Decorating your home can be an expensive adventure; just leafing through any random home decor catalog and making a wish list is enough to give me a chronic case of sticker shock.  This is even more true if you plan to decorate based on a specific theme. If you’re crafty, though, chances are you’d rather spend time than money and create your own custom decor!  Over at our Facebook fan page, DSC reader Jennifer C. is looking for a few ideas. She writes:

Hi! I was wondering if any of my fellow crafters had ideas for thrifty guitar decor. We want to give our living room a bluesy vibe! Thank you!

One thing that came to my mind is using sheet music to decoupage a furniture piece, as the matting on photos, or as the background for a piece of collage artwork. You could also make large-scale wall art by cutting a guitar (or guitar-ish) shape out of a sheet of plywood and adding a little paint to complete the effect.

It’s brainstorm time! Hit us with your best musical decor ideas!

[Image by darrenhester @ morguefile.com]

The post Reader Question: Guitar/Blues Themed Decor? 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.

How to Make Tattooed Soap

Fifty Cent Chipmunk from a glove

Make a Pocket Advent Calendar Using Gum

Make a Cassette Tape Coin Purse

Make a Charm Bracelet with a Toy Teaset

Make a High Fashion Purse from Potholders

Make a Tea Towel Kitchen Rug

Sushi Around the Clock

Crochet a Candy Garland

And a few more:

• Make a Pretty Paper Ornament
• Make Wool Tree Ornaments from Felted Sweaters
• Sew Scrappy Tree Ornaments

Vote Dollar Store Crafts for best new weblog of 2008 in the Bloggies!

The post Best Dollar Store Projects of 2008 appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.