Googly eyes… they’re not just for kids’ crafts anymore! Lately, the humble googly eye has seen some high fashion times. The Blonds featured a knockout googly eyed jumper in their Fall 2011 show. I will give a $50 Dollar Tree gift card to the first person who makes a googly eye jumper and sends me the photo!! Christian Louboutin designed the “Déjà Vu” heels – black slingbacks that are covered in googly eyes, and my friend Kristin over at Glitter ‘N Glue (who has been ROCKING at the DIY fashion tutorials lately), made a pair of lookalike Louboutins featuring wiggle eyes. [diy googly eye slingbacks]

Project Estimate:

• Pair of slingback pumps, on hand or $10 and up*
• 3+ packages of googly eyes, $3 and up
• E-6000 glue, on hand

Total: $3 and up

*I got the $10 price tag from New Dress a Day’s version of these shoes. She got hers for $9.99 at Ross.

This is just one of Kristin’s many recent Halloween-inspired fashion-forward projects, but I chose to feature them because I am such a fan of googly eyes! If this project doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps a pair of kids’ shoes covered with googly eyes would be more fun! Or maybe a headband covered in googly eyes, just as a nod to the fashion trend. Or maybe you will enjoy these Googly Eye Nails by Robin Moses Nail Art.

The post Fashion: DIY Louboutin Googly Eye Slingbacks appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

A couple weeks ago, Aunt Peaches challenged herself to “make One Pretty Thing out of Two Ugly Things using $2.00 or less.” The result of her personal challenge was this pair of shoes, which she made by cutting an ugly clown needlepoint tapestry into strips and applying the strips to a pair of satin dyed-teal bridesmaid pumps.  Oh, the possibilities of using this technique to make custom-crafted shoes! [how to make needlepoint pumps for $2]

Sidenote: I found a pair of Ralph Lauren needlepoint pumps for about $800 retail. Aunt Peaches’ pumps are considerably more punk rock than these, though!

Project Estimate:

• Pair of old shoes, $1 or on hand
• Old needlepoint (or other material of your choice), $1
• Glue (white glue, Mod Podge, or other), on hand
• Optional, thread for embellishment stitches

Total: $1 and up

A note about Aunt Peaches: Definitely one of my favorite blogs. I’m in love with her sense of humor and outrageously-written posts, and she is fun, funky, and innovative (three of my favorite things in a craft blogger. Sorry if you don’t like the adjective funky, Aunt Peaches — I hear some people don’t!). I could easily post one of the projects from her site every week!

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Back in high school, I had a crafty friend who would tie together a few bandannas and make a cute halter top for sunbathing summer days. I have never been that brave, but I’ve always admired the ingenuity! …love Maegan has come up with a fashion-forward twist on the old bandanna top by creating a silk scarf and safety pin top that is inspired by a Vena Cava design, and is completely no sew! She has full instructions on her blog, so go find out [how to make a silk scarf and safety pin bandanna]

The dollar store doesn’t carry silk scarves, but you can find silk scarves at thrift stores or estate sales, or use a bandanna, piece of stash fabric, cut-up t-shirt, etc.

Project Estimate:

• Silk scarf, on hand or thrifted
• Large safety pins, $1

Total: $1 and up

The post Make a Scarf & Safety Pin Tank Top appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Appalled at the world’s most expensive handbag, the Hermes Birkin, Craftster brainybee was inspired to make “a decent copy out of garbage.” She cut up an old catalog, glued squares of it to some newspaper, and then ironed adhesive vinyl on the front. She lined it with scrap satin, and made faux crocodile out of painted duct tape. She also added a trash-picked lock for hardware, and upholstery tacks for “feet.” Save $199,998.00 and make it yourself. [click here for project info]

Here’s a photo of an original crocodile skin Hermes Birkin bag.

Project Estimate:

• Old catalog, on hand
• Clear contact paper, $1
• Interfacing, on hand
• Scrap fabric for lining, on hand
• Duct tape, on hand or $1
• Lock, on hand or $1
• Upholstery tacks, $1

Total: $2 and up

The post Make a Trashcycled Hermes Birkin Bag appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Save $1315.00 and make this Lanvin-inspired ribbon and pearl necklace with dollar store stuff! In case you haven’t noticed, Jessica at Happy Together consistently comes up with super-awesome projects, so hop over there and check them out! [link to full necklace instructions here]

Thanks to reader Kristi for the tip!

My dollar store usually stocks a good selection of ribbon, but if yours doesn’t, the big-box craft stores always have a lot of ribbon, and any fabric store should have some in stock. You can vary the beading with any big beads (with large enough holes to accommodate the ribbon) you can find–this would be a great opportunity to tear apart an old piece of jewelry that just doesn’t work for you. You can also vary the look of the necklace greatly depending on the materials and colors you choose. What if you used leather lacing and wooden beads to make a more rustic-looking necklace? I would love to see this necklace with some big tiffany blue cut glass-looking beads and coordinating ribbon.

Project Estimate:

• Grosgrain ribbon (or other ribbon), $1
• 4 large beads, on hand or $1
• Fabric or Tacky Glue, on hand
• Large crochet hook, on hand or about $2
• Plastic yarn needle, on hand
• Candle or lighter, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

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

Using these Marc Jacobs tassel earrings as inspiration, Cara at Carbon Couture posted a tutorial on how to make lookalike high-fashion earrings. You should be able to find nearly all your supplies at the dollar store to make this great dollar store craft. Cara, quickly becoming my own personal go-to guru for style, said “These ornate tassel earrings will surely lift your spirits – and ensembles – for the remaining months of winter!”

You can substitute some of the listed materials for things you have on hand, or can find at the dollar store. For instance, if you don’t feel like picking up jewelry/beading supplies at the craft store, look for a suitable pair of earrings you can hack at the dollar store (or use an unloved pair you already own). You can use sewing thread or fishing line to stand in for the head pins and jewelry wire.

The box of safety pins I picked up at the dollar store have different sizes of pins, so you can mimic the mismatched pins used by Marc Jacobs.

Project Estimate:

• Two tassels, $1 (or make your own)
• Two earring posts, $1
• Two head pins, $1
• Safety pins, $1
• Jewelry wire, $1
• Various beads, $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Scissors, on hand

Total cost: $6

The post Make High Fashion Tassel Earrings appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Desiree Haigh Photography posted this DIY Hermes-looking leather tassel key ring that cost her less than $10 to make. The inspiration key ring had a hefty pricetag of $195!

You probably won’t find a hunk of leather to work with at the dollar store, but you can do like Desiree did and find an old leather garment at Goodwill to cut up for this and many other projects. I have a suede shirt and a leather skirt, both from the Goodwill Outlet (yep, there’s an OUTLET, baby! $1.39 a pound!) that I have socked away for any leather-necessary crafting. If you are a die-hard Dollar Store crafter, you can get the ring at the dollar store!

Here’s the inspiration Hermes key ring. It was also made in lime green, orange, blue. Props to you if you can find a pink leather skirt to cut up!

Project Estimate:

• Leather garment to cut up, $5-10
• Key ring, $1
• Hot glue, on hand

Total cost: $6 and up

Project via One Pretty Thing, via Design*Sponge.

The post Make a High Fashion Key Ring appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Chloe at Fashionista posted this DIY project for getting the look of these large dangly leather earrings from Miuccia Prada’s Resort 2009 collection. She cleverly saved hundreds (thousands?) of dollars to get this look by making these earrings herself out of leather samples and a variety of shiny embellishments like rhinestones and sequins. You can also find packs of leather scraps at craft stores for $5 or so. You will probably need to hit the craft store if you want to get the crystals and nailheads, etc.

Project Estimate:

• 2 Black leather pieces, 3×5″ each, $1 (or free, if you use Chloe’s suggestion of getting leather samples.)
• Sequins $1
• Crystals $1 and up
• Rhinestones $1
• Hammered nailheads $1
• Earring posts $1
• Jump rings $1
• Glue (E6000 will work) on hand

Total Cost: $7 or so

Like Chloe says on the tutorial “Pra-daaaah!”

The post Make Prada-Inspired Leather Earrings appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Cara at Carbon Couture advises how to capture this upcoming hot look inspired by several high fashion designers’ spring 2009 looks. Marc by Marc Jacobs and Aurelio Costarella both showcased the multiple-belt layered look, and you can have it, too, with this super simple fashion DIY project.

Simply take two belts and buckle them together, making one long belt. Wrap them around your waist twice and buckle. Instant wow! Be sure to visit Carbon Couture for more info and photos on this technique.

Project Estimate:

• 2 Belts, $2
• Paint (optional, depending on the belts you find at the dollar store!) $2

Total cost: $2 and up

The post How to High Fashion: Double Belts appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Cara at Carbon Couture shows us how to make some fabulous jeweled heels inspired by Alber Elbaz’s design for the Lanvin Spring/Summer 2009 line. These heels will brighten up your winter, and bring you through spring and summer, so fashion yourself up a pair and step out in style!

You might need to venture beyond your dollar store for the supplies for this high fashion-inspired project, but it will be well worth it! You can find the paint and crystals at your local craft or fabric store (or even at W*l-m*rt… shh, I didn’t say that name).

Project Estimate:

• Black Heels (on hand or Cara found at Old Navy – currently $14.99 as of this post)
• Gold Paint $1
• Assorted rhinestones/crystals $3 and up
• Glue (superglue or E6000) on hand
• Masking Tape
• Paint Brush

Project total: $4 and up

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