How do you store your earbuds?  I have a pair that came with my iPhone and storing them is a struggle.  If you leave them out they get hopelessly tangled, and putting them back into the container they came in is like doing a Rubik’s cube.  Know the feeling?  Well, Ashely at Make It & Love It has a brilliant idea for earphone storage!  She fashioned cases out of recycled mint containers, creating an easy storage method that keeps them tangle-free and costs next to nothing to make! [how to make a recycled earbud case]

Project estimate:

• Empty mints container, on hand
• Key ring, on hand or $1
• Clip, on hand or $1
• Fabric scraps, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total:  Free and up!

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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

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My iPhone is one of my most important possessions – it goes everywhere with me and serves so many different purposes that it’s indispensable! But you know what would make it even handier? A tripod! Shannon from eat.sleep.MAKE. made one for herself using the back half of a plastic dinosaur and I could not be more delighted with her design. Not only is it functional and inexpensive, it’s also freakin’ hilarious! [how to make a dinosaur phone tripod]

Project estimate:

• Plastic dinosaur, on hand
• Caulk, about $5 and up
• Suction cup, on hand or $1

Total: about $5 and up

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If you’re into anything that has to do with photography, Photojojo is an amazing site full of DIY tips, tricks, and projects for all aspects of picture-taking.  This idea reminds me of the old slide shows that people used to put together for loved ones – remember those?  Next time you go on a vacation or dig up a bunch of old family photos, you too can have a slide show…  Using your smartphone!  How seriously cool is that?  All you need is about $1 worth of materials and a blank wall, and it’s like you’ve got a little movie theatre in your pocket!  (Got Netflix on your phone?  Grab some popcorn and have a movie night!)  Projectors are also handy when you are trying to enlarge an image for a project, such as painting a logo on a wall.  This might be the handiest use for a cardboard box you’ve ever seen!  [how to turn your smartphone into a projector]

Project estimate:

• Smartphone, on hand
• Magnifying glass, $1
• Cardboard box, on hand
• Paper clip, on hand
• Black paint, on hand or $1
• Electrical tape, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

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While the cell phone industry is huge, there is also another sizable industry that runs alongside it – the business of cell phone personalization!  Between things like cases, skins, and charms, we love to make our phones match our personal styles.  What makes a phone even more personalized than store-bought accessories?  Making those accessories yourself!  Maize Hutton came up with an easy DIY to add a quick, interchangeable touch of you to your phone: charms that plug into the headphone jack!  What fun little items would you add to your cell phone jack?  [how to make cell phone jack bling]

Project estimate:

• Headphones, on hand or $1
• Embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Cell Phone Jack Bling appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Ever wondered what to do with those cool plastic bowls you can find at the dollar store? The quick and easy answer? Make a lamp with them like Mark Montano does. Our friend Mark is the King of Dollar Store Crafts, and he constantly amazes us with his innovative (yet cheap) craft ideas. In this video, you can make a pendant lamp with some dollar store bowls and a few other supplies. My favorite quote of the video? “Let’s face it, I can’t resist the dollar store,” — Mark Montano. [how to make a dollar store pendant light]

Project Materials:

• 2 bowls, $2
• Drill & drill bit, on hand
• Cord & socket kit, $1 and up
• Low-heat light bulb, $1
• Electrical tape, on hand or $1
• E-6000, the best glue in the universe, on hand
• Craft knife, on hand or $1
• 1/4 yard of matching fabric, on hand or $1
• Scissors, on hand
• Spray adhesive, on hand or about $5

Total: $4 and up

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Make a sleek-looking duct tape case for your iPhone (or other smart phone) with duct tape. What makes this design special? It’s lined with fabric so your phone stays free from stickies and scratches. I have never seen another duct tape phone case that uses the technique I developed for creating a fabric lining, so grab a roll of duct tape and some scrap fabric and come make a phone case with me.

The backstory for this duct tape phone case:

I just got a new phone, and I’m paranoid about scratching it up. I already outfitted the phone in a hard-shell case and screen protector film, but I am still afraid my keys will somehow find a way to mess up my phone while they are jostling around in my purse.

Enter this duct tape phone cozy that will give my iPhone another layer of protection. Not only is the outer duct tape shell sturdy enough to deflect scratchy surfaces, but the inside is soft and safe, thanks to a lining of fuzzy flannel. And if you don’t have an iPhone, don’t worry. The principles of this phone still work! You will just need to alter the measurements of the pattern pieces to fit your phone.

What you need for this project:

• Duct tape, on hand or $1 and up
• A piece of fabric (I used flannel) – about 6×15″

Total: $1 and up

Note about duct tape: I have seen it at the dollar store, but I have a huge weakness for colored and patterned duct tape, and that will run you slightly more per roll (although, it will probably be pretty comparable if you calculate the cost per foot — the rolls at the dollar store are small).

Tools:

• Scissors
• Ruler

Optional, but helpful:

• Cutting Mat
• Rotary Cutter
• Goo Gone (rub on scissor blades to keep them from sticking to duct tape)
• Your phone to measure

How-to Video (Written instructions below)

To make:

1. Cover your fabric with duct tape on one side, overlapping the duct tape at each strip’s long edges.

2. Trim off all the edges of the fabric piece, removing any excess duct tape.

3. Trim a piece of the duct tape fabric that measures about 14″ long and 2.5″ wide. Trim one edge to a point.

If you have a cutting mat with guide lines and ruler, you can measure the center point of the short side of the piece. With a washable marker, mark the center point of the side (should be 1.25″ if you are using my measurements), and line that point up with the point of the X on your cutting mat. Line the ruler up with the X’s lines, and trim a perfect mitered edge on your piece.

Or you can just eyeball it.

3. Cut two pieces of the duct tape fabric that measure about 3.75″ long and .5″ wide. These will be the sides of the case.

4. Put the two small pieces on the center of a piece of duct tape.

5. Attach the side pieces to the sides of the straight end of the main piece (should end up looking kind of like a T) — these are your “wings.”

Tip: leave a microscopic space between the side pieces and the main piece when attaching. This will allow ample room for the sides to fold up.

6. Put your phone on the top of the T, and wrap the long end of the strap up and around the bottom of the phone.

7. With your phone still inside the long strap, fold the wings up over the back side of the strap.

8. You should now have a pouch. All that’s left to do now is add a strap to secure the front flap.

9. To create the strap: Cut a piece of duct tape about 5.5″ long. Fold it one-third up on the long end of the tape. Then fold down the top over the first fold. You should end up with a narrow, long strap.

10. Wrap the strap around the front of the case, not too tight. The backs of the strap should wrap around the back of the case.

11. Secure the back of the strap to the back of the case with duct tape. The easiest way is to put a piece of duct tape on each end of the strap, and fold it up (snug, but not too tight) and secure the duct tape to the back of the case.

12. You’re done. The front flap should slide easily in and out under the strap. Your phone should slide easily in and out of the case, but be pretty snug and secure inside.

Scotch Duct Tape Colors and Patterns

Many thanks to my sponsor Scotch Duct Tape, who graciously provided me with tape and compensation in order to bring you this high-quality project tutorial! Scotch just launched a new line of duct tape: over 10 colors, 16 patterns and 10 combo packs of  Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape.

Take the Style that Sticks quiz: Take this fun quiz at Scotch Duct Tape’s Site — answer 3 questions that lead you to your personal style (Glamorous, Traditional or Trendy) and patterns and projects that align with that style. In addition to recommending fun and unique DIY projects, along with select duct tapes, the quiz ends with an option to enter your email address to win one of hundreds of free combo pack samples every day.

I found some AMAZING DIY projects there! Like:

Duct Tape Tumbling Block Art by The Glamourai

Neon Duct Tape Chevron Cuff Bracelet by Brit.co

Visit Scotch:

Website: www.ScotchDuctTape.com

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ScotchColorsPatterns

This post is a collaboration with Scotch Colors and Patterns Duct Tape, whose celebration of unique personal style led to this post.

The post Tutorial: Fabric-Lined Duct Tape iPhone Case appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Phones and iPods and Kindles, oh my!  Modern living has many conveniences, but when it comes time to charge all of those handy devices, the mess of cords on the counter is less than ideal.  Looking for an attractive way to tame that cord clutter?  Tasha Chawner tucked hers neatly away in a cardboard-box-turned-charging-station!  A storage box would be ideal for this project, but any sturdy box will do, even a shoebox!  If you are using a box that isn’t very pretty, you can use paper or fabric and some Mod Podge to dress it up a bit before displaying it on your counter.  [how to make a device charging station]

Project estimate:

• Box, on hand or $1 and up
• Label brackets, $1 and up
• Brads, on hand or $1 and up
• Craft knife, on hand
• Power strip, on hand or about $5 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Device Charging Station appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Electronic devices certainly do make our lives easier, but you’ve got to admit, most of them lack any personality.  Why tote around a boring ol’ laptop that looks just like everyone else’s when you can dress it up for just a buck?  Josie from Fine & Feathered found some woodgrain contact paper at the dollar store and knew it would be perfect for making a DIY laptop skin.  Her computer went from looking past its prime to as good as new with just a little measuring, cutting, and sticking.  You’ll be the envy of the entire coffee shop with one of these slick looking machines sitting in front of you!  [how to make your own woodgrain laptop skin]

Project estimate:

• Contact paper, $1 and up
• Craft knife, on hand
• Ruler, on hand

Total, $1 and up

The post Make Your Own Woodgrain Laptop Skin appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Think you’re not enough of a techie to whip up your own USB-powered desk lamp?  Think again!  Rebecca from Rebecca Made It found all of the components for this one at Dollar Tree, and assembling it required zero electrical skills.  Your friends will be amazed!  (Don’t worry, we won’t tell them you aren’t really an electronics wizard!)  I love the Swedish-inspired design of the lamp, especially the addition of the yarn zig-zag around the edge of the shade.  [how to make a USB desk lamp]

Project estimate:

• USB LED light, $1
• USB extension cord, on hand or $1 and up
• Mini tripod, $1
• Wire mesh pencil cup, $1
• Yarn, on hand
• Tape or glue, on hand

Total:  $3 and up

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