Image by flickr user Suedehead. Licensed via Creative Commons.

Once you start buying yarn, it can be hard to stop! Lately, I have been buying yarn at Goodwill – I usually get a bag of 7-10 skeins of mixed yarn for about $6.99 (sometimes as low as $3.99, though!). I have a 3-drawer dresser filled to the brim with all my yarn! But since yarn is so pretty, it can be fun to display it in a useful and pretty way.

Over at eBay*, I’ve written about Pretty Ways to Store Your Yarn Stash, so go check out these great ideas! (*I wrote that article as part of a paid collaboration with eBay.)

Here are some of my recent creations (I am addicted to creating stash-busting afghans!):

Finished my 9th #epicafghan last week. This one was 100 stitches wide, so it worked up so much quicker than my previous ones. Still large enough for a twin size bed.

A post shared by Heather Mann (@dollarcraft) on Apr 1, 2017 at 2:59pm PDT

A closeup of the #epicafghan for @justdiysara

A post shared by Heather Mann (@dollarcraft) on Sep 9, 2016 at 7:19pm PDT

My fourth #epicafghan is finished! Green tones, basket weave crochet stitch with three strands at a time.

A post shared by Heather Mann (@dollarcraft) on Aug 9, 2016 at 11:01pm PDT

My second epic crochet afghan is done… On to the third!

A post shared by Heather Mann (@dollarcraft) on Mar 12, 2016 at 4:47pm PST

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If you enjoy quilting, chances are you have friends and family who have approached you and asked you how much you would charge to make a custom quilt. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to figure out a fair price for sewing a custom quilt. Between fabric prices, labor for making the quilt, and “invisible” costs like the time you spend shopping and preparing the fabric, there are a lot of factors to think about.

Over at eBay*, I’ve written a comprehensive guide for How to Charge for Quilt Making, so go check it out and let me know what you think about my formulas. (*I wrote that article as part of a paid collaboration with eBay.)

If you are a quilter, check out some of my quilting projects I’ve posted here at Dollar Store Crafts.

Make Easy Crazy Quilt Coasters

Creative Baby Shower Quilt

The post How to Charge for Quilt Making appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Fire Mountain Gems’ largest sale of the year, the Dutch Auction, just hit a new low! With Dutch auctions, discounts get deeper as the sale progresses. Today, over 5,000 beads, gems, jewelry and more have been discounted to 60% off! Inventory is limited, so buy now to get the items you want. Products shown below may contain affiliate links.

Fire Mountain Gems is my favorite online source for inexpensive beading and jewelry-making supplies. Scroll down to see projects I’ve made using items from Fire Mountain Gems.

Mixed Glass Bead Mix Pkg of (5) 30-inch Strands Retail Price: $8.21 Dutch Auction Price: $3.28	Lampworked Glass Bead Pkg of 2 Retail Price: $5.45 Dutch Auction Price: $2.18	Multi-Colored Chevron Bracelet Retail Price: $7.15 Dutch Auction Price: $2.86
Silver-Plated Enamel Bead Retail Price: $11.40 Dutch Auction Price: $4.56	Bead and Finding Mix Approximately 150 Pieces Retail Price: $4.75 Dutch Auction Price: $1.90	Light Blue Glass Bicone Beads 14-inch Strand Retail Price: $4.50 Dutch Auction Price: $1.80
Multicolored Resin Bead Mix 1/4 Pound Pkg Retail Price: $3.16 Dutch Auction Price: $1.00	Amethyst Teardrop Beads 14-inch Strand Retail Price: $4.21 Dutch Auction Price: $1.68	Mini Chip Peridot Beads 36-inch Strand Retail Price: $2.34 Dutch Auction Price: $0.81

My Fire Mountain Gems Projects:

Statement Stone Necklace: This necklace cost me about $4 in supplies from Fire Mountain Gems – including the THREE statement stones I picked up for just $1 (for all three!). Instructions here: Statement Stone Necklace

Shrinky Plastic Charm Bracelets: I used ready-made beaded bracelets (cost 15 cents each!) from Fire Mountain Gems, and then my teen girl crafters created cute charms from shrinky plastic for a cute, updated take on the friendship bracelet. Instructions here: Shrinky Plastic Charm Bracelets.

DIY Painted State Necklace: I always keep readymade necklace chains on hand (from Fire Mountain Gems, of course!) so I can easily assemble pendant necklaces whenever I create a pendant. This necklaces uses a neat technique — painting shrink plastic to create a pretty, colorful textured pendant. Instructions: DIY Painted State Necklace.

The post 3 Jewelry Projects & a Jewelry Supply Sale Alert: Fire Mountain Gems Dutch Auction appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Citrus fruit is a fun and timeless print for summer. Make your own citrus-themed stamps using craft foam with this easy tutorial from Tattooed Martha! Add this motif to fabric, wrapping paper, or any other surface that you can think of to stamp. You can also use this method to make other DIY stamp shapes! [how to make foam fruit stamps]

Project estimate:

• Craft foam, on hand or $1
• Craft wood knobs, $1 and up
• Wood squares, $1 and up
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $2 and up

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Want to start art journaling, but don’t have a lot of money to invest? Over at eBay, I have written instructions for how to make an art journal out of a notebook (or book or coloring book) from the dollar store. The process is easy, and a lot cheaper than buying a brand new blank art journal. Find out how to make your own art journal here: [make an art journal for cheap]

A month ago, I took a class on art journaling on a whim (I just dropped into a store and signed up for their next class), and I have been having so much fun learning all about a new type of art. Art Journals can be anything you want them to be, but at their most basic, they are a journal that incorporates images and writing. I challenged myself to start a dollar store art journal, so I am documenting the process (along with my tips and journal prompts) over at eBay, so please come over and follow along!

Supplies:

• Coloring book, $1
• Masking tape, $1
• Gesso, $8 and up (buy online at a discount, or use your coupon at the local craft store)
• Scissors, on hand
• Paint brush, on hand

Total: $10

The post How to Make an Art Journal from a Dollar Store Notebook appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Art Journaling is an art/craft that has become very popular, and for good reason! An art journal can be anything you want it to be – part sketchbook, part diary, and throw a little scrapbooking in there. You just need a journal and some way to mark in it to get started, but I went shopping at the dollar store for art journaling supplies, and here are the items I came home with (for less than $10 total!) Find the list an a lot of tips for art journaling on the cheap over at eBay: [how to art journal for cheap]

The post Dollar Store Art Journaling – Find Art Journal Supplies for Cheap appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

It’s my favorite jewelry-making time of year — the annual Fire Mountain Gems $1 Sale! I got a few items from the sale to share with you and pique your appetite to check out what else they have! See what I got in my haul, and then go check out the sale yourself!

Watch my video below for the whole haul! Do you have any ideas of what I should make with these goodies? Check back later this week to find out what I make first!

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I think washi tape might be one of the most addictive craft supplies ever. Once you buy your first roll, you’re hooked, and the next thing you know you’ve got piles of tape overflowing all over your craft table. If you’re a washi addict, these pretty washi tape feathers from Stampington are a fun way to add a flourish to everything from gift wrap to home decor projects! [how to make washi tape feathers]

Project estimate:

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

Total: Free and up!

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Make perfect, beautiful wreaths out of herbs and other plant cuttings – without spending money on wreath forms! Ananda at A Piece of Rainbow used a single dollar store item – a small plastic laundry basket – to create wreath jigs in two different sizes, allowing her to make gorgeous, perfectly round wreaths every time. Check out her blog post for instructions and lots of tips for making your own! [how to make a DIY wreath jig]

Project estimate:

• Plastic laundry basket, $1
• Scissors, on hand

Total: $1

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A fancy ribbon is a great touch to add to a beautifully wrapped gift or an endless variety of craft projects, but fancy ribbon can also be expensive.  That is, unless you make your own.  This gorgeous ribbon was made by Melissa at The Sweet Escape out of – get this – old bed sheets!  All you need to make some for yourself is plain fabric and a little food coloring.  With the holidays on the way, all of your gifts will look extra-special dressed in your custom ribbon!  [how to make your own dip dyed ribbon]

Project estimate:

• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Food coloring, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up!

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