What do you do when you have worn out a pair of jeans? If you’re like me, you put them in a basket for future crafting purposes . If you’re even more like me, you might have a few pairs in that basket but no solid plan, ahem. Clean out your scrap basket by turning old denim and scraps into this cute play crown from Creative Green Living. You only need very basic sewing skills to pull off this easy project. [how to make an upcycled denim play crown]

Project estimate:

• Old jeans, on hand
• Fabric scraps, on hand
• Velcro, on hand or $1 and up
• Embroidery floss, on hand or $.33 and up
• Chalk, on hand or $1 and up
• Pinking shears, on hand
• Ruler, on hand
• Sewing machine and thread, on hand

Total: free and up!

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Do you have a fabric problem? If you’re like me, you may not be able to part with your fabric scraps. Or you might have a tendency to buy fat quarters when they are on sale for $1 without any real plan for how to use them. If you’ve got some manly prints in your stash, these little neckties from The DIY Mommy are are the perfect way to use them up! [how to make baby neckties]

Project estimate:

• 1/4 yard cotton quilting fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• 1 inch wide velcro, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine, on hand
• Free pattern (available at The DIY Mommy)

Total: Free and up!

The post Make Baby Neckties from Fabric Scraps appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you prefer a trick or treat bag that is as fun and whimsical as your costume, here is a unique idea!  Kathy from Merriment Design has a free sewing pattern that shows how to make this adorable treat bag, complete with a spider web that is cleverly made from strips of velcro.  This innovation means that you can attach spiders to the bag, which you can then move around.  Not feeling like your sewing skills are strong enough to construct a whole bag?  You could also add a velcro web to a bag that you already have, or a bag from the dollar store!  [how to make a velcro spiderweb trick or treat bag]

Project estimate:

• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Velcro, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand
• Plastic spiders, $1

Total:  $1 and up!

The post Make a Velcro Spiderweb Tick or Treat Bag appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

A couple of weeks ago the ladies at Crafty Hangouts hosted a Thrift Shop Challenge and I was lucky enough to have a chance to participate!  I snagged a few wool sweaters from Goodwill and got to work on felting them and turning them into custom device sleeves – these would be great for laptops, iPads, Kindles, phones, or anything that you can think of that needs a nice little pouch.  Since felt from wool sweaters is nice and thick, it not only makes your devices look pretty, it also provides them with a little bit of padding!  Click over to Mrs. Greene to see a video demonstration of how to make your own custom sleeves.  [how to make a recycled sweater device sleeve]

Project estimate:

• Wool sweater, on hand or about $3 and up
• Yarn, on hand
• Large-eye needle, on hand
• Velcro, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Recycled Sweater Device Sleeve appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’m always at a loss as to what to get teachers for teacher appreciation day. I want to give them something useful but not something that they already have a bajillion of (mugs, anyone?). This dry erase board I wrote about on Creative Green Living is useful and multi-functional. You can even make it with magnets so they can take it home and use it on their fridge if their desk is already full. [how to make a framed dry erase board]

Project estimate:

• Picture frame, $1 and up
• Scrapbook paper or patterned file folders, on hand or $1 and up
• Dry erase marker, $1 and up
• Pom-Pom, on hand
• Velcro, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Scissors, on hand

Total: $2 and up

The post Make a Cute Dry Erase To-Do List appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you are looking for a truly kid-friendly jewelry making project, check out this springy bracelet by Kathy at Merriment Design.  She made them using velcro plant ties, a long strip of velcro that sticks to itself.  This is essentially the same as the velcro wire ties that you can find in the electronics section at Dollar Tree.  She even has a free printable pattern available, making it easy to cut flawless flowers.  [how to make a no-sew felt flower bracelet]

Project estimate:

• Felt, on hand or $1
• Velcro ties, $1
• Pattern, free

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a No-Sew Felt Flower Bracelet appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When it comes to handmade gifts, finding good crafts for boys can be tough.  There are a zillion cute little girl tutorials, but somehow the poor little boys get left out of the fun.  One sure-fire hit is always the classic toy car road, a place for the Matchbox collection to whiz back and forth.  Most kits of road sections, however, take up a lot of storage space.  (Not to mention that they hurt when you step on them!)  Jen from Lil Mop Top came up with a genius and green solution: she cut up an old pair of jeans, painted on some dotted yellow lines, and voila!  Endless hours of entertainment for practically no cost!  A few tabs of stick-on velcro help hold the roads firmly in place on the carpet; if you have hardwood floors, try gluing small pieces of textured shelf liner to the backs instead.  When it comes time to put everything away, the entire thing rolls up to store inside a salvaged jean pocket, and if any pieces are left laying bout, they are easy on the toes!  [how to make fabric roads for toy cars]

Project estimate:

• Old jeans, on hand
• Yellow paint, on hand or $1
• Velcro, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Fabric Roads for Toy Cars appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’ve been loving the handmade costume guest post series at The Train to Crazy!  There has been a great variety of ideas, including these soft tails by Jessica from Running with Scissors.  With their rows of reptilian spikes they are perfect for either a dinosaur costume  or a dragon costume.  If you have a little guy (or gal) who is really into dinos (doesn’t everyone know at least one who is?), this is also a fun accessory for year-round dress up.  [how to make a dinosaur/dragon tail]

Project estimate:

• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Velcro, on hand or $1
• Polyfill, on hand or about $3 and up

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Dinosaur or Dragon Tail appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who saves such random things as used gift cards.  Most of them are so bright and colorful that I find them difficult to part with, even once they’re penniless!  Anna from A as in Anna used her collection of used gift cards to make a handbag inspired by the dress Lizzy Garner wore to the 1995 Oscars.  The dress in question was made out of American Express cards, earning her both the adoration of the art and crafts community as well as a place on the year’s worst dressed list.  Love it or loathe it, the idea is sure to draw attention! [how to make a gift card purse]

Project estimate:

• 18 used gift cards, on hand
• Plastic wire ties, on hand or $1
• Hole punch, on hand
• Ribbon, on hand
• Old t-shirts or scrap fabric, on hand
• Yarn, on hand
• Needle and thread, on hand
• Velcro, on hand or $1 and up

Total: Free and up

The post Make a Gift Card Purse appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Happy Memorial Day!   It’s that time of year again already, can you believe it?  If you’re celebrating with a barbecue or picnic, you’ll surely be wishing that you had one of these.  Sibylle from Funkytime found an old suitcase that had seen better days that she redid to make a portable birthday party with a classic picnic theme.   It’s the perfect romantic accessory to bring along on a date at the beach as well as a fun novelty for a family trip to the park.  This would also make a wonderful, unique wedding gift!  [how to make a suitcase picnic basket]

Project estimate:

• Vintage suitcase, about $15
• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Elastic, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand
• Velcro, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine or needle and thread, on hand
• Tea towels, $1 and up
• Plastic plates/cups/silverware, on hand or $6 and up

Total:  about $16 and up

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