If you enjoyed my recent faux cake slices, you’ll also love these decorative cupcakes!  It’s easy to make these in batches, so they would make great place card holders or party favors.

Project estimate:

• 3″ Styrofoam balls, $1
• Paper baking cups, on hand or $1
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• White silicone caulk, about $2 and up
• Cake decorating kit, $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: about $4 and up

If you look closely at the styrofoam ball, it will have a slight line around the middle. Use this line to establish where to frost your cupcake and where to cut the bottom so it will set evenly in the baking cup.

I recommend painting the cake part chocolate so that it isn’t so noticeable. The colour I used for the chocolate is Burnt Umber. You will need two coats.

After the paint is dry and the bottom is cut off, it is time to frost your cupcake. I won’t presume to tell you what technique to use, but I will give you some tips.

• I bought a dollar store cake decorating kit. I didn’t want to run the risk of damaging my good kit.
• To add sprinkles, coconut or whatever, apply a thick coat of white glue on the top with a paint brush. If you are adding larger item(s) use hot glue.
• If you buy foil lined baking cups you can paint them to keep from buying a bunch of different cups.
• The thicker your frosting the longer it will take to dry. Be patient, I waited two days on mine.
• Usually two coats of paint is enough but be sure to get down in the creases if you use a decorating tip.
• For the frosting I added white to the burnt umber for milk chocolate.

The post Tutorial: Faux Cupcakes appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We celebrated my nephew’s first birthday recently, and my sister chose an adorable woodland gnome theme for the party. I offered to make a cupcake stand for the party and recruited my husband to help me with it (because I can’t be trusted with power tools!) I love the project that we made together! Keep reading to learn how you can make an adorable woodland themed cupcake stand. This is perfect for any party with an outdoor or fairy theme.

Project Estimate:

• Cut Wood – on hand
• Dowel Rods – on hand
• Wood stain – on hand
• Screws – on hand
• Embellishments – on hand

Total: Free

Step one: Cut the wood into plate sized ovals or circles, and sand the edges. Arrange the pieces until you have a shape and size that you like and that is balanced. If you don’t have a piece for the base like I did, you can start with a large circular cut of wood for the base.

Step two: Use screws to attach the dowel rods and wood pieces together.

Step three: Stain the dowel rods so they match the cut wood pieces.

Step four: Embellish the cupcake stand with butterflies, flowers, etc.  I used hot glue to attach them.

If you don’t have cut trees on hand like we did, you can find similar pieces of wood at your local hobby store. Of course, using materials you have on hand means you can make this project with no expense! You could add flowers all around this for a shower, add glitter and wings for a fairy themed party, or lots of insects for a bug party. Have fun crafting and creating!

The post Tutorial: Woodland Themed Cupcake Stand appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Push pops are hot, hot, hot on the party planning scene.  But with the plastic containers costing about $1 each, making them for a large number of guests could break your party budget.  Luckily, Sibylle from Funkytime has a cheaper alternative: making push pop cakes using paper cups!  Since paper cups come in a vast array of colors and prints, you can easily customize this project to fit any color scheme or party theme.  It’s way more fun than a regular cupcake, plus you have the cup handy to catch the crumbs!  [how to make paper cup push pop cakes]

Project estimate:

• Cupcakes or muffins, on hand or $1 and up
• Paper cups, on hand or $1 and up
• Straws, on hand or $1 and up
• “Push it” printable, free

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make Paper Cup Push Pop Cakes appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love covered cake plates. Of course, everything you love is even better when it is in miniature! This darling cupcake cloche stand from Refresh Restyle is not only adorable but will save you big money over buying one of these in a store! It’s the perfect way to make dessert extra special. [how to make a gold glass cupcake cloche]

Project estimate:

• Glass candle plate, $1 and up
• Glass candle holder,  $1 and up
• Glass bowl shaped candle holder, $1 and up
• Spray paint, on hand or $3 and up
• E-6000 or glass glue, on hand
• Wood ball knob, $0.50 and up

Total: $3.50 and up

The post Make a DIY Cupcake Cloche appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Who doesn’t love cupcakes?  Just the mention of them makes me long for a bite!  If you, too, are a fan of the paper-lined personal cakes, then you will want to check out this Christmas ornament tutorial by Jaderbomb at iLoveToCreate.  They are so quick and easy that she whipped up enough of them to decorate an entire small tree with nothing but cupcakes.  I love how she even added sprinkles!  [how to make cupcake Christmas ornaments]

Project estimate:

• Glass bulb ornaments, on hand or $1
• Cupcake liners, on hand or$1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Twine or string, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make Cupcake Christmas Ornaments appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Just can’t get enough pool noodle crafts?  Neither can we!  Here’s a sweet idea from Janel at Hating Martha, who used one to create a whole plate of fake cupcakes.  They’re so cute!  Whether you use ’em as decorations or favors at a cupcake-themed party or you use them to stock the fridge in a play kitchen, they are a fun, calorie-free project.  [how to make pool noodle cupcakes]

Project estimate:

• Pool noodle, $1
• Felt, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand or $1
• Paper, on hand
• Glitter, on hand
• Beads, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Pool Noodle Cupcakes appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Pretty cupcake liners are one of those things you can easily collect in a more-than-lifetime supply; they come in so many pretty colors and patterns that for a cupcake liner lover it’s hard not to grab a package every time you see new ones!  Short of hosting your own version of cupcake wars, how will you ever use them up?  With crafts, of course!  Muffin Tin Mom (aka Michelle) has, as you might guess, quite a large collection of them herself, so she came up with these cute folded cupcake liner flowers.  She even attached one to a hair clip and it looks so sweet!  [how to make folded cupcake liner flowers]

Project estimate:

• Cupcake liners, on hand or $1
• Paper, on hand
• Buttons, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Folded Cupcake Liner Flowers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

2011 was a tutorial-filled year at Dollar Store Crafts; we brought you more original tutorials than ever!  There were fashion tutorials, home decor tutorials, recycled crafts, and all kinds of other ideas.  Some of them were particularly popular, so to wrap up the year, we thought we would take a look back at our top 10 tutorials out of everything we made in 2011.  Which of our tutorials was your favorite this year?

10. Make the World’s Easiest Crocheted Scarf

Okay, I admit it, I have a yarn hoarding problem.  In the spirit of stashbusting, I came up with a way to use a bunch of my random odds and ends and tidbits that were too long to throw away, but too small for a whole project.  It’s the perfect crochet project for people who don’t know how to crochet.  Don’t be afraid, it’s super-duper simple, I promise!  [read the tutorial]

9.  DIY Fashion:  Blooming Bib Recycled T-shirt Necklace

We’re big fans of the talented siblings from The Sisters 4 Say More is More.  They’ve contributed some wonderful ideas to our site, including this recycled T-shirt bib necklace by Sophie, aka Sister #2.  It’s frilly and girly and makes a big statement, and we’re glad you love it as much as we do!  [read the tutorial]

8.  Make Designer-Inspired “Straw” Bangles

Our fashionable contributor Samantha (also of Bromeliad Living) got the idea for these chunky, colorful bangles when she saw a similar design in a magazine.  She got her macrame on and came up with her own take on the look.  The designer version cost $50 each; these cost more like 50 cents each!  [read the tutorial]

7.  Make an Anthropologie-Inspired Ruffled Scarf

Are you noticing a trend on this list yet?  2011 was certainly a good year for DIY fashion!  This Anthro-inspired scarf is another post from Samantha, who adapted the look of a lighter-weight scarf to be cozy enough for winter use.  Even if you think you have zip-zero-zilch for sewing skills, you can pull this one off like a pro.  It’s that easy!  [read the tutorial]

6.  Paint a File Cabinet Blue: $5 Revamp

Heather picked up a tired old filing cabinet as a Craigslist freebie.  It was in good shape, but it was bland and boring.  But not anymore!  She went for a cartoony, blueprint-like look, with fabulously whimsical results.  It’s playful enough for a kids room, but also works in a grownup space that needs an injection of humor.  [read the tutorial]

5.  Tutorial: Marbled Nail Polish

We hosted a series of nail polish tutorials from Megan at Razberriez, including these fabulous (and surprisingly easy) marbled nails using a water technique.  We thought it was awesome and so did you, sending it all the way to the top five tutorials of the year.  [read the tutorial]

4.  Mini Office Supply Book Covers for Matchboxes

We went mini-crazy earlier this year.  For those of you who reveled in those weeks, there are more tiny things in the future.  Looking back at the last wave of itty-bitty creations, the most popular by far were Heather’s miniature book covers made to fit over matchboxes, turning them into office supply holders.  She even put together a free printable so that you can whip out a set of your own in no time!  [read the tutorial]

3.  Make a Recycled Plastic Cup Washer Necklace

The day that someone told me you could use #6 plastic like Shrinky Dinks, it was a life-changing revelation.  Okay, maybe not life-changing, but it certainly did change my sorting of recyclables.  I knew there had to be something nifty I could do with some red plastic cups left after a party, so I played around with my Sharpie and some scissors and came up with this design.  No one will ever guess that it started out as a plastic cup!  [read the tutorial]

2. Cupcake Pin Cushions

Our pal Care from Obsessively Stitching is always coming up with adorable ideas.  She used a dollar store ramekin as the base for making a sweet little cupcake pin cushion, and even made a miniature version that you can wear as a ring to keep pins close at hand while you’re fitting your next project.  Can you guess what the mini version is made from?  [read the tutorial]

1.  Make a Drinking Straw Weaving Loom

I was a band camp kid.  (Once a geek, always a geek!)  Actually, the camp I went to was a fine arts camp, with kids majoring in all kinds of music and dance and visual arts.  You could even take elective classes, and one summer I spent my spare time for two weeks of camp studying fiber arts.  It was an experience that would heavily influence y future crafting!  One of the projects I remember doing was making a weaving loom out of drinking straws.  Feeling nostalgic, I grabbed a few straws and did a little old-school crafting.  I never expected my trip down memory lane to be so popular!  [read the tutorial]

The post Top 10 Dollar Store Crafts Tutorials of 2011 appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Everyone loves cupcakes! Combine your love of cupcakes with your need for cute Christmas ornaments to make these cute confections. This great idea by goldiloks, is a simple craft that looks fun to make. I’m thinking this would be a great project for a girls’ craft night out, a good group craft project for girl scouts or a sleepover, or a fun gift for children to make for their teachers. Or, just make a couple dozen for your own Christmas tree. It needs to be waaaay cuter this year! [how to make cupcake ornaments]

• Mini cupcake liners, $1
• Mini ornaments, $1
• Faux berries, $1
• Paint (for “frosting”), on hand or $1
• Glitter, on hand or $1
• Glue gun, on hand

Total: $3 and up

The post Make Cupcake Ornaments appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

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This Mind-Blowing Cake Decorating Tip Changed My Life

I am not much of a cook, but I like everything that has to do with baking — as long as it’s easy. (Doesn’t sound much different than my philosophy of crafting, does it??) I love making cakes and cupcakes, and I think homemade frosting tastes best, BUT I have avoided making my own frosting for the past couple years for one reason. I HATE filling and cleaning icing bags! It’s such a mess, and it never quite works as well as I want it to, and it’s just generally a nuisance. Instead, I usually buy those readymade frosting sprayers at the grocery store because it just seems easier.

No more. I have found the greatest trick for filling icing bags! This idea is so mindblowing that I actually said “WOW” out loud when I watched this video by Karen’s Cookies. Then I made my husband watch the video, and he agreed that it was an awesome tip. You will never avoid using an icing bag again! Thanks to Ashley Newman, who found this video. Watch it below to learn the secret.

Project Estimate:

• Icing bag & tips, on hand
• Plastic wrap, on hand

Total: Free

Photo Credit: Passion for Flowers, licensed via creative commons

The post Mind-Blowing Cake Decorating Tip appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.