Create a simple and elegant magnetic organizer from a dollar store cookie sheet — you can use it as a kitchen command center, a makeup organizer or a handy memo board. Dollar store cookie sheets are great for crafters; they’re made out of steel, which means they are magnetic! This gorgeous idea is from The Crazy Crafty Lady: [DIY a Magnetic Organizer]

Project Estimate:

• Cookie sheet, $1
• Scrapbook paper, on hand or $1
• Mod Podge, on hand or $1

Total: $1 and up

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My mom collects Advent calendars, and also loves crafts that feature photos of her favorite people, so I used her interests as inspiration for my newest Advent calendar craft: a Magnetic Photo Advent Calendar. This project uses some items from the dollar store, and some from the craft store, and the instructions can be found over at MyPrintly: [Magnetic Photo Advent Calendar]

It might be a bit late in the season to make this for this year, but don’t forget to pin it for next year!

Project Materials:

(Items in bold can be found at the dollar store)

• 9×12” metal cookie sheet
• 1” flat-backed clear glass marbles
• Turquoise acrylic paint
• Glossy decoupage medium
• Strong button-style magnets
• E-6000 glue (clear)
• A piece of green scrapbook paper, at least 8.5×11”
• 1” round paper punch
• Paint brush
• Scissors

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Instead of spending money on Valentine’s Day teacher gifts that are just going to get regifted, give your kid’s awesome teachers something they will love and keep!

When I started researching Valentine’s Day teacher gift ideas, I came across a lot of really odd ideas. Things that I couldn’t see a teacher really getting jazzed about. I almost scrapped this list all together, but instead I asked some actual teachers to tell me their favorite Valentine’s Day teacher gifts. The list below comes courtesy of my mom and my mother-in-law, Lynn.

Before we get to the list, I wanted to mention something that both mom and Lynn mentioned independently. They are not crazy about beauty gifts like lotions and bath salts. My sister is super allergic to lavender, so my mom doesn’t use anything with lavender in it, for example. You never know what reaction folks will have to scents, even essential oils. I would totally have put a homemade lotion and a bath salts recipe in this list without their input, so I thought I’d share why those iconic gifts aren’t on the list.

1. Coffee Gift Cards – Teachers get up early. They need coffee. If they don’t need coffee, they need a fancy tea drink. You can’t lose with a coffee gift card, and Jolly Mom has a free printable to make it look extra special.
2. Personalized Mug – Because your teacher needs something to put all of that coffee in. My mother-in-law got a really cute personalized mug for Christmas, and you can make your own with this simple tute!
3. DIY Travel Mug – Seriously, teachers and their coffee!
4. Printed Hand Towel – Stick with neutral colors that would go with any kitchen unless you know that your teacher is into a specific color.
5. Cute Homemade Cocktail Napkins – Same as the hand towel: keep your fabric neutral unless you know what your teachers like.
6. Handmade Bookmark – Make a cute bookmark and include a gift card to your local bookstore.
7. Wine Charms – Not all teachers are into wine, but wine charms are nice for company, even if your teacher is a teetotaler.
8. Movie Tickets – Grab this free printable to make a pair of movie tickets into a cute teacher gift.
9. Gift Cards – My mom says almost any gift card is most welcome. Some of her suggestions were gift cards to Target, a nearby gas station, or a local grocery store. Stick one into this free printable gift card holder, and you’re good to go.
10. Cookie or Brownie Mix – Sweet treats are a Valentine’s Day staple, and a mix is something your teachers can pull out and make whenever they want.

The post 10 Valentine’s Day Teacher Gifts that Teachers Actually Want appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Happy Thanksgiving! Let’s make some Christmas ornaments.

I know, maybe it feels a bit sudden to talk Christmas ornaments, but if you’re planning a handmade holiday, starting sooner is the ticket to less stress. That means more time to enjoy making Christmas ornaments, decorations, and gifts by hand. These recycled Christmas ornaments are budget-friendly and so, so cute.

1. Fabric Scrap Pom Poms – Scrappy pom poms are a great stashbuster, and miniature poms look so cute on a Christmas tree.

2. Paper Crane – Turn junk mail envelopes into lucky paper cranes for your Christmas tree.

3. Paper Tube Flowers – Old toilet paper rolls are perfect for making delicate flower petals. Pair them up with a vintage button, and you’re in business.

4. Scrap Ribbon Trees – Hang a tiny, upcycled tree on your big tree. This is a fun upcycled Christmas ornament that you can make with kids. Collect sticks together, and work together to tie on the ribbon scraps.

5. CD Mosaic Ornaments [see the video above!] – Instead of throwing away old CDs once you digitize them, turn them into pretty mosaic ornaments.

6. Sheet Music Mini Wreath – This is another fun origami ornament idea. Turn old sheet music (or any other reclaimed paper) into mini wreaths for your tree.

7. Heart House – Don’t put away those old greeting cards yet! Turn a few into these pretty little 3D heart houses.

8. Woven Cookie Stars – Pull out the embroidery thread and cut up a cardboard box to make these ornaments. Your kids will love helping you with the wrapping.

9. Light Bulb Snowmen – Are you ditching your inefficient incandescent bulbs for LEDs? Save those old light bulbs and turn them into sweet snowman ornaments.

10. Holiday Card Ornaments – Do you have a stash of last year’s holiday cards? Pull them out and make these cool glitter spheres!

The post 10 Recycled Christmas Ornaments appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Peppermint candies are a classic, and their color scheme lends itself well to the holidays.  Shae from Hello Homebody recognized that potential and melted a handful of candies into these fun ornaments!  While red and white is the most common color combo for these candies, they also come in green and white.  You could also experiment with other candies, using cinnamon candies to make solid red ornaments, butterscotch candies for a yellow star, or any other shape-and-color combination you can find!  [how to make melted peppermint candy Christmas ornaments]

Project estimate:

• Peppermint candies, $1
• Metal cookie cutters, on hand or $1 and up
• Parchment paper, on hand
• Cookie sheet, on hand
• Cooking spray, on hand
• Toothpick, on hand
• String or twine, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Melted Peppermint Candy Christmas Ornaments appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Wrapped pumpkins make great fall or Halloween decor. Here’s how to make one on the cheap with dollar store items!

One of the items I was most excited to see in this year’s Halloween selections at Dollar Tree was a selection of cute scarves – so of course I had to pick up a couple of them! I also grabbed a handful of foam pumpkins because they always sell out fast, and as I was unpacking my bags when I got home I was struck with an idea. Why not wrap one of the pumpkins up in one of the scarves? I’m super happy with how it looks and, as an added bonus, if I ever want to disassemble it I only have to untie a few knots and it will come apart with ease!

Watch the video to see how I did it, or keep scrolling for the written step-by-step!

Project estimate:

• Foam pumpkin, $1
• Scarf, $1
• Burlap or scrap fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon, on hand or $1
• Dowel, on hand or $1
• Clothespins, on hand

Total:  $2 and up

Lay out the scarf and place the pumpkin about 1/4 of the way from one of the ends.  Wrap the scarf around the pumpkin and gather the ends at the top of the pumpkin.

There will still be some of the pumpkin showing on the sides; to cover it, turn the pumpkin 90 degrees and wrap it a second time so that the pumpkin is complete covered with the scarf.  Adjust the edges of the scarf as needed to make them lay flat on the contours of the pumpkin.

Twist the gathered ends of the scarf together and tie an overhand knot to secure the scarf to the pumpkin, making sure to pull the knot tight.

To embellish the stem, tie a strip of burlap or scrap fabric around the knotted ends to resemble leaves; to make the curly vines, use green ribbon to make korker ribbon.

Creating korker ribbon is easy:  Wrap the ribbon around a wooden dowel and secure the ends with clothespins, then place it on a cookie sheet and bake at 275 degrees for about 30 minutes.  Once cooled, remove the ribbon from the dowel and it will stay in a spiral!

Tie a couple of pieces of korker ribbon around the stem and your pumpkin is ready to display!

The post Tutorial: Scarf-Wrapped Pumpkin appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Bursting with flavor, these delicious no-bake dark chocolate Sunbutter cookies take just minutes to whip up and don’t require any oven time. Best of all they are made with healthy Sunbutter instead of peanut butter, so they are packed with protein and the healthy fat every body needs.

One of our favorite ways to package cookies is with these colorful, single serve lock-top snack containers from the Dollar Store. They’re perfect for packing a quick snack on the go whether you’re at the beach, on a picnic, or hiking in the mountains.

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Sunbutter Cookies

This sumptuous summery no-bake cookie recipe takes minutes to make, and the cookies will disappear just as fast. Replacing the peanut butter with Sunbutter not only cuts unhealthy fat from this recipe, but makes these cookies safe to eat for anyone with nut allergy.

No-bake cookies make a great summer picnic treat. You don’t have to heat up your house with an oven and children love them.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk (whole milk if possible)
• 3 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup creamy Sunbutter
• 1/4 salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla
• 10 ounces dark chocolate chunks (frozen)

Note: Dark chocolate chips can be used, but they will melt into the warm cookie mixture. Either way, they are still oh so delicious!

Directions:

1. Line two cookie sheets with waxed paper. Set aside.
2. Measure the milk and sugar in separate bowls and set aside.
3. Measure oats, Sunbutter, and salt in one container and set aside.
4. Melt butter in a large pot set over medium-high heat. Stir in sugar and milk and bring to a rolling boil. Continue stirring as mixture boils for exactly 1 1/2 minutes.
5. Remove pot from heat. Stir in vanilla. Add oat mixture and stir until combined.
6. Add frozen dark chocolate chunks and stir just a few times so that chocolate is incorporated but does not melt completely.
7. Drop oatmeal mixture by tablespoonfuls into little mounds onto prepared cookie sheets. Allow cookies to set and cool.
8. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for a more firm and chilled cookie.

The post Recipe: No-Bake Dark Chocolate Sunbutter Cookies appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Nut Free Sweet & Salty Party Mix!

It’s that time of year when everyone seems to be having a party. With end of year school parties, summer holiday parties, and more, everyone is looking for a good kid-friendly party mix to brighten the festivities. My Crunchy Sweet and Salty Party Mix Recipe is not only a fun, kid-friendly party mix, it is nut-free making it safe for children with peanut and tree nut allergies.

Nut Free Crunchy Sweet and Salty Party Mix Recipe

Recipe inspired by Something Swanky

Your taste buds will dance with delight with this Nut Free Crunchy Sweet and Salty Party Mix recipe. I’ve combined some of my favorite childhood flavors, including the ever-so-fun Bugles every kid wore on their fingers as claws, to create this food allergy friendly treat. Sixlets add a bit of color pop to this recipe and are the perfect nut-free alternative to M&M’s (even plain M&M’s may contain nuts).

Serve this delicious treat in bright colored Dollar Store bowls and serving trays for instant Wow! appeal. Make a bold statement with one bright color, or mix and match colors creating a rainbow tablescape.

Ingredients:

• 12 tbsp. (3/4 cup) butter
• 6 tbsp. (3 oz) corn syrup
• 1 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 4 c. popcorn (popped)
• 2 c. chex cereal
• 2 c. Bugles
• 2 c. pretzel sticks
• 1 c. Sixlets candies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300º.
2. Place popcorn, cereal, Bugles and pretzel sticks in a large bowl. Mix to combine and set aside.
3. In a saucepan on the stove top combine butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar over medium-low to medium heat. Cook and stir until mixture boils. Continue boiling at a stead rate for 4 minutes without stirring.
4. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
5. Pour caramel over dry ingredients in bowl and mix to combine.
6. Spread mixture onto greased cookie sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and add Sixlets. Let cool completely.

Note: If mixture thickens while stirring, place cookie sheet back in the over for a few seconds to soften the caramel again.

Even my little helper couldn’t wait to get her fingers on this delicious treat!

The post Dollar Store Recipe: Nut Free Sweet and Salty Party Mix appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Every year when I wrap Christmas gifts, I like to add some extra elements to the packaging that will serve as another little gift, like an ornament or a piece of jewelry. Over at Leigh Laurel Studios, Karin has come up with another such idea: magnetic fabric gift tags! She made hers with sheets of magnet made to send through a printer, but this would also work with old business card magnets or other advertising-type magnets that you might already have on hand. She also uses an iron-on fusible layer to attach her fabric, but if you don’t have any of that on hand, you could use Mod Podge instead. And you can use up some of that stash of fabric scraps with this project as well! [how to make magnetic fabric gift tags]

Project estimate:

• Fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• Sheet magnet, on hand or free and up
• Fusible iron-on backing or Mod Podge, on hand
• Cookie cutters, on hand
• Trim and embellishments (optional), on hand or $1 and up
• String or twine, on hand

Total: Free and up!

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Fall is a very sensory season:  The chill in the air, the colors in the leaves, and of course all of the yummy smells associated with fall baking!  Who can resist the lovely aroma of cinnamon? I know I sure can’t!  It’s the perfect time of year to whip up a batch of cinnamon clay and make these pretty stamped tags by Jessica at Mad in Crafts.  Use them to decorate hostess gifts for fall gatherings, monogram them for use as place cards at a holiday meal, or simply make a collection of them to hang around your home as ornaments.  Wouldn’t they look pretty adorning an arrangement of twigs in a large vase?  [how to make cinnamon clay tags]

Project estimate:

• Cinnamon, on hand or $1
• Applesauce, on hand or $1 and up
• Rubber stamps, on hand
• Cookie cutter, on hand
• Drinking straw, on hand
• Cookie sheet, on hand
• Twine or string, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up!

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