Do you want to impress someone with a wonderful handmade gift, but you’re on a budget? Here’s the perfect solution: make a candy bouquet! Use dollar store candy and supplies to make an inexpensive, yet very impressive bouquet, made up of your gift recipient’s favorite sweet treats. 

Anyone can make a candy bouquet! It is a simple and clever craft, and looks so impressive once it’s done.

Project estimate:

• Floral foam, $1
• Glass container, on hand or $1
• Assorted candy, $1.00 and up
• Bamboo skewers, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Basket filler, $1

Totals: $3 and up

How to Make a Candy Bouquet Video Tutorial:

Read on for written instructions for how to make a candy bouquet:

1. Cut the floral foam to fit the inside of the container.  Floral foam is very easy to cut. You can simply use a knife to slice to cut to the right size.

2. After the foam is on place put basket filler on top.  You may chose to glue it in place.

3. This is the fun part!  Using the glue gun place a small amount of glue on the candy and place the skewer flat on the glue.

Cut skewers with utility scissors to make them different lengths — this makes a more pleasing bouquet!

4. Once it has cooled, arrange the candy skewers in the container.  Continue placing the candy in the container until you have the desired look. Trim skewers if necessary to give the bouquet a range of “flower” heights!

The wonderful thing about candy bouquets is they can be given to anyone.  They can be a birthday present, boss gift, husband gift, graduation gift (slip some gift cards in  between the candy), Mother’s Day (place flowers randomly around the candy), a treat for someone in the hospital, etc.  You name it!  Another great gift for someone with a flower allergy!  Wedding center piece?? You decide!

What do you think? Could you make a candy bouquet? (We think so! They are so easy and fun!)

Did you enjoy this? Try to Make a Candy Wreath next!

Pin It: How to Make a Candy Bouquet

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This quick, easy project doesn’t just have to be for Valentine’s Day.  You could easily use different stamps to create custom decorative candles for your home, for parties, or for gifts.  I made several winter themed candles as gifts for my neighbors for Christmas, and they loved them!  So pull out your inks and stamps, and let’s decorate some candles!

Project estimate:

• Candles, on hand or $1 and up
• Stamps and ink, on hand
• Tissue paper, on hand
• Hair dryer or heat embossing tool, on hand

Total:  Free or $1 and up

It’s a good idea to do a few practice runs with old candles or dollar store candles.  I often find bags of new to barely used candles at thrift stores, and they are great for practicing this technique.  The candle I used in this project was purchased at Dollar Tree, and while it is a battery operated votive candle, it has a wax coating on the outside, so it works for this project.

To make your own stamped Valentine’s Day Candle:

Step one:  Cut a piece of tissue paper to fit around your candle.

Step two:  Stamp the tissue paper.  First, I covered my paper with a text stamp that has the definition of love. Then I stamped the heart image over the text.

Step three:  Wrap the stamped tissue paper around the candle.

Step four:  Heat the tissue paper with a heat embossing tool or a hair dryer.  As the wax melts, the tissue paper will seem to disappear into the candle, leaving only the image.  Be careful to keep moving your heat tool so you don’t burn the tissue paper or create uneven dimples in your candle.

If you want to, you can further embellish your candle with ribbon, string, rhinestones, etc.  I’m decorating a few candles with blue and green damask stamps to match my living room.  Which stamps are you going to reach for?  Have fun creating!

The post Tutorial: Stamped Valentine’s Day Candle appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Okay, between last week’s mini chalkboard magnet tutorial and today’s mini frame pin cushion, it’s probably fair to say that I am crazy about miniatures.  I mean, they’re just so cute and tiny!  When I saw these itty bitty frames in the dollar bins at Michael’s last week I had to grab a few.  They come in fun colors, the shape is gorgeous, and you can do so much with them.  Did  I mention that they’re only ONE dollar?  Read on to learn how I turned a miniature frame into a fun pin cushion.

Project estimate:

• Mini frame, $1
• Cork board, on hand or $1 and up
• Fabric Scrap, on hand
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

How to make your own framed pin cushion:

Step 1:  Cut a piece of cork board to fit in the front of the frame.  I had cork left from another project, but you could recycle it from the back of old coasters or dollar store coasters, since you only need a 2 inch square.

Step 2:  Cut a fabric scrap slightly larger than the cork.  Use a hot glue gun to glue the corners down first, then fold the edges over and hot glue  to finish.

Step 3:  Glue the fabric covered cork into the frame.

My fun little framed pin cushion is such a happy addition to my crafting desk!  It’s pretty and functional.  I like that it lays down flat when I’m using it, and when I’m done I can stand it up so it takes less space. Heck, I might even use it as a tiny pin board for instagram pictures!  Why not?

The post Tutorial: DIY Framed Pin Cushion appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’ll be traveling a lot next month, and I’ve been looking for inexpensive, easy to pack, not-too-hard-to-make host or hostess gifts. These DIY leather bookmarks were made entirely from materials I already had on hand and require only the ability to cut a straight line. It’s not hard to make a dozen at a time. And they pack nice and flat in a suitcase.

Although the materials aren’t expensive, you will need a rotary cutter to make these bookmarks. Otherwise they will look homemade in a bad way. If you don’t already own one, you can purchase a small cutter and mat for about $20.

Project estimate:

• Old leather coat, free and up
• Gold fabric paint (or acrylic paint mixed with textile medium), on hand or $3 and up.
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Painter’s tape, on hand

Total: Free and up

In addition to a rotary cutter, you will need sturdy scissors, a piece of scrap cardboard, tailor’s chalk and a leather hole punch. You can save some time and steps by using new leather.

First dismantle your leather coat using sturdy scissors,  removing the lining and removing and flattening out the sleeves.

Then create a cardboard template to the dimensions of your finished bookmark. I made a 6 inch by 1 1/2 inch rectangle from a cereal box.

Using tailor’s chalk, trace the outline of your template on the unfinished (suede) side of your leather.

Continue tracing rectangles, placing them to maximize use of your leather.

Roughly cut out the rectangles of leather.

Using a rotary cutter, cleanly trim the sides, top and bottom.

To get straight edges, press straight down on the cutter, go slowly and cut past the end point of your leather. This keeps you from pulling away as you cut and stretching the leather. Also, pull the cut piece away before lifting your ruler. If a little spot is hanging on, you can go over it again with your cutter.

While you are cutting, you can also cut a strip of leather 6 inches long by 1/4 inch wide from your trimmings to make a tassel.

If needed, you can iron the leather by using low heat and sandwiching the leather between an ironing cloth.

Most leather used for coats is too soft and floppy to make a good bookmark. If you want to stiffen your leather, apply a coat of Mod Podge to the back or unfinished side.  Be careful not to get Mod Podge on the front. If you do, wipe it off with a damp cloth before it dries. Allow the Mod Podge to dry.

Tape off the end of the bookmark with painter’s tape and paint with gold. You can angle the tape for variety.

You can stop here.

Or, use a leather punch to add a hole and tassel. Use painter’s tape to mark a hole in the center of your bookmark. Punch one hole and use it as a template for your other bookmarks.

Tie a knot in the middle of your tassel strip and pull it through the hole.

The post Tutorial: Gold-Dipped Leather Bookmarks appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

While perusing the aisles of my local dollar store recently, I came across a package of 8 tiny bottles of glitter in the nail art section. My initial thought was that they would be perfect for adding some sparkle to small projects. Thinking about it further, I realized they would be perfect to turn into pixie dust necklaces. Give these as gifts or as party favors for kids and teens. You can even make them into less-girly “wizard amulets” by using dark or neutral colored glitter (like copper), a black ribbon and silver or black beads – perfect even for boys.

Project estimate:

• Nail art glitter bottles, package of 8 for $1
• Ribbon, on hand or $0.50 and up
• Beads, on hand
• One head pin for jewelry, on hand
• Pliers, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The bottles of glitter used for these necklaces can be found in the nail care/nail art section of Dollar Tree in a package of 8 (seen below)

Please note: These bottle are very small so they are not appropriate to give to children who still put things in their mouths. You may also want to consider gluing the lids onto the bottles depending on the age and activity level of the recipient.

Step 1: Make the charm

Select beads that coordinate with the glitter and ribbon you will be using. String the bead(s) onto the head pin. Make a loop to attach the charm to the necklace as follows:

• Leaving some space above the top bead, bend the head pin down with pliers. (now is a great time to go ahead and loop it around the ribbon instead of threading the ribbon through later)
• Grasp the top of the bend with your pliers.
• Using your hand or a second set of pliers, wrap the end of the head pin around the top of your charm.
• Clip off the excess and use pliers to press against loop.

(disclaimer: I am a super novice jewelry maker. If you have more experience or a technique that works better, by all means, do that!)

Step 2: Add the glitter

String your favorite bottle of glitter onto the ribbon with your charm.

Step 3: Make the necklace adjustable

I chose to make my necklaces long enough to easily slip over the wearer’s head. You can finish your necklace with a bead to make it adjustable by threading both ends of the ribbon through a snug fitting bead (mine is an “E bead”) before tying a knot. This will let the wearer slide the bead to  adjust the length of the necklace if desired.

That’s it! Making these necklaces is quick and fun. You can coordinate your glitter color based on the occasion (just empty the bottles and refill with your glitter of choice):  Make pink and red necklaces as valentine’s gifts. Use green for St. Patrick’s day. Or create an assortment for a pixie party and let each child pick their favorite color.

Here are some more examples of ways to make your necklaces:

The post Tutorial: Make a Pixie Dust Necklace appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love swirly ornament hooks. They look great and bring an extra touch of class to your tree. I never thought about ways to craft with them beyond pairing them with handmade ornaments.  Allison from Dream a Little Bigger, on the other hand, had a vision that went beyond the ornament. With the addition of a few beads and some earring hooks, the ornament hangers are transformed into something chic and totally giftable. It’s so easy, that making a pair of earrings should only take about five minutes (even for beginning crafters)! [how to make swirly ornament earrings]

Project estimate:

• Swirly ornament hooks, $1 and up
• Beads, on hand or $1 and up
• Pliers, on hand
• Earring hooks, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Swirly Ornament Hook Earrings appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Project estimate:

• Plastic snowflakes, $1 for 6
• Glitter, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand
• Clear packaging tape, on hand
• Resin, on hand or $5 and up

Total: $1 and up

To make your own iced snowflake coasters:

Step 1: Paint your plastic snowflakes with glue and pour on glitter. Shake off excess and let dry. (I purchased my snowflakes and a multi-pack of glitter at Dollar Tree).

Step 2: Tape clear packaging tape to the pack of your snowflake. This will give your coaster an even, smooth back.

Step 3: Mix your resin according to package instructions. (See this post for more info about resin). Use a plastic spoon to pour the resin over the center and the “arms” of the snowflake. Let cure for 24 hours.

Step 4: Mix a small batch of resin and paint it over any missed spots of glitter. I also painted the entire surface to enhance the shine. Let it dry.

Step 5: Remove the masking tape from the back of the snowflake.

Pictures really don’t do these coasters justice! The resin enhances the color and shine of the glitter, and the snowflakes look like they’re encased in ice. They’d look gorgeous on your table, or wrapped up in a ribbon and presented as a gift. Have fun creating!

The post Tutorial: Make Iced Snowflake Coasters appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’ll admit it, I’m one of those people who feels the need to have a gift, no matter how small, for everyone.  Students, classmates, neighbors, garbage collectors, bus drivers:  you get a gift, you get a gift, you get a gift!  These reindeer candy canes are my go-to gift project.  They are inexpensive, easy to make while watching TV, and seriously cute.  (It must be the googly eyes.)

Project estimate:

• Candy canes, $2 for two dozen
• Brown chenille sticks, $1 per pack
• Red Pompoms, $1 per pack
• Googly eyes:  $1 per pack
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $5 to make 24

 
To make your own reindeer candy cane gifts:

Step 1:  Cut the chenille stick in half.  Twist it around the candy cane to look like antlers.

Step 2:  Glue on the eyes and nose.

Step 3 (optional):  Tie a bow or bell onto the reindeer “neck”.

Older kids could help make this craft.  I’ve found that it’s a gift that bigger kids don’t mind giving or receiving.  They make adorable ornaments, too.  Have fun crafting!

The post Tutorial: Make Candy Cane Reindeer Gifts appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Amy from The Idea Room was recently inspired by her mother’s church group to make some photo block puzzles. The puzzles are a great way to show off six great photos of your family, friends, pets or travels. They have been around for a while, but they are still a great project to make with your whole family and also make great gifts. The best part? You can make these for under $5!  [how to make a photo block puzzle]

Project estimate:

• Wooden blocks, about $2 and up
• Photos, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total: about $2 and up

The post Make a Photo Block Puzzle appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Gift cards are the ultimate multi-purpose gift, especially when it comes to those people who are just about impossible to shop for.  If you’re planning to give any gift cards this year for Valentine’s Day, make it a little more special by presenting it in a handmade gift card holder.  This self-enclosing holder looks like an envelope, but unfolds into the shape of a heart with the gift card peeking out.  It’s quick, easy, and takes only a few supplies to create.

Project estimate:

• Paper, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand
• Marker, on hand or $1
• Sticker, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up

First, cut a heart shape to use as a template.  The heart should be sized so that the gift card will fit in the center with room to glue around the edges, and the total height if the heart should be twice as tall as the gift card or a little larger.

Use the template to cut two hearts, one for the front of the gift card and one for the back, either from the same paper or from two different papers.  The piece you cut for the back will also be the color of the outside of the envelope; if you would like it to show as a border behind the front heart (like mine does), cut the back piece slightly larger.

On the back side of the piece of paper that will be the front of the card, draw a line just wider than the gift card, positioned so that about 1/2 inch of the card will stick out.  Cut along the line.  (I also used a silver Sharpie to draw a thick line around the edge of the black piece that I used for the back of the gift card holder, creating a silver border around the heart.

Glue the front and back hearts together.  Apply the glue to the back side of the front piece, being careful around the bottom edges.  (If you glue too much, the card might not fit inside!)  Everything above the cut for the card can be glued down securely, as it will not interfere with placing the card inside.

You can decorate the front of the heart more if you would like, but avoid using extra layers of paper or bulky embellishments, which will make it more difficult to fold up the heart into an envelope.  Fold both sides of the heart in toward the center, working as close to the edges of the gift card as possible.  Pull the gift card out so you can crease the folds well, then stick it back in before you make your next folds.

Again working as close to the edges of the gift card as possible, fold the top and bottom of the heart in.  Pull the card out, crease, and replace card.

With the sides folded first, then the top of the heart, then the bottom, the gift card holder will resemble a small envelope, with the pointed bottom of the heart creating the envelope flap.  Secure the flap in place with a pretty heart sticker.

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