Pineapples have been an extremely popular motif lately.  We aren’t really into jumping on bandwagons, but this is one trend we whole-heartedly love!  This fun pineapple tee, which looks like it came off the rack at a fashionable boutique, was actually made by Sam at The Pretty Life Girls using a stamping technique and materials that would have otherwise been garbage.  So not only is it adorable, it’s also insanely cheap to make!  [how to make a stamped pineapple shirt]

Project estimate:

• Shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• Foam takeout container, on hand
• Pencil, on hand
• Fabric paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make a Stamped Pineapple Shirt appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Oh shoot – you just discovered a hole in your favorite garment!  Sounds like you need a patch.  Check out this cute DIY patch idea from Gina Michele, who used a basic weaving loom made out of recycled cardboard and some embroidery floss to make this pretty iron-on repair that also makes a funky fashion statement.  Not only is this a great idea for repairs, it’s also a fun way to embellish a plain shirt or other article of clothing!  [how to make DIY woven patches]

Project estimate:

• Cardboard, on hand
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $1
• Iron-on interfacing, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

The post Make DIY Woven Patches appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’m sure we all have stacks of t-shirts that are out of date or don’t fit.  Instead of leaving them in a pile in the closet, why not craft with them?  I’m going to show you a very simple technique for t-shirt cutting and looping that can be applied in different ways.  It looks complicated, but it’s not!

Project Estimate:

• T-shirt – on hand
• Scissors – on hand

Total:  Free

First, choose what part of the t-shirt you want to work on, and fold it in half.  For this example, I am cutting the back of the shirt.  You can see how I painted the front of this retro orange t-shirt in this tutorial.

Cut slits in the t-shirt on the fold.  For this design, I cut long slits of varying lengths.  Keep all the pieces intact EXCEPT for the very last one.  Cut that one in half.

Start at the top of the line of cuts.  Lift up the top piece, and pull the one below it through the loop.  Release the top piece and hold on to the second piece.  Now pull the third piece through the second one.  Continue in this manner, always pulling the bottom piece through the top one and releasing the top one.

Once you reach the end of the loop sequence, use the bottom row, which has been cut in half, to tie the last loop in place.

This technique is so versatile and looks different depending on how wide and long the cut rows are.  For the white t-shirt, I cut very short (one inch) slits on the sleeves and at the bottom of the shirt to create a pretty braided look.  You could also do this on the sides of the shirts to make them a little tighter.  Have fun cutting t-shirts and creating!

The post Learn a Basic T-Shirt Cutting Technique appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Boot season is back, baby! One of my favorite parts of fall is dusting off my little collection of cute, comfy boots. It’s always a bummer to pull out a favorite pair and find scuffs and scratches. Or just realizing that last season’s boots might be a little blah for this year. Instead of going shoe shopping, try some of these ways to refashion those old boots.

1. Glitter Boots – A pop of glitter is a great way to cover up scuffed heels on an old pair of boots.

2. Pop of Color Boots – Raid your fabric stash and use your prettiest scrap pieces to add a little colorful detail to your favorite boots.

3. Color Blocked – I love how this boot refashion reminds me of saddle shoes. So sweet.

4. Gold Toes – Who says socks are the only way to sport a gold toe? Cover scuffs and scratches and add a little sparkle at the same time.

5. Lace-Covered Boots – Use a bit of lace to cover imperfections and add interest to a plain pair of boots.

6. Polkadot Rain Boots – Make your puddle-stomping a little bit cuter.

7. Removable Bling – Give your combat boots a glam touch without committing with this removable embellishment.

8. Western Faux Steel Toe – This is a more stylized take on the color-blocked toe, and it’s so cute!

9. Studded Ankle Boots – Trim and transform your boots into trendy ankle boots with a little bit of a hard edge.

10. Cut Out Boots – Take a pair of tall boots from modest to sassy with an X-acto knife.

The post 10 Ways to Refashion Old Boots appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

One thing I have discovered over my many years of thrift store shopping is that often, I can buy secondhand clothing for less than what if would cost me to buy the fabric to create a garment.  Crazy, right?  Caroline at Imagine Gnats came up with a brilliant and money-saving idea, using a men’s button-down shirt to create a pair of toddler-sized shorts.  She even turned the chest pocket into a back pocket – such a cute idea!  Use your favorite shorts pattern for this project, or look up free sewing patterns if you don’t already have one on hand. [how to turn a men’s shirt into toddler shorts]

Project estimate:

• Men’s button-down shirt, on hand or $1
• Shorts pattern, free and up
• Sewing machine, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Turn a Men’s Shirt into Toddler Shorts appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

There are lots of great ways to keep your feet warm inside: Socks, warm puppies, blankets, snuggies. If you need something more portable than a warm puppy and socks just aren’t cutting it, take the lead from Kat of We Can Re-Do It. She turned an old sweater into a pair of snuggly warm slippers and took lots of pictures so that you can, too! [how to make upcycled sweater slippers]

Project estimate:

• Sweater, on hand
• File folder, on hand or $1 and up
• Pencil, on hand
• Chalk, on hand
• Scissors, on hand
• Double sided tape, on hand or $1 and up
• Needle & thread, on hand
• Sewing machine, on hand

Total: Free and up

The post Make Upcycled Sweater Slippers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Ever wished that your littles were as good at cleaning up messes as they are at making them?  If you have a crawler, here’s a way they can help with the housework!  Carissa made this hilarious “cleaning crew” onesie that she shared at Creative Green Living, using a dollar store car wash mitt to make a tummy-mounted dust mop.  It’s never to early to be mommy’s little helper, right?  At the very least, this ought to get some good laughs out of people.  …Though keep in mind that your kid may never forgive you if you dub them with the nickname “Swiffer.”  [how to make a baby cleaning crew shirt]

Project estimate:

• Onesie, on hand or $1
• Car wash mitt, $1
• Freezer paper, on hand
• Fabric paint, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Baby Cleaning Crew Shirt appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again:  We love Mark Montano!  Not only is he an uber-crafty dude, he’s also a master of the art of turning dollar store finds into stunning projects.  Among his many projects is a web series on his YouTube account called Make Your Mark.  That’s where we came across this gem of a project; in under an hour you can make your own stenciled lace t-shirt!  To learn how to make it watch the video below, or follow this link to view it on YouTube:  [how to make a stenciled lace t-shirt]

Project estimate:

• T-shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• Lace yardage, on hand or about $2 and up
• Spray adhesive, on hand
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Fray check, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Stenciled Lace T-Shirt appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Whether you want to dress up a plain t-shirt or you’re looking to rescue a favorite garment that has gotten stained, bleaching is a great alternative to dyeing – rather than add color, you can take it away instead for a different effect.  Over at Lil Blue Boo, Ashley did an entire series of tutorials on different fabric bleaching techniques, including how to use stencils to create a design.  You can use store-bought stencils, cut your own stencils, or even use various objects (such as a doily).  If you like this look, be sure to check out the rest of her fabric bleaching series as well!  [how to stencil fabric with bleach]

Project estimate:

• T-shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• Bleach, on hand or $1
• Stencil, on hand or $1 and up
• Spray bottle, on hand or $1
• Sponge, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up

The post Stencil Fabric with Bleach appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

It’s the first of the month once again, and you know what that means.  Time to link up for this month’s craft challenge sponsored by Dollar Tree!  With back-to-school season in full swing, we thought it would be the perfect time for some crafty fashion projects.  Are you a DIY fashionista?  We want to see your best fashion crafts – and you could win a $100 gift card from Dollar Tree by sharing them here!

Before you link up, here is a quick recap of the rules:

1. Post your project on your blog, or as a post in the “Community” Section on Dollar Store Crafts. A photo of your project is required, as well as a list of materials used.

2. Submit a link to your project using the linky submission that will at the bottom of the contest entry post. (Post will go live on September 1st).

Dates: September 1st, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT). Linky Party closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on September 7th, 2012.

Multiple entries by the same person are accepted, however, only one prize will be awarded.

Eligibility: Residents of the USA, 18 and older

Winner Selection: There will be 1 Winner, chosen by a team of 3 judges who include 2 members of the Dollar Store Crafts staff, and one independent person with expertise in the area of fashion. Entries will be judged on the basis of the following criteria: originality, usefulness, creativity, clarity of instructions, and availability of materials at dollar stores.

Prize: $100 gift card to Dollar Tree.

And now, the part you’ve all been waiting for… It’s time to enter!

The post Link Up for the Fall Fashion Craft Challenge! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.