They say times flies when you’re having fun – and that means we must’ve had lots and lots of fun this year because 2014 is drawing to a close already!  It’s always fun to look back and see what was popular with our readers over the course of the year.  What did you guys like this year?  Here’s a countdown!

10.)  Melted Peppermint Candy Christmas Ornaments

This post was also one of our tip Pinterest pins of the year, with lots of folks planning to try their own melted candy crafts.  [go to the post]

9.)  10 Hacks for Crafty Photographers

Looking to add some DIY to your bag of camera tricks?  We’ve got your covered!  [go to the post]

8.)  Natural Orange Cinnamon Cleaner

A multi-purpose cleaner with heavy duty power that smells great and is all natural – sound too good to e true?  Check it out for yourself! [go to the post]

7.)  10 Cozy No-Knit Scarves

This one from the beginning of 2014 might come in handy for you again right about now!  [go to post]

6.)  Make Twine from Scrap Fabric

All the scrap hoarders in the house say heyyyy!  See, you were saving them for a good reason.  A really good reason.  [go to the post]

5.)  Make a DIY Spice Rack

Need a cute, cheap spice rack?  DIY one out of divided organizers from the dollar store!  [go to the post]

4.)  10 Candy-Free Valentine Gift Ideas

Another one that will come in handy soon!  With more and more schools banning the exchange of candy due to food allergy concerns, you’ll definitely want to bookmark this one.  [go to the post]

3.)  10 Craft Room Organization Ideas

Tame that stash this year!  We compiled a bunch of ideas to help you out.  [go to the post]

2.)  10 Sweet Refashioned Dresses

Revamp that wardrobe on a budget by putting your crafty skills to work!  [go to the post]

1.)  10 DIY Valentine’s Day Gifts for Guys

They’re so hard to shop for sometimes, aren’t they?  Give your guy a thoughtful, handmade gift to show your love!  [go to the post]

Did you have any favorite projects this year?  Tell us in the comments!

The post Top 10 Dollar Store Crafts Posts of 2014 appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Happy Thurs-DIY! Here are eight fun projects from some of the most super-creative people around!

• Cathie Filian & Steve Piacenza: Custom Cowgirl Hat with Mod Podged Fabric
• Jaderbomb: Tie Dyed Finger Knitting
• Crafty Chica: Drawing with Tie Dye
• Mark Montano: Candy Jewelry (My Favorite Licorice Candies!)
• Dollar Store Mom: Cute Solar Table Lamp
• A Bonus Project from Mark Montano: Frozen-Inspired Floor Decor
• Us here at Dollar Store Crafts: Wire Whisk Dragonfly Garden Decoration
• Cathy Attix at Trinkets in Bloom: Origami Tie Dye

The post 8 Great DIYs to Try This Weekend appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Now that foam pumpkins are on dollar and craft store shelves everywhere, the blogosphere is going pumpkin crazy! And who can blame them? Foam pumpkins are the perfect black canvas and never rot so they can be used from year to year. Here are 25 great ideas for ways to give your pumpkin an upgrade.

[Etched Mercury Glass Pumpkins from Morena on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Punk Rock Princess Pumpkin from Carissa on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Macrame Wrapped Pumpkin from Rhonda on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Elegant Pumpkins with Ribbon and Brooches from The V-Spot]

[Easiest Lace Covered Pumpkin from Heather on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Mod Podged Book Page Pumpkin from Creative Green Living]

[Magnetic Pumpkin from Smashed Peas & Carrots]

[Antique Glazed Pumpkins from Delightfully Noted]

[Faux Pewter Pumpkins from Morena on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Decoupaged Damask Pumpkin from The V-Spot]

[Pretty Pink Pumpkin DIY from The Shed by Pet Scribbles]

[Black and Silver Pumpkins from Just Paint It!]

[Punk Rock Pumpkin from The V-Spot]

[State Pride Pumpkin from Sand & Sisal]

[Bakers Twine Pumpkins from The Country Chic Cottage]

[Pin & Pound Pumpkins from Bombshell Bling]

[Cute as a Button Pumpkin from Mom 4 Real]

[Creepy Folk Art Dollar Store Pumpkins from Rook No 17]

[Pumpkin in Chains from The V-Spot]

[Faux Bois Pumpkin from The Country Chic Cottage]

[Burlap Pumpkin from The Country Chic Cottage]

[Gold Leafed Pumpkin from Mad in Crafts]

[Gold Gilded Tack Covered Pumpkins from Madigan Made]

[Coastal Pumpkin Collection from Sand & Sisal]

[Purple Napkin Decoupaged Pumpkins from Just Paint It!]

Can’t get enough fake pumpkins? Check out last year’s Pumpkin Round Up [15 Easy Fake Pumpkin Crafts]

The post 25 Creative Ways to Upgrade Foam Pumpkins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

There is no shortage of dinosaur love happening at Dollar Store Crafts! From the dreaded T-Rex to the adorable baby triceratops, we’ve got lots of great dino crafts to help your kids (or your own inner kid!) get in touch with your paleontological side.

[Dinosaur Surprise Shirt by Morena on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Dinosaur Phone Tripod by Eat.Sleep.Make]

[Animal (and Dinosaur) Handle Party Cups from Morena on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Dinosaur Serving Dish from Three Little Monkeys Studio]

[Make Your Own Recycled Dinosaurs from Craft, Interrupted]

[Dinosaur Corn Cob Holders from resident man crafter, Mikeasaurus on Instructables]

[Dinosaur Playdough Storage Jars by Lolly Jane]

[Finger Painted Dinosaur Toys from Parents.com]

[Dinosaur Footprint Fossils from I Can Teach My Child]

[Dinosaur Magnets from C.R.A.F.T.]

[Glittered Dinosaur Ornaments by Carissa on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Dinosaur Feet from Recycled Materials on Activity Village]

[Dinosaur Bulletin Board from Oh That Ashley]

[DIY Wearable Dinosaur Tails from Running with Scissors]

[Dinosaur Finger Puppet by Heather on Dollar Store Crafts]

[Hatchable Dinosaur Eggs with Coffee Clay from Play Create Explore]

The post Rawr! 16 Dinosaur Crafts to Get You in Touch with Your Inner Paleontologist appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We recently celebrated Flip Flop Week here at DSC and shared a whole bunch of awesome ways you can redo and personalize your own inexpensive summer footwear.  To make sure you didn’t miss any of our great ideas, and to share a few new ones we’ve found in the meantime, we put together a roundup of 14 things you can do with a pair of flip flops.  Which design is your favorite?  If you have a favorite flip flop tutorial that isn’t on this list we would love to see it, so please feel free to add it in the comments at the end of the post!

When you’re done checking out all of the tutorials, please also pay a visit to Craft Hope.  Through July 10, 2013, they are collecting flip flop sandals to give to shoeless children in Nicaragua!  [learn more about the Craft Hope flip flop project]

Flip Flop Week Tutorials

[Snake Flip Flops]

[Crocheted Bandana Flip Flops]

[Survival Flip Flops]

[Mod Podged Flip Flops]

[Dream Catcher Flip Flops]

[Sassy Jungle Girl Flip Flops]

[Glow in the Dark Flip Flops]

[Googly Eye Flip Flops]

More Flip Flop Makeover Ideas

[Zipper Flip Flops from The Experimental Home]

[Ruffled Flip Flops from The Mother Huddle]

[Friendship Bracelet Strap Flip Flops from Dream a Little Bigger]

[Strappy Flip Flops from Delia Creates]

[Flip Flop Heel Straps from Shannon Makes Stuff]

[Turn Flip Flops into Slippers from Crafty Nest]

The post 14 Things to Do with a Pair of Flip Flops appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Our most recent craft challenge sponsored by Dollar Tree was a 30 minute craft challenge – just how much crafty can you cram into a half hour?  We asked, and you answered with an amazing assortment of projects!  Choosing just one winner was so tough this month – if only we could give a prize to everyone!  But alas, we only had one $100 gift card to give away, and we know you’re anxious to see who is the quick crafting challenge champ!

Meet Our Guest Judge

This time around our guest judge was Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts.  As you can guess, she is quite familiar with the idea of quick crafts!  Her site is chock full of projects you can squeeze into just about any schedule.  What can you make in a half hour or less?

[Washi Tape Flags]

[Glass Jar Roses]

[Ribbon Labels for Cords]

And now…  Let’s get down to business.

Organization Challenge Top Picks

5.  Menu Plan Board

[Menu Plan Board by Frugal Family Ties]

4.  Miniature Dollhouse Dog Crate

[Miniature Dollhouse Dog Crate by Todd & Lindsey]

3.  Hobo Bag

[Hobo Bag by Crafty Leslie]

2. Microfiber Cleaning Slippers

[Microfiber Cleaning Slippers by Housing a Forest]

And The Winner Is…

1. Rainbow Night Light Cover

[Rainbow Nightlight Cover by Suzi’s Crafts]

We love seeing simple materials turned into something spectacular, especially when it’s a cheap and quick idea.  Suzi from Suzi’s Crafts used tri-beads (an item often relegated to kiddie crafting) and safety pins to make a tiny lampshade that fits over a standard night light.  Imagine how this would make you smile as you passed it in the hallway at night!

Congratulations to Suzi, who will be the recipient of a $100 gift card from Dollar Tree.  Make sure you check out all of the entries as well – there were so many great ones that we didn’t have room to mention here!

The post 8 Projects That Take 30 Minutes or Less (including our challenge winner!) appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

[Soda Tag Valentines by Darling Doodles]

Sweet treats aren’t just limited to candy and baked goods. These tags by Brie at Darling Doodles turn a soda into a token of affection. After all, you ‘ll need something to wash down all that candy, right?

[“You Spin Me” Lollipop Valentine by Uncommon Designs]

When Trish at Uncommon Designs came across some spinning lollipops at Dollar Tree, she knew she had to find a use for them! Children of the 80s, lick your heart out.

[Fishbowl Valentines by I Heart Naptime]

Do you like Swedish Fish candies? I love them (even though I hate picking them out of my teeth for hours afterward). Jamielyn at I Heart Naptime made this free printable that turns the fishy little candies into a cute classroom handout; check the dollar store for the candies and bags you’ll need for this one!

[Arrow Pencil Valentines by Positively Splendid]

For a non-candy treat, a pencil is always a good, inexpensive option. Use these printables by Amy at Positively Splendid to turn those simple pencils into something more! (And the addition of the eraser as an arrowhead is genius!)

[Freakin’ Awesome Valentine Cards by Maiko Nagao]

This one came to us as a reader submission via our Facebook page from reader Maiko Nagao, and we’ve gotta say, we agree that it’s freakin’ awesome!

[Miniature Valentine Cards by Ambrosia Creative]

Need some itty-bitty cards? No problem! These Moulin Rouge-inspired cards by Jenn at Ambrosia Creative are just the right size to tuck into a jewelry box or a bouquet of flowers.

[Carry On Valentines by 74 Lime Lane]

A parody of the classic British WWII poster, this card by Kellie at 74 Lime Lane has a classic charm and sense of humor that make it timeless.

[Bee Valentines by Mom Endeavors]

Sara from Mom Endeavors wanted bee-themed cards for her son’s class, but didn’t want the usual “bee mine” sentiment. So she made her own!

[Printable Valentines by Swell Designer]

These spiffy cards by Alexa, aka Swell Designer, are simple yet interesting and come in great colors. The turquoise is such a fun pop!

[Printable Valentine Notes with Envelopes by Whisker Graphics]

I love that these little cards by Whitney at Whisker Graphics come with their own little envelopes! Even with the envelope they print with two on the page, so you can print quite a few of them without much cost.

The post 10 Free Printable Valentine Greetings appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

After much deliberation, it’s finally time to announce the winner of our organization challenge sponsored by Dollar Tree!  Only one person walks away with a $100 gift card prize, but everyone wins in this situation because you gave us an amazing list of organizing ideas to share with the world!  Covering every area of the house, our readers have provided a wide array of solutions to help in situations of all kinds!

Meet Our Guest Judge

Becky, of Organizing Made Fun, is a forty-something work at home mom of two kids. For her, organizing is all about fun and helping to motivate and inspire women to get their homes and lives organized! Her favorite way to organize is using ordinary things to organize with or finding cheap ways to get organized. If you’re looking for motivation and inspiration, she’s your girl!

Her blog is full of all kinds of great organizational ideas that you can implement with dollar store materials.  Check out some of our favorites:

[11 Ways to Organize on the Back of a Door]

 [Toy Organization for Toddlers]

[Lunchbox Cupboard]

Organization Challenge Top Picks

5.  Rag Basket

[Rag Basket by Just Make It]

4.  Thrifty Storage Ideas

[Thrifty Storage Ideas by Sue’s Sentiments]

3.  $6 Linen Closet Makeover

[$6 Linen Closet Makeover by seven thirty three]

2. Dollar Store Organization Board

[Dollar Store Organization Board by Better Together]

And The Winner Is…

1.  Basket Tree

[Basket Tree by Jeremy]

Talk about a great idea!  Father of two Jeremy shared this idea via the DSC Community.  He used a few dollar store laundry baskets and a wooden frame to build vertical toy storage.  Not only is it an attractive storage piece, it also allows for a lot of stuff to be kept in a small area.  Too many toys in a tiny bedroom or cluttering a cramped apartment?  No longer a problem!

Congratulations to Jeremy, who wins a $100 Dollar Tree gift card, and thank you to everyone who stopped by to link up an entry!  Keep your eyes open for more great organizational ideas coming soon – make 2013 the year of no clutter!

The post 8 Ways to Get Organized in 2013 (plus our organization challenge winner!) appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

12.  How to Make T-shirt Yarn

T-shirt fabric is one of our favorite recycled craft supplies.  It’s versatile, it’s cheap, and it’s easy to work with even if you completely lack and kind of sewing skills.  One of the most popular ways to use old t-shirts in crafting is to turn them into t-shirt yarn, a continuous strand of fabric that can be used any way you would use regular yarn.  We put together the ultimate guide to t-shirt yarn, including several different methods for making the yarn and a bunch of project ideas to inspire you!  [how to make t-shirt yarn]

11.  Tutorial: Rain Chain from Wire-Wrapped Rock

The concept of the rain chain was very popular in the home and garden world last year, so it’s no surprise that our DIY rain chain tutorial did well.  Why use a boring ol’ downspout when you can replace it with a work of art instead?  [how to make a rain chain from wire-wrapped rock]

10.  Make Soda Can Lanterns

We are constantly amazed at the creative ways we see folks reusing materials out of the trash or recycling bin.  In this project by Theresa at The Star Online, some clever cutting takes empty soda cans and turns them into useful, artful little lanterns.  A string of these colorful can lanterns would look great lighting a garden party!  [how to make soda can lanterns]

9.  Make A Ping Pong Ball Pendant Lamp

Ping pong balls in a home decor project?  That’s how we roll.  We were totally captivated by this project from French magazine Marie Claire Idées, and so were you!  Thanks to Jan at Poppytalk, who translated the directions to English so those of us stateside can take a crack at making our own version!  [how to make a ping pong ball pendant lamp]

8.  Tutorial:  Blowing Dandelion T-shirt

Back in the spring, Liz from My Messy Desk dropped by as a guest to share a tutorial for this fabulous, nature-inspired t-shirt.  You won’t believe her super-simple secret to making this design!  Of course, it’s not just limited to t-shirts – you can add this motif to just about anything you want.  [how to make a blowing dandelion t-shirt]

7. Turn a Rubber Door Mat into Wall Art

Sometimes all it takes to come up with an amazing project is to think entirely outside of the box.  That’s how Kate at Salvage Dior ended up turning a fancy welcome mat into some equally fancy wall art!  It has the look of antique wrought iron, but it is far more lightweight than its metal counterpart and therefore much easier to hang.  [how to turn a rubber door mat into wall art]

6.  Three Awesome Teen Girl Craft Night Ideas

When Heather was challenged to come up with activities for a teen girl craft night, she didn’t disappoint.  The young ladies participating in the event had a blast making DIY jewelry and accessories!  Not only does she break down each idea in her post about the event, she also provides some great tips for hosting your own crafty party!  [three awesome teen girl craft night ideas]

5.  Braided Ribbon Flip Flop Makeover

Every year Dollar Tree sells basic, plain flip flops, and every year we see a ton of great ideas for dressing them up!  This simple method from Andrea’s Bow Cottage uses ribbon and some simple macrame to take a pair of sandals from yawn-worthy to yes-worthy in just a few minutes.  Why spend money on fancy flip flops when decorating them yourself is so cheap and easy?  [how to make braided ribbon flip flops]

4.  Make a Glass Marble Tiled Table

Anyone who thinks the bags of flat glass marbles are just for filling the bottom of an aquarium or adding weight to a vase hasn’t seen this project by Shannon at Madigan Made.  Using resin to “grout” the marbles, she created a flat, stable tabletop surface that looks absolutely stunning.  Put this table in front of a window and enjoy the bright, cheery look of the sunlight hitting the glass!  [how to make a glass marble tiled table]

3.  Black and White Wedding Ideas

While budgets have been shrinking in recent years, every girl still wants to have her dream wedding.  Rather than skimping on the glam factor, more and more brides are opting to use DIY ideas to cut their costs.  We rounded up 15 inexpensive ideas on a black and white color scheme, but these ideas are all easily adapted to fit any wedding colors your heart desires.  [black and white wedding ideas]

2.  Tutorial:  PB-Inspired Tiled Mirror for $10

We love designer-inspired projects, especially when the DIY version is much cheaper to make than the cost of the original.  Sure, you could drop a few hundred dollars on a large tiled mirror to hang above your mantel, but we would rather spend $10 on supplies and make our own!  (And so would our readers!)  [how to make a PB-inspired tiled mirror]

1.  What to Buy at Dollar Tree for Your Wedding

Yes, DIY wedding ideas were a big winner in 2012!  Our most-viewed post of the year was this list of project ideas using various items that you can find on the shelves of Dollar Tree.  Our list of seven projects, including decorations and favor ideas, will help you get that dream wedding look within the reality of your budget!  [what to buy at Dollar Tree for your wedding]

The post The Best of DSC: Top 12 Posts of 2012 appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Meet Our Guest Judge

Before we count down our favorite contest entries, let’s meet this month’s guest judge!  When we think of Halloween crafters one of the first folks to come to mind is Alexa Westerfield from The Swell Life and I Love to Create.  This season she has been dazzling her readers with a ton of great no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas, but her holiday talents don’t end there.  She also has some awesome Halloween costume ideas, including these comical outfits:

[Deviled Egg Halloween Costume at The Swell Life]

[Mona Lisa Halloween Costume at The Swell Life]

Thanks for joining us this month, Alexa!

Halloween Costume Contest Top Picks

Now that we’ve taken care of that business, we know you’re anxious to see who won the contest.  It was tough to narrow it down this month with so many great contest entries!  Here are our top five picks; did your favorites make the cut?

5.  Placemat Bug

[Placemat Bug Costume by Sandy P.]

We couldn’t resist how adorable this bug costume is!  Reader Sandy P. shared this idea via the DSC Community; the majority of the costume is constructed using dollar store placemats!  [how to make a placemat bug Halloween costume]

4. Mother Nature

[Mother Nature Costume by Re-Creations]

When Shiela from Re-Creations went shopping at Dollar Tree to put together this costume, she hit almost every department in the store!  We love how she incorporated both seasonal items and year-round stock.  It’s such a cute idea!  [how to make a Mother Nature Halloween costume]

3. Dirty Laundry

[Dirty Laundry Costume by Love2Dream, Do You?]

Everyone at the party will chuckle when they see you dressed up in this clever costume.  Over at Love2Dream, Do You? we got a good laugh out of this dirty laundry costume.  As an added bonus, it’s a great costume for a cold climate.  If the temperatures fall, just add more laundry!  [how to make a dirty laundry Halloween costume]

2. Spine Chilling Chia Pet

[Spine Chilling Chia Pet Costume by My House is Cuter Than Yours]

We’re suckers for adorable animals, so of course we had to include this costume for a four-legged friend.  My House is Cuter Than Yours dressed up her pup as a spooky, deteriorating Chia Pet, complete with creepy-crawlies.  Too cute!   [how to make a spine chilling Chia Pet Halloween costume]

And The Winner Is…

1. Chinese Takeout Box

[Chinese Takeout Box Costume by A Turtle’s Life for Me]

Natalie from A Turtle’s Life for Me entered a post with so many great costume ideas that we were completely amazed!  Our favorite was this super cute Chinese takeout box costume.  (Check out the finishing touch of using chopsticks in her hair!)   Be sure to stop by her blog and see the rest of her hilarious homemade costumes from other years as well!)  [how to make a Chinese takeout box Halloween costume]

That also means that Natalie is the lucky winner of a $100 Dollar Tree gift card!  (That’s enough to make a whole army of takeout box costumes!)  Congratulations, Natalie!  Thanks to all who entered.  And of course…  have a spooktacular Halloween!

The post Halloween Costume Contest: 7 Dollar Store Costume Ideas (including our contest winner!) appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.