The dollar store is one of my favorite places to pick up inexpensive seasonal crafting items.  A perennial favorite across all seasons is their glitter table scatter. Over on Creative Green Living, I show you how to take some wired burlap ribbon and combine it with Valentine table scatter to make a cute bunting perfect for a mantle, door, or mirror.  [how to make an easy burlap and glitter valentine heart banner]

Project estimate:

• burlap ribbon, $1
• Glitter heart table scatter, $1 and up
• Scissors, on hand
• Jute twine, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue gun & glue, on hand

Total: $3 and up

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Looking for a quick and easy modern centerpiece that won’t break the bank? Check out this wonderful find: Modern Metallic Centerpieces. This project is perfect for holiday decorating, or for adding a bit of glamour to a wedding, a shower, or maybe even your work cubicle. Find glass cylindrical vases at the dollar store, and transform them into sleek and modern metallic print vases, with just a couple simple steps. Find the instructions for this elegant dollar store home decor craft over at The Craft Patch: [DIY Modern Metallic Centerpiece]

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Every summer party needs ice cream, right? Make this cool treat the star of the show with an adorable ice cream cone banner! Kimberly at Bugaboo City created a free pattern that you can download to make your own. If you are a scrapbooker or enjoy other paper crafts, you probably even have enough odds and ends in your scrap pile to make at least a few cones! [how to make a paper ice cream cone banner]

Project estimate:

• Printable pattern, free
• Paper, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total: free and up!

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I attended my first coed baby shower this week (for my brother & his wife – yay for a new nephew!), and I was in charge of bringing an activity for the party. I wanted to provide a fun and creative baby shower activity that would result in a gorgeous gift for the baby, so I set up a DIY Quilt Block station and had family and friends each draw a special quilt block that would later be sewn into a quilt.

This labor of love was so much fun, and turned out great (and wasn’t too hard to sew together), so I wrote up instructions in case you want to try it too! Find all my instructions, tips, and tricks over at my column on eBay: [how to make a baby shower quilt]

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Got a party coming up any time soon? A photo backdrop is a great addition to any celebration! Sarah Johnson made this colorful backdrop out of balloons and fresh flowers, and it would be perfect for everything from weddings to birthday parties to family reunions! Built on a chicken wire framework, this project can also be customized to fit any size wall. [how to make a floral balloon backdrop]

Project estimate:

• Balloons, $1 and up
• Flowers (real or fake), on hand or $1 and up
• Chicken wire, about $10 and up
• Packaging tape, on hand or $1
• Glue dots, on hand or $1 and up
• Tumbtacks, on hand or $1

Total: about $11 and up

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Give new life to a pair of boring slippers with a fun and funky pinata makeover! Amy at Cozy Reverie used a pair of dollar store slippers and a little felt for a fun and funky touch for her Pinata Day outfit – but if you are a pinata lover, you don’t need a special occasion to wear them! They’re also great for wearing to pinata-themed parties, or even just around the house for fun! [how to make pinata slippers]

Project estimate:

• Slippers, on hand or $1 and up
• Felt, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: Free and up!

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No matter what the occasion, these easy, Chinese-style paper lanterns are an inexpensive party decor option that looks spectacular! These ones from Creative Jewish Mom feature metallic embellishments that really elevate the look. These are a classic, kid-friendly project – I remember making a version of these when I was little, though mine were made out of construction paper and not quite so gorgeous as these! [how to make Chinese style paper lanterns]

Project estimate:

• Paper, on hand or $1 and up
• Metallic contact paper, about $3 and up
• Double sided tape, on hand or $1
• String, on hand or $1 and up

Total: about $3 and up

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Need a scary snack in a hurry? Check out this spooktastic Halloween snack idea from Ashley at Sugar & Cloth – a selection of everyday sweets become a collection of monster eyeballs! You can find most of what you’ll need at the dollar store. If you’re lucky enough to live near a good bulk candy store, shop around and you can make lots of variations on this creepy treat! [how to make monster eyeball donuts]

Project estimate:

• Mini powdered sugar donuts, $1 and up
• Gummy ring candies, $1 and up
• Peanut butter M&Ms (or other similarly shaped/sized candy), $1 and up
• Royal icing, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $3 and up

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Crepe paper has a look that makes it absolutely perfect for Halloween decorating. Check out this idea from Linda at A Sweet Afternoon, who used crepe paper to make this cute candy corn bunting banner! The project is easy enough that it’s kid-friendly, and at the same time sophisticated enough to hang for a fancy Halloween party or incorporate into your seasonal home decor. [how to make a candy corn bunting banner]

Project estimate:

• Crepe paper streamers, on hand or $1 and up
• Cardstock, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Tape, on hand
• String, on hand or $1 and up

Total: Free and up!

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Having a Halloween party?  It’s not really a party without a pinata!  And on such a candy-centric holiday, it’s even more appropriate.  Using a basic pinata-making technique, Jamie at Eighteen25 whipped up this adorable and super easy pumpkinheaded guy.  She even provides a free printable of Jack-o-lantern facial features, so all you have to do is glue!  [how to make a Jack-o-lantern pinata]

Project estimate:

• Balloon, on hand or $1
• Newspaper, on hand
• Papier mache paste, on hand or $1
• Crepe paper streamers, $1 and up
• Cupcake liner, on hand or $1
• Printable Jack-o-lantern faces, free
• Glue, on hand
• Candy for filling pinata, $1 and up

Total: $2 and up

The post Make a Jack-O-Lantern Pinata appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.