Unique and Budget-friendly DIY Graduation Candy Bar... with free signage and tags

***Updated with signs for 2025***

I love a good party DIY... and what's better than a DIY Candy Bar. Today, I'm sharing my tips and tricks for putting together a fantastic candy bar on a budget. I'm even including FREE printable signage and tags.

Take a peek at the video (below) for all the information you need to put together your own impressive and budget-friendly candy bar. Then, come back here and download the free signage and tags.

To download the 5x7 "Graduation is SWEET! Enjoy a Treat" sign I designed (below): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 5x7 photo.

To download the 8x10 "A SWEET Ending to a New Beginning" sign I designed (below): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

To download the 8x10 "Graduation is SWEET Enjoy a Treat!" sign I designed (below): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

To download the tags I designed to label the jars of candy: click on the pictures below, right-click, save them to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photos.

Easy, inexpensive and fun DIY Pirate Party... with FREE downloads for you to use

Today I am sharing a super-fun DIY pirate party that you are going to love! I'm including ideas for: pirate party invites, pirate party decor, pirate party activities, pirate party, pirate cakes, and pirate party favors. I also have FREE downloads for you to use.

Here's a video I made to show you all the elements of the party.

And here are the free downloads mentioned in the video. 

To download the tags, signs, and map I designed (for free): click on one of the photos below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular photo. The tags are 4x6s photos, and the signs and map are 8x10s.

I hope you incorporate some of these ideas into your own party. Have fun!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (You can find the step-by-step instructions for the Pirate cake in the video here.)

Simple DIY Retro Candy Bar... with FREE sign to download

I love a good party... and I truly believe that the small DIY details are what make a celebration special... and memorable. Last weekend, I had a 50th birthday party celebration for my sister, and created a "retro candy bar" for her. It was easy, inexpensive and fun. Today, I'm sharing the details and a FREE sign for you to download.

All I did was: buy a bunch of retro candy, put it in dollar store containers, and added a sign that I popped in a dollar store frame. It turned out sooooo cute, and the birthday girl and party gets LOVED it!

Check out all the details (and learn how to make your own sign) in the short video I made here:

To download the template I talked about in the video: Click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Here are a few more pictures from our party...

If you have any questions after watching the video, let me know. I think my DIY retro candy bar turned out super cute, don't you?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Graduation Party Favor Ideas... and free printable tags

I love a good party favor... especially if it's budget-friendly. So, with my son's graduation coming up, I decided to create some inexpensive party favors using dollar store goodies. I came up with five party favor ideas (and free printable tags) that you are going to love!

Here are the items I used to create the party favors.

And here are the tags I designed. 

1) The first tag is great to pair with mint gum or pepperments.

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

2) The second tag can be paired with store-bought or homemade cookies.

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

3) The third tag can be paired with bags of popped popcorn... or these unpopped bags of microwave popcorn.

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

4) The fourth tag can be used with any sweet treat. It works with candy AND chocolate. Just pick your favourite.

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

5) The last tag can be used with doughnuts or doughnut holes. I used store bought old fashioned doughnuts.

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

I love how they all look displayed on the tiered tray I made (in the video you can find here).

You can also get a closer look at how I put all the party favors together below...

PS - If you don't like the gold colored tagged I used, check out the more colorful options below...

Let me know in the comments which of these graduation party favors is YOUR favourite. I don't think I could pick because they are ALL so cute. :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

4 NEW Graduation DIYs... made using dollar store supplies

If you want to take your graduation celebration to the next level, you are going to want to pay attention to a few unique and memorable details. Today, I'm sharing 4 NEW graduation DIYs that are awesome, easy, inexpensive and fun! (And make sure to check out the video at the end of this post for all the step-by-step instructions.)

This tiered tray could not be easier to make, and it is perfect for a graduation. And no one will ever know it's made from dollar store plates and candle holders. Find the step by step instructions here.

Isn't this the perfect tray for a dessert table? I might even add a "You're a smart cookie" sign beside it. I love a good pun! 😀

Capturing memories through photos is an important part of any milestone celebration. I love the idea of creating a custom hashtag for guests to use on social media. Make sharing easy with this FREE downloadable sign. Grab your here.

Another fun photo idea is creating a simple "selfie frame". This one is made from a dollar store piece of foam core and dollar store stickers. It's easy, inexpensive, and fun! Find the instructions here.

And check out my handsome graduate...

Displaying photo memories is another wonderful idea. I glued dollar store frames together to make this awesome centrepiece. You can fill it with balloons or flowers. It's also fun to add a "Congratulations" cake topper. Check out the adorable pictures of my graduate below... and see the step-by-step instructions here.

Inspired to create one or more of these graduation DIYs? Check out the step-by-step instructions in the video below...

Do you have a graduation to plan? Are you planning to try any of these graduation DIYS? I think these ideas are perfect for a preschool, junior high, high school, college, or university graduation.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)