Serve up your 4th of July treats in style with this DIY button flag tray!  Angie from The Country Chic Cottage transformed a plain wooden tray into a festive, party-ready piece that will add funky charm to your holiday spread.  Make it out of a new, unfinished wood tray, or look for an old tray at thrift stores or garage sales and give it a makeover!  [how to make a button flag tray]

Project estimate:

• Wood tray, about $5 and up
• Buttons, on hand or $1 and up
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Resin, about $5 and up
• Hot glue, on hand
• Star sticker, on hand or $1

Total:  about $10 and up

The post Make a Button Flag Tray appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Flag Day is coming up this weekend and the 4th of July is right around the corner, so it’s the perfect time to make yourself a patriotic serving tray!  This one uses a simple antiquing technique to make it look like it’s been in the family for generations.

Project estimate:

• Cloth flag, $1 and up
• Plastic serving tray, $1
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Brown acrylic paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $2 and up

Cut the flag as close as possible to the plastic pole.  Place the flag in a container of water to soak.  This will loosen up any starch in the flag and allow it to easily conform to the shape of your tray.

Coat the top of the tray with Mod Podge.  Wring out the excess water in the flag and place it on top of the tray.

Wet the paint brush with water and, starting in the middle, work out the air bubbles in the flag.  Let dry completely, several hours or overnight.

Cut the flag leaving approximately 1/2 inch of excess fabric around the edge.  Turn the tray upside down and coat the edges of the flag with Mod Podge.  Adhere the edges to the underside of the tray.  Let dry.

To antique the flag, add a small amount of brown paint to your Mod Podge.  (NOTE: If you don’t want your flag stained, leave out the paint.)  Seal the tray using using the Mod Podge with or without the paint and let dry.

The post Tutorial: Primitive Flag Tray appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

They were one of my favorite childhood activities, but perler beads are not just for kids anymore!  Checkout this fab rose tray made by Vanessa at Tried & True.  It reminds me of a cross stitch motif, and I absolutely love it!  She even offers up a free printable template to follow so you can replicate her design easily.  Or use the tray idea without the template and get crazy with your own design!  [how to make a perler bead rose tray]

Project estimate:

• Perler beads, on hand or $1 and up
• Extra larger perler bead pegboard, about $8
• Rose template, free

Total: about $8 and up

The post Make a Perler Bead Rose Tray appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

With Earth Day around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a project that uses repurposed items.  I used bits and pieces from both the thrift store and my home to make a beautiful tray.  I love the way it looks on my coffee table!

Project estimate:

• Frame (11 x14), on hand or $1 and up
• Drawer Pulls, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand
• Spray Paint, on hand
• Scrapbook paper, on hand

Total:  Free to $1 and up 

Step one:  Glue the handles onto the sides of the frames.  I used E-6000 with a bit of hot glue to hold the drawer pulls in place while the glue set.

Step two:  Remove the glass and backing and spray paint the frame and handles.

Step three:  Measure and cut scrapbook paper to fit the glass.

Once the paint has dried, place the glass and paper back in the frame.  This pretty tray can be changed often by simply switching out the paper behind the glass.  I painted an old espresso maker  to match the tray, and filled it with flowers.  I love how they look together, and how I was able to combine several outdated items that were destined for the trash to make pretty home decor.  Have fun repurposing and creating!

The post Tutorial: Decorative Tray from Photo Frames appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We are pleased to have Stacy from Fancy Shanty with us today to share this delectable recipe and display stand!  If you enjoy this project, be sure to stop by her blog and see what else she has been up to!

Looking for a quick and easy centerpiece decoration for your patriotic party this year? This sinfully moist Dark Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe will have the chocolate lovers in your life screaming for more. Pair this cupcake recipe with my easy hack on how to make store bought frosting better, along with my quick and easy Dollar Store Patriotic Cupcake Stand, and you’ll have a fun and festive patriotic centerpiece in no time.

Quick and Easy Patriotic Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup strong black coffee
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Patriotic cupcake wrapper and decorating kit

For the Frosting

• canned vanilla frosting (Not the whipped variety)
• 1 tbsp Pure Vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Directions:

For the Cupcakes

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix on low until dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes; the batter will be thin.
4. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center cupcake comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes.
5. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely.

For the Frosting

1. Place the store-bought frosting in a bowl and begin whipping with an electric mixer or stand mixer.
2. Add 1 tbsp Pure Vanilla extract.
3. Slowly add about 1/2 cup confectioners sugar and continue whipping until a spatula will stand upright when placed in the middle of the frosting. If the spatula falls to one side, continue adding more confectioners sugar in small increments until the spatula will stand upright. For a stronger key lime flavor, continue slowly adding 1 tbsp + 1/2 cup confectioners sugar to frosting then taste & check consistency.
4. Add one patriotic flag to each cupcake.
5. Display on Patriotic Cupcake Stand. (Instructions below)

Patriotic Cupcake Stand

Project estimate:

• Plastic goblet, $1
• Plastic veggie tray, $1
• Plastic plate, $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $3

Using a strong adhesive (I used E6000), adhere a Dollar Store blue plastic goblet upside down in the center of a red flower-shaped veggie dip tray. Let dry.

Once dry, adhere a red plastic plate to the top of the upside down blue plastic goblet. Let dry.

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My jewelry has a tendency to get a little out of control. Necklaces here, rings there, earrings earrings everywhere! I’m sure having a designated place to put all my baubles would keep them from looking like a cluttery mess. Have you ever noticed how simply putting the same pile of clutter on a tray makes you look instantly organized? This tray from Mod Podge Rocks is perfect for giving your stash a little bit of style! [how to decorate a clear glass jewelry tray]

Project estimate:

• Clear glass dish or tray, $1 and up
• Mod Podge Peel n Stick stencil, $4
• Mod Podge gloss, on hand
• Glitter, on hand or $1 and up
• Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, on hand or about $5
• Spouncer or sponge brush, on hand or $1 and up
• Masking tape, on hand
• Paintbrush, on hand

Total: $5 and up

The post Make a Glittery Jewelry Tray appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Keeping plants indoors is said to improve air quality as well as increase feelings of general well being. Help make home or work a happier and healthier place to be by making your own air plant display following the instructions over on Suburbia Soup. You can get the materials needed for the holders at the dollar store but will need to visit a home improvement store or nursery to find the plants. [how to make a hanging air plant display]

Project estimate

• Strainer, $1 and up
• Small rocks, $1 and up
• Tray or cutting board, $1 and up
• Cup hooks, on hand
• Hanging hardware, on hand
• Paper fasteners, on hand
• Paper, on hand
• Pen, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Wire cutters, on hand
• Air plant, about $3 and up

Total: about $6 and up

The post Make a Hanging Air Plant Display appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Make a Martha-inspired river rock boot tray with a few large serving trays and several bags of river rocks. Su at Vively Online shared this clever and chic idea. It’s a great way to bring a little of the outdoors inside, and it’s such a simple and pretty idea, like our Pebble Mat from a few months ago, but easier! Those of you who have young boys (like me) won’t be able to make these for a few years, but the rest of you can go out and get a few bags of river rocks next time you go to the dollar store. [how to make river rock boot trays]

Project Estimate:

• Tray, $1
• River rocks, about 3-4 bags, $3-4

Total: $4 and up

The post Make River Rock Boot Trays appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

How can you make one dollar wooden trays look a LOT more expensive? Add scrapbooking paper and hang them on the wall as a display. This is a great example of the true essence of Dollar Store Crafts: take something humble from the dollar store and elevate it into something that looks a lot more stylish and expensive. Angie at Scrap Scene made these dollar store trays Martha-worthy (or maybe Anthropologie-ish) with a simple addition of pretty paper. You can display the trays as-is or use them as frames for other things. A well-loved collection would be at home mounted in these boxes. [how to make embellished wooden trays]

Project Estimate:

• Wooden box, $1
• Scrapbooking paper, on hand or $.25
• Glue or Mod Podge, on hand
• Paper trimmer or scissors, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Pretty Wooden Tray Decor appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Tiered trays are a top 10 dollar store craft. What does that mean? That you love to make tiered trays, and I’ve seen a LOT of tiered tray projects, and have even featured a couple of them. That said, you have to make an awfully special tiered tray to capture my attention, which is precisely what Julie at Joy’s Hope did in her Dollar Store Craft entry at the CSI project. How did she twist this popular project? By choosing a fabulous color palette and painting her trays and pedestals with bright colors that really pop! Also, the fact that she made several tiered trays adds to their impact. [how to make brightly colored tiered trays]

Not only are Julie’s trays colorful, but you will crack up at her colorful tutorial. Hi-larious. And I quote: “The Valspar is my new boyfriend.” Oh, also, Julie reminds us that the trays are not food safe or dishwasher safe, so be sure to use cupcake liners, doilies, or scrapbook papers underneath anything edible you place on the tray.

Use these for parties, organization, weddings, showers, or whatever else you can think of!

Project Estimate:

• Three silver-esque trays, $2
• Two crystal-esque candlestick holders, $2
• Glue (Julie used Super Glue Fix-All, and I would use e6000), on hand or $1
• Spray paint, $1 and up per color ($3 or so if you want fashion colors)

Total: $5 and up

The post A Twist on Tiered Trays: Color Pop! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.