There are a lot of really awesome, extra-large wall stencils on the market these days, but some of them come with a hefty price tag.  Want to get that all-over patterned look without buying an expensive stencil?  Sarah from While They Snooze gave a wall in her home a makeover with a DIY template made from recycled cardboard and a clever method that makes this project easier than you might expect!  [how to stencil a Moroccan accent wall]

Project estimate:

• Moroccan pattern shape, free on Internet
• Cardboard, on hand
• Level, on hand or $1 and up
• Tape, on hand
• Pencil, on hand
• Paint and small paintbrush, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up!

The post Stencil a Moroccan Accent Wall appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

With the 4th of July right around the corner, there is no better time to start DIYing for the holiday than now.  This adorable shirt from Jessica at Cutesy Crafts was made with a genius technique – stamping around a masked area with a pencil eraser!  The effect is sort of fireworks-y, making it perfect for the occasion; you could also change the shape and the paint colors to use this ideas for other holidays as well!  Use red and pink around a heart for Valentine’s Day, greens around a shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day, and so on.  You could even adapt this idea to make greeting cards or other items!  [how to make an eraser-stamped shirt]

Project estimate:

• Shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• Pencil, on hand
• Fabric paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Shape template, free
• Freezer paper, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

The post Make an Eraser-Stamped Shirt appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Playing cards are cheap and versatile entertainment, but what do you do with a deck when it’s missing a card or two?  Rather than trowing it out, why not get crafty with it instead?  Instructables user Sic_Girl created this fabulous playing card flower that would make a great hair clip or brooch, or an embellishment for all kinds of other projects!  She even provides a free template for cutting the petals.  If you like the shape but aren’t into the cards, you can use the template with any other heavy paper you have on hand as well!  [how to make playing card flowers]

Project estimate:

• Playing cards, on hand or $1
• Petal template, free
• Hot glue, on hand
• Rhinestone or other small embellishment, on hand
• Hair clip or pin back (optional), on hand or $1

Total:   Free and up!

The post Make Playing Card Flowers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Would you believe that this entire wreath is made out of recycled materials and a little duct tape?  It’s truly a trash-to-treasure project!  Johnnie from Saved By Love Creations used a die cutter to turn aluminum cans into leaves, though you could also use a punch or print out a leaf template to trace and cut by hand.  Even the wreath form came out of the recycle bin!  I love how high-end her results look, especially from such humble materials.  [how to make an aluminum can leaf wreath]

Project estimate:

• Aluminum cans, on hand
• Cardboard, on hand
• Duct tape, on hand or $1 and up
• Leaf die cut, punch, or template, on hand or free and up
• Alcohol ink, about $2 and up
• Dimensional scrapbook adhesive, on hand or $1 and up

Total: about $2 and up

The post Make an Aluminum Can Leaf Wreath appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Have you ever seen the paper skeletal leaves that are used for scrapbooking and other such projects?  They are gorgeous but also quite fragile.  Wanting to make a more durable version that could be used for jewelry making or other crafts, Kris at How Did You Make This? came up with a version made out of embroidery floss!  They have all of the beauty and charm of their paper counterparts but can be used in lots of different ways.  Turn them into earrings or necklaces, stitch them onto clothing, or work them into your fall decor projects – there are so many possibilities with these!  [how to make lacy skeleton leaves]

Project estimate:

• Leaf template, free
• Paper, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Embroidery floss, on hand
• Needle and thread, on hand

Total:  Free!

The post Make Lacy Skeleton Leaves appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Why pay high prices for designer vases when you can DIY one for so much less?  This one was designed by Pattie from I Love To Create, whose clever use of seed beads made it go from plain to posh in a few steps that are easier than you might expect.  Using the same technique, any combination of colors and basic shapes could be used to tweak this project for other holidays or occasions as well: a small vase with pink or blue dots could hold silverware at a baby shower; simple silver and blue snowflakes would make a nice addition to a winter or Christmas tablescape; pink and red hearts would make it perfect for holding a Valentine’s Day bouquet.  And they are inexpensive enough to create that you can afford to make all of the above – and more – for less than the cost of a single designer vase – cha-ching!  [how to make a beaded fall vase]

Project estimate:

• Vase, $1
• Seed beads, on hand or $1 and up
• Jewelry glue, on hand or about $5
• Paper, on hand
• Circle template, free
• Masking tape, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon (optional), on hand or $1
• Silk leaves (optional), $1

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Beaded Fall Vase appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

This week friends and family will gather in back yards all across the country to eat food, play games, and enjoy each others’ company.  If you’re looking for a fun way to add a little handmade flare to the festivities, or to any picnic or barbecue, try making pretty paper food baskets for serving your guests!  Jessica from Zakka Life has provided a free printable template for making them; all you have to do is cut and glue!  I love the carnival-like feel they have, and by using different papers, you can customize them to go with any occasion!  [how to make paper food baskets]

Project estimate:

• Printable template, free
• Paper, on hand or about $0.10/sheet and up
• Wax paper, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Paper Food Baskets appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Somewhere out there is a tie-loving father who anxiously awaits mid-June every year knowing it will mean an addition to his collection.  But he’s not my dad.  The last time I saw him in a tie was my wedding, and as soon as the ceremony was over he quickly removed it.  In my wedding photos you can easily spot him at the back of the crown, collar open, wearing a baseball cap.  No, my dad isn’t much of a tie wearer.  He does, however, appreciate tongue-in-cheek humor (and snack foods), so this might be a more appropriate necktie-related gift for him.  Inspired by an idea from Martha, the ladies over at Eighteen25 put together these cute tie boxes and filled them up with some of dad’s favorite munchies.  Now that’s more my dad’s style!  [how to make Father’s Day tie boxes]

Project estimate:

• Plastic box, $1 and up
• Paper, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Printable template, free

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Father’s Day Tie Boxes appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We love a good crafty challenge.  Nothing gets the creative juices flowing quite like it!  Jane from Buzzmills is took part in a “Feather Your Nest” challenge recently, the parameters of which were that the project had to:  1) include recycled materials and 2) it was a stitch-along, so there had to be sewing involved.  Taking a literal twist on the bird-related theme, she dug into her pile of magazines (who doesn’t have a million of those laying around collecting dust?) and came up with a simple (and free!) mobile.  She drew her own bird template for this project, but you could also do an image search for bird clipart to print and cut out if you don’t feel so artistically inclined.  Or you could go for a different shape altogether!  [how to make a recycled paper bird mobile]

Project estimate:

• Magazines, on hand
• Template, free
• Sewing machine, on hand
• String, on hand
• Twig, on hand

Total:  Free!

The post Make a Recycled Paper Bird Mobile appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you are looking for a truly kid-friendly jewelry making project, check out this springy bracelet by Kathy at Merriment Design.  She made them using velcro plant ties, a long strip of velcro that sticks to itself.  This is essentially the same as the velcro wire ties that you can find in the electronics section at Dollar Tree.  She even has a free printable pattern available, making it easy to cut flawless flowers.  [how to make a no-sew felt flower bracelet]

Project estimate:

• Felt, on hand or $1
• Velcro ties, $1
• Pattern, free

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a No-Sew Felt Flower Bracelet appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.