If you are in the market for plain glass candle holders, the dollar store has got you covered. But what if you want something a little more colorful? Check out these splatter-y votive holders from Sara at Bitz & Giggles, who used alcohol inks to add a funky pop of color to some plain glass vessels. You can also use this technique with mason jars, or glass jars from your recycling bin! [how to make ink splatter votive holders]

Project estimate:

• Glass votive holders, $1
• Alcohol inks, on hand or about $3 and up
• Compressed air, on hand or about $3 and up

Total: $1 and up!

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Christmas lights aren’t just for Christmas.  There are a ton of ways you can dress them up for other occasions as well!  While these particular colors make the project read Halloween-y, the fringed lights that Kelly at Studio DIY made are an easy way to add a little color and personality to the decoration for nearly any event.  If you are concerned about the potential fire hazard of gluing paper to your string of lights, look for LED lights which stay cooler to the touch.  And if you use glue that is repositionable or easy to remove, you can disassemble the fringe quickly when you are done and the lights will be as good as new, ready for your next crafty escapade.  [how to make a fringed light string]

Project estimate:

• Christmas lights, on hand or $1 and up
• Crepe paper streamers, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

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The luau party section of the dollar store is always full of bright, colorful items, so it’s no surprise that Shannon from Madigan Made found supplies there for her Crafting in Neon week.  What is surprising is how she used the neon bamboo drinking straws she found!  By combining a few packages of straws with a couple quick strips of yellow drywall tape, she gave some plain vases a punch of electric color.  The amount of straws you will need depends on the diameter of your vase, so make sure you take measurements or hold the packages of straws up to the vase for comparison.  Seasonal items are one of those things you don’t want to come up short on partway through a project, since there is always the chance that you won’t see them again for a long time!  [how to make a neon bamboo vase]

Project estimate:

• Neon bamboo drinking straws, about $3 and up
• Drywall tape, about $5 and up
• Vase, on hand or $1

Total:  about $8 and up

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Baker’s twine crafts are hot-hot-hot right now!  It’s showing up in projects from wedding to decor to card making and everywhere in between.  If you like the look of baker’s twine but have been holding off on buying it in favor of a cheaper alternative, Laura Beth at A Step in the Journey is about to become your hero.  She figured out an oh-so-simple method to add a dash of color to plain white string for a fabulous faux effect.  Once you see how cheap and easy it is, you’ll be adding baker’s twine to every project in sight!  [how to make your own baker’s twine]

Project estimate:

• String, on hand or $1
• Ruler, on hand
• Colored permanent markers, on hand or $1 and up
• Empty spools, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

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Conversation hearts are one of those love-’em-or-hate-’em kind of candies.  They’re not my favorites (they remind me of heart-shaped Tums), but they are one of those classic, iconic candies nonetheless.  If you’d rather non eat them, how about crafting with them instead?  Katie from Sew Woodsy turned a box of them into a set of magnets, sealing them up with a coat of sparkle Mod Podge.  (Gloss or matte Mod Podge would also work if you don’t have any of the glittery kind or if glitter just isn’t your bag.)  [how to make conversation heart magnets]

Project estimate:

• Conversation hearts, about $0.50
• Mod podge, on hand
• Sheet magnet, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  about $0.50 and up

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If you are an iPod junkie, your headphones are as much an accessory in your wardrobe as your necklace and your handbag.  It makes sense, then, to treat them as such!  Over at Cut Out + Keep, user xMeerjam personalized hers with a bunch of colorful Perler beads!  Put them on randomly or in a pattern, use a whole rainbow or just a couple of favorite colors.  Make your headphones look like they were made just for you!  (If you can find glow-in-the-dark Perler beads, this would be great to take out jogging in the early morning or evening hours!)  [how to dress up headphones with Perler beads]

Project estimate:

• Perler beads, on hand or $1 and up
• Headphones, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

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Would you wear a dress made out of…  throw rugs?  I would if it looked this good!  Geneva from A Pair & A Spare found some dollar store rugs made from recycled jersey cloth and, noting that they had a good deal of stretch to them, decided they would be the perfect material for a form-fitting dress.  The look is totally high-end, and especially impressive considering the source!  Seriously, would you ever guess?  [how to make a multicolor bodycon dress]

Project estimate:

• Rag rugs, $4 and up
• Zipper, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine, on hand

Total:  $4 and up

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Lately, I have really been enjoying the ingenuity of Breanna, my awesome editor over at Dollar Store Mom. I love this fun and festive party photo backdrop she made for just $2. All that color really makes your party photos pop! Check out her tutorial (and her other great ideas). [how to make a balloon photo backdrop]

Project Estimate:

• White foam board, $1
• Balloons, about 25- $1
• Tape, on hand
• Staple gun and staples, on hand

The post Festive Balloon Photo Backdrop for $2 appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Can you tell I’m thinking about back to school? Here’s another amazing teacher’s gift idea from A Bushel and A Peck: a pretty multicolored crayon wreath! I love the way the crayons are arranged by color, but I bet it would look neat if all the crayons were mixed up, or if all the crayons were in the same color family. Take advantage of back-t0-school sales to pick up crayons for a great price, or find everyday great prices on crayons at your dollar store. [how to make a crayon wreath] [via Cara TX]

The inspiration project uses two embroidery hoops as a form, but you could use a wreath you find at the dollar store, or cut out a cardboard circle and cover it with pretty ribbon, fabric, or paper before you glue the crayons on.

Project Estimate:

• Wreath form, on hand or $1
• Large box of crayons or 3 boxes of 24, $1 and up
• Glue, on hand
• Ribbon, on hand or $1

Total: $1 and up

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The other day I was perusing the floral section of my local Dollar Tree where I happened upon some long stalks of bamboo.  I love bamboo, and ever since I’ve been looking for a crafty excuse to buy some.  How serendipitous, then, that I should find this great project:  summery bamboo wind chimes by Michele at Michele Made Me!  I’m nuts about the great patterns she painted on all of the pieces, though if you’re not feeling quite so artistically inclined you could go with much less intricate designs, paint them solid colors, or even leave them au naturel!  [how to make a bamboo wind chime]

Project estimate:

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