Hi friends!  I’m so happy to be here, I’m Rebecca and you can find me over at The Crafted Sparrow.  I love walking through thrift shops and dollar stores in hopes of finding some great bargains.  Most times that great bargain doesn’t always fit my style, so I take it and make it my own.  These Chalky Finish Clay Pots are the perfect example of that.

I found these clay pots at my local Dollar Tree, while they aren’t necessarily my style they had a great shape and size.  I knew they would be perfect for some of my favorite greenery from Ikea.  I chose to use one of my favorite paints, Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paints from DecoArt.  You can find the whole line at Home Depot online currently.

Project estimate:

• Clay pots, $1
• Americana Decor chalky finish paint {I used Everlasting & Primitive}, about $8.50 and up
• Foam brushes, on hand or $1
• Painters tape, on hand

Total: about $9.50 and up

I lucked out, the clay pots I purchased had the clear film decal on the front.  Most of it just peeled right off, although if you find a pot that has a sheen or something similar you could lightly sand it to prep the area for the paint.  Otherwise the chalky finish paint should adhere great.

Once my pots were clean and ready I painted the edges with some black paint.  I only did this because I knew I was going to distress them.  This step is optional.

I then painted my entire pot with my chalky finish paint and foam brush.  On my striped pot I did “everlasting” first, on my polka dot pots I did the “primitive” chalky finish paint first.  You will need to do 2-3 light coats depending on the type of pot you use.

Once dry I applied my painters tape for some stripes.  I also cut some vinyl circles with my cutting machine, you could also use painters tape and a round 1″ circle punch.  Another cute idea would be to number the pots {1,2,3}.

Now paint your second color over the tape.  Once dry remove the tape and vinyl carefully.

I then grabbed a light grit sandpaper and distressed my edges and small areas all over the pot.  It doesn’t hurt to give the entire pot a light sanding if you are trying to smooth out any chalky finish paint build up.

That’s it!  Aren’t they cute?!  For $3 plus some other supplies I had on hand I have these great additions to my decor that look like they came from any big named home decor store.

Thanks again to Heather for having me here today.  I hope you will come visit me at The Crafted Sparrow where you can see other fun projects like these:

Numbered Mason Jars | DIY Jewelry Stand | Gold Painted Vine Cups | Striped Ball Jar

The post Tutorial: Chalky Finish Clay Pots appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

The bandannas at the dollar store come in so many fun bright colors that they inevitably end up in my shopping cart even when I’m not sure what I’d going to do with them. This hobo bag from Crafty Leslie is super cute and easy to do. Make one for yourself or use it to teach older kids to sew. Either way, you definitely have a reason to pick up some more bright colored cloth! [how to make a hobo bag]

Project estimate:

• Bandanna, $1
• Clothesline, $1
• Safety pin, on hand
• Sewing machine, on hand
• Thread, on hand

Total:$2

The post Make a Hobo Bag from a Bandana appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

It lurks behind a closed door.  Most guests will probably never guess your deep, dark secret:  that your linen closet is a disaster!  I’ll admit, mine looks more like the before picture, and I cringe every time I crack open the door.  Tired of the mess, Kim from seven thirty three made a stop at the dollar store and grabbed everything she needed to whip her closet in BHG-inspired shape.  The number of containers you’ll need depends on the size of your linen closet and the exact contents of the closet, but we’re guessing most closets will need at least 4 or 5 various containers to tame all of the odds and ends.  The makeover seen here uses six blue plastic bins in a a couple of different sizes to corral smaller items.  Stop by her blog for more pics of the super-quick (30 minute!) transformation.  [how to organize your linen closet]

Project estimate:

• Plastic containers, $1 each

Total:  about $5 and up

Looking for even more organizing ideas?  This was an entry in our organization challenge sponsored by Dollar Tree; check out all of the entries for lots of great inspiration!

The post Organize Your Linen Closet, Dollar Store Style appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

You might have seen this project posted in the DSC Community as an entry in our organization challenge sponsored by Dollar Tree.  You may have also seen it featured recently as the winner of that challenge.  We think it’s so great that we want everyone to see it, so we asked the project creator, Jeremy, if we could post it on the blog.  This is a great idea for storage in small spaces, since it takes up minimal floor space.  And for as little room as it occupies, it sure does hold a lot of stuff!

Project estimate:

• Wood, on hand or about $5
• Laundry baskets, $3

Total:  $3 and up

Here are Jeremy’s instructions:

For a place to put my 2-year-old’s toys out of the way I built this basket tree from three laundry baskets from Dollar Tree. First I took a cedar 2x2x8 and I cut three 6″ inch pieces off of it to use as hooks. You need to cut them at a 45 degree angle so they can be screwed to the other piece and be angled. I used drywall screws to do this. I put one on each end of a 2x2x4 and one in the middle. I then mounted the whole thing to the wall using wall anchors and screws. Next I cut the cross piece out of the basket right under one of the handles. That way I can hook the basket on the wooden hooks. The only step now is to take them off the hooks and have your child put their toys into the baskets.

This project could also be done using the plastic hooks that Dollar Tree sells in packs of 2. That way you could just use wall anchors with the hooks and go straight into the wall. Just make sure the toys aren’t very heavy or mount them onto a piece of wood or into a stud.

The post Tutorial: Basket Storage Tree appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

After much deliberation, it’s finally time to announce the winner of our organization challenge sponsored by Dollar Tree!  Only one person walks away with a $100 gift card prize, but everyone wins in this situation because you gave us an amazing list of organizing ideas to share with the world!  Covering every area of the house, our readers have provided a wide array of solutions to help in situations of all kinds!

Meet Our Guest Judge

Becky, of Organizing Made Fun, is a forty-something work at home mom of two kids. For her, organizing is all about fun and helping to motivate and inspire women to get their homes and lives organized! Her favorite way to organize is using ordinary things to organize with or finding cheap ways to get organized. If you’re looking for motivation and inspiration, she’s your girl!

Her blog is full of all kinds of great organizational ideas that you can implement with dollar store materials.  Check out some of our favorites:

[11 Ways to Organize on the Back of a Door]

 [Toy Organization for Toddlers]

[Lunchbox Cupboard]

Organization Challenge Top Picks

5.  Rag Basket

[Rag Basket by Just Make It]

4.  Thrifty Storage Ideas

[Thrifty Storage Ideas by Sue’s Sentiments]

3.  $6 Linen Closet Makeover

[$6 Linen Closet Makeover by seven thirty three]

2. Dollar Store Organization Board

[Dollar Store Organization Board by Better Together]

And The Winner Is…

1.  Basket Tree

[Basket Tree by Jeremy]

Talk about a great idea!  Father of two Jeremy shared this idea via the DSC Community.  He used a few dollar store laundry baskets and a wooden frame to build vertical toy storage.  Not only is it an attractive storage piece, it also allows for a lot of stuff to be kept in a small area.  Too many toys in a tiny bedroom or cluttering a cramped apartment?  No longer a problem!

Congratulations to Jeremy, who wins a $100 Dollar Tree gift card, and thank you to everyone who stopped by to link up an entry!  Keep your eyes open for more great organizational ideas coming soon – make 2013 the year of no clutter!

The post 8 Ways to Get Organized in 2013 (plus our organization challenge winner!) appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

This cute little yule log ornament was made by crafter Amy Davis of TheYankeeGirl.com after she saw a yule log favor box on the Martha Stewart site. Between using recyclables, and stuff she already had on hand, Amy spent just a dollar (at the dollar store) to make this ornament. Amy didn’t blog about this ornament, but she did explain how to make it, and allows me to share it with you today:

Project Materials:

• Recycled toilet paper roll, on hand
• A printout of birch bark, printable available via MarthaStewart.com
• Spanish and green moss, on hand or $1 each
• Floral pick, $1
• Mushroom bird, (similar available at the dollar store, 2 for $1), $.50
• Glue, on hand

Total: $1.50

To Make:

1. Cut printed birch bark paper out to fit on the cardboard tube, then glue on.
2. Cut a branch off of the floral pick, and glue it to the tube.
3. Fashion a small nest out of the mosses, and glue onto branch.
4. Glue bird into nest.
5. Add a cord for hanging.

For more Toilet Paper Tube Reuse Ideas, visit my article at Homemade Simple.

The post Tutorial: Make a Cute Yule Log Ornament appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If there is one thing we love more than crafting, it is seeing the projects that our work inspires.  We get quite a few e-mails from readers sharing their own creations with us, and it always blows us away how people take our ideas and inspirations and turn them into fabulous finished products.  After all, that is why we do what we do!  This is a project that came to us from reader Madison P., who created this dollhouse scene for a competition and gathered almost all of her inspiration and supplies from the dollar store.  She was even kind enough to provide details on how she constructed all of the parts!  Thanks Madison, and excellent work!  She writes:

“I have been a Barbie and Ken doll collector for 25 years and recently went to the first ever Kenvention in Chicago, Illinois two weeks ago. I entered their competition in the diorama category Modern City Life and after procrastinating all summer as to what I would create, I thought the best place to brainstorm was Dollar Tree, two weeks before I left for the Kenvention. That’s what Heather would do, right? (Not the procrastinate part…the brainstorming part!)

“So, I am attaching the final product. It’s a New York City bachelor pad. And I dare say it looks more realistic than the pink and plastic furniture and accessories one finds at any given toy store.

“The sofa was created from three pencil boxes, two computer wrist pillows, a zen garden frame, and four computer keyboard erasers (for feet) from the back to school section at the Dollar Tree Store. (and some remnant fabric and glue)

“The textured modern art above the sofa was created from a plastic notebook and picture frames purchased from Dollar Tree. Do you see a theme here?

“The modern lamps on either end of the sofa were created by inverting clear lip gloss tubes with iridescent shimmer and gluing a sequin to the upside down top to give the impression of a light switch. Again, all purchased at Dollar Tree.

“The end table closest to the window was created from a clear glass cube, small picture frame and several tile erasers from Dollar Tree.

“The coffee table was created from four clear plastic cubes that housed puzzles from the toy section and the table top is a piece of beveled mirror purchased from Dollar Tree.

“The candle holders on the fireplace mantle and coffee table are upside down thumbtacks from the back to school section at Dollar Tree.

“The bar was created from two locker door pencil caddies which were inserted into each other. Four computer keyboard erasers were used to create the ‘feet’. And a piece of vinyl tile was cut and stuck together to create the bar top. Again, all pieces purchased from Dollar Tree.

“The television was created from a magnetized photo frame and the ‘speakers’ on either side began their life as pencil sharpeners from the back to school section at Dollar Tree.

“The exterior room walls, and floor as well as the fireplace walls started out as pieces of foam core board purchased from Dollar Tree and were covered with scrapbook paper and spray paint.

“I received second prize in the category Modern City Life all thanks to the resources I purchased at Dollar Tree.”

Congratulations on your win, Madison, and thanks again for sharing your creation!

The post Ken’s Bachelor Pad, Dollar Store Style appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Meet Our Guest Judge

Before we count down our favorite contest entries, let’s meet this month’s guest judge!  When we think of Halloween crafters one of the first folks to come to mind is Alexa Westerfield from The Swell Life and I Love to Create.  This season she has been dazzling her readers with a ton of great no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas, but her holiday talents don’t end there.  She also has some awesome Halloween costume ideas, including these comical outfits:

[Deviled Egg Halloween Costume at The Swell Life]

[Mona Lisa Halloween Costume at The Swell Life]

Thanks for joining us this month, Alexa!

Halloween Costume Contest Top Picks

Now that we’ve taken care of that business, we know you’re anxious to see who won the contest.  It was tough to narrow it down this month with so many great contest entries!  Here are our top five picks; did your favorites make the cut?

5.  Placemat Bug

[Placemat Bug Costume by Sandy P.]

We couldn’t resist how adorable this bug costume is!  Reader Sandy P. shared this idea via the DSC Community; the majority of the costume is constructed using dollar store placemats!  [how to make a placemat bug Halloween costume]

4. Mother Nature

[Mother Nature Costume by Re-Creations]

When Shiela from Re-Creations went shopping at Dollar Tree to put together this costume, she hit almost every department in the store!  We love how she incorporated both seasonal items and year-round stock.  It’s such a cute idea!  [how to make a Mother Nature Halloween costume]

3. Dirty Laundry

[Dirty Laundry Costume by Love2Dream, Do You?]

Everyone at the party will chuckle when they see you dressed up in this clever costume.  Over at Love2Dream, Do You? we got a good laugh out of this dirty laundry costume.  As an added bonus, it’s a great costume for a cold climate.  If the temperatures fall, just add more laundry!  [how to make a dirty laundry Halloween costume]

2. Spine Chilling Chia Pet

[Spine Chilling Chia Pet Costume by My House is Cuter Than Yours]

We’re suckers for adorable animals, so of course we had to include this costume for a four-legged friend.  My House is Cuter Than Yours dressed up her pup as a spooky, deteriorating Chia Pet, complete with creepy-crawlies.  Too cute!   [how to make a spine chilling Chia Pet Halloween costume]

And The Winner Is…

1. Chinese Takeout Box

[Chinese Takeout Box Costume by A Turtle’s Life for Me]

Natalie from A Turtle’s Life for Me entered a post with so many great costume ideas that we were completely amazed!  Our favorite was this super cute Chinese takeout box costume.  (Check out the finishing touch of using chopsticks in her hair!)   Be sure to stop by her blog and see the rest of her hilarious homemade costumes from other years as well!)  [how to make a Chinese takeout box Halloween costume]

That also means that Natalie is the lucky winner of a $100 Dollar Tree gift card!  (That’s enough to make a whole army of takeout box costumes!)  Congratulations, Natalie!  Thanks to all who entered.  And of course…  have a spooktacular Halloween!

The post Halloween Costume Contest: 7 Dollar Store Costume Ideas (including our contest winner!) appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Looking for a project to make your lawn a little more Halloween-y?  Greet your fall visitors this year with a festive welcome sign!  Michelle and Julie from Sister See Sister Do used a pile of foam pumpkins from Dollar Tree to make this sign, a use for them that we hadn’t yet seen.  Using the same concept, you could create a sign that says anything you want, from “Boo!”  to “Happy Halloween” and anywhere in between depending on how many pumpkins you have.  What will yours say?  [how to make a pumpkin welcome sign]

Project estimate:

• Foam pumpkins, $7
• Stake, on hand or $1 and up
• Sharpie, on hand
• Flower pot (optional), on hand or $1

Total:  $7 and up

Looking for more pumpkin crafts?

The post Make a Pumpkin Welcome Sign appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If this project looks familiar, it might be because it was one of the finalists in our $5 craft challenge.  This is such a good idea that we thought it deserved more than just a passing mention!  Shauna from Love2Dream, Do You? came up with two different methods for screen printing using stuff from the dollar store, and some variations on those techniques.  What will you put on your custom t-shirts?  [how to screen print with dollar store materials]

Project estimate:

• Splatter screen (or mesh tut and embroidery hoop), $1 and up
• Contact paper, on hand or $1
• Stickers (optional), on hand or $1
• Fabric paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Paint scraper or small trowel, on hand or $1 and up
• T-shirt, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Screen Print with Dollar Store Materials appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.