Fancy soaps can be expensive.  Why buy them when you can get cheap soap instead and turn it into fancy soap?  This project uses a cut-up bath scrubbie to add a built-in exfoliator to each bar, and it also gives them a fun and distinctive look.

Project estimate:

• Bath puff, $1
• Lavender soap, $1 and up
• Plain soap, $1
• Olive oil, on hand
• Muffin tin, on hand or $1
• Embroidery thread, on hand
• Spray vegetable oil, on hand
• Lavender oil, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $3 and up

Take apart one of the puffs and cut into 6 pieces. Tie them back into smaller puffs and place them in to a muffin tin, sprayed generously with vegetable oil.

Grate the soaps and place in a sauce pan. Add about 1/2 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and essential oil. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and cook until soap has melted. NOTE: If the soap starts sticking to the pan, add additional water 3 tablespoons at a time.

Spoon the soap mixture on top of the bath puffs into the muffin tins. Pick the tin up and carefully drop it on the counter several times to remove any air bubbles.

Let set until soap hardens, usually 24 hours. Turn the muffin tin over and drop it on the counter until the soap comes out. At this point, let the soap harden another 24 to 48 hours before using.

The post Tutorial: Lavender Exfoliating Soap appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I have many fond childhood memories of Grandma’s house.  One thing that I remember is that she always had a basket full of pretty little soaps that sat near the bathroom sink.  These were the “guest soaps” and nobody was allowed to use them.  It never made sense to me; why call them guest soaps if the guests aren’t supposed to touch them?  These days I prefer to call them “decorative soaps,” a name that seems much more fitting.  Want to dress up your vanity with some decorative soaps of your own?  Gail from Can’t Stop Making Things applied a free vintage graphic to some plain bars of soap, creating her own custom soaps that would be perfect for display or to use as gifts.  You can use this method to put any image you want onto the bars!  [how to make decorative printed soaps]

Project estimate:

• Bar soap, $1
• Tissue paper, on hand or $1
• Computer & printer, on hand
• Graphic, free
• Wax paper, on hand or $1
• Hair dryer, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Decorative Printed Soaps appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I don’t know about you, but when I was potty training my son I had lots of stuff sitting around the toilet to keep him entertained and also to reward him for a job well done.  We have 3 bathrooms so I kept every one stock and ready for action.  The upstairs bathrooms weren’t that big of a deal but it was a little embarrassing to explain to my friends why I had a bag of Cheerios and stickers in my bathroom (those with boys totally get this).  So I came up with a solution I was able to use then and have now transformed into something we can still use.  Using a Dollar Store table runner I made an easy organizer for my bathroom.

Project estimate:

• Table runner, $1
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand
• Toilet paper, on hand (for sizing)

Total: $1

Measure from the tip of the runner 36″ and mark.  Draw a line across and cut.  Fold raw edge over 1″ towards the back and secure with a zig zag stitch.  A zig zag stitch will give you a stronger hold.  Not a sewer?  No problem.  This is a great project to try Steam a Seam!  Just watch your temperature when ironing on this material.

Using the remain section of table runner, wrap fabric in a single layer over a roll of toilet paper. This will give you a perfect template to know the size for your bottom pocket.  I used this pocket for books, but now it’s also a perfect for our extra toilet paper rolls.  Before you cut make sure you have allowed enough room to slide the rolls in and out as well as enough space to fold raw edge over before securing.

Center fabric in the middle of the runner.  Depending on what you’re using the pocket for you can decide where to place it.  Then  secure with your chosen method, sewing or iron on adhesive.  This will complete your bottom pocket.

I don’t like to waste anything so I used the other pointed end to make a pocket at the top of the runner for all the misc items such as the Cheerios and stickers.  Now it make a perfect pocket for a magazine or those wonderful flushable wipes.  To make the pocket fold top raw edge over and secure.  Then with the other two side fold edge over (it should already be folded for you).  Secure to runner leaving top open.  You’re now ready to hang it on the wall.

The post Tutorial: Table Runner Bathroom Organizer appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I am crafty, but I wouldn’t describe myself as a hard-core DIYer, as much as I wish I knew how to use all those power tools and build furniture, and fix (or change) things in my house at will. And you all know how big a fan of quick and easy tricks I am!

For instance, check out this old skool wallpaper and light switch. These things could definitely use a quick and easy update.

Enter Renu, a new product by Leviton.

As seen on the DIY Network, Renu® is the smart new way to update the look of a room in a snap, now and later. If you love decorating but you love quick and easy even more, you’ll love Renu®.

The Renu® collection includes:

-Switches
-Combination switches
-Wallplates
-Dimmers/Remotes
-Tamper Resistant Outlets
-Tamper Resistant GFCI Outlets
-QuickPort Connectors

All of which have faces you can update yourself whenever you’re ready for a new look. Available in 20 popular paint colors, Renu® products can blend in or contrast with a room’s walls or trim. Renu® turns the electrical device into a decorative, easy to change accessory.

I wonder what I could do to my bathroom? Here’s a mood board:

I picked a pale blue Renu switch to go with this scheme – and when I change my mind on the bathroom scheme, it is super easy to change the switches to a coordinating color. There are 20 colors in the Renu line, chosen by decorating experts to go with the most popular home decorator colors.

Leviton is hosting 3 twitter events and the dates and times are as follows:

Wednesday, April 18th 9pm EST
Thursday, April 26th 9pm EST
Wednesday, May 2nd 9pm EST

To get in on the fun, and participate: follow @Leviton and #Renu for the twitter events–you could possibly win some Home Depot gift cards!

Leviton is offering 2 sets of Broadway tickets as a grand prize for the twitter party on Wednesday night! Join in on the fun and see if you’ll win!

Also, check out Renu and like the Leviton Facebook site:

Leviton on Facebook

The post Dream Bathroom Makeover and Renu by Leviton appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Have you seen the rose-shaped soaps at Dollar Tree?  They look so pretty and smell so good that it’s easy to see why Desirée of The 36th Avenue was drawn to them.  In need of powder room accessories, she came up with a great crafty idea.  By taking the flowers apart and strategically pinning them to a foam ball (also found at Dollar Tree) she ended up with a pretty kissing ball or pomander type of decoration.  To display this piece, you could mount it on top of a glass candlestick, or if you prefer to hang it you can pin a length of ribbon into it.  (You may also wish to add a touch of glue to the ribbon, just in case!)  [how to make a soap flower ball]

Project estimate:

• Rose soap petals, $1
• Styrofoam ball, on hand or $1
• Pins, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Soap Flower Ball appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When I was a child I really didn’t understand the concept of things like decorative toiletries.  I had a friend whose mother had beautiful, tiny towels in the bathrooms that we weren’t allowed to use to dry our hands, and as somewhat of a tomboy, I found the idea to be completely silly.  As an adult, I can finally understand what years ago seemed so very strange.   It’s perfectly okay to have pretty things for the sake of having pretty things, even if they aren’t practical or meant to be used in any other way besides as decoration.  (No matter what my husband says.)

Want to dress  up your bathroom counter with something pretty?  Suzy over at Suzy’s Artsy Craftsy Sitcom used motifs cut from fabric to turn plain dollar store soap into fabulous little  works of art.  It’s the perfect project for using up teeny-tiny remnants of pretty prints.  They totally remind me of the collection of pretty soaps and perfume bottles  that lined the shelves in my grandmother’s bathroom.  (Except, unlike my friend’s uptight mom, grandma never minded if we played with her baubles!)  [how to make decorative soaps with fabric]

Project estimate:

• Soap,  on hand or $1
• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Paraffin wax, on hand or about $3 and up

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Decorative Soaps with Fabric appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Is the real estate in your shower space a premium? How about when you’re traveling and need a space to put your bathroom bottles? Time to make use of all that bare wall-space in the  shower, with some easy elastic bottle holders!

Make your own bathroom bottle holders from everyday suction cups and hair elastics and keep your bottles separated and organized. Sure to please the collegiate audience members and other bathroom-sharers alike.

Project Estimate:

• suction cups (8 pc.) – $1.00
• hair elastics (18 pc.) – $1.00  (or use thick rubber bands)
  

Total : $1 and up

When selecting a hair elastic to use for this project consider hair elastics which have rubberized outer layer, this will help the elastic grip onto the bottle.

You may use thick rubber bands in lieu of hair elastics, the hair elastics shown here we for aesthetics only.

Remove any hooks or  hardware that came with your suction cups.

Take one elastic and feed one end through the suction cup nipple opening. Lace one end of the elastic through the opposite end, then pull to tighten the elastic. For some hair elastics stress where the elastic is joined when manufactured may cause it to fail when tightening, be careful not to snap your elastic when installing into the nipple opening.

Pro Tip: Remaining suction cups not used for this project are a great item to keep with your travel bathroom gear, perfect for hanging your coat or pants!

To install, wet the back of an empty suction cup and firmly push onto a nonporous surface (tile, vinyl, etc.).

To insert a bottle simply spread elastic with one  hand and insert bottle. Adjust bottle placement as required by weight and shape of bottle.

To use, either remove bottle from elastic holster or tip the bottle while still in holster.

With a few of these suction cup bottle holders in my bathroom there’s no need to have my shampoo or other items on the floor anymore.

It should go without saying that this project isn’t suitable for all bottles. Be aware of how much weight you are attempting to suspend and the materials you wish to use before installing. Bathroom accidents are never good. Be safe and have fun!

The post Man Crafts: suction cup bottle holders appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Hairspray, deodorant, face cream and other assorted toiletries can all look ugly if left out on display in your bathroom. Why not use pretty paper to cover up the labels and make the bottles themselves worth displaying? Simone at Beach Vintage is talented at making mundane things pretty, and her blog is full of great ideas for making your world beautiful. [how to make dressed up toiletries]

Project Estimate:

• Pretty paper, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, etc., on hand or $1
• Spray adhesive, on hand

Total: FREE and up

The post Make Dressed Up Toiletries 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?

The post Dollar Scores 3: Shopping With Breanna appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Recycled Denim Wallet by Frugal Front Porch: FREE

Jenn made this cute wallet with a pair of recycled boys’ jeans. Get the tutorial at her blog.

T-Shirt Into Shorts by Living With Fairies: FREE

Hannah from Living With Fairies recycled an old t-shirt into a cute pair of shorts for her daughter. Get the tutorial at her blog.

Peek-a-Boo Board by The Adventures of Rory and Jess and Sadie: FREE

This peek-a-boo board was made with a recycled Priority Mail shipping box, a zip-top bag, and some stash fabric. Toddlers will love it!

Packing Materials Castle by Michelle at A Little Tipsy: FREE

Michelle created this ingenious castle out of packing materials. The doors really swing open – I love that! My sons would LOVE it if I made one of these for them… another thing to add to my “to make” list!

Upcycled Magazine Holders by Reader Sam: $1 for cute paper

Sam made these magazine holders to help tidy up her bathroom, using a cereal box and a cardboard box used for bulk macaroni and cheese. She found some fun, cute paper at the dollar store and mod-podged the paper to the boxes.

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