If you’re into anything that has to do with photography, Photojojo is an amazing site full of DIY tips, tricks, and projects for all aspects of picture-taking.  This idea reminds me of the old slide shows that people used to put together for loved ones – remember those?  Next time you go on a vacation or dig up a bunch of old family photos, you too can have a slide show…  Using your smartphone!  How seriously cool is that?  All you need is about $1 worth of materials and a blank wall, and it’s like you’ve got a little movie theatre in your pocket!  (Got Netflix on your phone?  Grab some popcorn and have a movie night!)  Projectors are also handy when you are trying to enlarge an image for a project, such as painting a logo on a wall.  This might be the handiest use for a cardboard box you’ve ever seen!  [how to turn your smartphone into a projector]

Project estimate:

• Smartphone, on hand
• Magnifying glass, $1
• Cardboard box, on hand
• Paper clip, on hand
• Black paint, on hand or $1
• Electrical tape, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

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So, you have this absolutely incredible idea for making a necklace.  You get halfway through making it and, as you sift through your collection of findings, realize that you are out of bails (the little parts you glue into pendants that allow a chain to pass through).  Don’t panic!  Thanks to Disney at Ruffles and Stuff, if you have a paperclip laying around, you can fashion your own!  With a few basic essentials that should be in every jewelry maker’s arsenal, you’ll be able to bail yourself out of your supply shortage in no time.  (Okay, go ahead and groan.  I blame my father the Pun Master for my sense of humor!)  Would you ever know that all of the pendants shown here are hung using paperclips?  True story!  [how to make paperclip jewelry bails]

Project estimate:

• Paperclip, on hand
• Wire cutters, on hand
• Jewelry pliers, on hand
• Jump ring, on hand

Total:  FREE!

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Paper clips have to be one of the seven wonders of DIY world. MacGuyver never went anywhere without one! These fabulous chandeliers are made from paper clips – amazing, aren’t they? I found out about the paper clip chandelier thanks to a Craftster dollar store crafting swap I’m currently participating in. Craftster user skullseamstress created the lamp entirely from dollar store materials, using a tutorial she purchased from Re:Design Technologies on Etsy. Skullseamstress posted a nice flickr set of her paper clip chandelier including making it and packing it to ship to her swap partner. [click here for the paperclip chandelier gallery]

As for the tutorial for making this fabulous chandelier, check out the Re:Design Technologies Etsy shop. You can get all the instructions for four different chandelier designs for less than $15 (as of my typing this – but they’re having a sale a the moment), or choose one design for $6.50. You can also check out the Re:Design blog.

Here are skullmistress’s supplies for the chandelier.

Project Estimate:

• 3 Picture hanging kits, $3
• 6 boxes of paper clips, $6

Total: $9 (plus the cost of the instructions, if needed)

The post Make a Fabulous Paper Clip Chandelier appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

You can find colored paperclips at the dollar store, and you’ll be able to make at least ten rings from one box of paperclips. If you don’t need ten rings, try this recent paperclip project: coiled paperclip bracelet.

Project Estimate:

• Colored paperclips, on hand or $1
• Needle-nose pliers, on hand or $1

Total:  FREE and up

The post Make a Paperclip Ring appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Here’s a creative use for paperclips that will entertain your grade-schooler or tween for hours this summer, so break this project out at the first sign of the summer vacation “I’m boreds!” Craftster user maddiekins posted a tutorial for this interesting bracelet on Craftster. [click here for original thread] [thanks to Sister Diane for finding this one]

Project Estimate:

• Colored paperclips, $1
• Pencil, on hand

Total: $1

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