Recycled cassette tapes and zip ties combine to make a super-cool retro lamp. OOO My Design made this lamp, and I love how the mismatched tapes look when they’re lit up. If I made this lamp, I would want to make it into a pendant lamp (perhaps because my house doesn’t have any built-in overhead lamps, so I always want more overhead light). You can find the zip ties at the dollar store, and the cassette tapes at thrift stores. [cassette tape lamp]

Project Estimate:

• 31 cassette tapes, about $.25 each = $8
• About 100 zip-ties, $5
• Pendant light kit, $4 (at IKEA)

Total: $17ish

Save money: omit zip ties and attach tapes with hot glue or E-6000.

There aren’t any instructions for making this lamp, but if I were making it, I would assemble stacks of 3 cassette tapes together, then attach the 3-stacks together by twos so you have five sides of six tapes each. Then build your cassette tape box and attach at the corners. Attach top side last.

For a pendant lamp, you would need to figure out a way to make a hole in the middle of the top side. Any good ideas of how to do it?

The post Make a Cassette Tape Lamp appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you haven’t heard about the Iron Craft challenge going on this year, you should definitely check it out!  Each week, they are issuing a new themed challenge for crafters to complete.  The theme for the first week was “Lighting the Winter Gloom,” with a call for crafts related to candles, lamps, and other light sources.  There were a lot of fabulous entries, but one in particular really caught my eye.  Claire from Poopscape hacked an Ikea lamp by covering it with black and white photo negatives.  I love the way it looks with the light shining though it.  You can use whatever photo negatives you have on hand for the project.  I think it would be neat to make them using negatives from specific events, like a family reunion or vacation photos!  [how to make a photo negative lamp]

Project estimate:

• Ikea Grönö lamp, $6.99
• Photo negatives, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total: $6.99

The post Make a Photo Negative Lamp appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I got to go shopping at IKEA all by myself a couple weeks ago! Our IKEA is about an hour away from my house, so I don’t get to visit it as often as I’d like. I was in a hurry, but it was still great to get to go all by myself (parents of toddlers, you know what I mean!). I took a few quick pictures of some things I found there. [subscribe to video]

Crocheted Appliques: about $5

There are five to a package, so that makes these crocheted motifs about $1 each. They are good for all kinds of embellishment, from clothing, to tote bags, pillows, and more. What would you do with these?

4 spools of thread: $3

You can get a pack of neutrals (white, cream, and black) or brights (navy, red, yellow, green). Great price!

Pair of curtain sheers: $7

Good price for a pair of curtain sheers that you can us for all kinds of different things (including just using them on your windows — mindblowing, I know!)

Throw Pillows: $4

This is just about the best price you can find on throw pillows. Use them as is (they come in green, red, black, and maybe one or two other colors) or sew custom pillow covers for them. Decorator pillows usually cost about $20 and up, pillow inserts cost about $8 at Joann’s.

Rugs: $40

I love these colorful 5×7 rugs! For only $40, they bring a lot of color and fun to a room. Perfect for a kid bedroom, or any area where you want some modern color.

Hear about what I bought (and see my cute baby, and hear my cute 2 year-old) in this video, or read on to see photos of what I bought.

Cupcake liners: $.99

These are the same cupcake liners used in the Cupcake Light Garland that we all loved a couple months ago.

Silicone Heart Mold: $2

Silicone Molds are great for so many projects!

• Molded Papier-Mache
• Molded Sugar
• Melt and Pour Soap on a Rope
• Chocolate Pops
• Recycled Wax Scented Tarts
• Heart Brittle Candy
• Molded Peppermint Bark
• Molded Crayons

Upholstery-weight fabric: $5/yd

I like the scandinavian print on this fabric, and even though I have a policy against buying fabric (I have too much of it!), I got a yard of this. You could use it to upholster chairs, sew tote bags, staple onto a frame to make wall art, make a backpack, or sew just about anything.

As Is Frame: $3

This frame is covered with fabric, and cost just $3 in the As Is section. There’s nothing wrong with it — it was just used on the display floor. When you go to IKEA, be sure to check out the As Is section for great deals on furniture and other random pieces.

Gift Wrap: Assorted prices, from $2

I love the navy, red, and white color scheme IKEA has going on in its Christmas section this year, and they have good quality gift wrap. I hate to say this, but I don’t usually get wrapping paper at the dollar store because it’s too flimsy to do a good job wrapping medium and large gifts. Bonus: this gift wrap isn’t holiday specific, so you can use it year-round without looking like a skinflint!

Dala Horse Pan: $9

I think it was $9. I splurged on this pan (with a large and small pan) because I love Swedish Dala Horses, and I’m kind of a sucker for anything cookie cutter-y or cutely shaped. Pam at Gingerbread Snowflakes has a very fun Scandinavian Holiday and Craft round up on her site right now, including some great Dala Horse Crafts.

Large Reusable Shopping Bag: $.59

IKEA doesn’t have free plastic shopping bags anymore, but it’s all right because for just $.59 they sell you these huge reusable shopping bags. I LOVE these things! I use them for everything from bringing tons of groceries home, to diaper bags/suitcases for overnight trips with my three sons, to whisking away toys when I’m straightening up the house. If you don’t have any of these in your life, you should get some!

Other Resources:

Check out IKEA Hacker — kind of like a Dollar Store Crafts for IKEA stuff

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Make a sculptural hanging lamp with this simple supply found at the home improvement store. Arounna of Bookhou created this lamp for poppytalk using an Ikea pendant light and some wood veneer strips. Although it’s not strictly from dollar store supplies, I thought you would be interested in this idea! Arounna suggests using paper strips if you can’t get wood veneer strips. Now paper, that’s what I’m talking about. [how to make a wood veneer pendant lamp]

Project Estimate:

• strips of wood veneer, $6 (at Amazon)
• white glue, on hand
• large clips (or clothes pins), on hand
• HEMMA ikea light, $4

Total: $10 and up

The post Make a Woven Wooden Lamp appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Over at Apartment Therapy, AT reader Ashley made this ethereal pendant lamp, inspired by an upscale ostrich feather lamp. She used some common materials that can be found at your local stores, and for less than twelve dollars, made this great statement lamp. [pendant lamp makeover at Apartment Therapy]

Ashley got some of her materials at IKEA, which is a great resource for cheap decor materials. I have also seen paper lanterns in the dollar aisle at Michael’s craft store, or at Daiso (the Japanese dollar store) for $1.50, although they are probably not as large as the paper lantern shown in the project.

Project Estimate:

• Wax paper, $1
• Clear tape, $.50
• Paper lantern, $6
• Electric pendant lamp cord, $3.99

Total: $11.68

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