If tea stained colors and crocheted doilies are more your style than the common bright, modern bulletin board color schemes, check out this beautiful board from The Polka Dot Closet. Use the doilies to create pretty pockets to hold business cards or other small pieces that you don’t want to lose. [how to make a shabby bulletin board with lace pockets]

Project estimate:

• Foam core board (2 pieces), $2
• Fabric, on hand
• Lace doilies, $1 each and up
• Buttons, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total: $3 and up

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So after I saw Rachel’s Framed Crow project from earlier today, I wondered if you could stretch the foam crow into two wall hangings by cutting the fake birdie in half lengthwise. I know, it’s a little gruesome, but we’re cheap here, people! I then thought, “oh hey! what if I cut the crow in half, but not lengthwise? it would look like some creepy taxidermy!” Now, granted, in real taxidermy, birds are never mounted this way, but I thought it was an ironic nod to all the taxidermy-inspired decor that has popped up everywhere in the past few years. Plus, it’s a perfect creepy-cool accessory for your Halloween decor.

You can buy the fake crow and other materials for this project at the dollar store.

Project Materials:

• Fake crow (made of foam), $1
• Frame, $1 or on hand
• Book page or scrapbooking paper, on hand or $.25
• Black ribbon, $1 or on hand
• Knife or x-acto knife, on hand
• Hot glue gun, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The crow crime scene

CAUTION: Images could be slightly disturbing because I had to harm a fake crow to make this!

Before you begin, prepare your frame any way you like. Paint it and distress it, if necessary. I had already painted mine orange awhile back, and it’s just a happy accident that it works with the Halloween theme.

1. Remove a book page from your book (mine is from a Stephen King book that was from Paperback Swap, but came too worn out and icky to actually read) and trim it to fit the glass in your frame. Put a line of hot glue on the top and bottom edges of the glass from your frame and fold paper over to secure. You can also wrap the glass on all four sides if your book page is large enough. Put prepared insert into your frame.

2. Remove feet from crow, then with a knife, cut crow cleanly and levelly in half. I used a serrated knife, but a smooth knife is probably better because of the feathers. Trim any straggly feathers from the bust with scissors, if necessary.

3. Hot glue back of crow and stick to center of paper-covered frame insert. Be careful to get it right in the spot you want before you stick it because you won’t be able to reposition it without ruining the insert. (Ask me how I know!)

4. Trim out frame with ribbon if desired. I glued mine on with hot glue and just folded it at each edge. Then I made a bow and glued it on the bottom of the ribbon trim.

Shared at the Craft Critique Halloween Blog Carnival

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Want to make Halloween decorations that cost about a dollar but look like Martha made them? Jenn from Rook No. 17 shows us how to go “dollar store cheap to boutique chic” with some glittered skulls from the dollar store. You probably know that newsprint, book pages, and sheet music are a hot decorator item (just check this amazing ruffly book page wreath by Living With Lindsay that has gone all around the internet and back again), but did you think of pairing the printed page with glitter skulls when you saw them sitting there in all their Vegas glory on the dollar store shelf? I didn’t either, but these Jenn’s skulls are downright dapper in their new duds. [how to make Victorian Halloween decorations]

Jenn has given these skulls each a name, too — how cute is that? They are, clockwise from the top left: The Clown, The Piper, The Nurse and The Gentleman, and Jenn promises that if you can roll paper and use a glue gun, then you can make these Victorian-looking decorations.

Project Estimate:

• Glitter skull, $1
• Paper cupcake liners, $1 or on hand
• Newsprint or book pages, on hand
• Ribbon, $1 or on hand
• Tissue paper, $1 or on hand
• Hot glue and glue sticks, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Boutique Halloween Skull Decorations appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Over at the Dollar Store Crafts Facebook page, reader Erika asked for decoration ideas: I am planning a victorian style tea party for my daughters 4th birthday. I have already started on the goodie bags which currently include a white woven purse, pearl necklace/bracelet/earings set. Flimsy straw like hats (I still need to glue the flowers to them). I still need to pick up boas and scarfs. Any ideas on the decorations? I have lots of silk flowers and the table clothes already.

My quick decoration ideas:

• Silhouettes (this would also be a fun activity idea for the party-goers–make their silhouettes)
  • I also like these Hats of Victoria silhouette pictures at CraftyNest
• Check the wedding section at the dollar store for lacy doilies and other frilly white stuff
• Make two-layer gathered streamers out of white and/or pink
• Victorian cones (another fun activity idea)

Your turn, readers!

The post Call for Ideas: Victorian Tea Party appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I made these Victorian-inspired flower cones using a dollar store party hat and ribbon! This was such a fun way to play with my leftover ribbon, trim, buttons and broken jewelry, and it’s an activity you can customize to whoever is working on it. Kids can decorate the party hats with stickers, while adults can do a more elaborate version like my Victorian version. Use these cones to hold flowers (especially on May 1st, May Day) that you can give to your lucky friends. Get the tutorial I posted over at [Amazing Moms]

These would be amazing wedding decorations any time of the year!

Project Estimate:

• Party hats, 8 for $1
• Acrylic craft paint, on hand
• Ribbon and trim, on hand
• Buttons, jewelry, etc., on hand
• Craft glue, on hand

Total: $.13 each!

p.s. These look awesome hanging from my shabby chic hooks!

Bonus idea: Turn them upside-down and use them for fancy birthday party hats!

(Baby G, my crafting partner-in-crime. Okay, I do most of the crafting!)

The post Make a Victorian Flower Cone appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Laupre designed these amazing legwarmers using fleece and some big buttons. I love them! They are a great stylish way to keep your ankles warm! For the dollar store version, you could use fleece scarves or baby blankets, or check the tea towel or placemat section for some suitable material to use. The craft section at my dollar store usually has cool buttons, too.

Project Estimate:

• Fleece or other fabric, $1 and up
• Lining fabric, on hand
• Buttons, $2 and up

Total cost: $3 but I bet you have a lot of this stuff in your stash. Be honest, now!

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