The dollar store is one of my favorite places to pick up inexpensive seasonal crafting items.  A perennial favorite across all seasons is their glitter table scatter. Over on Creative Green Living, I show you how to take some wired burlap ribbon and combine it with Valentine table scatter to make a cute bunting perfect for a mantle, door, or mirror.  [how to make an easy burlap and glitter valentine heart banner]

Project estimate:

• burlap ribbon, $1
• Glitter heart table scatter, $1 and up
• Scissors, on hand
• Jute twine, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue gun & glue, on hand

Total: $3 and up

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This is a clever idea! Use a toilet paper roll as a base to make a cute fall pumpkin, perfect for your harvest decor. You just need ribbon and a twig from your yard to complete the look. I posted instructions over in my column at eBay, so go check it out: [toilet paper pumpkin]

The post Make a Pumpkin… Out of Toilet Paper? appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

These fabric crowns are such a simple no-sew project that your little princes and princesses can create their own with minimal assistance! Jess at Let’s Do Something Crafty shares just how easy it is to whip these up yourself! It’s a great way to use up random odds and ends of supplies – put out a pile of embellishments and let your littles go wild! [how to make no sew felt crowns]

Project estimate:

• Felt, on hand or $1
• String or ribbon, on hand or $1
• Embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total: Free and up!

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This is such a clever way to make oversized Christmas ornaments for your holiday decor! Liz of Liz on Call used some paper and ribbon to quickly and easily dress up paper lanterns to make them mimic the look of traditional bulb ornaments. These would be great for holiday party decor, or as part of a backdrop of a holiday photo booth! [how to make paper lantern Christmas ornaments]

Project estimate:

• Paper lanterns, $1 and up
• Scrapbook paper, on hand or $1 and up
• Tape, on hand
• Baker’s Twine, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Paper Lantern Christmas Ornaments appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Cute ornaments can also be quick ornaments! In just 15 minutes you can make these easy painted wood ornaments. It’s a great way to use the pre-cut wooden shapes from the craft store. Or, if you have the right tools, cutting out some basic shapes for ornaments is a great way to use up scrap wood! See how I made them over at Mrs. Greene.[how to make easy painted wood Christmas ornaments]

Project estimate:

• Wooden shapes, $1 and up
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Sharpie, on hand or $1
• Eye screws, $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand or $1

Total: $2 and up

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A fancy ribbon is a great touch to add to a beautifully wrapped gift or an endless variety of craft projects, but fancy ribbon can also be expensive.  That is, unless you make your own.  This gorgeous ribbon was made by Melissa at The Sweet Escape out of – get this – old bed sheets!  All you need to make some for yourself is plain fabric and a little food coloring.  With the holidays on the way, all of your gifts will look extra-special dressed in your custom ribbon!  [how to make your own dip dyed ribbon]

Project estimate:

• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Food coloring, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up!

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School is starting back up, the air is getting cooler, and bits of color are starting to show in the trees.  That means it’s time to start your fall crafting!  We’ve long been fans of the humble popsicle stick as one of our favorite craft supplies.  Check out how Menucha at Moms and Crafters used popsicle sticks to create this 3D pumpkin decoration.  These would be cute as part of a centerpiece or mantel display, or you could make a bunch of them and string them together as a fun garland!  You can use colored popsicle sticks, like Menucha did, or use plain sticks and give them color with a little bit of paint.  [how to make a popsicle stick pumpkin]

Project estimate:

• Popsicle sticks, on hand or $1
• Water, on hand
• Drinking glass, on hand
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Buttons, on hand or $1 and up
• Twine and/or ribbon, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up!

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Every girly-girl should have a pretty hand mirror! You could buy one from the store, but if you can’t find one that you like, or you want one that is special and unique, it’s super easy to make one from scratch!

Project estimate:

• Mirror candle base, $1
• Glass candle base, $1
• Knife, on hand or about $0.25 and up
• Ribbon, on hand
• Buttons, gems, and other embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• E6000 glue, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand
• Nail polish, on hand
• Nail polish remover, on hand

Total:  $2 and up

Using a paper towel, wipe down the glass candle base and knife. Let dry.  Glue the mirror on the top of the candle base with your choice of glue. There is a space around the mirror. I glued small gems* around the mirror to fill in this space.

Turn the candle base over and glue the knife on. I have used E6000 on the knife handles for years without any problems.

Paint the bottom of the candle holder with a pretty nail polish. This will cover the back of the mirror. Let set overnight.

Cover the back of the mirror any way you like. It will take two levels to cover the back because the candle holder has small legs. I started with gluing gems around the edge of my nail polish*.

I then used random gems and ribbon to build up the bottom so it would be even with the legs.  I used hot glue to adhere gems to the middle of buttons and used them, too. Embellish as little or as much as you like.

*Using any “smelly” adhesive (E6000, etc.) may make the backs of the gemstones melt and bubble. If they have a sticky back, you’ll be fine. Leave it on the gem and glue to it. Hot glue didn’t affect my gems with or without the sticky back.  Because I used E6000, I used little loops of ribbon the bow to cover my gems on which the backs were melted.

The post Tutorial: DIY Hand Mirror appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Spring is here!  If you are looking for an inexpensive way to dress up your yard, this idea starts with materials out of the recycling bin.  Cute, cheap, and Earth-friendly are qualities that make a wonderful crafty trifecta!

Project estimate:

• Large can, on hand
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand or $1 and up
• Embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up!

Remove the bottom of the can. If the can you have is white on the inside, you don’t have to paint it. Mine was silver so to prevent it from rusting, I painted it inside and out.

Glue a ribbon around the top and bottom edge of the can. Please be careful – depending what type of can opener you have, these edges may be very sharp! Put glue on one edge of the ribbon and starting at the seam of the can, roll the can along the edge.  When you get all the way around to the beginning, hem the end of the ribbon using hot glue, folding it over the raw edge of the can. Repeat on the other end, starting and finishing at the same place.

Cut a piece of ribbon long enough to go down both sides of the can, plus the length that you want the hanger to be.  Glue the ribbon to the sides of the entire length of the can, tucking the ends to the inside.

I used grosgrain ribbon for most of my wind sock. Grosgrain ribbon is thicker and you don’t see the glue underneath. If you can’t find grosgrain, try doubling your ribbon. Start at the very top and at the seam of the can, and generously glue the ribbon all the way around. Hem the edge before you glue it down. Repeat this step until you have covered the can in ribbon.

Decide how long you want your streamers and hem both edges. Glue one edge to the outside of the can. I used buttons to make it cute. I also added another ribbon just below where I glued the streamer to the can to make it a little stronger.

Tips:

• Please be very, very careful with the edges of the can, if they are sharp!
• At first I worried that the can would make it too heavy, but it isn’t!
• If your ribbon will fray on the edges, hem it with glue or heat the ends with a lighter to seal them.
• Don’t use wired ribbon, as it will rust.
• Did I mention that the edges of the can may be extremely sharp?

The post Tutorial: Recycled Can Windsock appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Are you always trying to find your shades?  This quick and easy DIY project will help you organize your sunglasses.  Just hang it by your door and you’ll never waste time searching for them again!  Check out the video to see how Heather whipped this one up, or keep reading to see the project in photos.

Project estimate:

• Picture frame, on hand or $1
• Lace or ribbon, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: Free and up!

Measure and cut two lengths of ribbon or lace that are just wider than the frame – make them long enough that the ends will wrap around to the back of the frame.

Place the ribbon or lace across the front of the frame at the desired spacing and glue the ends to the back of the frame and use hot glue to secure the ends on the back of the frame.

Hang it on the wall and add your collection of sunglasses!

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