I decided I wanted a Valentine’s Day wreath this year.  I’ve never been a big wreath person, but Pinterest can change a girl.  I wasn’t sure exactly how my wreath would look, I just knew I wanted it to be big, bold, and red.

I headed to Dollar Tree and just started picking up red Valentine items that “spoke” to me.  I liked the sparkly garland, and the heart picks were too cute to pass up.  I had a ton of red ribbon left over from Christmas, and some wood heart frames I had purchased at Michael’s.  I looked at my collection for several days, still not sure what to do with it.  So I just started playing with my supplies, and I wound up with a wreath that I absolutely LOVE.  Here’s how I ended up making it.

Project estimate:

• Wreath form, $1
• Wire edged ribbon, on hand or $1 and up
• Valentine garland, $1
• Heart Picks, $1
• Wood heart frame, $1
• Puffy hearts, $1 for 6
• Stickers, on hand

Total:  $5 and up

Step one:  Wrap the wreath form with ribbon (optional, but I can’t stand floral foam shedding!)  Paint the heart shaped frame.

Step two:  Cut the wire garland into 24 inch pieces.  Wrap one end of wire around the wreath form, and coil the rest into a loose spiral.  Repeat.

Step three:  Cut the wire edged ribbon into 32 inch strips.  Attach it to the wreath form by doubling the ribbon, and pulling the ribbon ends through the loop.  Repeat.

Step four:  Slide the ends of the heart picks into the base of the ribbon loops.

Step five:  Glue the wood heart to the front, and attach the puffy heart with a ribbon.  Add a cupid sticker (optional).

Step six:  Curl the ends of the wired ribbon in different directions.

Isn’t this a fun wreath?  If you don’t care for my red/gold combo, you could easily make it white/pink or any other colors that say “Valentine’s Day” to you.  Have fun crafting and creating!

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

For many DIY fashionistas, T-shirts are their crafty medium of choice.  The folks at Generation T have shown us time and time again how versatile that most basic of clothing items can be!  This time around, Megan made a set of T’s for a couple that are perfect for Valentine’s Day.  If you and your Significant Other are one of those over-the-top adorable couples like Marshall and Lilly on “How I Met Your Mother,” I bet you’ve already started making a mental list of supplies you’ll need.  Am I right?   [how to make “you complete me” heart shirts]

Project estimate:

• T-shirts, on hand or $2 and up
• File folder, on hand or $1
• Sharpie, on hand
• Red spray fabric paint, about $5 and up

Total:  about $5 and up

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Jane at Buzzmills shares a tutorial for an adorable felt lovebird necklace. This is a great craft to make for someone for a Valentine’s Day gift, or “just because!” Once you whip one up, you’ll want to make one for all your friends and loved ones. Plus, once you master the art of the felt bird, they can be used as appliques, barrettes, on headbands, as single charms and much more – the ideas are endless. [how to make a felt lovebird necklace]

Project estimate:

• Felt, on hand or $1
• Embroidery thread, on hand or $1 and up
• Chain or necklace, $1 and up

Total: $1 and up

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If the special someone in your life doesn’t go for frivolous gifts, they will surely appreciate a functional Valentine’s Day gift like this adorable “love” key holder.  Over at Mod Podge Rocks!, Man Podger Walter used an unfinished, heart-shaped frame from the $1 section at Michael’s as the starting point for a useful key station that will also remind you of the one you love every time you come and go.  It’s both practical and romantic, a difficult balance to find!  [how to make a Valentine’s Day key holder]

Project estimate:

• Unfinished heart frame, $1 at Michael’s
• Wooden heart shapes, $1
• Screw hooks, $1
• Scrapbook paper, on hand
• Paint, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand
• Rubber stamps, on hand
• Ink pad, on hand
• Screws, on hand or $1
• Photo, on hand

Total:  $3 and up

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I’m always on the lookout for yarn projects that don’t involve knitting or crocheting.  While I can crochet almost anything (and I really wish I could knit), it’s nice to have other options for using up odds and ends left over from making afghans and sweaters.  At Family Chic, Camilla came up with the idea of wrapping yarn around a wire form to make lovely word art.  She used heavy-duty clothes line to make her wire form, but  you could also use a wire hanger or any other suitable wire you have on hand.  This would be cute as part of a mantel display or on a wedding shower buffet spread!  [how to make wire and yarn word art]

Project estimate:

• Yarn, on hand or $1 and up
• Wire, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

The post Make Wire and Yarn Word Art appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

What did you do with your love letters? I think mine are floating around in the atmosphere somewhere because most of them were via email in the 90s. If you know where yours are, and if you are brave enough to display them, sorta, then this idea from Erin at His & Hers is for you! She took dollar store frames and spray-painted them white, then added mattes, love letters, and number cut-outs (their anniversary date) over the top of them. The display is on a shelf over her windows, away from prying eyes. [how to make love letter art]

She used her Cricut to cut out the letters, and if you have a craft cutter, you already know what to do. If you don’t, you can print the letters on paper and then cut it out and paint it (or skip a step and print it on colored paper). The more frames you use, the bigger impact this art will be. I suggest going with five frames or more, like Erin did.

Project Estimate:

• Frames, $1 each
• Love letters, on hand
• Number cut-outs, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Make Love Letter Art appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

“Love” banner free printable from At Second Street

Free printables are a great no-fuss solution when you need holiday decor but don’t have much time to spend.  Besides framing printables, you can also use them in some other creative ways.  Decoupage the images onto just about anything, or look for specialty papers for your computer’s printer, such as iron-on transfer paper or window decal paper, which give you even more options for ways to use free printables.  You could even incorporate them into scrapbooking or card making projects.

Besides printables intended for framing, there are also printable cards, treat holders, and other festive touches.  (Did you see DSC contributor Melinda’s cupcake bunting printable recently?)  We’ve rounded up a giant list of awesome free Valentine’s Day printables for you to play with.  Some of these links include more than one free printable; all together, there are over 40 free Valentine printbales here to choose from!

Valentine’s Day Subway Art

1.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art Printable by Today’s Fabulous Finds

2.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art Printable by Funky Polkadot Giraffe

3.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art Printable by Bunch of Craft

4.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art Printable by Barn Owl Primitives via Tatertots & Jello (scroll to the bottom of the post for the download link)

5.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art Printables by The Crafty Scientist

6.  I Corinthians Subway Art Printable by HoneyBear Lane

7.  Another I Corinthians Subway Art Printable by Keen Inspirations

8.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art by Our Thrifty Ideas

9.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art by Therapeutic Crafting

10.  Valentine’s Day Subway Art by While He Was Napping

Free Printable Valentine Stationery

11. Elegant Printable Cards by {fun.kyti.me}

12. Printable Valentine Tags by Peppermint Plum

13. Printable Valentine Party Invitation by My Digital Creations

14. Printable Photo Frame Valentine Cards by Mommy Made

15. Printable Valentine’s Day Cards by Wedding Thrift

16. Printable Valentine’s Day Gift Tag Stickers by Issa Sarza

17.  Printable Vintage-Look Love Coupons by Key Lime Digital Designs

Free Printable Valentine Treat Holders

18. Valentine’s Day Treat Bag Tags by My Computer Is  My Canvas

19. Cell Phone and iPod Treat Wrappers by ObSEUSSed

Other Valentine’s Day Free Printables

20. Olive You and Love is All You Need Valentine’s Day Printables by Inspired By Charm

21. Bee Mine Valentine’s Day Printable by Krafty Kat

22. Charlie Brown Love Quote Free Printable by Sew Very Happy

23.  Key to My Heart Valentine’s Day Printable by Just Devine Style

24. Love More Valentine’s Day Printable by Sprik Space

25. Find Love Valentine’s Day Printable by Sweet & Lovely Crafts

26. Valentine’s Day Printable Art by Mommy Creations

27. Shakespeare Quote Valentine’s Day Printable by Are They Twins?

28. Set of Four Valentine Printables by Our Humble A{Bowe}d

29. “Love” and “Be Mine” Printable Banners by At Second Street

30. Keep Calm and Kiss Printable by The Hands-On Housewife

31. Keep Calm and Be In Love Printable by Fancy Frills Style Studio

32. Love Machine Printable Toy by Cubeecraft

33. Pride & Prejudice Quote Valentine’s Day Printable by A Place for the Lady

34. Love Dice Free Printable by Happy Home Fairy

The post Free Valentine Printables Mega-Roundup appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Let’s face it: being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around! So many motherly duties are taken for granted and are under-appreciated. This year, let your mom know why she’s appreciated with this gift that will keep her feeling loved all year ’round (especially if her love language is “words of affirmation”)*. This dry-erase memo board is a cinch to make, and can be customized any way you like! I love that the board prompts you to list the reasons why you love your mom!

I made this memo board using materials I got in my secret stash swap with Alison from How Does She? She sent the vinyl slogan that says “Reasons We Love You!” and I thought it was a perfect jumping off point for a Mother’s Day gift for my mom. The paper lace embellishments, the background paper, and the brown ribbon also came in her care package. If you don’t have access to custom vinyl for this project, never fear! You can print or write the phrase on the paper underneath the glass, and it will work just as well! [update: see what I sent Alison and what she made with it]

You can find an 8×10 frame like this at the dollar store, or use one from your stash.

Project Estimate:

• Frame, $1
• Pretty paper, $.25 and up or on hand
• Embellishments, on hand
• Dry-erase marker, $1
• Craft glue, on hand

Total: $2 and up

To Make:

1. Cut out vinyl slogan using Cricutor other similar product. Apply vinyl slogan to front of photo frame glass. Alternately: print or write slogan on scrapbooking paper. (Note: Alison posted some tips on buying vinyl, if you need them).

2. Put pretty paper in frame. Tip: be sure the paper isn’t too busy, because a strong pattern will interfere with readability on your dry-erase board.

3. Paint frame if desired, and apply embellishments to frame. I used lace and ric rack, but you can go wild and do just about anything for this step! Keep your mom’s decor and taste in mind when you do this part!

4. When you give it to your mom, be sure to include a dry-erase marker and write a message on the board!

p.s. Sorry for the spoiler, Mom! xoxo

*more about my thoughts on words of affirmation in this post: Deck of Cards Love Book

The post Make a Mother’s Day Memo Board appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Aww, so cute. Reader Jean submitted this project idea at the Dollar Store Crafts Facebook page; it’s a romantic book of “52 things I love about you” to give to your sweetie, out of a deck of cards and some binder rings. Cute idea by Kelly at Trans-craftinental, and so simple and customizable! Look beyond Valentines’ Day for this project as well; it would make a great personal gift for any occasion, or you could just use this idea to make an adorable mini scrapbook or tiny book filled with anything you want. Definitely keep this one in mind for Mother’s Day, too! [click here for how to make a Deck of Cards love book]

Project Estimate:

• Deck of cards, $1 or on hand
• Binder rings, $1 or on hand
• Scrapbook paper, other ephemera, on hand
• Glue, on hand

Total: FREE and up

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the concept of the “Five Love Languages“* but basically the idea is that every person likes to give and receive love in a preferred format, most of which are covered by the Five Love Languages, which are:

• Physical touch
• Acts of service
• Quality time
• Words of Affirmation
• Gifts

Making this would cover a few of the love languages (gifts and words of affirmation), so if your sweetie loves compliments or gifts, think about making this one for him/her.

*I know it’s kind of random to throw this in here, but I am a big fan of personality profiles (like the Myers-Briggs!) and knowing my love language (and my loved ones’ languages) has really helped me out in everyday life! It even helps me interact with friends and co-workers. I liked the Five Love Languages of Children book the most (even before I had children) because it helped me understand the languages on a basic non-romantic level, although there are a couple other versions of the book, too.

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