Kate from Salvage Dior had been searching for an antique, scroll-y iron piece to hang on her wall as art.  Unfortunately, she couldn’t find one in her price range.  Then one day she came across a fancy rubber door mat at the dollar store and had a brilliant idea!  Would you ever guess that it’s actually a door mat?  It’s a great way to add drama and vintage charm to your decor without paying a premium price, and since the door mat is much lighter than an actual iron piece, it won’t require special hardware to hang.  [how to turn a rubber door mat into wall art] Project estimate:

• Fancy rubber door mat, $1 and up
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Sandpaper, on hand or $1

Total:  $1 and up

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Why relegate those old family photos to a shoebox in the back of the closet?  Put them on display with this creative idea from Jenn at Rook No. 17.  She made a set of free printables that you can use to recreate this wonderful family tree wreath!  Rather than using the original photos, she made copies of them instead, keeping the heirloom prints safe and intact for the enjoyment of future generations.  This would make an excellent gift for parents, grandparents, or family historians.  Or make one featuring both sides of a newly-joined family as a wedding gift!  [how to make a family tree wreath]

Project estimate:

• Canvas drop cloth, about $5 and up
• Wreath form, $1 and up
• Freezer paper, on hand or $1 and up
• Leaf template, free
• Wire, on hand or $1 and up
• Sewing notions, on hand
• Printable  photo frames, free
• Cardboard, on hand
• Scanned or photocopied family photos, on hand
• Distressing ink, on hand or about $2 ad up
• Glue, on hand

Total:  about $6 and up

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I went to the dollar store today and they have a ton of awesome decorations for Christmas there right now. Truly, the quality of decorations at the dollar store has improved drastically over the past few years. They have some super-cute mirrored and beaded conical trees this year. I’ve been tempted to buy them and use them as they are (similar cone trees cost at least $10 at craft stores, and more at department stores!), but with this great idea found at Let It Shine, I’m going to run right back out to the store and pick up a bunch of them so I can alter them like this! She antiqued the trees to take some of the old dollar store chintz away and to make them look like cherished antiques. A stroke of genius, I say! Also, check out the dollar store birdies under a glass cloche. So sweet! When I grow up, I’m going to decorate like this (right now, my living room is decorated with the Alien Abduction Lamp and very well-loved toddler books!). [click here to find out how to antique these dollar store goodies]

Project Estimate:

• Mirrored tree, $1
• Antiquing glaze, $1

Total: $2

The post Dollar Store Decor: Antiquing Trees Adds Class appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

This is one of the coolest projects I have come across! If you only click on one link today, click on this one to Living Locurto’s reverse sign painting tutorial! Not only is the idea wonderful, but the tutorial is informative, makes the project look easily doable, and has extra tips to help you do a great job. [via Best of DIY] [project by Cathe Holden]

A reverse painted sign would be the perfect gift for many people, especially if it was customized for the recipient. Depending on the font and layout you use, these signs can look antique, retro, or modern. You are really only limited by your imagination. You can easily reverse paint an old fashioned sign from stuff you find at the dollar store. Look for frames with glass (there should be a decent selection) or framed art. The thrift store, dump, or reclaimed building supply store will also yield great materials.

This is also a fabulous idea for making signs for your business. You can use this technique on your store windows (if you have a store!) or make a small framed sign for craft fairs, like this one from the tutorial:

Project Estimate:

• Frame with glass, $1
• Acrylic craft paint, $.50 each
• Photo/layout program, on hand (if you don’t have one, visit Sumo Paint to do your layout online)
• Paint brushes, on hand

Total cost: $1.50 and up

The post Reverse Paint an Old-Fashioned Sign appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Emily M. of The Black Apple (I love her art!) has a fashion blog called Some Girls Wander in which she posted a simple and pretty idea for a scarf made from vintage doilies.

Sew doilies together to make a pretty and lacy scarf. The dollar store has crocheted doilies that come one or two to a package, or you can use vintage doilies or crocheted-type lace that you find at thrift or antique stores (or maybe your mom or grandma can spare a few). Or if you’re the doily crocheting-type, here’s a great use for some of your work.

Project Materials:

• Doilies, 10 or so, $1 each
• Sewing machine or needle/thread, on hand

Total: $10 or so, depending on what you have on hand

photo by Emily Martin

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