This gumball machine idea is so stinkin’ adorable!  They are made by stacking flower pots and glass bowls together; isn’t it amazing how much they look like the real deal?  I tip my hat to Pamela of Pamela Susan’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts for coming up with these!  When I first saw them, I totally did a double-take as I realized how they were constructed.  Whether you make one for your own holiday decor or you give them as gifts to your sweetest friends, this is a clever idea that is certain to make people smile when they see it!  [how to make a Valentine’s Day gumball machine]

Project estimate:

• Flower pot with drainage saucer, $1 and up
• Glass bowl, $1
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Wooden ball or knob, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand
• Candy, $1 and up

Total:  $3 and up

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Amy over at The Idea Room has been wanting to make gumball necklaces for herself and her daughter, but could never find gumballs in the colors she loved without having to order them online. Well, one day while perusing the craft store (which happens more often than she would like to admit) Amy spied some wooden beads!  BINGO!  She had her “gumballs” and could make them exactly the colors she wanted.  See her tutorial and more ADORABLE photos of her little one on her blog.  [how to make a faux gumball necklace]

Project estimate:

• Wooden beads, on hand or $1 and up
• Paint, on hand
• Ribbon, on hand

Total:  Free and up

The post Make a Faux Gumball Necklace appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Birthday Cake Costume

Even bigger and better than a cupcake! Looks like it was made with hula hoops to add structure.

Sushi Costume:

The creator of this costume said: SUSHI BABY! I made this costume for under $20 and didn’t sew a thing. I used foam padding to make the out line, covered the out side with black fabric and the middle with packing foam then used the left over foam to make the middle and painted it with craft paint. The wasabi hat was made out of a pair of sweat pants my son grew out of and glued on left over chopsticks.

Toddler Gumball Machine Costume:

The creator of this costume said: Our daughter as a gumball machine. I used ball pit balls, cut them in half, hot glued them to a red turtle neck. I then took a child gift garment bag, cut open the top and bottom, sewed up the edges, placed black leggings, silver shoes one her..My mother in law created the top cap from a plastic bottle and red felt, as well as the bottom money slot with cardboard and plastic.

And here’s another version of the gumball machine:

Kid Gumball Machine Costume

There is no info about how this one was made, but if I were going to recreate it, I would use oversized clear plastic bowls for the dome part (with a window cut out for ventilation), with a disposable red party bowl on top (most likely, hot glued together). I’d put the child in a red longsleeved shirt, and make a sleeveless dress for the red body of the machine, with the hem rolled up around something (you could use a pool noodle? looks like the creator used something smaller than that). The lightest-weight gumballs would be ping-pong balls spray-painted in various colors.

S’mores Costume:

The creator of this costume said: The S’more was really easy to do! For the crackers and the top of the hat we used a can of spray texture and tan spray paint. The chocolate bar was a piece of craft foam covered in brown fabric with a hole cut so she could step through it. We used a large, rolled piece of craft foam for the marshmallow shape and covered it with an old white bed sheet and cut holes for the arms. It buttoned up the back.

Chef and Oven Costume:

I like the idea of combining the occupation with one of its accoutrements. He’s a chef and an oven.

Cop & Donut Costume

Or, if you’re gonna be a cop, might as well be a cop with something. Like a box of donuts.

(Katy Perry Candyland) Candy Buttons Costume:

Z. is dressed as the singer Katy Perry from her music video for “California Girls.” The video has a candyland theme.

I love the candy buttons costume. Not so thrilled about the Katy Perry aspect, but that’s just me and my aversion to little girls identifying too closely with big girls. Still, this costume is adorable. If I made it, I would use felt yardage for the tube-like body of the dress, and styrofoam balls cut in half for the candy buttons. I’d put wide ribbon straps on the dress, and then glue actual candy buttons onto them. Accessorize with candy jewelry (and an awesome wig, if you can find one).

Iron Chef Toddler Costume by TrafficChick on Craftster:

My three year old watches way too much Food Network. She insisted that she dress as Iron Chef Michael Symon and that I needed to be Iron Chef Cat Cora. Whose cuisine reigns supreme?

I just love that the three year-old insisted on being a specific Iron Chef!

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