If you only have a few minutes and a few dollars with which to put together your Halloween costume this year, this cactus costume is a win in both departments! Over at Brit + Co, Kirsten shares this super simple idea that is over-the-top adorable. If you don’t have a green dress or shirt on hand that you can use for this project, keep an eye out a thrift stores to pick one up for cheap. For a less-flowery version you could use a green stocking cap with pipe cleaners attached to top the outfit off instead. [how to make a cactus costume]

Project estimate:

• Green dress or shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• White pipe cleaners, on hand or $1
• Headband, on hand or $1
• Faux flower, $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: $1 and up!

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I’ll admit, I’m not much of one for ironing my laundry.  As such, I’ve never had much use for spray starch, but I do keep a can around just in case because sometimes it comes in handy for various crafty applications.  Emily at Jones Design Company used some to make these fabulous fabric flowers, holding the petals in a lovely 3D shape that gives the illusion of a real flower.  Using her free flower petal template and instructions, this project is a great way to turn a pile of scraps and remnants into beautiful treasures!  [how to make starched fabric flowers]

Project estimate:

• Fabric, on hand
• Starch, on hand or $1 and up
• Felt, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Template, free

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Starched Fabric Flowers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Playing cards are cheap and versatile entertainment, but what do you do with a deck when it’s missing a card or two?  Rather than trowing it out, why not get crafty with it instead?  Instructables user Sic_Girl created this fabulous playing card flower that would make a great hair clip or brooch, or an embellishment for all kinds of other projects!  She even provides a free template for cutting the petals.  If you like the shape but aren’t into the cards, you can use the template with any other heavy paper you have on hand as well!  [how to make playing card flowers]

Project estimate:

• Playing cards, on hand or $1
• Petal template, free
• Hot glue, on hand
• Rhinestone or other small embellishment, on hand
• Hair clip or pin back (optional), on hand or $1

Total:   Free and up!

The post Make Playing Card Flowers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love to craft with burlap.  It’s so plain and simple yet versatile, like a good pair of jeans.  You can dress it up or tone it down by pairing it with different craft supplies.  With this project, I used colorful red burlap and added a little bling to make a pretty centerpiece for the holidays.

Project estimate:

• Burlap, about $2
• Pail, $1
• Syrofoam ball, on  hand or $1
• Rhinestones, on hand or $1

Total:  about $3 and up

Step one:  Cut the burlap into three inch squares.

Step two:  Fold the burlap square in half twice.  Hold the folded corner and trim the edges off.  For more detailed cutting instructions, see this post.

Step three:  Wrap the styrofoam ball with burlap and place it in the pail.

Step four:  Layer two flowers together, and pin them onto the styrofoam ball.

Step five:  Glue a rhinestone to the center of each flower.

I embellished my pail a bit by adding a mini Santa ornament to the front of it.  I love this red burlap, and the color is what inspired me to make poinsettias.  If you want to make this centerpiece for Thanksgiving, you could use natural burlap instead, like I did with the centerpiece pictured below.  This is such a quick, inexpensive project that you could easily make them in lots of colors, and just swap out the burlap flowers as the seasons change!

The post Tutorial: Burlap Flower Centerpiece appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

It’s gardening season again!  I’ve been anxiously awaiting this time of year because it means I get to plan and plant this year’s flowers and veggies.  And no garden is complete without some decorations, right?  Beckie from Infarrantly Creative made herself a gorgeous glass flower assembled from various plates and candle holders from Dollar Tree – would you ever guess?  You can also display this beautiful flower indoors by staking it into a houseplant, or leave off the stake portion completely and set it in a plate holder for guests to admire.  [how to make glass flower garden decorations]

Project estimate:

• Assorted glassware, about $3 and up
• Glass marbles, on hand or $1
• Glass paint, on hand or about $2 and up
• E6000 glue, on hand or about $2.50 and up
• Coupling nut, about $1
• Threaded rod, about $2

Total: about $6 and up

The post Make Glass Flower Garden Decorations appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

There are some craft supplies that I have a hard time using to make grown-up looking crafts.  Pony beads are one of those supplies; I look at them and all I can see is the lizard-shaped keychains I learned how to make a summer camp when I was ten.  And despite the fact that I never actually use them in my crafting, somehow there is still a huge Ziploc full of them in my stash, always taunting me.  Do you know the feeling?  Wondering what to do with those darn things?  Here is a great idea from Desiree at The 36th Avenue that is as easy as it is cute.  She and her girls melted some beads to create bright, cheerful jewelry!  [how to make melted bead jewelry]

Project estimate:

• Plastic pony beads, on hand or $1
• Oven or toaster oven, on hand
• Jewelry findings, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Melted Bead Jewelry appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When I saw these pretty push pins at Ballard Designs, I immediately thought, “I can make those!” So I did. I used pages from an old thesaurus, mod podge, and thumb tacks from Dollar Tree to make them.

Project estimate:

• Book pages, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Thumb Tacks or Push pins, on hand or $1
• Rhinestones, on hand or $1

Total: Free and up

To make your own paper flower push pins:

Step one: Cut one inch squares from a book page. I used an old thesaurus and a paper punch.

Step two: Fold the square in half two times, as pictured.

Step three: Hold the folded corner and trim the edges as pictured. I show you how to make two kinds of flowers.

Step four: Paint the front and the back of the flowers with Mod Podge. I used the antique formula. The MP will make the flowers waxy and more durable.

Step five: When the flowers are dry, glue the centers together to stack them, curl the edges slightly, and glue onto the thumb tack.

Finish your pin with a pretty rhinestone glued in the center.

My push pins add some vintage charm to my handmade bulletin board. If you don’t like text, you could make them with other patterns, or even burlap, like I did here. It would be cute to put all of them on a styrofoam ball to give as a gift, too!

The post Tutorial: Paper Flower Push Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love binder clips.  I use them at my desk every day, separating stacks of papers into manageable groupings.  They’re so handy, but most of them are plain and boring.  Why not jazz them up so that they also make you smile?  Candie Cooper was tidying up her craft space when she came across a one along with a couple of pretty embellishments, and a little gluing later she had a custom clip.  Filing has never been so fun!  [how to make decorative binder clips]

Project estimate:

• Binder clips, on hand or $1
• Embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Decorative Binder Clips appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When she said she made a giant paper sunflower, Aunt Peaches wasn’t kidding; it’s big enough to hide behind!   Inspired by some oversized paper flowers she saw in a book by interior designer Bryan Batt, she knew she had to try the idea out for herself.  After several failed attempts she finally figured out all of the secrets to making them, and now she is sharing them with the world.  They would make great party or wedding decorations, inviting wall art, or a fun alternative to a wreath!  [how to make a giant paper sunflower]

Project estimate:

• Kraft paper, on hand or $1
• Paint, on hand or $1
• Serving platter, $1
• Paper plate, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Giant Paper Sunflower for $1 appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Are you as excited as I am that strawberries are back in season?  I’ve been eating them like they are candy lately!  Aunt Peaches has been devouring them as well, leaving her with a collection of empty plastic boxes.  Rather than just turning them over to the recycling center, she gave them a floral makeover!  They would be perfect for gift giving, or as a pretty way to store little whatnots on your desk or a shelf!  [how to make kaleidoscopic flower berry boxes]

Project estimate:

• Plastic strawberry boxes, on hand
• Sharpie, on hand
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

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