I am a huge fan of those little candy tins (like Altoids tins). They are small and compact, and yet there are so many possibilities for what to do with them after they’re empty. Over at her sketch blog, artist Silvia Chenault posted a series of great ideas for how she has reused the tins, including as mini art kits like this tiny watercolor kit. Fun idea for stocking stuffers – you could fill them with bitty colored pencils (saw them to the right size, or sharpen the dickens out of them until they fit), or a sewing kit, or even an emergency teeny tiny tool kit. What would you put in a tin? [more mini mint tin kits]

If you don’t have any of these mint tins on hand, the dollar store has an assortment of small tins, or you could use something you already have on hand, like a Crystal Lite container.

Project Estimate

• Old mint tin, on hand (or a full one runs about $2)
• Assorted small art supplies, $1 and up

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Altoid Tin Art Kits appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Esprit Cabane posted this simple project for pocket notebooks. This is a great reuse for paper that has been printed on one side, or is otherwise bound for the recycling bin. Use cardboard, an old photo, cereal boxes, or any other sturdy paper you have for covers. Add a charm or an attached pencil for added usefulness and whimsy. These would be great anytime gifts, or good party favors or stocking stuffers. Or, just make a stack to keep near your phone, on your nightstand, and in your car for whenever inspiration strikes!

Project Estimate:

• Recycled paper, on hand
• Heavy paper or cardboard, on hand
• Brads/paper fasteners, $1 or on hand
• String, beads, pencils, etc, as desired for embellishment, on hand
• Hole punch, on hand

Total cost: FREE or $1

The post Make Mini Notepads appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Our Daily Chocolate posted this soap ball surprise – an old fashioned soap ball with a toy hidden inside. This could be a fun stocking stuffer for kids, or for kids to make for others. Make these stocking stuffers with stuff you find at the dollar store!

Here are some instructions on making a soap ball surprise at Sugar City Journal (this is a sweet blog! I just found it while looking for instructions on how to do this project).

Other ways to do this project:

• Dad’s Stocking: You could also use this technique to make a soap on a rope. Everyone needs a cheesy dad or grandpa gift on hand, right?
• Mom’s Stocking: You can use this same method to make fancy-schmancy “hand milled” soap – just mold the soaps in a pretty soap mold, candy mold, or other creative mold that you rig up. Add some finely ground oatmeal for a gentle exfoliant bar, or finely ground coffee for a great kitchen bar (the coffee grounds get tough odors off of your hands!)
• Don’t for get, you can add some skin-safe fragrance oil (or essential oil – make sure it is GRAS*) to the soap mix for a nice soapy good-smelling treat!

Project Estimate:

• Ivory soap, 3 for $1
• Toy surprise, many for $1

Total cost: $2 for many soap ball surprises!

*GRAS = Generally Recognized As Safe for cosmetics by the FDA. A list of GRAS essential oils here: Aroma-Essence.

The post Stocking Stuffer: Make a Soap Ball Surprise appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Retro-redux did it again with this clever embellishing of those cheesy wooden cutouts that can be found at the dollar store and craft store! Sorry pirates, the ninjas definitely win this one! She painted a gingerbread boy wooden cutout with paint, and hung it on a dollar store necklace for the win!

Project Estimate:

• Dollar store necklace $1
• Wooden person/gingerbread boy cutout $1 (or less)
• Paint (on hand)

Total cost: $2 or less

The post Make a Ninja Necklace appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Craftster member retro-redux made this charm bracelet using a dollar store play teaset! Clever! Those little cups are too small to drink out of, anyway!

Project Estimate:

Teaset $1
Chain, jumprings, clasp: $5 or so (but you would have more for other jewelry-making jobs)
Buttons and beads: on hand

Total Project Cost: $6 (I bet you could make a few of these for that)

The post Make a Charm Bracelet with a Toy Teaset appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

These sweet accessories, made by Ashley of ohthatashley.etsy.com, would make great stocking stuffers, or just make an array of them to set your wardrobe off.

Project Estimate:

• Headband, $1
• Kitchen Towel, $1
• Glue (on hand)

Cost per headband: Less than $2 since you could use one towel for many headbands

The post Wrapped Headbands appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.