You only need two supplies to make these sweet gold-on-gold paper lanterns for between $1 and $3!

A while back I picked up a couple of 10″ gold paper lanterns at Dollar Tree.  I got pretty excited about them because I usually only see 8″ lanterns there; not only were these bigger (though without built-in lights), the more subdued color gave them a totally different vibe. I’ve always loved tone-on-tone color schemes, so when I came across a gold paint pen, I thought that the two items combined could look pretty neat.  And I love how it turned out!

Project estimate:

• Gold paper lantern, $1
• Gold paint pen, on hand or about $2 and up

Total:  $1 and up

This is seriously the simplest project of all time.  First, you’ll want to open up the lantern and insert the center support.  It’s much easier to drawn on the lantern when it’s assembled!

Follow the instructions on your paint pen.  You’ll probably need to shake the pen well, and if it’s a brand new pen, depending on the brand, you will probably have to prime the tip to get the paint flow started.  Then, just start drawing!  I used dots because they are simple.  Even though the lantern is fully stretched, the wire inside makes the surface uneven, so the simpler the design, the less likely the wire will interfere with your drawing.  Of course, you can draw anything you want!

I just kept adding dots until I was happy with how the lanterns looked.  Add as much or as little embellishment as you like!

Remember that most paper lanterns are not meant for outdoor use (at least, not for rainy weather); however there are a couple of things you can do to prolong the life of paper lanterns outdoors.  This is especially handy of you are planning a wedding or other outdoor event where damp weather is a possibility!

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Does you Dollar Tree carry those cute little moss covered rocks?  They’re great for all kinds of nature-inspired projects, like this pretty monogram by Cindy at So the Cook Said.  It’s a great way to add a natural, personalized touch to your decor, and would make a great wedding or housewarming gift!  [how to make moss covered letters]

Project estimate:

• Moss rocks, $1 and up
• Wooden letter, about $1 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total: about $2 and up

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Maybe you’re redecorating a room around a specific piece.  Maybe you’re DIY-ing a wedding.  Whatever the reason, there may come a time that you find yourself needing a certain color of fake flowers, but you can’t find just the right shade.  What do you do?  You paint ’em!  Over at DIY Candy you can find a tutorial showing how to take a bouquet of faux floral from almost to just right, all with a little bit of spray paint!  [how to paint fake flowers]

Project estimate:

• Fake flowers, $1 and up
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

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Are you planning a wedding on a budget? It’s been a long time since I planned my own wedding, but I still remember feeling particularly stressed out about choosing just the right favors. We wanted something that folks would really like to have and that reflected our personalities, but we didn’t have a lot of money to spend. Making your own DIY wedding favors saves a buck and gives your guests a more personalized memento to remember your special day.

1. Seed Packets. My husband and I did a version of this idea from English Wedding at our own wedding almost nine (!) years ago. I love the idea that those some of those herb seeds folks took home are still thriving somewhere.

2. Homemade Jam. A good friend made big batches of homemade, seasonal jams and jellies for her wedding favors. We all got together for a crafternoon to put labels on the jars with her. Inspire the Bride has a set of printable labels that you can use to make your homemade jam look totally professional.

3. Donations. This “Doggy Bag” project by Marry This is just one example, but I love the idea of doing a very small favor and making a donation to charity instead.

4. Fortune Cookies – How sweet are these handmade, paper fortune cookies from Once Wed?

5. Match Boxes. These puntastic, colorful match box designs from Bespoke Bride are so, so cute. And you can print them out for free!

6. Succulents. These cute succulents from Wedding Chicks do double duty: they’re place cards AND favors. Knocking out two things at once is the ultimate wedding craft.

7. Homemade Tea. Mix your own tea blend or buy a bag of bulk tea to stuff these sweet homemade fabric tea bag favors from Ruffled. There are both sew and no-sew instructions.

8. Cactus Blooms. This reminds me of the seed packets, but cacti are way harder to kill. Great idea, Divine Caroline!

9. Terrarium Place Holders. Another favor that doubles as a placeholder, this time from Wednesday Lettering and Letterpress.

10. Fancy Chocolate, Fancily Wrapped. Who doesn’t love chocolate? Get your favorite candy bars and personalize them for your guests. Chelsea from Frolic shared this tute at My Wedding. She used fabric yardage, but you could save a buck and wrap your bars with stash fabric.

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There are a zillion ways to make paper flowers – one of our favorite methods is this simple process using coffee filters!  This is a great project for budget wedding decor, or cheap decor for your house, since coffee filters come in large packages for cheap.

• Coffee filters, on hand or $1
• Food coloring, on hand or $1
• Hot glue, on hand
• Poster board, on hand or $1

The post Tutorial: Coffee Filter Roses appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

You can use new ribbon to make this fringe garland or bust your stash. The trick is in how you tie the knots.

A while back I was at a local discount store and they were selling huuuuuuge spools of ribbon – 50 yards per spool – for just $1.49 each. I didn’t really need it, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it, but it was such a good deal that I couldn’t pass it up and threw a few assorted colors into my cart. And boy am I glad that I did, because I used it to make this fabulous garland, and I absolutely love how it turned out!

It took a lot of ribbon to make this garland, but it was totally worth it. It would be a great project if you happen to have lots of odds and ends of scrap ribbon hanging out in your stash. Want to see how I made it? Check out my video, or keep scrolling for written directions.

Project estimate:

• Ribbon, on hand or $1 and up
• Twine, on hand or $1

Total: Free and up!

First, cut your ribbon into equal lengths.  The length of the pieces will determine the length of the fringe on your finished garland, so make them about twice the length that you want the finished fringe to be and add about an inch to accommodate for making a knot.  So for 7″ long fringe, for instance, measure your ribbon pieces out to about 15″ (7″ x 2, plus an extra inch).  Use a lighter or other flame source to carefully seal the cut ends of the ribbon and prevent them from unraveling.

Fold each piece of ribbon in half to find the center, and attach it to a length of twine using a knot called the Lark’s Head or Cow Hitch.  (Two different names, same knot!)  If you aren’t familiar with the Lark’s Head/Cow Hitch, you might find this diagram from Factory Direct Craft to be useful.

Continue adding pieces of ribbon until your garland reaches the desired length.  In my case, I just kept going until I ran out of ribbon!

The post Tutorial: Ribbon Fringe Garland appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

One of my favorite things about fall is mums!  I look forward to them every year.  If you love mums too, then check out these gorgeous ones made out of crepe paper by Lia Griffith.  I love all of her paper flower projects, and these are particularly fabulous!  They are made using sheets of crepe paper, which you can find in the gift wrap or party decor sections of many stores; if you can’t find the full sheets, you could use streamers to make a smaller version of these.  [how to make crepe paper mums]

Project estimate:

• Crepe paper, on hand or $1 and up
• Wire, on hand or $1
• Floral tape, $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

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We’ve loved Lia Griffith’s beautiful paper flowers – and with this phenomenal paper flower pinata, she’s taking it to a whole new level!  Would you believe that all of those gorgeous blossoms were made from a combination of crepe paper and tissue paper?  It makes a lovely contrast of textures!  This would be a beautiful and fun addition to a wedding reception or bridal shower – or any party, for that matter!  [how to make a paper flower pinata]

Project estimate:

• Paper lantern, $1 and up
• Cardboard, on hand
• Crepe paper streamers, on hand or $1
• Tissue paper, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  $1 and up!

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When I buy paper doilies, I often find myself needing just a few of them at the moment, and then I have the dozens of extras left over.  Next time I have a surplus of doilies to use up, I think I’ll whip up a bouquet of these cute roses from Activity Village!  You could even use colored doilies or paint white doilies before making your flowers to make a brighter bouquet.  Mix these in with other paper flower designs for a bouquet that would be great for a centerpiece or even a wedding!  [how to make doily roses]

Project estimate:

• Paper doilies, on hand or $1
• Pipe cleaners, on hand or $1
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

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Paper is one of our favorite craft mediums because it is so very versatile. You know that roll of kraft paper you have tucked in the closet? It’s good for so many things besides just wrapping gifts. Get inspired by these ginormous paper flowers that Caitlin from The Merry Thought made for a floral themed baby shower! They would also be great for weddings, birthdays, or even as part of your home decor. Carry the theme even farther by making a smaller version of these flowers to string up as a garland! [how to make giant kraft paper flowers]

Project estimate:

• Kraft paper, on hand or $1
• Cardboard, on hand
• Colored paper, on hand or $1
• Sticks, on hand
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: Free and up!

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