Bandannas are a great craft material – inexpensive, colorful, and printed with those great designs! I love this quick and easy project I found over at Heathered Nest: cute Bandanna Pillows. You can find bandannas at the dollar store, Walmart, or online for $1 or less. (Also, I love the room design that goes with these pillows, so be sure to click through and check it out!): Instructions and info here: [how to make bandanna pillows]

Materials needed:

• 2 bandannas per pillow, $2
• Old throw pillows to cover (or buy at thrift store), on hand
• Sewing machine and thread, on hand

Total cost: $2 and up

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I love my flip-flops, but I must have comfort in addition to the convenience of slip-on summer shoes. My solution? To crochet a cute and comfortable cushion around the straps with a dollar store bandanna. This project is quick and easy, and only uses one simple crochet stitch that anyone can do.

Project Materials:

• A pair of flip-flops, $1
• One bandanna, $1
• A crochet hook (I used a US J or 6mm hook), on hand or $1
• Rotary cutter, mat and ruler OR scissors, on hand
• Hot glue and glue gun, on hand

Total: $2

How to Crochet Bandanna Flip-Flops:

Part 1: Creating Bandanna Yarn

1. First we have to prepare the bandanna “yarn” by cutting the bandanna into 1/2″ strips.

I used a rotary cutter, ruler and mat, but you can also just cut 1/2″ strips with your scissors, or even cut notches in the bandanna and then rip the strips.

2. Next knot your strips together at the ends to create one continuous piece of bandanna “yarn.”

Part 2: Crochet Around the Flip-Flop Straps

1. Knot the end of the bandanna yarn around the bottom edge of a flip-flop strap. Trim the knot and hot glue the yarn to itself to secure.

2. Place your hook behind the flip-flop strap and catch the yarn with the hook. Draw it back behind the strap so you have a loop around your hook.

3. Place your hook across the front of the flip-flop strap and catch the yarn with the hook. Draw it through the loop on your hook. You will now have a new loop on your hook.

4. Repeat this process — hooking over and under the flip-flop strap, until the entire flip-flop is covered with crochet.

5. When you get to the end of the flip-flop, pull the yarn through the final crochet loop and pull to tighten. Glue edge of yarn to the bottom of the flip-flop strap with hot glue.

6. Trim any long pieces of bandanna knots, if desired.

It takes about ten minutes per flip-flop to crochet.

You can also use scrap fabric instead of bandannas. Or even yarn!

The post Tutorial: Crocheted Bandanna Flip-Flops appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Recently, I told you that I met up with Breanna, a DSC fan, for a day of Dollar Store Craft shopping at Dollar Tree. She shared a great 15 second tutorial for making cool glass pedestal apothecary jars. I made another video that shows some of the things we found on our trip. If you aren’t a video watcher, I rounded up the highlights from the video here in this post. If you YouTube, be sure to subscribe to the DollarCraft YouTube channel. [How to make an apothecary jar]

Cupcake Gift Boxes: I found several cute cupcake gift boxes that ranged from small (about 3″ cube) to pretty large (about 7″). These were along the bottom of the gift bag section, which is an aisle I usually speed through or skip altogether. These are really cute, though!

Tinkerbell Notebooks: Dollar Tree has a lot of licensed merchandise with Disney characters like Tinkerbell, the Disney Princesses, and Toy Story characters on them. If you are having a birthday party with any licensed characters, stop at the dollar store first to find out if you can find any of the right stuff.  Other licensed characters I noticed: different superheroes, Spongebob and Dora the Explorer. Products ranged from notebooks to plastic dishes and small figurines.

Idea: Dress-a-Bear Kits for Pumpkins: Last year, my sister-in-law and her pre-schoolers dressed their Halloween pumpkins in these dollar store dress-a-bear kits. They turned out so cute, and because there was no carving or paint involved, it was a fun and mess-free activity. [how to dress your Halloween pumpkins]

Cameo Hair Elastics: Find these in the hair accessories section of the store, and use the cameos to embellish your crafts, or for jewelry-making projects.

Sage Green Bathroom Accessories: I found these pretty green bathroom accessories (they look prettier in real life). They’d be really nice with a monogram – either paint it (use these stenciling instructions) or cut vinyl or contact paper.

2-pack of Bandannas: These bandannas are poly-cotton and come in packs of two with cheerful patterns, so they’re good for projects like the bandanna tablecloth.

Colorful Knee Socks: Fun for kids to wear, or use to extend sleeves on kids’ t-shirts for fall and winter. Or make arm-warmers (like these Ninja Mitt Fingerless Gloves from Leethal.)

Wooden Magnetic Letters and Numbers: These were a hot item last year, and they sold out quickly. My Dollar Tree has them back in stock. You could glue them onto photo frames or wooden chairs or chests to personalize them for your kiddos. Or use the numbers to mark an advent calendar (yes, it’s time to make this year’s advent calendars!)

Flannel-Backed Tablecloths: Use these to make reusable sandwich or lunch bags, or reusable grocery sacks.

What have you seen at the dollar store this week?

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Back in high school, I had a crafty friend who would tie together a few bandannas and make a cute halter top for sunbathing summer days. I have never been that brave, but I’ve always admired the ingenuity! …love Maegan has come up with a fashion-forward twist on the old bandanna top by creating a silk scarf and safety pin top that is inspired by a Vena Cava design, and is completely no sew! She has full instructions on her blog, so go find out [how to make a silk scarf and safety pin bandanna]

The dollar store doesn’t carry silk scarves, but you can find silk scarves at thrift stores or estate sales, or use a bandanna, piece of stash fabric, cut-up t-shirt, etc.

Project Estimate:

• Silk scarf, on hand or thrifted
• Large safety pins, $1

Total: $1 and up

The post Make a Scarf & Safety Pin Tank Top appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Bandannas have been showing up at my dollar store lately, in two-packs, but they’ve always been cheap even when they weren’t available at the dollar store. You can usually find them for a dollar per bandanna at your local big-box retailer, and the blue store carries traditional bandannas as well as some in fashion prints and colors. Anneliese at Aesthetic Nest has a great bandanna tablecloth tutorial (and a great cheap source for bandannas, too). She made a really cute tablecloth for a party – I’m sure her tablecloth will get lots of use for many summer activities to come! [click here for the bandanna tablecloth tutorial]

Project Estimate:

• 15 bandannas, buy 8 2-packs, $8
• Sewing stuff, on hand

Total: $8

The post Make a Bandanna Tablecloth appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Jacinda at Prudent Baby posted directions for transforming a plain child’s t-shirt into a tunic, and it’s supposed to take just five minutes! I love the idea of just adding onto a shirt to make a unique (and longer) top, but I don’t think it should only be for kiddos. I want  one of these for myself! Either way, this is a great way to lengthen last year’s shirts and get a bit more use out of them! [click here for 5 minute t-shirt tunic tutorial]

Jacinda used a lovely vintage scarf for her t-shirt transformation, but you could easily use a dollar store tea towel, a bandanna (they have lots of variety at the big blue store), or hey, even doilies would be cute! I don’t have little girls, but I wonder if it would be cute to use the bottom of a dress shirt on a t-shirt for boys? Just an idea.

Project Estimate:

• Old t-shirt or tank top, on hand
• Scarf, tea towel, or bandanna, $1 or on hand
• Sewing stuff, on hand

Total: FREE and up

The post Make a Five-Minute T-shirt Tunic appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Bandanna Cape by Lauren at Us Wheelers: $3

Lauren used bandannas to make quick capes for her kiddos:

I made superhero capes out of bandannas and an iron-on letter (all from Hobby Lobby).  I used one bandanna (the blue) and cut off about 4 1/2 inches of another bandanna (the yellow one).  I sewed the yellow onto the bottom of the blue (making sure the finished edge of the bandanna was on the bottom.  That’s the beauty of using bandannas: all the edges are finished and you don’t have as much sewing to do.).

On the top of the cape (the top of the blue) I folded under about an inch and sewed a “tube”.  Once sewn, I found some red ribbon in my stash and trimmed it to about 3 feet long.  I put a safety pin in one end and threaded it through the casing at the top of the cape.  Then I made two seams across the casing (securing the ribbon) about 1/3 of the way in on each side.

I traced a Superman emblem from a picture that I printed off the computer and used it as a pattern, cutting from the rest of the yellow bandanna.  Then I ironed on a red letter (the first letter of the child’s name) to the yellow emblem.  I centered the emblem onto the blue bandanna and then did a simple zigzag stitch around it to secure it.  I’ve also serged the edges on other capes (which I think looks better).  After that, you’re done!  Tie around the child’s neck and let them fly away!

Project Estimate:

• 2 bandannas:  $1 each
• iron-on letter:  $1
• ribbon and thread:  from stash

Total cost of project:  $3

Perpetual Learning Calendar by Linda: $2 and up

Reader Linda C. sent this project in; a perpetual calendar to help her daughter learn days, months, dates, and year:

The post Reader Roundup: Kid Stuff appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Make a quilt in an hour or so by using readymade bandannas as squares! This would be a great outdoor or picnic quilt, or a cute covering for a tween’s bed (in their favorite alternating colors). Made by Mrs. D. Lightful, and found by U Create. [click here for instructions] [updated: new instructions because old link doesn’t work now]

Notes on materials: for batting, you can use your 40% off coupons from your local fabric store (JoAnn’s always has one if you sign up for their mailing list), or use a recycled blanket/comforter from thrift store – launder in hot water before using). Backing: you can use a thrifted sheet for the easiest backing. Overdye with RIT (cotton & cotton blend sheets) to fit color scheme, if necessary.

This is a great quilting project for a beginner, so if you have always wanted to make a quilt, this is a good project to start with. It’s just sewing in straight lines. Bandannas are awesome if you want to just sew and go with little cutting and measuring! Bandannas are a great non-intimidating way to go when making a quilt, but they are NOT the cheapest way, so if you want to go cheaper (but a tiny bit more work), fabric by the yard or recycled sheets are a better choice.

I have a lot of experience making quick patchwork quilts so if you need more info, comment here and I’ll comment/email back to help you (or perhaps our readers will assist in the comments)! If there’s a demand, I can create a step-by-step tutorial (but probably not until later in July).

Project estimate:

• Bandannas, $1 each (you’ll need at least 12, depending on the size of quilt you want)
• Thrifted sheet, $1 and up
• Batting, $2.50 a yard (2 or more yards)

Total: $18 and up

The post Make a Bandanna Quilt appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Kirstin at kojodesigns made a cute and quick wine (or sparkling cider!) bag out of dollar store supplies. This is a great craft for a housewarming or holiday gift. The best part? It takes only ten minutes to complete, so it’s perfect for a last-minute gift. [project instructions here]

You can also use a tea towel or bandanna (or scrap fabric) for this project.

Project Estimate:

• Cloth napkin, $1 (or 2 for $1)
• Ribbon, $1 or on hand
• Sewing stuff, on hand

Total cost: $.50 and up

The post Make a Drawstring Wine Bag appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Martha always comes up with the best ideas (or at least her well-paid team of highly creative geniuses does!). This one looks so cute: a bandanna apron. It’s also extremely simple. Even if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of sewing, you should be able to pull this one off! If you’re going dollar store pure on this, you might need to sub ribbon for the twill tape, but it shouldn’t make a huge difference in the overall look of the apron.

Project Estimate:

• Bandanna, $1
• Ribbon, $1

Total: $2

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