Geometric patterns are all the rage in decor these days. Want to get in on the action? Over at Drawn to DIY you can find the instructions for this cute grid desk caddy. Believe it or not, this started out as a dollar store suet bird feeder! The post also includes a couple of other clever ideas for different ways to make over the same suet feeder into functional decor pieces, so make sure you check it out! [how to make a geometric desk container]

Project estimate:

• Suet bird feeder, $1
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Scrapbook paper, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total: $1 and up!

The post Make a Geometric Desk Container appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

The holidays make me think of snow globes, among other things.  I bought a humming bird feeder at Dollar Tree this summer, and as I looked at it on my counter it made me think of a snow globe.  When I saw some adorable miniature trees at Dollar Tree later, my idea came together.  This fun, pretty snow globe is easy and inexpensive to make, and safe for little hands to hold!

Project estimate:

• Hummingbird feeder, $1
• Miniature tree, $1
• Paint, on hand
• Glitter, on hand
• Glue gun, on hand

Total: $2

Step one:  Take the hummingbird feeder apart.  Paint the base white and add glitter.  Paint the flowers red and add glitter.  (I used Glamour Dust glitter paint to cut down on the mess.)

Step two:  Fill the bowl of the feeder with water.  Add glitter.

Step three:  Insert the tree into the feeder.  I used the wire that came with the feeder to wrap the base of the tree and create a coil to hold the tree in place, as pictured.

Step four:  Use hot glue to hold the coiled wire in place.  Add hot glue to the base of the feeder before inverting it and screwing it onto the bowl of the feeder.

Step five:  Add a ribbon and cord to the top of the snow globe.

My daughter loves this snow globe, and we plan to make a few more together.  I love that it is plastic, so if any little one should drop it, I don’t have to worry about shards of glass everywhere.  I think it would be cute to hang a few of these with lights as festive porch decor!  You could easily change this by adding a different miniature or even a photo to the globe.  So many possibilities!

The post Turn a Bird Feeder into a Snow Globe appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I never realized until recently that the dollar store carries the glasses chains, and when I saw a display of them my mind went wild.  There are so many possibilities with these, especially since the entire thing is beaded.  That means lots of inexpensive beads you can use for all kinds of projects!  I had already put a set of paper plate holders in my cart and thought, “what can I do with these two items together?”  Then I was struck with the idea to turn them into a bird feeder!

Project estimate:

• 3 beaded eye glass chains, $3
• Floral wire, on hand or $1
• Paper plate holders, $1
• Plate, on hand or $1
• Bird seed, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $4.00 and up

This project was so easy that my 10-year-old daughter did it with me.  First I had her take two plate holders and line up the holes on the sides.  Using two plate holders stacked together will make is a little more sturdy.  Once they were lined up she fed the chains through the holes around the edges of the plate holders.

Next she secured the two rubber ends together with the wire.  She wired in two locations to make it stronger.  Repeat this with the other two chains so that all three are attached to the paper plate holders.

Gather the chains together and hang. You may choose to wire them together.

Place a plate of bird seed in the holder and it’s all done!  Since the plate is easily removable, you can take it out to wash it as needed without having to take down the entire feeder.  Now you have a fun bird feeder that looks awesome when the sun hits it.  (I took this picture real quick and with the rain yesterday mine appears to be a bird bath, hehe!)

The post Tutorial: Turn Paper Plate Holders into a Bird Feeder appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Earth Day is tomorrow!  Are you planning any recycled craft projects to celebrate?  This green project by Nicole at Shabby Beach Nest uses a couple of upcycled elements: an empty bottle and plastic spoons.  She fashioned the bright spoons into a flower to draw in the hummingbirds; would you have known they were spoons?  The project requires just one specialty item, a hummingbird feeder tube that she purchased online.  The rest of the materials you can round up in a snap!  [how to make a recycled bottle and plastic spoon hummingbird feeder]

Project estimate:

• Empty bottle, on hand
• Colorful plastic spoons, $1
• Hummingbird feeder tube, about $4
• Glue, on hand
• Candle, on hand
• Chain, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  about $4 and up

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