Yes, that’s right, this fabulous necklace is made out of a folder.  Yes, the kind you tuck papers into for safe keeping.  Yes, we’re just as amazed as you are!  Always the clever one when it comes to making jewelry from oddball objects, Michelle from Mich L. in L.A. figured out how to fashion colorful folders she found at the dollar store into a whole array of fashionable jewelry, including this mod necklace.  School supplies have never been so chic!  [how to turn folders into jewelry]

Project estimate:

• Folders, $1 and up
• Jewelry findings, on hand
• Chain, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Turn Folders into Jewelry appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When you think of popsicle stick crafts, you probably don’t think of chic decor projects.  Well, think again!  At The Cheese Thief, crafty mastermind Rena steamed and bent the wooden sticks, allowing them to slide into the vase and form various patterns.  She experimented with a couple of different arrangements, but my favorite is this helix design.  Her blog post even includes a video showing the process of bending the popsicle sticks!  [how to make a popsicle stick helix vase]

Project estimate:

• Vase, on hand or $1
• Popsicle sticks, on hand or $1
• Pot, on hand
• Steamer, on hand
• Water, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Popsicle Stick Helix Vase appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Like a jewelry wizard or a crafty alchemist, Michelle from Mich L in L.A. is continually wowing us with her innovative creations, constantly taking the most unexpected bits and pieces and assembling them into treasures that are both beautiful and funky.  She recently challenged her readers to guess the “secret ingredient” in this necklace, the bottle-like portion that encloses the charm.  Would your answer have been…  a pacifier?!  Yes, a baby pacifier!  On the clever scale, Michelle definitely turned it up to 11 this time!  [how to make a bottle charm necklace]

Project estimate:

• Pacifier, $1
• Charms, beads, or other small embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• Jewelry findings, on hand or $1
• Chain, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Bottle Charm Necklace appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you’ve always wanted to serve eggs in fancy cups but you don’t have any egg cups around the house, here is a downright brilliant solution.  Peaches, the colorful and creative mind behind Aunt Peaches, assembled a whole set of them using only plastic Easter eggs and some glue!  Even if you don’t use them at mealtime, they make an adorable addition to your holiday centerpiece or mantle display.  You could also take this process a step farther and add other embellishments to your egg cups, such as tying a ribbon around them or adding beads or sequins.  [how to make inexpensive egg cups]

Project estimate:

• Plastic eggs, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Coffee filters (optional), on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Inexpensive Egg Cups appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Chances are if someone handed you a package of ponytail holders, the kind with the little plastic balls, you would associate them with little girls in pigtails.  Would you ever guess that they could be used to make grown-up, sophisticated jewelry?  Shannon from Madigan Made used a set of them to create a beaded necklace with an ombre color scheme; since the holes in the “beads” are drilled off-center, they automatically create a lovely zig-zag pattern when strung!  She also used sandpaper to give some of the shiny beads a matte finish, adding even more visual interest to a piece that makes a big statement on a small budget!  [how to make a ponytail holder necklace]

Project estimate:

• Ponytail holders, $1 and up
• Sandpaper (optional), on hand
• Ribbon, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Ponytail Holder Necklace appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Maybe you have a family heirloom ring that you would like to display.  Maybe you want a pretty place to put your own ring when you are doing the dishes.  Whatever your reason for making them, these recycled egg carton ring holders by Kathy at Merriment Design are ingenious!  She cleverly manipulated the egg carton and transformed it so completely that no one will ever guess what you used to make it.  And they cost just about nothing to create!  [how to make recycled egg carton ring displays]

Project estimate:

• Egg carton, on hand
• Metal washer, on hand or about 5 cents
• Paint, on hand
• X-acto knife, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  Free or about 5 cents

The post Make Recycled Egg Carton Ring Holders appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Yes, you read that right.  You can make your own pencils out of paper!  When I saw this project the first thing I said was, “woah!”  Using pencil leads (look for the larger-diameter leads for mechanical or drafting pencils) and origami paper, Kimanh from Scissors Paper Wok made the coolest.pencils.ever.  You could also try paper-wrapping the refills for stick ink pens, or look for colored leads…  Or, if you were so inclined, you could even use this technique to fancy up your crayons!   [how to make paper pencils]

Project estimate:

• Pencil leads, about $4
• Paper, on hand or $1 and up
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total:  about $4 and up

The post Make Paper Pencils appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

With Christmas just a few days away, chances are if you are still searching for decorating ideas, you want quick, cheap, and easy.  Ideas like this ornament tree from Diane at In My Own Style, which uses an empty ribbon spool and a knitting needle to create a base.  Genius!  They take just minutes to assemble, and when the time comes to pack everything away, they are just as quick to take apart.  (This is especially good news if you plan to use a collection of vintage or family heirloom ornaments, since there is no gluing or other potentially damaging process involved!)  [how to make a tabletop ornament tree]

Project estimate:

• Christmas ornaments, on hand or $1 and up
• Knitting needle, on hand or $1
• Ribbon spool, on hand
• Scrapbook paper, on hand
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Tabletop Ornament Tree appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We love our pal Michelle from Mich L. in L.A., who has a knack for making extraordinary jewelry out of ordinary (and often quite random) objects.  She created these wonderfully curvy jewels using something you’ve probably never considered wearing around your neck: plastic vampire teeth!  Some clever alteration and assembly totally transforms them from a cheap novelty item into a unique and elegant look.  How does she think of so many brilliant things?  [how to make vampire teeth jewelry]

Project estimate:

• Vampire teeth, $1
• Filigree shapes, $1 and up
• Head pins, on hand or $1
• Findings, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $2 and up

The post Make Vampire Teeth Jewelry appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Jewelry that serves an additional function is something I’ve always appreciated.  (Hence my love of lockets and the like.)  Our ever-so-crafty Malaysian pal PC from MeiJo’s Joy brings us a new twist on jewelry with storage space; her zipper cuff bracelet opens up to reveal enough space for some spare change, a folded-up note, or other small items.  It’s perfect for wearing with outfits lacking pocket space!  I’ve been seeing zipper accessories everywhere lately, so this idea is also the perfect addition to a back-to-school wardrobe.  [how to make a zip-up cuff bracelet]

Project estimate:

• Zipper, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand
• Embroidery floss, on hand
• Snaps, on hand or $1
• Beads, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Zip-Up Cuff Bracelet appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.