I don’t have any ink in real life (although I will admit to planning out my pretend future tattoos all the time), but I’m a huge fan of the temporary kind. Did you know you can buy special paper to print your own temporary tattoos? Just think of all the cool things you could do if you were making your own temporary tattoos! Birthday party favors, tattooed soap, and summer fun of all kinds!

This week our friends at Silhouette are sharing a special discount code for readers of Dollar Store Crafts that is good for purchasing their temporary tattoo paper, and you can use the paper even if you don’t have a Silhouette (a regular printer and scissors works just fine with the paper)!

Get 25% off Temporary Tattoo Paper (and everything else in the Silhouette Shop)

Use code: DOLLAR

There is also a smokin’ deal on the Silhouette machine & some goodies:

$199 – use code DOLLAR

• A Silhouette machine
• 2 packages of Tattoo Paper
• Only $199
• Use Code DOLLAR when ordering

The top photo is of a cute project from How Does She? where Shelley made emergency contact tattoos to put on her kids when they go to crowded public events. Brilliant use of the tattoo paper (and your kids will think it’s fun to have a tattoo with their phone number on it). I also cracked up at these little mustache tattoos. Hee hee!

disc: Silhouette sent me a sample of the Temporary Tattoo paper and the links to Silhouette are affiliate links

The post Printable Temporary Tattoo Paper! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I have the utmost respect for crafters who make beautiful things out of trash.  I’m one of those people who saves all kinds of random odds and ends (case in point: my collection of hundreds of plastic bread tabs) and while it’s one thing to have what basically amounts to an organized stockpile of garbage, it’s another entirely to actually put that stuff to use!  I’m loving this recycled necklace by Julia at Everyday Mom Ideas, whose blog also includes a great tutorial for making silhouettes using basic photo editing software.  The base for the pendant is the metal lid from a tube of crescent rolls!  [how to make a recycled tin lid silhouette necklace]

Project estimate:

• Crescent roll tube lid, on hand
• Computer and printer, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Drill or nail, on hand
• Jump ring, on hand
• Beads, on hand
• Chain, cord, or ribbon, on hand
• Necklace clasp, on hand

Total:  Free

Here’s a thought:  Try using the ends from different types of rolls that are three different sizes stacked from largest to smallest with different colors or patterns of paper decoupaged to each of the larger lids; attach silhouettes (or any other imagery you wish) to the smallest lid.  I think the nested circles would make an interesting look!

The post Make a Recycled Tin Lid Silhouette Necklace appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

One of the most fascinating accessories you can get for your Silhouette craft cutter machine is the Rhinestone Setting Kit. Being able to create your own rhinestone images is almost too much power for this simple girl, but I know that MANY of you would love to be able to create your own rhinestone embellishments so you can bling everything up! Silhouette has made it about as simple as it can be.

About my rhinestone project:

I used the free image of the week from Silhouette, which is a rhinestone template for an Owl. It uses three different sizes of rhinestones (all included in the Silhouette Rhinestone starter kit). This was the first time I have ever done the rhinestone technique, so there was a bit of a learning curve, but it’s not nearly as difficult as you might imagine. The process is simple. I still need to work on my technique, but Silhouette has included all the tools in the kit that make it as easy as it could be.

I stuck the owl to a polo shirt (with the owl sitting on the pocket). For my first time, I think it turned out pretty well! It took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Here’s a video of the process, and read on for written instructions.

Silhouette Rhinestone Setting Kit Video:

How to Use the Silhouette Rhinestone Setting Kit:

1. Download a rhinestone template and load it up in your Silhouette software. You will know it’s a rhinestone template if it is a design made from a series of dots. Don’t resize the template.

2. Load the rhinestone template sheet directly into your Silhouette with no carrier sheet. Cut template.

3. Cut template off of sheet. Quickly remove the template sheet from its backing. Make sure all dots are punched out of template.

4. Apply template to the rhinestone backing board.

5. Put the template on a flat surface (might be easiest to place it on a cookie sheet for easy rhinestone containment). Pour rhinestones over template.

6. With brushing tool, brush rhinestones back and forth over the template. They will start to fill in the holes.

7. When most of the holes are filled, brush stray rhinestones off template. Use the Pick-Me-Up tool to turn over any rhinestones that aren’t shiny-side-up. You will also use the PMU tool to remove any stray rhinestones from the template, and fill in any holes in the template.

8. Cut a piece of rhinestone transfer tape, and then remove from its backing. Place the transfer tape over the rhinestones. Push down on the rhinestones to ensure they are sticking to the transfer tape.

9. Apply the transfer tape & rhinestones to the fabric of your choice. Cover with a thin cloth (like a floursack towel).

10. Place an iron (set the the Wool setting) on top of the cloth and rhinestones. Leave it there for 60 seconds.

11. Slowly remove the transfer tape, checking to make sure all the rhinestones adhered to the fabric. If they didn’t, put the tape back down and repeat step 10.

12. When rhinestones are all adhered, and you have removed transfer tape, turn garment inside out and put iron on back of rhinestone area for 60 seconds. This will set the glue into the fabric really well.

13. You’re done. When laundering garment, turn inside-out to protect the rhinestones.

>>>>—VISIT SILHOUETTE.COM NOW—<<<

Another video tutorial for using the Silhouette Rhinestone Setting Kit

disclosure: affiliate links & sample product received for this review

The post Demo: Silhouette Rhinestone Setting Kit appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

If you’ve ever looked at Anthropologie’s prices, you know that their version of this lampshade retails at around $100.  Now, I love me a good lampshade as much as the next girl, but on my budget that would mean giving up two weeks’ worth of groceries.  If you love the look but not the price tag, save yourself $99 with this DIY version by Autumn at design*dump.  It’s the perfect project for using that slightly-beaten-up shade you’ve been unable to part with because you knew it was salvageable; the fabric circles will disguse any imperfections.  Autumn used a cutting machine to make her circles; if you’re a member of the I-wish-I-had-a-Silhouette club, you can also cut the circles by hand.  Either way, it will definitely be worth your time to get this high-end look at a price suitable for a pauper’s pocketbook.  [how to  make an anthro-inspired lampshade][see Anthro’s original in this post]

Project estimate:

• Lampshade, $1 and up
• Fabric, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Trim, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make an Anthro-Inspired Lampshade appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Natalie at Vegetablog made a paper lampshade for a lamp using her Silhouette SD craft cutter machine. She used 10 pieces of vellum paper cut with a bubble pattern she designed, then overlapped the papers and attached them to a pendant light. There’s no doubt a craft cutter will make this project simpler, but if you have a few hours to spare, you can do it with a craft knife, too. [how to make a paper bubble lampshade] [via]

A note about flammability: Natalie added a small cage at the top of the pendant light to keep the paper away from the bulb. If you make a project like this, please take precautions to keep the bulb away from the paper. One of the commenters on Natalie’s site suggested using a product called Flame Free, which is a spray you can use to help make things you use in crafts flame retardant.

Project Estimate:

• 10 pieces of vellum, about $10
• Craft cutting machine or craft knife, on hand
• Pendant lamp kit, $4 at IKEA

Total: $14

The post Make a Paper Bubble Lampshade appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Anna from Bumble Baybees made these adorable silhouette tea towels for pretty and colorful grandparent gifts. I love them – so happy and fun! These were her submission to Sew Dang Cute’s Crafting with the Stars, and one of my favorite project submissions! I LOVE this because it is on-trend but it’s a new/innovative take on silhouettes, plus it’s useful and it’s a grandparent gift. Win-win-win. Anna sewed these tea towels up herself, but you could very easily use the flour sack towels you can buy at the dollar store. Add a strip of designer fabric (or not), and make a freezer paper stencil with your little lovey’s silhouette on it. Wouldn’t a set of these be cute for those grandparents with multiple grandkids? Everyone, start your crafting engines, it’s time to start making your holiday gifts now! [find out how to make silhouette tea towels]

Because of this great project, Anna was chosen as one of the top 12 crafters who got assigned to work with a “star” in Crafting with the Stars. I was the star who got to work with Anna, and it has been fun getting to know her! Round 1 was amazing, with 12 great crafts inspired by designer products. You have to check them all out! Unfortunately, Anna and I didn’t get chosen to move on to the next round. I’m sad because I just know that Anna has a ton of great ideas to show off.

Project Estimate:

• Flour sack towel, $1
• Freezer paper and paint, on hand
• Contrasting fabric scrap, on hand

Total: $1

The post Make Colorful Silhouette Tea Towels appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Everyone loves quick and easy ideas! Here are some great Halloween crafts from Better Homes & Gardens that can be done with dollar store materials. First up is this awesome spooky silhouette project. You don’t have to be artistic, because BHG even has the spooky templates available for download – just cut them out of black cardstock. Buy a dollar store frame and paint it black. Pick up a mat for a couple bucks, or make your own out of card stock. [how to make a spooky silhouette]

Project Estimate:

• Frame, $1
• Card stock, $1

Total: $2

Spooky Witch Hat Flower Arrangement: $5

The dollar store has a whole aisle of faux flowers, and I am floral department impaired, so I never make anything with faux flowers (anyone out there want to volunteer to do a guest post for me featuring faux flowers?). BHG made this stylish and sassy halloween flower arrangement that looks like a witch hat. You can make this with stuff from the dollar store, too! I think this would be a fun arrangement to have on your desk at work. [how to make a witch hat flower arrangement]

Project Estimate:

• Floral cone, $1
• Black and purple faux flowers, $4 and up
• Card stock, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: $5 and up

Evil Googly Eye Pom-Pom Wreath: $6

This wreath made me laugh. It’s half-Martha half-Muppet! Make a googly eye wreath with stuff from the dollar store – a wreath form, pom-poms (although these look like moss to me – you could use those moss-covered rocks they sell at the dollar store), googly eyes and a pretty ribbon. Everyone likes making wreaths! [how to make a googly eye pom-pom wreath]

Project Estimate:

• Wreath form, $1
• Pom-poms, $3 and up
• Googly eyes, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Ribbon, on hand or $1

Total: $6

Long-Legged Spider

This project is cute, fun, and simple. My kids would be very entertained by this. Ooh, I bet it would be cute to make a mini version of this guy. [how to make a long legged spider]

Project Estimate:

• Foam balls, $1
• Wire, $1 or on hand
• Black craft paint, on hand
• Glue gun, on hand
• Wire cutters, on hand
• Googly eyes, on hand

Total: $1 and up

Ghostly Image Mirror: $1

This craft is kind of mind-bending, but awesome. They show you how to transform a mirror to reflect a ghostly image – so creepy! This is a definite dollar store craft candidate, because you will want to use a mirror that you don’t love for this project (you have to permanently alter the mirror). [how to make a ghostly image mirror]

Project Estimate:

• Mirror, on hand or $1
• Sandpaper, on hand or $1
• 2 printed pages, on hand

Total: Free and up

Halloween Glasses: $1

These glasses are decorated with hand-painted skellies. You could easily do this with dollar store glassware, and BHG makes it easy by providing skeleton templates that you can easily copy. [how to make halloween glasses]

Project Estimate:

• Glassware, $1
• Craft paint, on hand

Total: $1 each

Creepy Plate Display: $1

These creepy dishes make a great display, and are made with free clip art and our friend Amy‘s favorite technique: decoupage. [how to make creepy plates]

Project Estimate:

• Plates and serving ware, $1
• Printed creepy pictures, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total: $1

I probably could have featured almost every halloween craft from Better Homes & Gardens on my site. Their readers must like the same things as my readers: simple, quick, and attractive crafts. These were a few of my faves. Which ones did you like? Will you make any of these?

The post 7 Quick & Easy Halloween Craft Ideas appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love old wooden hangers, so I took a vintage wooden pants hanger and made it into a custom gallery hanger. I added my son’s name so I can use it to display his artwork. Vintage hangers make an interesting display device, whether they’re labeled or not. You can hang up prints you find at the flea market, old book pages, or whatever you want to display, and switching art takes about ten seconds. So, when my son creates a new work of art, I’ll be able to display it right away!

I used the Silhouette cutter to cut a custom vinyl sticker with my son’s name on it, but if you don’t have a cutting machine, you can paint a label with acrylic craft paint, decoupage, or use letter stickers (found in the scrapbooking section). I think typewriter key stickers would be really cool! If you don’t have children, leave the hanger blank, or label it with another clever (or obvious) label. How about “art” or “inspiration”? Or, if you don’t like the pants hanger display idea, how about just personalizing or monogramming some hangers as a gift? This could be the answer to the question of what to get HIM for the next big holiday. (You know who I mean! That hard to shop for guy on your list.)

Project Estimate:

• Pants hanger, $1 or less
• A bit of vinyl + craft cutter, or acrylic craft paint, or stickers, $.50 and up

Total: $1 and up

Sourcing vintage hangers: I got mine on eBay, but you can also just splash out for a package of new wooden hangers – they look great, too. If you’re stuck on the vintage thing, just antique and distress them a little. You can find wooden hangers in just about any store with an organizational section (including the big blue discount store!) Oh, and don’t stop at the pants hangers – regular wooden coat hangers are great for displaying textiles like small quilts, lace, or other decorative foldable items. They’d make super cool bathroom towel bars.

The post Make a Custom Gallery Hanger appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Over at the Dollar Store Crafts Facebook page, reader Erika asked for decoration ideas: I am planning a victorian style tea party for my daughters 4th birthday. I have already started on the goodie bags which currently include a white woven purse, pearl necklace/bracelet/earings set. Flimsy straw like hats (I still need to glue the flowers to them). I still need to pick up boas and scarfs. Any ideas on the decorations? I have lots of silk flowers and the table clothes already.

My quick decoration ideas:

• Silhouettes (this would also be a fun activity idea for the party-goers–make their silhouettes)
  • I also like these Hats of Victoria silhouette pictures at CraftyNest
• Check the wedding section at the dollar store for lacy doilies and other frilly white stuff
• Make two-layer gathered streamers out of white and/or pink
• Victorian cones (another fun activity idea)

Your turn, readers!

The post Call for Ideas: Victorian Tea Party appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Chalkboard Silhouette Mug

Reader Sonja from Craft-Werk repurposed an old logo mug into this pretty  mug for her morning tea. I have an old logo mug I can try this on right now! This would be a great party favor for a birthday party or shower (write the guests’ names on their individual mugs). Get the tutorial on how to make a silhouette mug at Craft-Werk.

Chalkboard Room Divider

Good idea for a room screen makeover by BarkingDogs – check out all the other great chalkboard projects too!

Days of the Week Chalkboard + Pegs

This little gem was found in a great chalkboard roundup I stumbled across at Poppies at Play (check out the roundup!). This chalkboard organizer is from here.

Thanks to reader Andi for the heads up on this:

Chalkboard Hangers

Cool hanging storage by Jek at Craft.

The post Roundup: More Chalkboard Ideas appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.