If you only have a few minutes and a few dollars with which to put together your Halloween costume this year, this cactus costume is a win in both departments! Over at Brit + Co, Kirsten shares this super simple idea that is over-the-top adorable. If you don’t have a green dress or shirt on hand that you can use for this project, keep an eye out a thrift stores to pick one up for cheap. For a less-flowery version you could use a green stocking cap with pipe cleaners attached to top the outfit off instead. [how to make a cactus costume]

Project estimate:

• Green dress or shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• White pipe cleaners, on hand or $1
• Headband, on hand or $1
• Faux flower, $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: $1 and up!

The post Make a Cactus Costume appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

One of our favorite flip flop crafts is the flip flop wreath, and now that summer stuff is back on the shelves it’s the perfect time to make one!  Here is my version of the flip flop wreath, embellished with fake flowers and some other summery items.

Project estimate:

• 6 pairs Flip Flops, $6
• Bubbles, on hand or $1
• Flamingo sunglasses, $1
• Lei, bracelet, and other accessories, $1 and up
• Silk ivy, $1
• Silk flowers, $1
• Sea shells, on hand or $1
• Pinwheel, $1
• Foam core board, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Wire or ribbon, on hand

Total: $11 and up

Arrange your flip flops in a circle and establish what size to cut your foam core. A dinner plate was the perfect size for mine.

Cut 2 circles the same size and about 2″ wide and glue them together. Add a piece of ribbon or wire for your hanger. Tie it around the circles as shown.

Position the flip flops on to the circles and generously hot glue them down, one at a time. If you overlap the heels, like I did, glue the overlapping flip flop on the circle and the flip flop next to it. You will need to hold it down until the glue cools.

Glue the Ivy leaves so that they hide any pieces of the foam core.

Add the sun glasses, bottle of bubble (emptied) and the lei so that they form a triangle. Use hot glue and hold them in place until the hot glue cools.

Add the silk flowers. Place them on the flip flops and when you decide where they are going to go, hot glue them one at a time until they are all glued.

Add the sea shells, gluing them in the area shown in the image. Apply enough glue on the edges so that it runs down onto the flip flops before it cools.

Notes:
-Hold all the items down until the hot glue cools.
-Hot glue sticks melt at 248 degrees F. Unless your flip flop wreath gets extremely hot, it will be fine.

The post Tutorial: Flip Flop Wreath appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Maybe you’re redecorating a room around a specific piece.  Maybe you’re DIY-ing a wedding.  Whatever the reason, there may come a time that you find yourself needing a certain color of fake flowers, but you can’t find just the right shade.  What do you do?  You paint ’em!  Over at DIY Candy you can find a tutorial showing how to take a bouquet of faux floral from almost to just right, all with a little bit of spray paint!  [how to paint fake flowers]

Project estimate:

• Fake flowers, $1 and up
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Painting Fake Flowers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Silk flowers and leaves can be hard to use in a classy way. Nothing says “tacky” quite as loudly as obviously fake flowers pretending to look real. As Melissa from The Happier Homemaker discovered, paint is a great way to give faux flowers a classy makeover. Naturally inspired elements with a little bling are always a win! [how to make a gold gilded leaf garland]

Project estimate:

• Silk leaves, $1 and up
• Jute twine, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand
• Gold paint, $1 and up

Total: $2 and up

The post Make a Gold Gilded Leaf Garland appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Oh, fake flowers.  I love that you last indefinitely and that this forgetful girl doesn’t have to remember to water you.  But I hate that you look so, well…  fake.  If you share this sentiment, you’ll be pleased to see this great how-to from Diane at In My Own Style.  By combining two different types of fake flowers, she came up with a bouquet that looks like a bunch of hydrangeas fresh out of the garden!  Your house guests will have to give them a very close inspection to discover your secret.  Would you have guessed that these weren’t the real deal?  [how to make fake flowers look real]

Project estimate:

• Tissue paper, on hand or $1
• Wire, on hand or $1
• Silk flowers, $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Fake Flowers Look Real appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Wedding season is almost upon us once again!  Are you or anyone you know preparing for the Big Day?  Wedding crafts are among the most popular category of dollar store crafts; when planning a wedding on a budget (and who isn’t these days?) even those who’ve never crafted a day in their lives pick up their glue guns and DIY as much as possible in the name of saving money.  We’ve rounded up some of our favorite wedding-related dollar store crafts.  Wondering what kinds of things you should look for at the dollar store for your wedding crafts?  All of these crafts involve items you can find at Dollar Tree.

[Tissue Paper]

[Balloons]

[Tissue Paper Balloon Lanterns by Kleas]

If you’re looking for an economical, DIY alternative to store-bought paper lanterns, try this easy idea incorporating balloons and tissue paper.  The resulting papier-mache-like lanterns can be customized easily by using tissue paper in your wedding colors.

[White Wedding Favor Boxes]

[Heart Favor Boxes by Shindig Parties To Go]

This project was originally made for Valentine’s Day, but it translates well to weddings!  Using colorful scrapbook paper, plain white favor boxes are transformed into festive heart favor boxes!  Replace the colors and embellishments however you see fit to make them match your wedding theme; the technique remains the same.

[All-Occasion Gift Wrap]

[Fruit Drop Candies]

[Extra Large Star Party Favors by The Cheese Thief]

These origami star favors are super economical; just a few rolls of wrapping paper is all you need to make enough for all of your guests!  Tuck hard candies or other treats inside as a special surprise for the recipients.

[Clear Cello Wrap]

[Cellophane Origami Star Garland by The Cheese Thief]

Once you’ve mastered folding origami stars, grab a roll of cello wrap and some string to make this crystal-like star garland.  Hang them alongside clear Christmas lights for a little bit of elegant sparkle!

[Silk Roses]

[Round Candle Holders]

[Rose Votive Candle Holders by Two Crafty Mules]

Don’t know what to do with all of those silk flowers in the craft department at Dollar Tree?  If you can find roses in the right colors for your wedding, make rose votive holders!  Look for glass candle holders that are rounded to make a nicely-shaped flower.

[Serving Trays]

[Taper Candle Holders]

[Colorful Tiered Trays by Joy’s Hope]

Tiered trays are one of the most popular varieties of dollar store craft.  This variation, assembled from serving trays and candlesticks, uses spray paint to add a pop of color.  (If you use paint that is not food-safe, make sure you do not place food items directly on the trays; use a barrier such as cocktail napkins or cupcake liners to keep your guests safe!)

[Crepe Paper Streamers]

[Crepe Paper Flower Corsages by Under the Table and Dreaming]

Let’s not forget one of the handmade goodies you will need for members of your wedding party and for distinguished guests: corsages!  While crepe paper streamers are a party decorating staple, fashioning them into frilly flowers is a twist you might not have considered!

What are your favorite wedding crafts using dollar store items?

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by DollarTree.com.  All opinions are 100% my own.

The post Shopping at DollarTree.com: Wedding Edition appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.