I love a clever Halloween pumpkin. Not that I have anything against traditional Jack-o-lanterns, of course – I just happen to have a soft spot for unique and non-traditional ideas. And these ice cream cone pumpkins by Sam at Aww, Sam are just too stinkin’ adorable! They’d be a perfect use for the multi-packs of mini foam pumpkins that you can find at the dollar store. [how to make ice cream cone pumpkins]

Project estimate:

• Small pumpkins, $1 and up
• Ice cream cone (real or fake), on hand or $1 and up
• Paint, on hand
• Adhesive vinyl, on hand or about $3 and up

Total: $1 and up!

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If you’ve bought Legos lately, you know they can get a bit pricey – especially for sets that include specialty pieces.  But if you have a vinyl cutting machine, you can whip out your own custom blocks for much less than retail!  Carolina at 30 Minute Crafts created a cut file that gives tiny details to plain Lego blocks, turning everyday pieces into custom bits for special projects.  Head to her blog for the details, and to download the cut file for yourself!  [how to make custom Lego blocks]

Project estimate:

• Lego blocks, on hand
• Peel-and-stick vinyl, on hand or about $5

Total:  Free and up!

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Dollar Tree is a great source for plain ol’ school and office supplies, but what if you are looking for supplies with a little more personality?  Well, you can always give those plain supplies a makeover!  Over at I Heart Naptime, Courtney gave some dollar store clipboards a school-themed makeover using vinyl and her Silhouette.  If you don’t have a vinyl cutting machine, you can also get the same look with a stencil or by painting the design freehand.  And as a bonus, the back side of each clipboard is actually a chalkboard!  [how to make a back-to-school clipboard]

Project estimate:

• Clipboard, $1
• Vinyl, on hand or about $3 and up
• Chalkboard paint, on hand or about $3 and up

Total:  $1 and up

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I have a love/hate relationship with my stainless steel refridgerator.  While I love the look of stainless steel, I hate how hard it is to keep it clean!  I’m always wiping fingerprints and smudges off the doors and handles.  I saw these adhesive backsplash sheets at Dollar Tree and knew I’d found a solution to my problem.

 

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Here is a new take on the ol’ Sharpie-on-ceramics craft!  Becky at U Create used vinyl decals as a reverse stencil, masking off an area and then going crazy with markers.  This is an all-ages craft; her stippling technique seen here gives sophisticated results, but this is also a great crafts for kids, as you can see with the other examples of this project you’ll see when you click over to the full tutorial.  If you don’t have a vinyl cutter to cut out your own decals, you can use stickers instead.  [how to make reverse stenciled Sharpie ceramics]

Project estimate:

• Ceramic piggy bank or other object, $1
• Sharpies, on hand or $1
• Vinyl decal or sticker, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

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I don’t know about you but pillowcases and orange plastic buckets are not my favorite trick or treating tools. Ideally, a trick or treat bucket blends seamlessly with costume or is exceptionally clever. This falls into the latter category – unless of course your costume is a house, Oz (as in, the wizard), or Dorothy. If you want your own ghoulishly clever bag, Marcie wrote a great tutorial over at U Create to show you how! [how to make a trick or treat witch bag]

Project estimate:

• Bag, $1 and up
• Tutu, on hand or $5 and up
• Scrap fabric, on hand
• Craft foam, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand
• Scissors, on hand
• Glow in the dark adhesive vinyl, $3 and up
• Craft cutter (or these instructions if you don’t own a craft cutter), on hand

Total: $4 and up

The post Make a Wicked Witch Trick or Treat Bag appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Creatures that go bump in the night have a tendency to overtake Halloween decor. Ghosts and goblins and zombies (oh my!) can be a little less than family friendly. These happy witches made from dollar store pumpkins, on the other hand, are both adorable and friendly. Jill from Create. Craft. Love. shows you how to create snowman-inspired pumpkin witches in no time flat. [how to make bewitching pumpkin sculptures]

Project estimate:

• Fake pumpkin picks, $1 and up
• Hot glue gun and glue, on hand
• Wire cutters, on hand
• Felt witch hats, $1 and up
• Black adhesive vinyl or contact paper, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $2 and up

Looking for more pumpkin crafts?

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I love old rotary phones.  I love their squat, curvy look, the clickity-click sound they make when you spin the dial, and even the loud, fire-alarm-like ringer.  But I’m a cell-phone-only girl, so my lack of a land line means I have no use for one.  That is, unless I were to tear one apart and make this awesome rotary phone purse from Chica and Jo!  They even provide a printable pattern to cut out the shape of the bag.  Look for old rotary phones at thrift stores (it doesn’t even have to work!); for the body of the purse, if you don’t have leather or vinyl laying around, you could use a thrifted garment or a dollar store vinyl tablecloth.  The finished purse definitely makes a statement, and the rotary dial even still works!  How cool is that?  [how to make a retro rotary phone purse]

Project estimate:

• Printable pattern, free
• Rotary phone, about $5 and up
• Vinyl or leather, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing machine, on hand
• Purse clasp, $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Cardboard, on hand
• Lining fabric, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  about $5 and up

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This is one of those projects that flies straight past clever and all the way up the scale to brilliant.  It’s a clock and a daily schedule all in one!  Delia from delia creates originally made this projects around back-to-school time, but it’s perfect to make any time.  (Get it?  Any time?  Yuk yuk yuk.)  No one in your household will ever have an excuse to forget an appointment or meeting ever again!  [how to make a dry erase clock]

Project estimate:

• Dry erase  board, $1 and up
• Clock kit, about $4 and up
• Vinyl numbers or number stickers, on hand or $1 and up
• Drill, on hand

Total:  about $5 and up

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Sometimes, it’s almost impossible to justify a splurge purchase.  For example, when Krista from While He Was Napping came across an $80 lantern at Crate and Barrel that she loved, she realized that it was the cost of nearly 2 months worth of diapers and just couldn’t bring herself to spend that kind of money on it.  Inspired by the lantern’s leaded glass design, she set out to replicate the look at a fraction of the cost.  Her version doesn’t have a top, but you could always add a decorative post topper to further copycat the C&B lantern; look for them in the decking section of the home improvement store.  [how to make a designer-inspired lantern]

Project estimate:

• 4 picture frames, $4
• Spray paint (optional), on hand or $1 and up
• Glue. on hand
• Vinyl, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $4 and up

The post Make a Designer-Inspired Lantern appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.