My kids are wild about Legos, like many kids (and adults!)  When I spied this large mason jar at the thrift store, I thought it would make for a fun lamp.  My son commented that it looked like a Lego head, and this idea was born. While I used a large jar, you could easily recreate this on a smaller scale with a mason jar from Dollar Tree or one you have in your craft stash.

Project estimate:

• Mason jar, on hand
• Paint, on hand
• Clear labels, on hand
• Push light, $1

Total: $1

Step one:  Paint the inside of the jar and the lid yellow.

Step two:  Print the faces onto clear labels.  I used these labels from OnlineLabels.com and formatted my printable to fit that size.  Adhere the label face to the jar.  I put a different face on two sides, just for variety!

Step three:  I used a push light from Dollar Tree that has an adhesive sticker already on it.  Just peel off the backing and stick the push light under the lid of the jar.

I don’t screw the lid on fully, just to make the push light easier to access.  Now you have a fun night light that makes cute room decor during the daytime!  This jar could also double as storage if you don’t need a light.  Another idea is to use a milk jug instead of a mason jar and turn it into a Valentine holder, similar to this Dollar Store Crafts project I shared recently.  Have fun building and crafting!

The post Tutorial: Lego Head Night Light appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’m a fan of Moroccan-inspired decor, especially the luxurious lanterns and light fixtures. Over at Live.Craft.Love, I created some DIY Moroccan lanterns with a clever trick – anyone can make these! [how to paint moroccan inspired lanterns]

Materials Needed:

• Darice 6? Filigree Lanterns.
• Glass Paint.
• Liquid Leading for Glass (or Black glass paint).
• Printer and Moroccan Lantern Pattern Template.
• Masking Tape.

The post DIY Moroccan Lanterns appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

My Halloween decor tends to center largely around skeletons and skulls – I even have a couple of skull themed pieces that stay out year-round as part of my regular decor.  (What can I say?  I have very eclectic taste!)  So it’s no surprise that I am totally in love with this bony candle lantern by Susan at Oh My! Creative.  Inspired by a similar piece from Pottery Barn, this lantern has a ton of spooky character.  I think one of these would look excellent on my bookshelf!  How about you – do you prefer spooky decor or cute decor for Halloween?  Tell us in the comments!  [how to make a glowing skulls lantern]

Project estimate:

• Cylindrical glass vase, on hand or $1,
• Plastic skulls, $1 and up
• Plastic skeletons, $1 and up
• Glue, on hand
• Caulk, about $2 and up
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Battery operated tea light candle, on hand or $1

Total:  $4 and up

The post Make a Glowing Skulls Lantern appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Spring is one of my favorite times to shop at Dollar Tree.  I’m always amazed at the outdoor items they offer!  I like to make my backyard inviting since my family tries to spend as much time as possible outdoors before the weather gets too hot.  When I saw these adorable battery operated lanterns, I knew I wanted them to add some fun decor (and light) to a trail in my yard.  Here’s how I made hanging outdoor lanterns for cheap!

Project estimate:

The post Tutorial: Decorated Hanging Lanterns appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Solar lights are a great way to add a touch of ambiance just about anywhere once the sun goes down.  They come with a little stake for putting them into the ground, but what about those places where a stake isn’t a good option, like on a porch?  Dawn at Creative Cain Cabin discovered that solar lights can be easily fit onto the tops of jars, creating a quick and easy solar lantern that will work just about anywhere!  She used mason jars, but with solar lights coming in so many different sizes and designs these days, you may be able to find jars in your recycling bin that fit well with whatever lights you happen to have available.  And when you’re done using them, they are easily disassembled, so you can reuse the jars and lights for future projects!  [how to make DIY solar jar lights]

Project estimate:

• Solar light, $1
• Jar, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make DIY Solar Jar Lights appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Paper bags are handy for so many things, but here is a use you probably haven’t thought of yet:  Making paper lanterns!  These lanterns, made by Landee at Landee See, Landee Do would make such a fun, easy addition to any party decor (or even your regular decor!), and with party stores offering bags in just about every color under the sun, you can make them match any scheme or theme you want.  (How great would these be for weddings?!)  You could even use plain white or brown paper bags, or hand over the bags and some markers to your kiddos to create fun kid drawing lanterns.  Or splatter paint plain bags.  Or use tea or coffee to dye the bags for an antiqued look.  Or coat the finished lanterns with a bit of Sparkle Mod Podge…  The list goes on and on!  Oh, the possibilities!  [how to make paper bag lanterns]

Project estimate:

• Paper bags, on hand or $1 and up
• String, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make Paper Bag Lanterns appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to light up your outdoor spaces on the Fourth of July? These lanterns give enough glow to help mark edges of walkways without being so bright that they distract from any outdoor fireworks or light shows you might be enjoying. See how I did it over at Creative GreenLiving. [how to make fourth of july glow stick lanterns]

Project estimate:

• Empty glass jar, on hand
• Red and blue mini glow sticks, $1 for 6
• Water, on hand
• Glitter, on hand
• Dish soap, on hand

Total: $1 and up!

The post Make Fourth of July Glow Stick Lanterns appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Last summer I performed an experiment. I wanted to hang some paper lanterns out in my garden, but I didn’t want to have to worry about bringing them indoors every time it rained, which around here can be frequent and with little warning. I started to wonder if there was any way to make them a little more weatherproof. The idea actually first popped into my head when I was planning my wedding (which was outdoors) and found myself worrying that while a little rain wouldn’t make me or my dress melt, it might make my decorations come crashing down. I tried a couple of different things to make them stand up to the rain last summer, and I can report that after using this method, my lanterns hung in my garden for the entire summer, and through a few monsoon-like storms, before they finally fell apart in the fall. If you can make them stand up to such rigorous testing, they will surely last all the way through a damp wedding ceremony as well! Here’s how.

Project estimate:

• Paper lanterns, $1 and up
• Clear spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Clear packaging tape, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $1 and up

First, assemble the lantern by unfolding it and inserting the bracket into the inside. Hang the lantern up somewhere and give it a few good coats of clear spray paint. This won’t make the paper completely waterproof, but it will help to keep the lantern from being saturated by rain.  (Be aware that the spray paint may slightly darken the color of the lantern; keep this in mind if you want your lanterns to be specific shades, like for a wedding.)

Once the spray paint is dry, remove the bracket.  The lantern should hold its shape on its own.  It is very important that you remove the bracket.  When the paper gets wet and then dries it will expand and contract; if you leave the bracket in the lantern, it will slip out of place when the paper is wet and then, when the paper dries, it will force the ends of the bracket up through the paper and poke holes.  I found this out the hard way.

Not all paper lanterns are created equally, so yours may be different, but I did identify one more weak point on the dollar store lanterns.  See these little pegs?  They are what holds the lantern to the plastic bit at the top where it hangs.  This is also where all of the weight of the lantern is supported.  It’s light when dry, but the combination of weight and weakness caused by wetting the lantern means that this point is in danger of ripping out and making your lantern fall.

Solve this problem with a couple of small pieces of packaging tape.  Use the tape to cover both the pegs and the surrounding cardboard.

Now hang your lantern and enjoy, resting easy in the knowledge that a little bit of wet weather won’t ruin your party!

The post How to Make Paper Lanterns Weather Resistant appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I bet the inventor of the mason jar never imagined that one day it would make its way off the pantry shelf and into the hearts of crafters everywhere.  I have a small collection of them that were passed down from my grandmother, who religiously canned food in order to feed my dad and his six brothers and sisters.  Even if you don’t have them on hand, brand new mason jars are still inexpensive; you can pick them up by the dozen at most grocery stores and box stores for less than a buck per jar.  Their price and variety of sizes make mason jars a great medium for projects like this one from Johnnie at Saved by Love Creations.  Using a masking technique, she turned her jars into sparkly lanterns for the 4th of July!  (Not feeling patriotic?  Change out the masked shape and glitter colors to make this project work for nearly any occasion!)

[how to make patriotic mason jar lanterns]

Project estimate:

• Glitter, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Water, on hand
• Star shape template, on hand or free
• Sharpie, on hand
• Contact paper, on hand or $1
• Mason jars, on hand or about $10/dozen
• Wire, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Patriotic Mason Jar Lanterns appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’m always looking for new ways to dress up plain paper lanterns.  (They’re one of my favorite dollar store items!)  Jill from Meet the Dubiens decorated her daughter’s bedroom in a Pottery Barn Kids theme with lots of cute owls and trees.  To compliment the PBK decorations, she made owls out of some paper lanterns that were left over from a birthday party.  If you aren’t into owls, get creative and use the same techniques to make whatever animals you want!  [how to make an owl lantern]

Project estimate:

• Paper lantern, $1
• Scrapbook paper, on hand
• Craft foam, on hand or $1
• Buttons, on hand
• Glitter glue, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

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