Halloween is tomorrow! (Eeep!  Are you ready?)  Luckily, you can whip up your very own guard monster to keep tricksters at bay in no time!  This wreath would also be a great decoration for a monster-themed party any time of the year.

Project estimate:

• Four feather boas, $4 and up
• Small wreath form, $1 and up
• Two ice cream cone dog toys, $2 and up
• Silver craft paint, on hand
• Googly eyes, on hand or $1 and up
• Spiked slap bracelet, $1
• Popsicle stick, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue gun and glue, on hand
• Paintbrushes, on hand

Total: $8 and up

Step 1: Wrap the Wreath form.

Secure the end of one of the boas to the wreath form with hot glue. Wrap it through the wreath form to cover it. Repeat using two additional boas to completely cover the wreath.

Once the wreath form is completely covered, use glue to secure one end of the fourth boa and wrap it around the outside circumference of the wreath, securing it every few inches with hot glue.

Step 2: Make the horns

Use your scissors to cut the cone portion from the ice cream cone dog toys.

Use silver craft paint to paint the cones. Set them aside to dry. If desired, you could add silver glitter to them as well!

Step 3: Finishing details

To create a base to hold the collar (slap bracelet) on the monster, break the popsicle stick roughly into thirds. Space the two rounded ends out the width of the spikes on the bracelet and attach to the wreath form with hot glue.

Allow the glue to set completely before wrapping the ends of the slap bracelet around the popsicle stick anchors.

Once the  horns are dry, secure them to the top of the wreath with hot glue.

Add the googly eyes and you’re ready to hang!

The post Tutorial: Guard Monster Wreath appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

There are few things that boys between 4-10 love as much as a pretend pirate sword. Sara from Mom Endeavors has a great video showing you how simple it is to make these swords. These would make great party favor for your little pirate’s next party or a fabulous addition to your dress up trunk. [how to make a pretend pirate sword]

Project estimate:

• Paint stir stick, on hand or $1
• Popsicle sticks, on hand or $1
• Stapler, on hand
• Scissors, on hand
• Duct tape, on hand
• Electrical tape, on hand or $1

Total: Free and up!

The post Make a Pretend Pirate Sword appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

The other day I was wandering through Walgreen’s to kill some time and I decided to check out the holiday decorations.  (I’ve actually found Walgreen’s to be a good source for cute decorations at reasonable prices!)  As I meandered down the aisle, one thing in particular caught my eye – a box of little Christmas-themed solar path lights.  They were $2.99 each or 2 for $5, and my inner crafter screamed at me that I needed a pair.  (Well, really I only needed one, but I wanted the discounted price!)  I knew immediately what I wanted to make – a North Pole street light!

Not only is this craft functional as a Christmas decoration, it also serves as a handy cordless night light.  Or, you can put it in a window as an alternative to a candle.  Just like a real street light, it will turn on at dusk!

Project estimate:

• Solar path light, $2.50 and up
• Foam circle, $1
• Fake snow, $1 and up
• Popsicle sticks, on hand or $1
• Chain necklace, on hand or $1
• Paper shapes, on hand or $1
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total: $4.50 and up

Start by covering a round foam base with fake snow.  I used loose snow, but you could also use the sheets of felt-like “snow” for Christmas villages or use a cheap tree skirt.  (If you’re using fabric “snow,” make sure you cut a hole in it where the path light will be inserted into the foam!)

While you’re waiting for the glue on your snow to dry, take two sign-shaped pieces of paper and write “North Pole” on each one.  I used pre-cut, embossed scrapbooking shapes that I found at one of my favorite dollar stores, but you can easily make your own from plain scrapbook paper.

For hanging the sign, you will need two short sections of necklace chain. Mine are about 2 1/2 inches long and came from my collection of broken costume jewelry.  Make sure both pieces of chain are the same length so your sign will hang straight.

Open the end link on each piece of chain and secure it to a link farther up the chain, forming a loop.  Make sure the loops on both chains are the same size, and that they are large enough to slide around a popsicle stick.

Lay one of the North Pole signs face down and place the unlooped ends of the chain pieces on the top side of the sign.

Put a layer of glue on the back of the sign and layer the second sign on top, so that the lettering on both sides of the sign is facing out with the ends of the chains sandwiched in between.

Cut a pair of popsicle sticks to make a sign bracket.  Make the bracket just longer in each direction than the finished sign will hang.  Glue the cut ends of the popsicle sticks together at a right angle.

Apply a coat of paint to the sign bracket, then glue it into place on the shaft of the solar path light at the top.

Carefully press the bottom end of the path light into the snow-covered foam base.  If desired, you can add a little bit of glue to make sure it stays firmly in place.

Slide the looped ends of the chain pieces over the popsicle stick bracket to hang the sign.  To make sure it stays in place, you can add a dab of glue to the top of the bracket where each chain rests.

The post Make a North Pole Street Light appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.