Geometric patterns are all the rage in decor these days. Want to get in on the action? Over at Drawn to DIY you can find the instructions for this cute grid desk caddy. Believe it or not, this started out as a dollar store suet bird feeder! The post also includes a couple of other clever ideas for different ways to make over the same suet feeder into functional decor pieces, so make sure you check it out! [how to make a geometric desk container]

Project estimate:

• Suet bird feeder, $1
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Scrapbook paper, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total: $1 and up!

The post Make a Geometric Desk Container appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

It’s no secret that we love novelty silicone ice cube trays.  They come in a ton of fun shapes and are really great tools for crafting!  Sara at Tell, Love and Party came up with yet another great idea for them: custom push pins!  She used a flamingo ice cube tray for hers, but with so many different shapes of ice cube trays out there these days, there are a ton of other possibilities too.  Do you have a favorite ice cube tray shape?  [how to make novelty push pins]

Project estimate:

• Novelty silicone ice cube tray, on hand or $1 and up
• Push pins, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Paint, on hand
• Glitter (optional), on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make Novelty Push Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Today is National No. 2 Pencil Day!  In honor of the occasion, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite pencil-related crafts.  With back-to-school sales in full swing, now is the perfect time to stock up on a bunch of pencils and tackle some of the projects on this list!

Crafts made out of pencils

Washi Flower Pencil Bouquet by Morena’s Corner

Anthropologie-Inspired Pencils by Homework

Sleek Pencil Wreath by Crafts ‘n Coffee

Back to School Pencil Frame by Stir the Wonder

DIY Custom Photo Pencils by Morena’s Corner

Pencil Cube Photo/Memo Holder by Crafts ‘n Coffee

Crafts that look like pencils

Candy Covered Pretzel Pencils by The Country Chic Cottage

Craft Stick Pencil Bookmarks by Crafts by Amanda

Accessories for your pencils

Write Start Teacher Gift Tags for Pencils by Sweet Rose Studio

Pencil Gift Bag by The Country Chic Cottage

DIY Pencil Toppers by 100 Directions

Easy DIY Pencil Case by How Does Your Garden Grow?

Felt Heart Pencil Toppers by Kids Activities Blog

School Bus Pencil Holder by Playtivities

The post 14 Crafts for No. 2 Pencil Day appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Dollar Tree is a great source for plain ol’ school and office supplies, but what if you are looking for supplies with a little more personality?  Well, you can always give those plain supplies a makeover!  Over at I Heart Naptime, Courtney gave some dollar store clipboards a school-themed makeover using vinyl and her Silhouette.  If you don’t have a vinyl cutting machine, you can also get the same look with a stencil or by painting the design freehand.  And as a bonus, the back side of each clipboard is actually a chalkboard!  [how to make a back-to-school clipboard]

Project estimate:

• Clipboard, $1
• Vinyl, on hand or about $3 and up
• Chalkboard paint, on hand or about $3 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Back-to-School Clipboard appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Can’t find washi tape in the right colors to match your project?  Then make your own!  Laura at Paper & Pin used watercolor paints to make these pretty, unique tapes with a soft, ethereal quality.  For different looks, you could use the same tape-making technique with Sharpies, colored pencils, or anything else you and your collection of art supplies can dream up!  [how to make DIY watercolor washi tape]

Project estimate:

• Tissue paper, on hand or $1
• Double-sided tape, on hand or $1 and up
• Watercolor paints, on hand or $1 and up

Total: Free and up!

The post Make DIY Watercolor Washi Tape appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Could your desk use a little help in the organization department? Make yourself a set of organizers using an assortment of items from the recycling bin! I covered mine with free maps I got while on vacation.You can use newspaper, magazine/book pages, scrapbook paper, wallpaper, music sheets, wrapping paper, or anything else you want to decorate yours!

Project estimate:

• Assorted empty boxes and cans, on hand
• Maps, free and up
• Hot glue, on hand
• Black marker, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand or $1 and up
• Poster board, on hand or $1
• Packing tape, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up!

Collect the boxes and cans and make sure they are clean and dry.  Prepare the boxes and cans.

Cereal box magazine holder:

• Mark one side of the box and cut it out.
• Use the piece you cut out as a template for the other side.
• Tape the side pieces that were cut off back to the sides of the box to make it stronger.
• If desired, cover the outside of the box with tape to reinforce it further.

Vegetable can pencil holder:

• Cut a piece of poster board to fit around the outside of the can. (This will cover the ridges of the can)
• Tape the poster board to the can and cover the seam with tape.

Sweetener box (or other small box) business card holder:

• Cut into the shape you want to hold business cards.
• If desired, cover the outside of the box with tape to reinforce.

Apply a coat of the Mod Podge onto the surfaces you want to cover with maps. Apply the paper and press it down using a sponge brush.  Carefully work out as many air bubbles and wrinkles as possible.

Once the paper has dried brush on a coat of Mod Podge over the top. Let dry. Depending on the finish you want, you can do this several more times. Each application makes the boxes stronger.

On the bottoms of cans, fold over the excess in small sections, much like gathering fabric, and use Mod Podge to hold them down.

Measure and cut a piece of black poster board to line the inside and bottoms of the boxes and cans. You can use the cans to trace circles for covering the bottoms. Apply hot glue to hold the poster board in place.

The post Tutorial: Map Desk Set appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

The dollar store is a great place to buy notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks.  How do you tun those cheap notebooks into something really special?  Check out how Aunt Peaches used plain ol’ white glue and some aluminium tape to give some little notebooks a funky, textured makeover.  Inspired by doodling, the possibilities for personalized designs are limitless!  [how to make aluminium notebook covers]

Project estimate:

• Notebook, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand or $1 and up
• Aluminum tape, about $5
• Permanent markers or alcohol inks, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  about $5 and up

The post Make Aluminium Notebook Covers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Happy new year, Dollar Store Crafters! Did you resolve to organize your craft area this year? Whether you have a whole room full of craft supplies or a smaller area dedicated to crafty storage, these are some ways to make the most of that space and get more organized.

1. Suitcase Organizer – This is a great way to organize any craft supplies that are teeny tiny. I’m looking at you, jewelers! Bonus: you can take your crafts to go at the drop of a hat.

2. Shoe Organizer – Those over-the-door hanging organizers are great for storing all kinds of supplies. Vertical storage like this rocks, because it makes the most of small spaces.

3. Phonebook Organizer – Did you get yet another phonebook that you don’t need? Turn it into a desktop organizer for your art supplies.

4. Pie Tin Organizer – This is another great vertical space-saver. Turn old pie tins into a tiered storage solution.

5. Tin Can Organizer – A pyramid of tin cans makes a great desktop storage solution for pens, pencils, paint brushes, and Sharpies.

6. Glitter Dispensers – Turn stackable salt and pepper shakers into organized glitter storage.

7. Pallet Storage – Turn an old wood pallet into crafty storage.

8. Pegboard Storage– This tute is for garage storage, but you could use this idea to store so many craft supplies!

9. Ombre Storage Drawers – Are you sick of your ugly, plastic storage drawers? Make them super duper cute with paper!

10. Storage Bench – Turn an Ikea bookcase into seating plus storage. I Heart Organizing used this for playroom storage, but this would work great for craft supplies, too.

The post 10 Ways to Organize Your Craft Room (or closet, or corner) appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Project Materials:

• 2 clipboards, $2
• Bulletin board, $1
• 2 wire office supply cups, $2
• Wire sorting tray, $1
• 4 zip ties, $1 for a package
• 2 baskets, $2
• Metal adhesive hooks, $2
• Scotch Chalkboard Tape, $6
• Scotch Dry Erase Tape, $6
• Scotch® Duct Tape in Dottie, $3.50
• Scissors
• Drill

Total Cost: $26.50

Note: I got all the surfaces at the dollar store, but the Scotch Chalkboard Tape, Scotch Dry Erase Tape, and the Scotch® Duct Tape can be purchased online or at other retailers.

With Scotch Chalkboard Tape and Dry Erase Tape, you can create a chalkboard or dry erase surface on anything flat and smooth. I added the tape to clipboards to make a stylish and functional kitchen chalkboard and white board. I also added Chalkboard tape to the plastic baskets to make easy labels.

Part 1: Make Clipboard Chalkboard and Dry Erase Boards

1. Cut five strips of Scotch Chalkboard Tape the height of the clipboard, from the clip to the bottom of the board.

2. Lay Scotch Chalkboard Tape strips on board one by one, slightly overlapping the edges of tape as you go.

3. Cut small pieces of Scotch® Duct Tape to lay next to the clip on the clipboard. For my wire clip-style clipboard, I lifted the clip and laid a piece of tape (cut in half lengthwise) under where the clip would go.

4. Lay pieces of Scotch® Duct Tape along the edges of the clipboard, and fold over the back of the clipboard to create a finished edge.

5. For corners, cut a notch out of the corner as shown, to make it super simple and clean to fold the corners over.

Repeat process for Scotch Dry Erase Tape clipboard.

Next, add the supply cup to the board, to provide a convenient place to keep writing utensils.

1. Drill two holes through the clipboard on the lower edge to create a place to thread zip ties through.

Note: Be sure to follow proper safety procedures when using a drill. Also, if you are afraid of using a drill, don’t be – it’s almost as easy as using a stapler!

2. If your zip tie is wider than the cup’s mesh like mine, you might need to also poke matching holes through the mesh on the cup.

3. Thread a zip tie through the top hole on the back of the clipboard, then through the top hole of the cup, then back into the bottom hole of the cup, and back through the bottom hole on the clipboard. Zip the tie closed.

Part 2: Bulletin Board Key Holder

1. Add a stripe of Scotch® Duct Tape to the bulletin board to make it coordinate with the other pieces.

2. Next, drill two holes in either end of the clipboard to attach the office supply organizer tray.

3. Attach tray with zip ties like you did for the office supply cups in the previous project.

4. Add adhesive metal hooks to the front of the tray.

Part 3: Label the Baskets

This part is easy! Just cut Scotch Chalkboard Tape, peel the backing, stick on the surfaces and smooth.

Thanks to Scotch® Duct Tape for sponsoring this project, and for providing this very fun Chalkboard Tape and Dry Erase tape to play with. Scotch® Duct Tape recently launched their Instagram account — Please follow them @ScotchDuctTape on Instagram, Scotch® Duct Tape Pinterest Boards, Scotch® Duct Tape Facebook, and Scotch® Duct Tape (@ScotchDuctTape) on Twitter Tweet your projects to them with the hashtag #ScotchDuctTape!

The post Tutorial: Cute Kitchen Command Station with Scotch® Duct Tapes appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Show your favorite teacher a little appreciation this back-to-school season with this apple mason jar by Ashley at the DecoArt Blog!  Just a bit of paint and some simple embellishments give it a whole new look.  This idea would work with all kinds of other jars as well, so dig into that recycling bin for inspiration!  They are perfect for use as pencil holders, or to fill up with other goodies and use as a gift-giving vessel.  [how to make an apple mason jar]

Project estimate:

• Jar, on hand
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Twine, on hand or $1
• Paper, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make an Apple Mason Jar appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.