If one of your resolutions this year was to use up the stuff in your craft stash, here is a great project for busting that fabric stash! Over at The Fashion Dummy, you will find instructions for making easy and adorable animal zipper pouches. It’s quickest to make these with a sewing machine, but if you don’t have one, it’s a small enough project that hand sewing is pretty easy. Change the shape of the ears and the facial features to create a whole zoo of fun pouches! [how to make animal zipper pouches]

Project estimate:

• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Zipper, about $1 and up
• Fabric glue, on hand or about $2 and up
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand
• Marker or fabric paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total: about $1 and up

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We aren’t the only ones going flip flop crazy right now – Laura from The Experimental Home is also doing a series of flip flop makeovers! One of her projects was this pair that has zippers for straps. Aren’t they just adorable? You could even take this a step farther and embellish them with zipper flowers if you are of the more-is-more mindset. Make sure you check out the rest of her flip flop redo projects as well – he has some great ideas! [how to make zipper flip flops]

Project estimate:

• Flip flops, on hand or $1
• Zippers, about $2 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: about $2 and up

The post Make Zipper Flip Flops 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.

When secret stashbuster Caro of Caro’s Thrifty Adventures opened up her magical box of goodies and saw fabric and a zipper she panicked for a moment, since she doesn’t fancy herself much of a seamstress.  She shook it off, got to brainstorming, and came up with this project that incorporated both without requiring her to pick up a needle and thread:  a framed monogram with subtle detailing that makes it quite elegant.  Since she’s an avid paper crafter, she had a bunch of letter stickers and chipboard letters on hand; if you don’t happen to have any in your stash, check out Dollar Tree for stick-on craft foam letters that will give the same dimensional effect.  [how to make a monogram frame]

Project estimate:

• Picture frame, on hand or $1
• Letter stickers, on hand or $1 and up
• Chipboard letters, on hand or $1 and up
• Fabric, on hand
• Zipper, on hand or $1 and up
• Embellishments, on hand
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Cardboard, on hand
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Secret Stashbuster Project: Make a Monogram Frame appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Over at The Polkadot Chair, I found this cute idea: make a zippy pouch for wet stuff out of a shower curtain! This cool flamingo shower curtain was on sale at Target, but if you don’t mind plain, the dollar store has shower curtains, too. Sure, summer is almost over (hello, August!), but wet pouches are useful for lots of other applications. Moms of diaper-wearers, raise your hands! Author Melissa said she likes using shower curtains because they come in cute prints and they offer a lot of yardage at a good price. [how to make a zippy waterproof pouch]

Other ideas for stuff you can make with shower curtains: diaper changing pads, oversized totes for workout, pool or beach, waterproof fitted sheets for a crib. Consider using shower curtain material for any project that would benefit from being waterproof. Don’t forget you can reuse your old shower curtains too. Just toss them in the washer with a teeny bit of bleach and allow them to dry before you cut into them.

Project Estimate:

• Shower curtain, $1 and up
• Zipper, $1 and up
• Sewing stuff, on hand

Total: $2 and up

The post Make a Zippy Pouch from Shower Curtain appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

The awesome zipper ideas keep coming from our Super Secret Stashbusting crafters! This time, Heather at Wax Eloquent came up with this brand new never-before-seen way to use zippers. She took some zippers I sent her (in a completely crazy envelope of mismatching stuff), and turned them into a great cuff. This is a no-sew project, and a great way to use up old zippers (I have a thrifted bag of zippers that weighs about ten pounds, so keep the zipper ideas coming, kids!) [click here for the zipper cuff tutorial]

Project Estimate:

• 4 zippers, on hand or $1 each
• Ribbon, on hand
• Cardboard roll, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand
• Elmer’s glue, on hand

Total: FREE and up

The post Make a Zipper Cuff appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Super secret stashbuster Mich L. started her blog JUST to show off what she is making from the envelope o’ randomness I sent her. She has challenged herself to make TEN things from the envelope – I love the ambition. So far she’s made three things, all great. The third project is a showstopper! She used some zippers to make pretty necklaces (and the black part of the pendant is also a secret ingredient from the dollar store!). [click here to get the zipper necklace tutorial]

Project Estimate:

• Nylon zipper, $1
• Ribbon ends, $1
• Chain, $1
• Stuff from your stash for the pendant, on hand

Total: $3

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

I love the texture of jewelry and accessories made from metal zippers. This rose brooch is an especially nice mix of hard-edged and softness. If you have a center for reclaimed materials near you, you might be able to get a deal on metal-toothed zippers for this project. (I just visited SCRAP in Portland, and it had an AMAZING selection of recycled materials, including zippers. I know there are similar stores in Austin and San Francisco — check the “road trip” section here for a list of other cities with similar programs. Anyone else have one nearby? Sound off in the comments.) [click here for zipper brooch instructions] via [my favorite source for recycled fashion and design ideas]

Project Estimate:
*2 Coats & Clark Brass Coverall Zipper 22″ Black or zipper trim, about $4 and up
*Pin back, on hand (Westrim Pin Back 1″ Silver 60pc)
*Needle & thread, on hand

Total: $4 and up

p.s. I am trying a new affiliate program out. I know it’s kind of clunky to have the links to products in the list, but if you need a source for these products, Create For Less is a good online source for cheap supplies. Click one of the links in the list to go to the store. If you buy, I get a teeny percentage.

p.p.s. On a personal note, I took last weekend off because I was moving! Still sorting out the internet connection at the new place! Don’t worry, I’ll try to make sure you get a dose of dollar store goodness this weekend! Oh, and I got some goodie bags of cool stuff when I visited SCRAP that I will be giving away very soon! Stay tuned.

The post Make a Zipper Brooch appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Finnish designers Greta Muuri and Isla Myllys have done some interesting work with recycled materials, including some work with cassette tapes (and the tape that comes in them). I personally love recycled audio equipment crafts, and this is another great addition to the projects we’ve been collecting here on Dollar Store Crafts. [how to make a cassette tape bracelet]

You probably won’t find a cassette tape at the dollar store, but chances are you already have one on hand that you wouldn’t mind using for this project, or you can pick one up at the thrift store.

Project Estimate:

• Cassette Tape, on hand or about $.25 at a thrift store
• Cotton yarn, on hand
• Cotton scrap fabric, on hand
• Zipper, on hand or $1

Total cost: FREE and up

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

Dollar Store Crafts reader Michelle was inspired by the Recycled Soda Bottle Coin Purse project to make her own. Then she took it one step further to make an entire soda bottle into a nifty holder for her iPod! Of course, you could use the bottle to hold many things. How handy would a holder like this be to toss into your diaper bag (straight into a bottle pocket!) or oversized purse? This would be a fantastic Earth Day craft for your scout troop, classroom, or other group.

Michelle’s tips for making this project:

My only advice is when cutting the bottle, to make sure to leave enough “flat lip” to sew into easily. Also, I found that using a tiny craft punch on the plastic first, made it a whiz to sew together…like those sewing cards we learned on with shoelaces as kids. LOL.

And here’s the photo of Michelle’s super-adorable coin purse!

iPod Holder Project Estimate:

• Recycled soda bottle, on hand
• Zipper, $1 or on hand
• Craft punch, on hand
• Needle & thread, on hand

Total cost: FREE to $1

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