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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I love a good memo board project.  There are just so many ways to make them , and they are so useful to have around!  This particular memo board that I shared on Mrs. Greene is the magnetic variety.  It’s super cute, highly customizable, and only takes about 10 minutes to make.  They would be great as dorm room decor if you use removable adhesive (such as Command strips) to hang it, or you can use a photo stand to prop it up on a desk instead.  The one that I made is going to be used by a friend to display information when she is a vendor at craft shows.  See?  So useful, indeed!  [how to make a duct tape magnetic memo board]

Project estimate:

• Cookie sheet, $1
• Duct tape, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

Now you just need to make some magnets to go with it!

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[Collapsible Storage Boxes]

[A peek into Rhonda’s closet!]

I’m a big fan of these collapsible storage boxes.  They come in a nice variety of sizes, and when you don’t need them they fold down flat for easy storage.  There are a few different assortments available with various dimensions and patterns;  I have discovered that the large containers from the striped container set are a nice size for sliding into hanging sweater shelves (the kind that attach to your closet bar), turning them into drawers.  Ever wished there was an easy, cheap way to add drawers to your closet?  Wish no more!

[Bungee Cords]

[Bungee cord memo board by DIY Life]

My father is a huge proponent of the many uses of bungee cords.  Seriously, the man never leaves home without them.  And for good reason!  These stretchy little wonders come in handy all the time.  While there are a million uses for them, one of my favorites is making a bungee cord memo board.

[Wire Mesh Wastebaskets]

[Rhonda’s woven fabric wastebasket]

I’ve also seen a few crafty uses for wire mesh wastebaskets.  They have a classic look that is great on its own, or you can dress them up in a number of different ways.  A while back I used some fabric I had laying around to make one into a woven fabric wastebasket that I use to hold my crochet projects next to my chair!

[Glass Jars with Screw-Top Lids]

[Chalkboard labeled jars by Just the Bee’s Knees]

If you have a lot of little things to keep corralled together, these glass jars with screw-top lids are really nice.  (I have one full of jingle bells on my craft table!)  The fronts of the jars have a beveled design, making it super-easy to turn them into chalkboard labeled jars – no need to even spend time masking!

[Letter and Number Stickers]

[DIY closet dividers by Under the Sycamore Tree]

Need to label your freshly-organized stuff, but hate your handwriting?  Letter and number stickers to the rescue!  Whether you’re labeling a storage box to make it easy to tell what’s inside, or using them as part of other organization projects (like these DIY closet dividers from Under the Sycamore Tree), you’ll have perfectly uniform letters every time!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by DollarTree.com.  All opinions 100% my own.

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Did you ever do string art as a child?  You know, the kind where you arrange nails or pins in a pattern and then wrap string around them.  The other day as I was hunting for Valentine- and heart-themed crafts, I came across a string art heart at Make Grow Gather made with straight pins stuck into a bulletin board.  My gears started turning and I had an “A-ha!” moment:  What if I made string art on a bulletin board, then spray painted over it, using the string like a stencil?  Would it look as cool as I saw it in my head?  There was only one way to find out, so I gathered up a few supplies and got to work.

Project estimate:

• Bulletin board, $1 and up
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Paper, on hand
• Push pins, on hand
• String or yarn, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

I used a 12 x 12 inch cork tile for my bulletin board, which I found at a local discount store in a four-pack for about $6, or about $1.50 per tile.  (Which is making me tempted to cork up a whole wall!)  Paint the tile in the color you want the shape to be.  I wanted red for my heart, so I picked a nice, bright shade of Martha Stewart multi-surface craft paint called habanero.  I could have just painted the area where I wanted the heart, but I was concerned about how the cork would soak up the paint, so to make sure I had an even finish I went ahead and painted the whole thing.  This will take more paint than you expect because the cork will suck it right in!  You may need to add a second or third coat to get even color.

Cut a heart out of paper to use as a template.  Decide where you want the heart to be positioned on the bulletin board and place the heart there.  Using push pins, outline the heart shape.  Place the pins so that they go around the edges of the paper, but don’t put the pins through the paper.  Once all of the pins are in place, remove the paper template.

Tie one end of the string to a push pin and start wrapping.  There is no right or wrong way to do this!  When you’re happy with the design, tie off the other end of the string.  Push string down on the push pins so that it is as close to the surface of the cork as possible.

Now it’s time to spray paint!  Apply light, even coats of a contrasting color (I chose white) across the tile.  Don’t be too heavy-handed with the paint or you will lose the string details!  Paint just enough to cover up the base color.

When the paint dries, pull out the push pins.  As you remove the pins and string, your design will be revealed!  If you want, you can add extra details or embellishments to the design.

I used a pencil eraser and glitter paint to add some sparkle to the heart’s outline.  Did it turn out as cool as I saw it in my head?  Nope, it turned out even better!

The post Tutorial: String Art Stenciled Heart Bulletin Board appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Reader Megan at Brassy Apple has made it her personal mission to come up with as many cute crafts as she can using a dollar store find: the humble burner cover. Most recently, she has gifted the world with a chalkboard shaped like a cute owl. For her other projects, she’s done a decoupaged magnetic memo board, monogram wreath, sports ball wall decor, and road trip game boards. Check out her blog for [instructions and a template for making the owl chalkboard]

Project Estimate:

• 10 inch burner cover, 2 for $1
• chalkboard paint, on hand or $1 and up
• scrapbook paper, on hand or $.50
• glue, on hand
• rhinestones or buttons, on hand or $1

Total: $.50 and up

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Here’s a cool update on the French memo board idea! This version uses mini bungee cords to create the gridwork that keeps your keepsakes and notes up on a board. This is a great idea for a more masculine (or neutral) office space, or a dorm room or boy bedroom. I like the circuit-board look of the bungee cords! If your budget is really low, you can skip the board and use the bungees directly on your wall (maybe paint a square on the wall a different color for a faux board). Great idea by DIY Life [make a bungee cord memo board] [via]

Mini bungee cords can be found at your local dollar store. You can either build the board from scratch as in the tutorial, or buy a readymade bulletin board at a thrift store or office supply place. I’m substituting a few dollar store items in my estimate here instead of some of the suggestions in the tutorial.

Project Estimate:

• 12-14 bungee cords, $3
• Roll of kraft packaging paper, $1
• Curtain clips, $5 and up
• Lumber or bulletin board, $5 and up
• Assorted tools, on hand

Total: $14 and up

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Reader Virginia from blackflipflops used dollar store “silver” trays to make these cute chalkboard memo boards as last minute gifts. And guess what, these trays are also magnetic (I use them for magnet play boards at home), so they’re doubly as useful! I love the pretty flowers (inspired by these fabric flowers) made out of an old book, too! Click on over to Virginia’s blog to check out the tutorial for these quick and easy gifties! [click here for silver chalkboard tray tutorial]

Project Estimate:

• Silver-ish tray, $1
• Chalkboard paint, about $5 and up
• Embellishments, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total: About $2 per tray

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Claire from Poopscape does it again with this super-simple yet classy and modern memo wall project. As she says: “This is a really good project for people like me who like to pin a lot of crap on the wall- you only make 8 small holes in the wall instead of 200.”

This project is great for displaying family photos, memos to self (or others), or inspirations. I can also imagine a really cool monthly calendar that uses this idea. If you wanted to make it a little less modern, you could substitute materials for the wire and clips. How about pretty yarn or lace for the wire, or clothespins for the clips? If you want to go by the project instructions, you can find a picture-hanging kit at the dollar store, that includes picture wire and eyelet screws.

Project Estimate:

• Picture hanging kit, $1
• Clips, $1

Total cost: $2

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