It’s no secret that we love novelty silicone ice cube trays.  They come in a ton of fun shapes and are really great tools for crafting!  Sara at Tell, Love and Party came up with yet another great idea for them: custom push pins!  She used a flamingo ice cube tray for hers, but with so many different shapes of ice cube trays out there these days, there are a ton of other possibilities too.  Do you have a favorite ice cube tray shape?  [how to make novelty push pins]

Project estimate:

• Novelty silicone ice cube tray, on hand or $1 and up
• Push pins, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Paint, on hand
• Glitter (optional), on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up!

The post Make Novelty Push Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Several months ago, I explained how to “crack” glass floral stones (tutorial here).  It’s an inexpensive, easy project that’s fun to do.  I like to use fine glitter to create a sparkly ombre effect on the glass.   Dollar Tree carries small multi packs of glitter that are already color coordinated, so it takes the guesswork out for you.  I turned my ombre cracked glass stones into magnets and pushpins.

Project estimate:

• Glass Floral Stones, $1
• Glitter, $1
• Magnets and/or Thumb tacks, on hand
• Double sided tape, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Dimensional Magic, on hand or $3

Total:  $2 and up

Step one:  Make the cracked glass stones, as explained in this tutorial.

Step two:  Cut a piece of double sided tape to fit the back of the stone.  Press it onto the stone.

Step three:  Pour the glitter onto the double sided tape.  I started with the lightest color and progressed to the darkest color, to create an ombre effect.

Step four:  Seal the glitter with the Dimensional Magic.

Step five:  Glue a thumb tack or magnet to the back of the stone.

Isn’t the effect pretty?  I think the pink/purple combo looks like a space galaxy.  The smaller stones that I used for the pushpins would make beautiful earrings, and the larger stones would make fun statement rings.  You could use different colors of glitter to match holidays or even school colors.  Have fun crafting and creating!

The post Tutorial: Ombre Glass Magnets and Push Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I have a thing for fancy push pins. Why hang up your memos and to-do lists with plain ol’ pins when you can use fancy ones instead? Over at Crafts Unleashed, Kelly used corks to make pretty pins for her cork board. (Irony?) If you’ve been hoarding (er, I mean saving) wine corks for crafts purposes, this would e a good way to use some of them up. Don’t have any bulletin boards to stick then in, you could glue them to magnets instead of push pins! [how to make cork push pins]

Project estimate:

• Corks, on hand or $1 and up
• Thumb tacks, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand
• Feathers or dried flowers, on hand or $1

Total: Free and up

The post Make Cork Push Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

[Yellow No. 2 Pencils]

[Pencil Starburst Mirror by Just Sew Sassy]

There are plenty of things you can do with pencils that don’t involve writing an essay.  This teacher appreciation gift uses them to frame a playful starburst mirror!

[Paper Clips]

[Paper Clip Rose Ring by cute.little.disaster]

[Paper Clip Bracelet by Craftster user maddiekins]

[Paper Clip Heart Earrings by Henry Happened]

Paper clips are good for more than just holding paper together.  You can also turn them into accessories to tie your outfit together!  There are lots of ways you can turn paper clips into jewelry, including making a paper clip rose ring, a paper clip bracelet, or a pair of paperclip heart earrings.

[Jumbo Erasers]

[DIY Rubber Stamps by Obsessively Stitching]

[Eraser Ring by cute.little.disaster]

The same soft texture that makes erasers handy for removing errors also makes them a great material for carving!  Etch a design in the surface to create your own rubber stamps, or get ambitious and make something more sculptural, like a chunky eraser ring.

[Push Pins]

[String Art Stenciled Bulletin Board]

[Push Pin Starburst Ornament]

Push pins are another oh-so-fun-to-play-with item.  We’ve used them in a few of our projects, including a string art stenciled bulletin board and a push pin starburst Christmas ornament.

What are your favorite school supplies to use in your crafty endeavors?

The post Shopping at DollarTree.com: School Supplies Edition appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

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.

When it comes to wreaths, I’ve seen just about every kind you can imagine. Therefore, it’s hard to impress me with a wreath project. Sure, they’re quick and fun, but they usually don’t offer anything new. Well this wreath is an exception! Over at Infarrantly Creative, Jaime from That’s My Letter guest-posted with this brightly colored wreath that is made from recycled playdough containers and dollar store plastic tablecloths! This ingenious dollar store craft is weatherproof, and hangs on an outdoor playset, which completely amuses me! [how to make a recycled playdough container wreath]

Project Estimate:

• Small playdough containers (like the kind used for party favors), on hand or about $5
• Plastic party tablecloth, $1 each
• Short push-pins, $1
• Recycled cardboard for frame, on hand
• Hot glue & glue gun, on hand

Total: $1 and up

The post Recycled Playdough Container Wreath appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We’ve already established that I’m a fanatic for anything in miniature.  Incidentally, I also have a closet fascination with interesting pish pins.  Combine the two and give the project a dose of “Kill Bill” movie inspiration and you’re left with these samurai sword push pins by Jeromina at Paper, Plate, and Plane.  (Wouldn’t they make a great companion project to go with today’s voodoo doll tutorial??)  She used faux metal contact paper to make her blades, which is a little pricey but has a zillion awesome uses so it’s worth the splurge.   For slightly cheaper, you can also use the foil tape made for use on heating ducts.   [how to make samurai sword push pins]

Project estimate:

• Paperclips, on hand
• Paper, on hand
• Foil tape, about $8
• Electrical tape, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $8 and up

The post Make Samurai Sword Push Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

The other day I was at Dollar Tree and came across multi-packs of little styrofoam balls.  There were three sizes (2 inch, 1 1/2 inch, and 1 inch)  and a total of nine balls for $1.  Who can pass up a deal like that?  I snagged a package, intent on making Christmas ornaments.  Taking a cue from the armored thumb tack Christmas ornament featured on DSC a couple of years ago, these push pin sunburst ornaments have a futuristic feel to them.  Use push pins in specific colors (such as alternating red and green pins) or paint the finished ornament in a uniform color.  You can also make an ornament using clear push pins for a crystal-like effect.

Project estimate:

• Styrofoam balls, $1
• Push pins, $1
• Glue, on hand
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Ribbon,  on hand or $1

Total: $2 and  up

Apply a dab of glue to the pin portion of a push pin.

Press the pin into the styrofoam ball.

Continue adding pins in a straight line, working around the center of the ball.  (Imagine that the ball is the planet, and you are trying to mark the equator with pins.)

Keep going until the line of pins wraps all the way around the ball.

Add a second row of pins.  Place them as close to the first row as possible, offsetting each new pin between two pins in the previous row when possible.

Keep adding pins in this fashion until the entire ball is covered.

To give the entire ornament a uniform color, apply several coats of spray paint.

Tie the center of a long,skinny piece of ribbon around one of the push pins.

Tie the ends of the ribbon into a bow, and your ornament is ready to hang!

The post Make a Push Pin Starburst Christmas Ornament appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I’m always on the lookout for things that fall into the categories of bright or funky when I visit the dollar store.  Recently, a bouquet of bright pink and yellow silk flowers caught my attention.  Having just redecorated the bulletin board in my entrance hallway, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them: turn them into fun push pins!

This project is perfect for dorm room decor or bulletin boards in kids rooms.  It is also a great way to add a little cheer to your office or cubicle.

Project Estimate:

• Silk flowers, $1
• Push pins, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total: $1 and up

Remove the heads of the flowers from the stems.

Pull off all of the plastic parts of the flower and separate all layers of petals, being careful to lay them out in order.

Apply a dab of glue to the back side of a push pin.  Starting with the top layer of petals, slide the push pin through the center of the flower.  Add another dab of glue and add another layer of petals; continue until all of the layers are glued into place.  You may need to hold the petals in place on the back of the pin until the glue dries.

Voila!  Press them into a bulletin board and enjoy!

If you enjoyed this project, check out more of my craft tutorials.  [link]

The post Make Silk Flower Bulletin Board Pins appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Grade schoolers will flip over this dino-themed bulletin board with dinosaur push pins. This would be a great gift for one of the many inevitable birthday parties your little Ezra will be invited to throughout the year. Substitute any cute little toys or erasers you find at the DS. Project: ohthatashley

Project Estimate:

• Picture frame: $1
• Cork board tiles/bulletin board: $1-2
• Push pins: $1
• Dino toys: $1
• Magazine clippings, cool paper for frame (on hand)
• Hot glue for push pins (on hand)
• Mod Podge, Elmer’s, etc. for sealing decoupage on frame, on hand

Total cost: $4-5

Not bad for a birthday gift!

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