This has to be the most dramatic transformation a lowly tuna can has ever made! Make a tuna can, a paint roller stick, and a hurricane glass into a snazzy (and classy) outdoor torch. Forget those cheesy solar jobbies, these have much more personality. Diane at In My Own Style created them, and the project is simple, cheap, and classy. Love it! [how to make a tuna can outdoor torch]

I usually don’t show more than one photo of a project, but I just want you to be impressed with Diane’s ingenuity. Here are her supplies. I have almost all this stuff at home. Also, make sure you check her project out because she shows how you can change the look of the lantern by using different kinds of glass: vases, tumblers, etc. Very cool!

She uses a candle in her project, but you could also use a battery-operated tealight, or perhaps this is the place where I should apologize to the previously-dissed solar light (I’m sorry I called you cheesy!). Pop the top off a solar light and stick it in the tuna can for a renewable light source.

Project Estimate:

• Paint stick or equivalent, $1
• Tuna can, on hand
• Hurricane glass or vase, on hand or $1
• Metal pipe adapter, $1
• Candle or battery-operated tealight, on hand or $1

Total: $2 and up

The post Tuna Can Outdoor Torch appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Decorchick threw an adorable party for her daughter, and shared some of her dollar store crafted secrets for making the party pretty! She made dollar store hurricane glasses and decorated them with pretty rhinestone decals. Then she filled them with simple but pretty candy-dipped pretzel rods. She got her rhinestone decals at Hobby Lobby, but you could simulate the look with those rhinestone decals in the craft section at the dollar store, or how about taking a fingernail jewel kit from the makeup section and decorating the glasses with those? [see the dollar store decorated party here]

Project Estimate:

• Vase, $1
• Candle stick, $1
• E6000 glue, on hand
• Rhinestone decals, $1 and up

Total: $3

She wrote a post about how she made the hurricane glasses.

She also made a cute serving tray with a dollar store plate (pink polka-dots!) glued to a candle stick. When you’re planning a party, remember you want to add varying heights to serving dishes to add drama. Also, notice the blue mason jar vase in the background (it has pink flowers in it – such a pretty combo). Be sure to visit her blog to see the rest of the party.

Additional Resources:

• Tips for Throwing a Fabulous Party
• Thrifty Decor Chick: Williams Sonoma-inspired Hurricane Glasses
• 320*Sycamore: Williams Sonoma-inspired Hurricane Glass – Tutorial (from this roundup)
• Color Pop Tiered Trays

The post Dollar Store Party Serving Inspiration appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Now on to the roundup!

Wreaths are some of the most popular crafts submitted to me by my readers. You all have tried just about everything in the wreath department, and I know why: wreaths are simple, pretty, a great way to adorn your home, and can be customized in infinite ways.

Mommy Dearest Ruffly Wreath by Nora at Fun To Be Frugal: FREE

You’ll be saying “no more wire hangers!” with this quick and easy wreath that is made of wire hangers and stash fabric.

Autumn Leaf Wreath by The Paper Pony: $2

Quick and easy wreath using fall leaves, a styrofoam wreath form and push pins. Classy!

Glass Hurricane Lamp by Erik Homemade: $4 and up

Build a hurricane lamp reminiscent of days gone by with glassware from the dollar store.

Williams-Sonoma Inspired Hurricane Candle Holder by 320 * Sycamore: $3

This classy fall hurricane candle holder was inspired by some found at Williams-Sonoma. You can change out the fall leaves for something more wintry and keep these as part of your holiday decor and beyond! This idea is also a nice hostess gift.

Thanksgiving Place Cards by Heather at My Frugal Family: $.23 each

From Heather: I made a wreath from Dollar Tree ornaments, and wound up with extra ornaments in nice Harvest colors. After going through some supplies, I found I had some pretty artificial autumn leaves. I glued several together, then used a gold paint marker to glitz the leaves up a bit, then lastly, added an ornament to the top. I was able to make 5 up for my family of 5. We’ll use these on our Thanksgiving table this year. I am toying with the idea of adding a leaf to the back side, with names on them.

Blessing Platter by Kara at Creations by Kara: $2

The dollar store has these cool metallic platters that I always look at and want to craft with, but I have yet to post a single tutorial using them. Well, Kara thought of a great use for them, and made a custom plaque. You can decorate these in any way you want!

Give Thanks Turkey Magnets by Theo-Ann at Outside the Box: $1

Cute craft for the kids’ table on Thanksgiving!

The post Reader Roundup: Last of the Fall and Thanksgiving Ideas appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love the innovative use of recycled material in this hurricane cover by Patricia Zapata of A Little Hut. Can you guess what it’s made out of? Something you might have thrown in your recycling bin just this morning: paper towel tubes! You can only make so many paper towel tube telescope for your kids, right? This is a hurricane candle cover, but you can also use this basic technique for  a vase, for a votive holder, or whatever else you can imagine. [get project instructions here]

Project Estimate:

• Hurricane cover or vase, $1
• 2 paper towel cardboard tubes, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• White office paper, on hand

Total cost: $1

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