These DIY tea bags are the perfect gift for the tea lover in your life! When I saw this tutorial from Jessica at Let’s Do Something Crafty I got really excited because I have actually saved and dried an assortment of herbal tea ingredients, including mint, hibiscus flowers, rose hips, and wild burgamot, and I have been wanting to use them to make tea for my husband’s grandmother for Christmas. She loves herbal teas, so hopefully she will be very excited to try our homemade variety! [how to make DIY tea bags]

Project estimate:

• Coffee filters, on hand or $1 and up
• Loose tea, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine, on hand
• Yarn or twine, on hand or $1 and up
• Paper, on hand

Total: Free and up!

The post Make DIY Tea Bags appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We’re total suckers for innovative ideas that we haven’t seen before, and we kinda fell in love with this one!  Autumn from It’s Always Autumn turned mini chocolate donuts into cute lil’ spiders, complete with edible legs and eyes.  They’re sure to be a big hit at any Halloween party, with your family, or with your coworkers!  You could also substitute other small baked goods if you aren’t fond of donuts.  (But, who doesn’t love donuts??)  [how to make mini donut spiders]

Project estimate:

• Mini donuts, $1
• Pretzels, $1
• Chocolate candies, $1
• Frosting, $1

Total:  $4

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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.

We are pleased to have Stacy from Fancy Shanty with us today to share this delectable recipe and display stand!  If you enjoy this project, be sure to stop by her blog and see what else she has been up to!

Looking for a quick and easy centerpiece decoration for your patriotic party this year? This sinfully moist Dark Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe will have the chocolate lovers in your life screaming for more. Pair this cupcake recipe with my easy hack on how to make store bought frosting better, along with my quick and easy Dollar Store Patriotic Cupcake Stand, and you’ll have a fun and festive patriotic centerpiece in no time.

Quick and Easy Patriotic Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup strong black coffee
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Patriotic cupcake wrapper and decorating kit

For the Frosting

• canned vanilla frosting (Not the whipped variety)
• 1 tbsp Pure Vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Directions:

For the Cupcakes

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix on low until dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes; the batter will be thin.
4. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center cupcake comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes.
5. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely.

For the Frosting

1. Place the store-bought frosting in a bowl and begin whipping with an electric mixer or stand mixer.
2. Add 1 tbsp Pure Vanilla extract.
3. Slowly add about 1/2 cup confectioners sugar and continue whipping until a spatula will stand upright when placed in the middle of the frosting. If the spatula falls to one side, continue adding more confectioners sugar in small increments until the spatula will stand upright. For a stronger key lime flavor, continue slowly adding 1 tbsp + 1/2 cup confectioners sugar to frosting then taste & check consistency.
4. Add one patriotic flag to each cupcake.
5. Display on Patriotic Cupcake Stand. (Instructions below)

Patriotic Cupcake Stand

Project estimate:

• Plastic goblet, $1
• Plastic veggie tray, $1
• Plastic plate, $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $3

Using a strong adhesive (I used E6000), adhere a Dollar Store blue plastic goblet upside down in the center of a red flower-shaped veggie dip tray. Let dry.

Once dry, adhere a red plastic plate to the top of the upside down blue plastic goblet. Let dry.

The post Make Patriotic Dark Chocolate Cupcakes appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Before you put away your garland this year, you might want to set aside a little bit to keep handy with your craft supplies.  Why?  Because you just might want to make these cute, sparkler-inspired cupcake toppers from Desiree at The 36th Avenue!  They would be the perfect addition to a food spread at a New Year’s party and would be perfect when the 4th of July rolls around.  And besides cupcakes, you can use them to decorate other foods too – why use plain toothpicks on that cheese tray when you could opt for festive ones instead?  [how to make sparkler cupcake toppers]

Project estimate:

• Tinsel garland, on hand or $1
• Toothpicks, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make Sparkler Cupcake Toppers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When Kierste from Simply Kierste needed some salt and pepper shakers in a pinch, she had an idea that turned out to be practical, simple, quick, and inexpensive – how can you go wrong with a combination like that?  By adding custom cardboard inserts to the tops of small mason jars (she used the 4 ounce size), she created a charming set of shakers that are perfect for summer picnics or casual dining with friends and family.  They would also make a wonderful hostess gift!  [how to make mason jar salt and pepper shakers]

Project estimate:

• Small mason jars, $1 and up
• Cardboard, on hand
• Small hole punch or needle, on hand
• Twine (optional), on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Mason Jar Salt and Pepper Shakers appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

With a keen artistic eye, just about anything can be turned into something beautiful.  And Kristi from Addicted 2 Decorating has just that kind of vision!  Need proof?  Check out this fabulous piece of artwork.  These are not real succulents – they are actually made out of pistachio shells!  Seriously.  Amazing, right?  The finished product is totally worth the funny looks you’ll get from friends and family when you start collecting a box full of empty nut shells.  (But then again, if you craft like we do, they might not think your request is so strange!)  [how to make a faux succulent garden]

Project estimate:

• Pistachio shells, on hand
• Fabric dye, on hand or $1 and up
• Spanish moss, $1
• Frame, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Faux Succulent Garden appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you’re a regular here, you know that I’ve been obsessively making minis for a while now.  I’ve made all kinds of little odds and ends that are starting to add up to entire rooms and scenes!  So far, though, there has been one thing glaringly missing from my collection:  food!  Are your dollhouse residents hungry?  Bake them a tiny pie!  (No really, you actually bake it!)

Project estimate:

• Bottle cap, on hand
• Polymer clay (tan and red), on hand or about $4
• Spray paint (optional), on hand or $1 and up
• Toothpick, on hand
• Clear nail polish, on hand or $1*

Total:  Free and up

*Note:  I’ve heard mixed things about clear nail polish and polymer clay.  Some people warn of disasters, while other people say they’ve used it for years and never had a problem.  Use at your own risk!  If you’d rather be safe than sorry, you can also use Sculpey Gloss Glaze, which you can find in the $3 to $4 range.

Before you can use the clay, you will need to condition it.  (Straight out of the package it is too stiff to mold properly.)  You can do this by running it through a pasta machine multiple times until it becomes pliable; if you don’t have a pasta machine, knead it between your fingers until it is soft enough to work with.  Optionally, you may choose to paint your bottle cap.

Press a chunk of tan clay into the bottle cap.  Press your thumb down in the center of the cap so that there is a slight depression in the clay at the center of the cap and a little excess clay spreads over the edges of the cap.

Roll a bunch of teeny-tiny balls of red clay and pile them in depression on the center of the cap.  Add them until they form a rounded, slightly heaping pile.

Switching back to the tan clay, roll a long, very skinny “worm” shape.  Cut the worm into short segments and press it into the top of the pie to form stripes.

Turn the pie and repeat in the other direction to complete the lattice top.

To give the edges of the pie crust a crimped appearance, use the tip of a toothpick to press tiny indentations around the perimeter.

Bake the pie according to the directions on the clay packaging.  Allow to cool completely, then seal using clear nail polish.

The post Make a Miniature Dollhouse Cherry Pie appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you love Peeps, but want to make your own version at home, Brenda at A Farmgirl’s Dabbles shares a great recipe for Homemade Marshmallow Conversation Hearts. It may sound scary, but she assures us that they’re easier than you’d think. The best part is that you can use this technique with other shapes for any occasion. She has recipes and instructions for multiple types! [How to Make Homemade Marshmallow Conversation Hearts]

Project estimate:

• Powdered sugar, on hand or $1 and up
• Water, on hand
• Envelopes of unflavored gelatin, $1 and up
• Granulated sugar, on hand or $1
• Salt, on hand or $1
• Vanilla flavoring, on hand or $1
• 2 bags of white Wilton candy melts, $2
• Candy coloring, on hand or about $4
• Milk, on hand
• Light corn syrup, on hand or $1 and up
• Lemon Juice, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $3 and up

The post Make Homemade Marshmallow Conversation Hearts appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Nothing makes a dish quite as yummy as herbs fresh from your own garden.  But if you’ve ever grown them, you know that when the growing season is over you will still have a lot left to harvest.  Keep your food flavorful all year ’round by drying your excess herbs with a hanging herb dryer like this one by Stephanie at The Crimson Owl.  If you have a bumper crop of herbs, she also shows how to add extra levels to the dryer so it will hold even more.  Bookmark this page for harvest time!  [how to make an herb drying rack]

Project estimate:

• Picture frame, $1
• Screen or cheesecloth, on hand or $1 and up
• Eye screws, $1
• Chain, $1 and up
• Staple gun, on hand

Total:  $3 and up

The post Make a Hanging Herb Drying Rack appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.