valentines Day craft for kids. I hope you have fun making them with your little "Sweethearts".

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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Noisemakers... and I am not just talking about my boys {lol}

2012-01-13T11:34:00.001-04:00

I don't know about your house, but my house is usually very loud. My three boys absolutely love things that make noise... go figure! :-)

So, as part of our "New Year" celebrations, we made our own noisemakers. {We made them to ring in the new year, but they are fun to make any time.}

Want to up the volume (and fun!) in your house?

Here is how to make a Kazoo out of a toilet paper roll:

1) Have the kids decorate a toilet paper or paper towel roll.

2) Use a hole punch to make two holes at the top of the tube.

3) Cut out a square of wax paper, and secure it to the top of the tube with a rubber band.

And, here is how to make a paper plate noisemaker:

1) Have the kids decorate the bottoms of two (sturdy) paper plates.

2) Put about 3/4 cup of rice on one paper plate, and place the the other plate on top.

3) Attach the two plates with lots of staples.

These projects are both really easy to make, and they use materials that you probably already have in your cupboards and recycling bins. Fun, quick and easy... a great rainy day project to do with the kids.

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

***Originally posted at Greenmommy on January 6, 2012

Valentines Day Felt Rosette Wreath

2012-01-07T18:15:00.011-04:00

If you have ever made a wreath, you know that wreath forms can be very expensive, so I was super excited when I saw Thrive to Blog use cardboard from an old box as a wreath form. Genius! Her version uses burlap {and is lovely}, but I enjoy working with felt, so I came up with this:

Want to make one? It is time consuming, but not difficult or expensive to make. Here's what you do:

Step 1: Cut a heart shape (about 2 inches thick) from an old box. Then wrap it in 2 inch felt strips (securing with hot glue at the beginning and at the end of each strip).

Step 2: Make a bunch of felt rosettes. I made 54. {This is the part that takes some time.} You can find a step-by-step tutorial here.

Step 3: Using a hot glue gun, glue the rosettes onto the felt-covered wreath form.

It is pretty just like this... but you can add a ribbon and/or bow before you hang it up. I used tulle for a romantic Valentines Day "feel", but you can use anything you like. (You can also find another version of the wreath here.)

I totally "heart" this wreath, and I hope you do to. :-)

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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I am NOT a Supermom

2012-01-06T13:12:00.003-04:00

Since I started this blog in April 2011, I have had some people call me a "Super Mom". For the record, it isn't true. I am like most moms out there.... I am a hard working mom trying my best to create a good childhood for my boys.

The boys who inspire me to be the best mom I can be.

The intent of this blog is NOT to prove that I am better than anyone else or make anyone feel bad. In fact, my goal is to inspire and support other moms. I know being a mom is a tough job, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all the moms out there who support and inspire me.

That being said, I thought I would share this list with you:

5 Things about me that are NOT "Super"

1) Most days, my beds aren't made.

2) My laundry is out of control, and I sometimes dress my kids in clothes directly out of the dryer.

3) I don't dust, vacuum, or clean my floors often enough.

4) I buy clothes that don't need to be ironed (because I am terrible at ironing).

5) My brain has turned to mush. (I graduated Cum Laude from University, and now I call my boys by the wrong names on a regular basis. Can you blame "baby brain" when your youngest is 2 1/2?)

Now that I have that off my chest, I am going to go sneak a cookie while my boys are finishing their lunch. Is it too late to add "I eat too many cookies" to the list???

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Valentines Day Ideas... to get us started

2012-01-04T22:34:00.002-04:00

I know it is a little early, but I thought I would start getting in the "Valentines Day" mood by sharing a couple of things I did last year.

First... how cute is this countdown to Valentines Day using "Hershey Kisses"? {I put three kisses under each number... one for each of my boys.} It isn't fancy, but the boys thought it was a lot of fun.

"Kiss" Countdown: red Bristol board, Dollar Store garland, and Hershey Kisses.

I also made heart-shaped crayons for the boys to take to their friends at school. This is such an easy project! Just peel old/broken crayons, place the crayon pieces in heart-shaped muffin tins, and cook in the oven (at a low heat) until all the pieces are melted. Allow to cool completely before removing crayons from the tins. (I used silicon muffin tins from the dollar store.)

I am trying to come up with some cute class gifts this year. I have already started to collect some ideas on my Pinterest board, but would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Truly DIY Birthday Parties for Kids

2011-12-29T08:50:00.007-04:00

Christmas has been so busy that I haven't had much time for writing, so I thought I would share a fun "re-cap" of some DIY birthday parties I have organized. For a party to be "truly" DIY, two things need to happen: 1) The party can not cost a fortune. 2) The elements of the party need to be doable by a "real" mom. Here are five fun parties I have put together for my my boys. (Click on the links for the details.)

1) DIY Monkey Themed First Birthday Party

2) DIY Super Hero Party

3) DIY Pirate Party

4) DIY Music Party

5) DIY Circus/Carnival Party

Fun, right? And I promise... I have never taken a cake decorating class, I don't use a party planner, and I never have a big party budget. All these parties are truly DIY. I hope you have found an idea or two that you can incorporate into a party for your special little birthday boy or girl.

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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"I Spy Santa" Telescope

2011-12-22T22:52:00.000-04:00

I spy with my little eye... someone big and jolly! Can you guess who it is???

We love to play "I Spy" at our house, so when I saw paper tube binoculars (which you can find here), I thought it would be fun to make some Telescopes and Binoculars to help us search for Santa and his Reindeer in the night sky.

Here is how easy it is to make an "I Spy Santa" telescope of your very own:

1) Cut a square of cellophane and secure it to the end of a paper towel tube with an elastic band.

2) Wrap the paper towel tube in Christmas wrapping paper, and secure with tape.

3) Add a contrasting strip of wrapping paper to the top of the tube.

That's it! Now you have everything you need to search the sky for Santa. ;-) Let me know if you spot him!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

**Originally posted at Greenmommy.ca on December 16, 2011.