Here we go again with more tiny things…  Miniatures seem to be a popular theme here at DSC lately — and I am just eating it up!  Today’s project is no exception; I just adore how it turned out!! My daughter’s Barbie is going to be sleeping comfortably and in style in her gorgeous new bed.  The scale of the striped fabric is perfection — and the bed frame is just so cute.  Can you guess the source for my materials?  [Get instructions]

Project Estimate:

• Two Zen Garden trays, $1
• Pillow cover, $1
• Eyelet trim scrap, on hand
• White fabric scraps, on hand
• Polyester batting scraps, on hand
• Wood glue, on hand
• Finish nails, on hand

Total:  $3 and up!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one little girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

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It’s no secret that I love tiny — and it is also no secret that I love office supplies!  I simply adore going to the office supply store and looking at notebooks, pens, pencils, journals, folders, etc.  For that reason I was thrilled to find four packs of tiny little key chain notebooks in the party favor aisle at the dollar store.  Tiny + notebook = Love at first sight!

One small problem:  The notebooks I found had a princessy theme to them.  Not a fan.  No problem for me, though!  I simply created little removable covers for them, using some cute little scraps of fabric, and — ta da!  Super cute key chain notebooks!  They would be so cute clipped onto a backpack or purse!

Project Estimate:

• keychain notebooks, 4/$1
• fabric scraps, on hand
• velcro scraps, on hand
• posterboard scrap (for pattern), on hand
• pencil

Total:  $0.25!!

STEP ONE: Get rid of the cheapo plastic snap closure.  Cut off the tab flush with the edge of the notebook, and pop off the other side of the snap using a table knife.  It will leave an ugly mark, but this is not a problem.  Just be as careful as you can not to bend or tear your cover.

STEP TWO:  Create a pattern.  Start by opening your notebook flat on your piece of posterboard and tracing around the perimeter.  Refer to photo and mark your pattern as follows:  Mark and draw a center line.  Mark the center of both left and right sides.  Draw a line on 3/8″ to either side of your center line.  Cut a 1/4″ square 3/8″ from one side.

STEP THREE: Cut fabric pieces as follows:
front and back cover pieces:  cut two 1 7/8″ x 2 1/2″ rectangles
spine:  cut one 1 1/4″ x 2 1/2″ rectangle
inside pockets (that fit over the cover):  cut two 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ rectangles
tab closure:  cut two 1″ x 1 3/4″ rectangles

STEP FOUR: Press one long edge of each of your pocket pieces down 1/4″ and hem with a 1/8″ seam allowance.

STEP FIVE: Layer your tab pieces right sides together and sew around as shown.  I just eyeballed my curve, but you could draw it on first if you are nervous.  Trim with pinking shears (notch if you don’t have any) and turn, then topstitch around the edge.  You will then sew a 1/4″ square of the scratchy side of your velcro to the curved end of the tab.

STEP SIX: Sew your cover and spine pieces together as shown.  Press seam allowances open and topstitch on either side of your seam, as shown.

STEP SEVEN: Lay your pattern on top of your cover piece.  Line up your seams with the lines drawn on your pattern, as shown right above my middle finger in the photo.  Center your pattern vertically.  Draw an X in the square to mark where you will sew your velcro.  On the opposite side, mark on the very edge of your fabric (with pencil) a dot where the center point of your pattern is.  Sew a 1/4″ square piece of velcro (fuzzy side) right on the X.  Center the raw edge of your tab on your mark on the opposite side, velcro side UP, and sew just along the edge to hold it in place.

STEP EIGHT: Layer your pocket pieces on top of your cover, right sides together and hemmed edges toward the middle, as shown in the photo.  You will then lay your pattern on top, centering it again as in Step Seven, and draw a line all the way around the perimeter of the pattern, using a sharp pencil.

STEP NINE: Sew all the way around, directly on your line.  Trim just around the curves, using pinking shears if you have them.  If you don’t have pinking shears, be sure to notch your seam allowances so it will turn nicely.

STEP TEN: Turn your cover right side out and carefully press — don’t melt your velcro!  :o)

STEP ELEVEN: Open your notebook covers back as shown, and carefully slip on your cover.  You’re done!

So cute and tiny!
These would make great little gifts to have on hand for any occasion!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one little girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

The post Tiny Covered Notebook Keychains appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Also, is it too soon to be thinking about Valentine’s Day?  Because I certainly am!  It is one of my favorite holidays — just for the cuteness factor — and a great excuse to make and give cute red and pink things for my sisters and friends!  Wouldn’t one of these pin cushions be a perfect Valentine goodie for a friend who sews?

Project Estimate:

• plastic ramekins, 3/$1
• fleece scraps, on hand (don’t substitute felt — you’ll be disappointed!)
• polyester fiberfill, on hand
• needle and thread
• drill (optional)

Total:  $0.33!

I found these adorable “ramekin sauce cups” at my local dollar store, and instantly knew what they were destined to be.  They look just like cupcake papers! 

Start by cutting a circle from whatever color fleece you want your frosting to be.  I chose pink, of course!  My circle was 8 1/2″ in diameter.  Here’s a trick — use a plate (or other round container) as your pattern.  If you press it onto your fleece…

…you’ll have a perfect circle imprinted on the fleece, which you can very carefully cut around.  Nothing to trace, nothing to pin!

Take a needle and thread and knot the two ends of the thread together.  Stab your needle up and down 1/4″ from the edge of your circle, all the way around.  You can thread the fleece onto your needle as shown to make it go very quickly!

Stuff your cupcake top as stiffly as you can, and draw up the thread tight.  Tie a firm knot, but don’t cut your thread.

I drilled a hole in the bottom of my ramekin.  I wanted two holes, but — I am not super skilled with power tools!  I should have started with a smaller bit, then made the holes bigger with a larger bit.  But, as it is, I used too large a bit and cracked my ramekin.  No problem, though!

I used a small, flat button on the bottom to compensate.  No big deal!

Pick up your same needle, and sew down through your ramekin, then back up into the edge of your cupcake top.  You can leave your thread loose until you have three or four passes through, then pull your thread tight and tie a firm knot.


Use the same technique to create your cherry from some red fleece (I started with a circle was 2 1/2″ in diameter) and attach it to the top.  You’re done!  If you like you can embroider some sprinkles, too.  I couldn’t decide whether I wanted them, so I left them off. 

I am sure there are numerous other ways you could dress these guys up!  How would you embellish them?


Being a lover of all things tiny, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a mini version — which can easily be made into a ring!  Head over to my blog if you’d like to see how I did it!  

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one little girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

The post Cupcake Pin Cushions appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I was super-busy last week so I didn’t get a chance to post about these summer paper lanterns I made for my guest post at Salty Pineapple. Did you make these in school when you were a kid? I updated the traditional paper lantern craft just a bit, and I think they’re charming and would make a fabulous decoration for any summer soiree (including a wedding). Also, here’s a great way to use up some of your excess scrapbooking paper (have you noticed how it starts looking dated after awhile?). [make paper lanterns tutorial]

Project Estimate:

• 2 pieces of scrapbooking paper, $1 or on hand
• Scrap of ribbon, on hand
• Scissors and clear tape, on hand

Total: FREE and up

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

When Mother’s Day rolled around (sneaked up!) this month, I needed something to dress up a gift card.  What better gift for Mother’s Day than flowers, and how about something that can be worn year-round?  Enter the silk flowers!!  I created a quick little pin, and pinned it to my card’s envelope.  It was quick to make, used simple supplies, and was extremely well-received.  And the best part — it was SUPER inexpensive!!  [get instructions AND a bonus project idea!]

Project Estimate:

• silk flower bouquet, $1 (mine had enough flowers for 8 pins)
• buttons, on hand
• pin backs (I used 1 1/4″ size), $1.30 for 10
• tough scissors (I use kitchen shears)
• hot glue gun

Total:  about $0.25 each!!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one baby girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

The post How to Make Silk Flower Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Well, today I will show you how to make something special just for YOUR kitty — KittyLegs!  Arm and Legwarmers are so popular right now; today I will show you how to make a pair for your favorite feline friend.  All you need is a pair of ankle socks, a sewing machine, and about 5 minutes’ time!  [go to tutorial]

Project Estimate:

• 1 pair ankle socks, $1

Total:  $1!

BEFORE you think I am nuts — Check the date!  April Fools!!  :o)  Head to my blog for links to more April Fools fun!

The post KittyLegs! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Playing dress-ups is a great imagination builder — and with any great “fancy dress-up” trunk, a girl’s got to have a dress-up wedding veil.  This one was SUPER easy to put together — it literally took me about five minutes!  I am convinced that ANYONE can do this!  [click here for instructions]

Project Estimate:

• headband, 3/$1
• roll of tulle, $1 (found in the wedding section)

Total: $1.33!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one baby girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

The post Dress-Up Wedding Veil — SUPER EASY! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Wreaths are a favorite project of dollar store crafters, and no wonder; they’re cheap, relatively simple to make, and very gratifying! Check out this pretty ruffly wreath made from the humblest of material: the brown paper lunch sack! Taylor from MaryJanes and Galoshes made it for less than five bucks–isn’t it pretty? She thinks it would be great for a wedding, and I agree, but I think a lot of us could find room in our regular decor for such a wreath. [how to make a ruffly paper sack wreath]

Project Estimate:

• Wreath form, $1
• 6-8 brown paper lunch sacks, $1
• 2.5″ Scallop circle punch, on hand (or buy with 40% off coupon)
• Glue gun, on hand
• Scrap paper for butterflies, on hand

Total: $2 and up

The post Make a Ruffly Wreath with Paper Sacks appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Project Estimate:

• fashion shoelaces, $1
• rhinestone applique, $1
• scraps of 1/4″ elastic, on hand
• tweezers
• iron

Total:  $2 for 12 bracelets!!

The post Rhinestone Bracelets from Shoelaces! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Need an elegant, yet simple table decoration for a wedding reception, shower, or birthday party? Look no further than these sweet wine glass candle lamps by Save-On-Crafts via CasaSugar. The materials are simple, as is the process, but the results are fantastic, and will make a big impact on your special event. You can find wine glasses and tea lights (I would go with battery-operated tea lights just because of the paper shade) at the dollar store, and pick up some vellum at your favorite craft store (with your 40% off coupon, of course!) [click here for project instructions]

Project Estimate:

• Vellum sheets, $2.99/10 sheets
• Wine glass, $1
• Battery-operated tea light, 2 for $1
• Glue, on hand
• Template, free PDF, on hand

Total: $1.79 per light

The post Make Wine Glass Candle Lamps appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.