If you haven’t noticed yet, I like shiny things.  The quickest way to up the glam factor on an inexpensive item is to make it shine with paint or with bling.  I decided to transform my office supplies quickly and inexpensively by using bling on a roll, a mesh that has rhinestone like “stones” on it.  The mesh makes for a quick and inexpensive way to “bling” ordinary items.

Project estimate:

• Stapler, on hand
• Tape Dispenser, on hand
• Bling on a Roll, $2.00 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total: $2.00 and up

Step one:  Cut a strip of bling on a roll to fit one side of the stapler.

Step two:  Put glue (I used E-6000) on the side of the stapler and adhere the bling.

Step three:  Repeat until all sides are covered.  You can fill gaps by cutting individuals facets off the mesh and gluing them on.

If your glue is taking too long to dry or the bling is slipping, use a dot of hot glue to hold the bling mesh in place while the glue dries.

I think my desk supplies look so much more chic now!  Why not start the new year with a bling and a bang?  It would be fun to make a few of these to slip on co-workers desks over the holidays, so they can start the new year with some sparkle and a smile.  Next on my bling list:  my pencil holder!

The post Tutorial: Quickly add Bling to your Desk Supplies appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Several months ago, I explained how to “crack” glass floral stones (tutorial here).  It’s an inexpensive, easy project that’s fun to do.  I like to use fine glitter to create a sparkly ombre effect on the glass.   Dollar Tree carries small multi packs of glitter that are already color coordinated, so it takes the guesswork out for you.  I turned my ombre cracked glass stones into magnets and pushpins.

Project estimate:

• Glass Floral Stones, $1
• Glitter, $1
• Magnets and/or Thumb tacks, on hand
• Double sided tape, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Dimensional Magic, on hand or $3

Total:  $2 and up

Step one:  Make the cracked glass stones, as explained in this tutorial.

Step two:  Cut a piece of double sided tape to fit the back of the stone.  Press it onto the stone.

Step three:  Pour the glitter onto the double sided tape.  I started with the lightest color and progressed to the darkest color, to create an ombre effect.

Step four:  Seal the glitter with the Dimensional Magic.

Step five:  Glue a thumb tack or magnet to the back of the stone.

Isn’t the effect pretty?  I think the pink/purple combo looks like a space galaxy.  The smaller stones that I used for the pushpins would make beautiful earrings, and the larger stones would make fun statement rings.  You could use different colors of glitter to match holidays or even school colors.  Have fun crafting and creating!

The post Tutorial: Ombre Glass Magnets and Push Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Why do I love washi tape?  Because it makes virtually everything cuter.  You can add a little bit of it to just about anything and it instantly has personality and flair.  Even the most mundane items, like office supplies, can benefit from a little bit of the colorful, sticky stuff – and since it peels away easily without leaving a glue-y residue, you can seriously go crazy with it.  Jessica from How About Orange used a wee bit of washi to liven up some thumbtacks and kiss the boring bulletin board blues goodbye; what other everyday things can you think of to decorate with washi tape?  [how to make washi tape covered thumbtacks]

Project estimate:

• Thumbtacks, on hand or $1
• Washi tape, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

Love washi tape?  Looking for a whole bunch of washi tape projects all in one place?  Check out a brand new blog called Washi Tape Crafts!  If you aren’t a washi addict yet, this site is likely to turn you into one!

The post Make Washi Tape Covered Thumbtacks appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love book page crafts. I also love crafts that are useful. So when I saw these book page pencils made by Jenny from Cresendoh, I was smitten. These pencils would make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts for students and grown ups alike (maybe with a card that says “You’re the Write One for Me”?). Personalize them by choosing a kind of paper that suits you: a book, sheet music or even plain deli paper for a more subdued look. [how to make book page pencils]

Project estimate:

• Pencils, on hand or $1 and up
• Book page or sheet music, on hand
• Liquitex or Mod Podge, on hand
• Foam Brush, on hand
• Baker’s twine, on hand
• Buttons, lace or other adornments, on hand

Total: Free and up!

The post Make Book Page Pencils appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Just the other day I was noting that Dollar Tree had wire wastebaskets in a few different colors and found myself pondering their crafty possibilities.  Then I saw this cute idea by Maize Hutton!  (Can you say “seriously adorable?”)  The mesh of the wastebasket makes it kind of like a large-scale cross stitch canvas, so you could add all kinds of cute designs to embellish one!  I’m particularly fond of how she used a couple of very basic crochet stitches to add a scalloped edge to the rim.  It’s the perfect way to add an extra festive touch to your office or work space for Valentine’s Day!  [how to make a Valentine heart wire wastebasket]

Project estimate:

• Wire wastebasket, $1
• Yarn, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Valentine Heart Wire Wastebasket 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.

How many hours a day do you spend at your desk?  If you’re spending that much time there, shouldn’t it be covered with things that make you smile?  Ditch your plain, boring desk accessories in favor of these cheerfully stitched items.  Chanel from Camille Styles took a standard mesh letter holder and pencil cup and used a coordinating color scheme of yarn to give them a colorful makeover that makes them more suited to her personality.  They won’t make your work day and shorter, but they might make those hours behind your desk a little less tedious!   [how to make a cross stitch desk set]

Project estimate:

• Mesh desk accessories, $1 and up
• Spray paint (optional), on hand or $1 and up
• Yarn, on hand
• Large needle, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Cross Stitch Desk Set appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

It’s time to link up for this month’s craft challenge, sponsored by Dollar Tree!  This month’s theme is based on some of our favorite dollar store crafting items:  school supplies!  Submit your craft below and you might be our lucky winner, who will walk away with a $100 Dollar Tree gift card!  (Imagine all the school supplies you could buy with that!)  So, readers…  What can you make using school supplies as craft supplies?

Are you ready?  First let’s recap the challenge rules:

1. Post your project on your blog, or as a post in the “Community” Section on Dollar Store Crafts. A photo of your project is required, as well as a list of materials used.

2. Submit a link to your project using the linky submission that will at the bottom of the contest entry post.

Dates: August 1st, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT). Linky Party closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on August 7th, 2012.

Multiple entries by the same person are accepted, however, only one prize will be awarded.

Eligibility: Residents of the USA, 18 and older

Winner Selection: There will be 1 Winner, chosen by a team of 3 judges who include 2 members of the Dollar Store Crafts staff, and one independent person with expertise in the area of crafting. Entries will be judged on the basis of the following criteria: originality, usefulness, creativity, clarity of instructions, and availability of materials at dollar stores.

Prize: $100 gift card to Dollar Tree.

And now for the entries!

The post Link Up for the School Supply Craft Challenge! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

You know you’re a true crafter when you feel the need to dress up even the most mundane of objects.  Life is just too short to snip things with boring scissors, right?  These pretty scissors started out plain, but Char from Crap I’ve Made added some patterned paper to the blades to give them a custom look.  She used the idea to make teacher appreciation gifts, but they would be appropriate to gift for many different occasions – or make a pair and keep them for yourself!  [how to make decorated scissors]

Project estimate:

• Scissors, $1
• Scrapbook paper, on hand or about $0.15/sheet
• E6000 glue, on hand or about $3 and up
• Sandpaper, on hand or $1
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Decorated Scissors appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

How trendy are your office supplies?  Are you living with boring, generic staplers and binder clips?  No more, my friends!  With some help from Plaid, now available at Walmart, you can jazz up your desk without spending a fortune.

Plaid is now selling their fantastic products at Walmart! How awesome is that?!?   I love shopping at craft stores, but I don’t always have time to make the extra stop.  Now I can grab what I need and throw it in the cart with the diapers and bananas.

I received a box of products from Plaid, all of which you can get at Walmart today!  Paintbrushes, stencils, acrylic and chalkboard paints, and even Mod Podge!

My challenge for this project was to make as many cool things as I could, using a $25 gift card to Walmart.  My $25 bought me all the office supplies you see above:  two sizes of clipboards, scissors, a calculator, a tape dispenser, a stapler (with staples and a letter-opener), a memo note holder (with notes), a hole punch, thumbtacks, pens and pencils.

When I got back, I pulled out a few colors of Plaid paints in trendy neon colors so that could make the supplies look like they were part of set.  I had decided to color block them to make use of a popular and graphic trend.

All I did to achieve the look was to paint the supplies using the Plaid paintbrushes and acrylic and chalkboard paints.  I freehanded my blocks of color, but using painter’s tape would make for crisper lines.

HINT:  To paint thumbtacks, push them into a spare piece of cardboard to prevent tipping and smudging!

For $25 and some Plaid products, I was able to create trendy and practical supplies for my office. These would make a fantastic, inexpensive gift for a student heading of to college or a graduate entering the workforce for the first time!

If you are as excited about Plaid at Walmart as I am, keep track of the latest news and ideas by following Plaid on facebook, twitter, and both Plaid and Walmart Crafts on Pinterest.

I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Plaid Crafts and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own.

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