It’s been awhile since we had a reader question! Let’s put our heads together to help Miriam, who posted over in the Dollar Store Crafts community asking about dollar store ideas for toddler room decor:

Hello i am trying to make over my toddler room (he is 2). I am looking for something very inexpensive… dollar store room makeover? He loves balloons, and bubbles… I like vintage things and want a look that doesn’t look too babyish. Any ideas or pics will be very appreciated. Thanks!

My Quick Pick:

Sounds like you definitely need to find ROUND things to put into the room! Look for lanterns, balls, or other spheres that you can repeat around the room to evoke balloons and bubbles.

Here is a cheap and easy craft projects that will add some vintage flair (and stay within the round theme):

• Make a String Lamp (see photo at top): you just need to buy a punch balloon, string, and some white glue to make this cool light fixture.

Okay, Dollar Store Designers, it’s your turn. Things you need to work with are: balloons and bubbles, with a vintage inspiration and something that will grow with him and not look too young. What are your ideas?

The post Question: Dollar Store Toddler Room Decor? appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I so love this simple and brilliant idea by my friend Marie at the Craftzine blog. Since it’s still cold outside, your dollar store (and every other store on the planet, pretty much) will probably have these magic stretch gloves, so pick up a few pairs to make a fun Velcro catch game. Kids of all ages will enjoy this game, and it looks like it would be a great way to expend some energy when it’s too icky to go outside. Marie just came up with another twist on the game, too, using a hat to catch the ball with. [click here for Velcro Catch Ball how-to]

If you can’t find the round self-stick Velcro at the dollar store, try cutting your own circles and gluing them on. You can also use diaper tabs from disposable diapers in place of Velcro.

Project Estimate:

• Magic knit gloves (or hat), $1
• Wiffle balls, $1
• Round self-stick Velcro, $1 and up

Total: $3

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Christmas is over, but here’s another good idea for you to file away (or make with post-Christmas sale materials): use one of those cool silver trays to make a festive family sign for your home. Reader Dena at Sweet Pickles and Chocolate made this one for her family. You can find almost everything you need for it at the dollar store, and hopefully you already have some acrylic craft paint in your crafting arsenal. Get all the details at Dena’s blog [for making a dollar store Christmas sign.]

Project Estimate:

• Silver-colored tray, $1
• Dangles, such as ball ornaments, $1 or on hand
• Ribbon, $1 or on hand
• Acrylic paint, on hand
• Drill, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Make a Pretty Silver Holiday Sign appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I got an urgent message from one of my readers, Jessica H. with a request/challenge for all my creative Dollar Store Crafting readers out there:

I love those decorative ball thingies you can buy all over the place now.  They come in all different styles (mirrored, raffia-covered, floral, etc.) and you put them in pretty bowls and they serve no purpose whatsoever but to sit there and be pretty.  I have looked all over, but the cheapest that I could find them anywhere was something like $8 for 3 which is still too much to pay for something that is for all intents and purposes useless.  But I still want some.  I have racked my brain trying to figure out a way to make some of my own, but I haven’t come up with anything.  There might be tutorials out there on the internet, but I am too scared to Google “DIY decorative balls” if you know you what I mean.

Okay, maybe it’s not urgent exactly, but it is a request.

Lucky for Jessica, I actually stumbled across a tutorial for making twine-covered decorative balls this week. The tutorial is over at V and Co., and shows you how to color the twine and wrap it around the styrofoam balls. Found via U create. [click here for instructions on how to do this project]

The tutorial doesn’t mention any dollar store supplies, but I happen to know you can pick up styrofoam balls and twine at the dollar store, among other supplies like raffia, etc.

Project Estimate:

• Styrofoam balls, $1 (for 3-6 balls)
• Twine, $1
• Spray paint, optional, on hand or about $3
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: $1 and up per ball

You can mix this project up to fit your own tastes in decor. For instance, I found these variants on the theme in an internet search:

Wood Slice (Retail: $7.99): Just cut up slices of some small branches and hot glue them to the balls.

Various Natural Materials (Retail: $47.94 for 8): Glue pine cone pieces, bay leaves, and other natural components onto balls.

Porcelain Shell (Retail: $72.50): Obviously you can’t make this out of porcelain (well, maybe YOU can, but I can’t), but you can get the look with real shells and some acrylic paint and lacquer. I might cover the styrofoam ball with papier-mache first and paint it dark blue if I was trying to get this exact look.

And I found this in the Dollar Store Crafts archive, which I think would be an awesome modern take on the decorative ball: Thumbtack Armored Ball (just omit the ornament-hanging loop).

I also like these Temari-inspired thread-covered balls, also found in the Dollar Store Crafts archive.

I hope this gets you started, Jessica! And if anyone else has made some of these decorative balls or has a good dollar store idea for them, let me know!

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