Today I’m excited to share my latest wreath, made with Mardi Gras beads, seashells, and a little mermaid glitter! Would you like to make a Mardi Gras Mermaid Wreath too? Read on for instructions.

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Wreath a Day #6: Mardi Gras Mermaid Wreath

I have had these pretty seashells in my stash for a few months. I bought them because I thought it would be fun to make a dollar store mermaid crown, but I never made it. When I saw the shells in my Craft Hoarder’s Paradise (aka CHP, aka my garage), I thought “Hmm, maybe I’ll never make that mermaid crown. But you know what I need to make right now? A wreath! Maybe I should make a mermaid wreath!” And the idea was born.

I held onto the shells for a few days because I couldn’t settle on the right background on the wreath. I had neutral colored ribbon that would have made a perfectly serviceable beachy wreath, but what I really wanted was something mermaid-y. I wanted a sparkly blue or green background. When I was visiting the dollar store, I saw these Mardi Gras style beads, and I knew those were the final component in my mermaid wreath.

Supplies Needed:

• Foam wreath form*
• 3 packages of Mardi Gras beaded necklace (approximately 18 necklaces)*
• Assorted seashells and starfish
• Blue glitter paste or glue* and blue glitter*
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks*
• Paint brush*

*Items with an asterisk can be purchased at the dollar store or DollarTree.com.

Step 1: Glue beads to wreath

Before you glue the beads to the wreath, you need to break the beads on the spot where they are glued together. Find the two beads that are fused together and break them apart with your hands (or hold one side with pliers if you have trouble breaking them). Alternately, you can just snip the string between any two beads.

Put a line of hot glue on the wreath form and put the end of the beads on the glue. Hold the beads on the wreath form until the glue cools, then begin to wrap the beads around the wreath form.

When you reach the end of one strand of beads, glue the next strand to the previous strand, and secure it onto the wreath with a dab of hot glue. Continue to wrap the wreath with beads until it is fully covered.

Production note: You might want to paint the wreath form before you begin, as the wreath form does show through the beads a little bit. If I made another wreath (or made one to sell), I would definitely cover up the wreath form before I glued the beads.

I didn’t have enough blue beads to cover the entire wreath (which would have looked amazing, I think), so I had to split the wreath coverage between blue and green beads.

Step 2: Glue the shells onto the wreath

Before you add the beads, tie a piece of ribbon around the top of the wreath to provide a hanger.

Hot glue the starfish and seashells in place on the wreath.

I arranged the starfish evenly around the wreath first, then arranged the seashells between them.

Step 3: Add glitter paste

When I got all the seashells glued in place, the wreath didn’t look finished, so I rummaged around in my CHP and found some sapphire blue glitter glue paste. You can buy the paste at your local art store, or online.

Or, you can just use liquid glue and blue glitter (both of which you probably have in your stash, or you can find at the dollar store).

I brushed blue glitter paste on all the shells to add some shimmer, and also to tone down the brightness of some of the shells and help them blend into the beaded background a little better.

That’s better! I like how the glitter looks kind of like sea gunk, but glittery sea gunk. It also tied the disparate seashells together more and made them fit together as a unit of related items.

Overall, I like how it turned out! I think it would look neat if I spray painted the whole thing white and then added some glitter glue over that. I wouldn’t mind trying it.

I hope you are having as much fun watching me bust my stash as I am having making these crazy wreaths! To follow along with my project, check out my other Wreath a Day posts.

The post Mardi Gras Mermaid Wreath appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Mardi Gras is coming up in a few days!  We love a good Fat Tuesday celebration, and our favorite part (of course) is the beads.  We’ve seen lots of amazing Mardi Gras bead crafts over the years, and many of them come from our creative pal Aunt Peaches.  If we had a who-loves-Mardi-Gras-beads-more contest, she’d probably win.  Last year she used some of her bead stash to create this super-festive wreath for the occasion.  Hers starts out using a bright and tinsel-y Valentine’s Day wreath as a base, though you could get creative and use just about any round shape for holding your beads!  [how to make a Mardi Gras bead wreath]

Project estimate:

• Wreath form, on hand or $1 and up
• Mardi Gras beads, on hand or $1 and up
• Pipe cleaners, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make a Mardi Gras Bead Wreath appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love the classic looks of American patriotic crafts – red, white and blue streamers, sparkles and stars make my heart happy. So of course this craft is full of these! Reading the supply list might make one think you’re getting ready for a picnic but with a little help from scissors and glue you can turn your picnic supplies into a fun patriotic porch decoration!

Project estimate:

• Rectangular plastic table cloth in red, $1 and up
• Rectangular plastic table cloth in white, $1 and up
• Rectangular plastic table cloth in blue, $1 and up
• Plastic juice pitcher lid, on hand or $1 and up
• Three star shaped noise maker necklaces, $3 and up
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat, on hand
• Hot glue gun and glue, on hand
• Pipe cleaner, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $6 and up

 Step 1: Cut tablecloths into strips

Use scissors or a rotary cutter (not your fabric one!) and mat to cut tablecloths into 1.5 inch strips. I cut the white tablecloth lengthwise and the colored tablecloths widthwise. Craft tip: Don’t unfold the table cloth all the way. Leave it partially folded while cutting and unfold the strips as you go.

 Step 2: Glue the white strips onto the juice lid

Fold the long strips from the white tablecloth in half. Stagger the “legs” of the fold a bit and then attach to the juice lid with hot glue. Be sure to use a low temp glue gun or use a chopstick to help you press the tablecloth into the glue to avoid burns. Attach folded strips all the way around the lid.

 Step 3: Attach red and blue strips to lid

Unfold the full length of the red and blue strips and glue them in an alternating pattern on top of the white folded strips all the way around the lid.

 Step 4: Add stars

Cut the sparkly stars from the noise makers. Save one of the beaded strings they are on to use as a hanger and set aside.

 Put hot glue on the back of the extension that was used to hold the stars onto the noise maker and glue the stars around the top edge.

Step 5: Make a hanger

Cut one of the beaded necklaces into thirds. Use hot glue to attach the beaded strips to the top of the juice lid.

 Hold the three beaded strands together so that the windsock hangs level. Secure strands with a pipe cleaner. Don’t forget to make a loop in the top of the pipe cleaner for hanging. Trim excess beads if needed.

Step 6: Hang it outside!

The post Tutorial: Festive Fourth of July Windsock appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

This month I have been participating in the Fox In Flats Style Dare. There is a different style dare for every day, and yesterday’s was to do something inspired by Coco Chanel. Now, when I think Coco Chanel, I think of lots and lots of strings of pearls. But… I don’t own any real pearls, and only a couple of strands of fake ones – not nearly enough to pull off the look. Then I remembered that I had seen strings of white, Mardi-Gras style beads at Dollar Tree recently and I came up with a plan to make my own Coco-inspired necklace!

Project estimate:

• Bead necklaces, $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Ribbon, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

Look for plain white strands of beads. If you can’t find white you can always opt to spray paint colored ones, but this is so much easier!

Decide how many strands of beads you want in your necklace; the beads came in a package of eight strands and I decided to use five of them for my necklace.

Set aside one of the necklaces to use as your longest strand.  (We will call this Strand A.)   The rest will be cut down to varying shorter lengths. When cutting the strands, find the point where the ends of the necklace meet (you will see two beads fused together) and make sure that those two beads are included in the ones you cut off. I cut down four strands, starting by removing three beads from one (Strand B), six beads from the next (Strand C), nine beads from the 3rd necklace (Strand D), and 12 beads from the 4th (Strand E) – taking away three additional beads on each strand. You can do as many or as few strands as you want; just make sure that the shortest strand is still long enough to fit over your head.

On Strand A, find the fused end point on the necklace.  Use a small amount of hot glue to attach the ends of Strand B alongside the fused beads on Strand A.

Continue adding beads in this manner, gluing the ends of Strand C next to the ends of Strand B, Strand D to Strand C, and so on until all of your strands have been glued together in order from longest to shortest.

To cover the glued ends, cut a length of white ribbon; wrap it around the area where the bead strands meet and secure with glue.

Your necklace is ready to wear, and it used less than $1 worth of supplies!  If only everything this fashionable could be so frugal!

The post Tutorial: Coco Chanel Inspired Necklace for $1 appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Valentine’s Day isn’t the only holiday swiftly sneaking up on us – Mardi Gras will also be here before you know it!  This year Fat Tuesday falls on February 12th, just before cupid declares open season on hearts.  Aunt Peaches decided that a mashup of the two days was in order, resulting in what she aptly calls a “Jambalaya Box.”  (If you’ve been looking for an excuse to buy yourself a heart-shaped box of chocolates and devour the whole thing…  Here ya go.)  [how to make a Mardi Gras heart box]

Project estimate:

• Heart-shaped box, $1 and up
• Mardi Gras beads, $1 and up
• Other beads and embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $2 and up

The post Make a Mardi Gras Heart Box appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When it comes to party decorating, you can easily make yourself crazy trying to get every last detail perfect; you can also drain your wallet in the process! The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are lots of methods and techniques you can use to turn basic party and craft supplies from Dollar Tree into fabulous party decor, saving your both your budget and your sanity. Need some inspiration before you head out shopping for your next fiesta? Here are eight great ideas for inexpensive party decor.

[balloons, party hats, tissue paper, white glue]

[Party Hat Pinata from Oh Happy Day]

Nothing says “party entertainment” quite like a piñata. Why get your usual, run-of-the-mill piñata when you can make your own custom version for so little money? This party hat piñata offers something a little different and, with party hats and tissue paper available in a rainbow of colors, it’s easy to customize to fit any party theme.

[paper napkins]

[Paper Napkin Table Runner from Passion for Parties]

Using disposable tablecloths doesn’t mean you can’t fancy things up a bit. A paper napkin runner is as easy as it is cheap, and nobody has to worry about spilling punch on expensive or heirloom linens. (Don’t forget to dress up the buffet table too!)

[plastic tablecloth]

[Fringed Garland from One Charming Party]

Speaking of plastic tablecloths, have you ever considered using them in other ways? One tablecloth makes a lot of fringed garland! Use it in place of crepe paper streamers, or pair it with streamers for a little variety.

[balloons]

[Fruit Balloon Garland from Oh Happy Day]

[Balloon Photo Backdrop from Dollar Store Mom]

There are lots of creative ways you can use balloons in your party decor besides stringing helium-filled ones on curling ribbon or taping them to the corner of a table. Why not try using them to make a fun garland, or to create a backdrop for a photo booth area?

[beaded necklaces]

[Mardi Gras Bead Coasters from Rust & Shine]

Add flair to your place settings with fun coasters made from Mardi Gras beads. (I always stock up on beads when I see them seasonally so that I will have them to use all through the year!)

[craft foam]

[Wine Glass Charms from Creative Jewish Mom]

[Cup Markers from Mello Reflections]

Ah, craft foam. It’s such a wonderfully useful craft supply! Whether you’re serving your guests wine, punch, or just about anything in between, you can use craft foam to make fun, colorful markers that will help to avoid that whose-drink-is-whose confusion that’s always bound to arise.

Do you have a favorite party craft that uses stuff you can find at Dollar Tree?

The post Cheap Party Decor: 8 Ideas Using Stuff from Dollar Tree appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We’re huge fans of Mark Montano around here.  (After all, he literally wrote the book on dollar store crafting.)  We’re also quite enthusiastic about quirky DIY chandeliers made from unusual items.  Items like…  a tomato cage!  With garden season winding down, the already inexpensive wire structures should be on clearance sales for even cheaper! This summer, my local garden center even had them in a few bright, fun colors – red, yellow, and green.  Get all of the details on how Mar made it at Think Crafts!  [how to make a tomato cage chandelier]

Project estimate:

• Tomato cage, about $1.50 and up
• Bead strings, about $5 and up
• Embellishments, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  about $6.50 and up

The post Make a Tomato Cage Chandelier appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We’re big fans of the DIY beaded chandelier (as evidenced here, here, and here).  Here’s another take on the concept by Sarah at Lovely Home Life,whose design incorporates some nice details like the turquoise beads encircling the top edge.  I also like the casual feel of the draping, which gives the finished project an “I-don’t-take-myself-too-seriously” attitude; it eliminates any pretentiousness that might be implied by the very idea of a chandy!  [how to make a beaded chandelier]

Project estimate:

• Mardi Gras beads, about $5
• Embroidery hoop, $1 and up
• Beads, on hand or $1 and up
• Wire, on hand or $1

Total:  about $6 and up

The post Make a Draped Bead Chandelier appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

File this one under “clever Christmas decor ideas.”  Using two of DSC’s favorite supplies, foam balls and mardi gras beads, Amanda from Crafts by Amanda made a festive and adorable garland of snowman heads!  The secret ingredient in this project is DecoArt’s MagiKote, a product that gives styrofoam a sandable, paintable surface.  You can also adapt this idea for all kinds of other holidays and events: leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day, bunny heads for Easter, baby faces for a shower, beach balls for a pool party…  What other occasions can you think of that would work with this craft?  [how to make a snowman garland]

Project estimate:

• Foam balls, on hand or $1 and up
• MagiKote, about $5 and up
• Paint, on hand
• Sharpie, on hand
• Mardi gras beads, $1
• Toothpicks, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Snowman Garland appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Beaded Chandelier

One of our most popular tutorials of all time is the Beaded Chandelier made of mardi gras beads! I just found some video I shot for it, so I whipped up a little video tutorial to go with our written tutorial. This chandelier will cost you about $10 and take a few hours to complete. For the full written tutorial: Beaded Chandelier Tutorial. And if you’re on YouTube, Subscribe to the Dollarcraft channel!

The post Video: Make a Beaded Chandelier appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.