Are you looking for the perfect printable card to top off that perfect gift? I have a fabulous FREE PRINTABLE card for you. Just in time for holiday gift wrapping, I have collaborated with Cathe Holden of Inspired Barn to give YOU a gift! Please print out these adorable folk art-inspired printable cards and use them for all your holiday occasions (and beyond). And don’t forget to download the coordinating printable for the 2018 Printable Tea Towel Calendar!

About this collaboration:

In 2010, talented graphic designer Cathe Holden and I teamed up to create a printable tea towel calendar. She designed the printables, and I made the calendar and wrote the instructions, and then we provided the free printables to you! This year, we have a new design available — our all-new 2018 printable tea towel calendar, as well as this sweet card, that you can download, print, and make yourself for a special handmade touch.

Download the Printable Card Templates:

Download the files below to print out your own cards. Each printable will make two cards (just cut the printed sheet in half, then fold the cards to make them complete). They will fit in an A2 envelope.

To download, just click on the image to be taken to the file on Google Drive, where you can download it.

Red and Blue Printable Card Template

Blue Printable Card Template

Green & Blue Printable Card Template

Card-Making Tips:

You really can just print this, cut it, fold it and go, but if you are looking to make your printed cards look nicer, I recommend a few products to get a top-of-the-line look. I used these products to make the cards you see in the photos in this post, and they are some of my favorite products that I can’t do without (disclosure: these are Amazon affiliate links):

1. HP Inkjet Brochure Paper

If you are using an inkjet printer, I hands-down recommend this HP brochure paper for gorgeous printing. It is smooth, heavy paper that can be printed on both sides, and it makes the ink shine. It’s great for paper projects like this one, or for printing anything that you want to make look extra pretty.

I should also disclose that I work with HP, and have received this product for free, but they did not ask me to promote it here. I just really love it and I highly recommend it.

2. Trimming and Scoring Board

If you make cards or paper crafts often, you should treat yourself to a Trimming and Scoring Board – it is a paper trimmer with a built-in board that has grooves in it so you can gently add a crease wherever you want to fold the paper. It also comes with a bone folder (which you use to make the score in the paper) that you can also use to make a clean, crisp fold.  The paper trimmer is so handy for creating perfectly measured and cut lines — no more wiggly scissor lines!

Thank you for joining me at Dollar Store Crafts! I truly value everyone who is part of my community, and I would love to hear your feedback about this project or the site.

The post Free Printable Card: Folk Art Gift Notecards appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Looking for an easy way to make personalized art?  Try making a yarn-wrapped name!  This project is especially great for folks with uncommon names, who may find it difficult (or even impossible) to locate store-bought items bearing their moniker.  Heather used a fun tool called a Loopdedoo to make this project even easier, though it isn’t necessary.  (But once you watch the video, you will want one!)

Project estimate:

• Pipe cleaners, on hand or $1
• Yarn, on hand or $1 and up

Total: Free and up!

Wrap a pipe cleaner with yarn, starting at one end and working to the other, until the entire thing is covered.  Depending on the length of the name or other word you want to spell out, you may need multiple pipe cleaners.

Bend the pipe cleaners into cursive-style letters.  Twist any loops to keep them secure.

When you reach the end of a pipe cleaner, twist it together with the end of another pipe cleaner.

Use additional yarn to wrap around any pipe cleaner ends that are showing.

The post Tutorial: Yarn Wrapped Name Art appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I bet when you see a bag of plastic bugs at the dollar store, “pretty” isn’t one of the first words to come to mind.  That is, unless you are Heather!  She elevated a plastic bee with a sparkly makeover, turning it into a trendy necklace.  After you watch this video, you will want to figure out what other ways you can turn blingy bugs into fabulous jewelry!

Project estimate:

• Plastic bugs, $1
• Nail polish, on hand or $1
• Glitter, on hand or $1
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Jump rings, on hand
• Chain, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

Paint the bee with nail polish.

Sprinkle glitter over the nail polish.

Paint over the glitter with Mod Podge and let dry.

Punch holes in the wings with a small hole punch.

Attach the bee to a chain using jump rings.

The post Tutorial: Glitter Bee Necklace appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Liven up your windows for spring with a bright, cheerful suncatcher made from a glass plate!  It’s inspired by stained glass, but unlike actual stained glass this project doesn’t require any special tools or skills.

Project estimate:

• Glass plate, $1
• Assorted nail polish, on hand
• Double-sided tape, on hand or $1
• E6000 glue, on hand
• Hanger, on hand or $1
• Nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol, on hand
• Pattern, free (search “stained glass patterns” for thousands of them!)

Total:  $1 and up

Clean the face of the plate with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol and let dry.

Using the double-sided tape, stick the pattern to the underside of the plate. Remember that you will be adding a hook so make sure your pattern covers that area.

Patterns vary but you will want to use the same technique. Outline your pattern and allow to dry.

Then fill in the outlined areas.  To avoid brush marks, apply excess nail polish. Load the brush and dab it in the center of your design, in this case, one of the wing sections. Take the brush and push the polish so that it meets the outline. Dab on more paint if needed.

Once you have filled in all the sections and they are dry, go over the outline again. If, when held to the light, you have areas that didn’t reach outline, it is easier to make the outline wider.

Clean the area where you’re putting the hanger with nail polish remover and let dry. Apply E6000 to the plate and place the hanger on top of it. Hold the hanger in place with something heavy any let dry overnight. (I used the tip of my wire cutters)

The post Tutorial: Glass Plate Suncatcher appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Are you always trying to find your shades?  This quick and easy DIY project will help you organize your sunglasses.  Just hang it by your door and you’ll never waste time searching for them again!  Check out the video to see how Heather whipped this one up, or keep reading to see the project in photos.

Project estimate:

• Picture frame, on hand or $1
• Lace or ribbon, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: Free and up!

Measure and cut two lengths of ribbon or lace that are just wider than the frame – make them long enough that the ends will wrap around to the back of the frame.

Place the ribbon or lace across the front of the frame at the desired spacing and glue the ends to the back of the frame and use hot glue to secure the ends on the back of the frame.

Hang it on the wall and add your collection of sunglasses!

The post Tutorial: DIY Sunglasses Holder appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Shamrocks, shamrocks everywhere – it’s that time of year again!  I dug out all of my green craft supplies recently in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and came up with this easy shamrock bow made out of ribbon.  I used burlap ribbon, which is a strip of burlap that is finished on the sides so it won’t unravel, but you can use any green ribbon (wired or not wired) for this project.

Project estimate:

• Ribbon, on hand or $1 and up
• String, on hand
• Button, on hand
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free or $1 and up

Cut a length of ribbon about 20 to 24 inches long.  Fold over about 4 inches on one end of the ribbon.

Fold over the end again, this time folding about 7 inches.

Gather the ribbon together at the mid-point of the folded section and tie with string to secure.

On the back side of the bow, maneuver the long tail so that it is perpendicular to the bow you just tied.

Fold the tail down over the front of the bow, leaving about a 4″ loop at the top.

Pull the tails of the string around to the front of the bow, working from two opposite corners.

Tie half of a square knot, then wrap the strings back around the other two corners.  This will make an X with the string across the middle of the bow.  Pull the string tight and tie a knot at the back of the bow to secure.

Glue a button to the center of the bow to cover the string.

Trim the tail of the ribbon to finish the bow.

The post Tutorial: Easy Shamrock Bow appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I got the inspiration for this craft watching Shark Tank. The creators were looking for investors. They now sell for $14.95 and work about the same way as the ones I created.

Project estimate:

• Stuffed aquatic animal, $1
• 1 kids sock, on hand or $1
• Needle & thread, on hand
• 1/4 inch Velcro, on hand or $1 and up
• Soap, on hand or $1
• Buttons, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

Remove all tags from animal and one of the kids socks.

Cut the sock just below the heel, as shown in the picture. Turn over the edge into the sock and sew it, using the stitch below, on half of the top.

Pin the sock to the tummy of the animal. Start sewing from where you left off and sew around the sock to the other side. Cut your thread and tie a square knot.

The Velcro I bought had adhesive backs. I removed the paper and hot glued them on the top and inside of the sock. This keeps the soap inside the sock. I also sewed and glued a button on top of it so that it was easier to open to remove the soap.

To give the animals a little personality, I sewed and hot glued buttons on them. After I sewed them I added hot glue under and around the button and on the thread. If either fails, the other should hold. I feel that this extra precaution is necessary since this is a child’s toy.

After using, remove the soap and hang with a plastic clothes pin to dry. I chose not to add a loop to hang it on for safety reasons. The animal can be machine washed.

The post Tutorial: Bath Time Soap Animals appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Recycle bottle caps into “enameled” charms or pendants! All it takes is a bottle cap, some nail polish, and some small embellishments. Glue a jump ring to the back of the bottle cap to make a place to hang it, or mount it on a ring blank, or use them however you wish!

Project estimate:

• Bottle caps, on hand
• Nail polish, on hand or $1 and up
• Embellishments, on hand or $1 and up*
• Jump rings, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up!

*The metal rose embellishments in this video are an item I received from Bobcat in a Box.

The post Tutorial: Enameled Bottle Cap Charms appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Need to make lots of cute Valentine treat bags? Then you are probably also looking for an idea that is quick and easy – and this project fits the bill! This basic idea is easy to adapt to use whatever stickers, embellishments, and treats you happen to have on hand. You can even use different size bags, so you can wrap up all kinds of fun gifts in this manner! This is especially quick and easy if you create them assembly-line-style.

Project estimate:

• Brown paper bags, on hand or $1
• Chalkboard stickers, $1
• Stencil and paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Raffia ribbon, $1
• Candy or other treats, $1 and up

Total:  $3 and up

Start by stenciling a Valentine’s Day related sentiment onto the chalkboard heart stickers.  I chose an “XO” stencil, but you can use anything that suits your fancy!  Use white chalky finish paint that dries ultra matte for a chalk-like effect.

When the paint is dry, apply the sticker to a paper bag.  Place the sticker low on the bag to allow plenty of space to fold over the top of the bag.

Fill the bag with treats.  I used lip-shaped chocolate candies to go with the “XO” theme.

Fold over the top of the bag to close, and punch two holes at the top, punching through both layers of the folded bag.

Cut a piece of raffia ribbon and thread it through the holes and tie with a square knot.  Trim the ends of the raffia if needed, then unfold the ends to give the raffia more volume.

The post Tutorial: Easy Faux Chalk Valentine Treat Bags appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Love the look of a fancy wall sconce, but don’t think you have the decor budget to get one?  Think again! This lovely faux DIY wall sconce can be used to hold seasonal silk branches or with a built in shelf, a night light with battery operated candles.  Or any other lightweight items you can fit into it!

Project estimate:

• Foam core board, on hand or $1
• Poster board, on hand or $1
• Rope or cord, on hand or $1 and up
• Battery operated tea lights, on hand or $1
• Tissue paper, on hand
• Rhinestones, on hand or $1 and up
• Tape, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand
• White glue, on hand
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up!

Decide the size you want to make. I made this one 7″ wide and 21″ long. Measure and cut your foam board. I use a metal metre stick and cut against it, just scoring the foam board. I then bend the board at the cut and finish cutting it from behind the board.

Decide how deep you want it. I used an extra piece of poster board and pinned it on each side to determine this. Mine is 12″ deep.

Measure and cut a piece of poster board to the correct size. After cutting my piece of poster board 12″ wide and 21″ deep, I folded it in half and pinched one end to mark it. From that mark, I used my ruler and measured to the point of the 12″ top. Repeat this step and cut along the pencil lines.

Pin the poster board into the foam board enough so that you can tape the two together with the transparent tape. Once they are together, run a piece of packing tape down the side to hold it in place.

Repeat Step 4 on the other side. When you get to the point at the bottom, use a small piece of tape to hold it together and give it a back.

Using the packing tape, go around the cone from the top to the bottom. You can do this neatly, but I wanted more texture so I was pretty sloppy.

Now for the fun! Glue the rope in any pattern you like. The jewels are optional.

Wad the tissue into tight balls and straighten them out. Tear them into 4″x 4″ pieces. Add 1 part water to 5 parts white glue and mix it together. Sparingly dab the glue mixture onto the sconce in a small area and put on a piece of tissue paper. Starting in the middle of the tissue paper, take the brush and tap the tissue down. Continue doing this until the entire decoration is covered. You don’t have to do the entire back, but make sure the tissue laps over the sides. If you have a tear in the tissue paper, don’t worry, you’ll be putting two coats of the tissue paper on the sconce.

After the first coat has dried, apply a second coat. Let dry completely before painting. I let mine dry shoved over the kitchen faucet since it was wet on all sides.

Wad some newspaper and put it in the point of the sconce. This does two things: 1. Helps the point stay pointed and 2. If it is dropped on the point it won’t break.

Paint your sconce.  I used silver acrylic paint then antiqued it with black acrylic paint.

If you are going to use the sconce as a night light, you’ll need to build a little shelf so you can see the light of the battery operated candles. Measure and cut a half circle out of foam board that will fit about 4″ into the sconce. Glue two braces on to the bottom of it then glue the backs of the braces and carefully place it inside of the sconce.

To hang the sconce I literally used a push pin, it is that lightweight.

The post Tutoral: Faux Wall Sconce appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.