Craft Ideas Archives - Page 12 of 12 - Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

Guest Post: 5 Fun and Simple DIY Ideas on the Cheap!

July 27th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Chances are if you follow any of the DIY blogs out there, you’ve heard of Beckie from Infarrantly Creative. Beckie is actually one of my besties from college so I can always say that I knew her first! I know you’re going to love the DIY tips she has for you today. They are easy enough for a craft-impaired person like me and even better, they are super cheap!

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Hello Cha-Ching readers. I am Beckie, fellow frugal momma and one of Kaley’s best friends from college. I know all her dirty secrets including how she loves a pair of overalls! I blog at Infarrantly Creative where I showcase DIY projects, craft ideas and simple frugal decorating. I thought I would show off you some of my projects that are sure to get your penny-pinching self inspired.

1. Wipes Container Reuse – they aren’t just for wiping children grime away. Reuse them to store some plastic bags and toss them in your car, closet or office.

2. Cereal Box Crafts – Stop the “Mommy I am bored,” this summer with some fun ways to upcycle your cereal boxes. Notepads and postcards!

3. Paperbag Pinata – Trying to create a memorable birthday party on a budget? How does a $2 piñata sound to you?

4. Paint Stick Jewelry Organizer – You know those 5 gallon paint sticks that you get free at any big box store? Put them to use by screwing hooks into them and then utilize some closet space to organize your bling.

5. Birdseed Wreath – Grab a bag of birdseed and a bundt pan and make a wreath that is sure to attract pretty birds to your yard. These make great hospitality gifts and they are cheep cheep to make (sorry I couldn’t resist…)

For more cheese ball writing and a whole bunch of tutorials come join the ranks at Infarrantly Creative.

The Dollar Store Diva: A Thank You Gift Basket

July 26th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Here’s another clever gift idea from the Dollar Store Diva!

I recently gave a gift to a college student who had done an extraordinary job as an intern in my ESL class. I had purchased a gift card to Amazon, but I couldn’t bring myself to just hand her an envelope. The morning of her farewell party [If it weren’t for the last minute I’d never get anything done.] I ran downstairs to my basement to see what I had in my “dollar store stash”.

This is what I found:

A small rectangular basket–a fantastic 69-cent-thrift-store find; a boy-was-I-thrilled-to-find-this-for-a-$1 spool of wide lavender fabric ribbon; some purple dollar-store curly ribbon; two cans of dee-licious Pirouline Rolled Wafers (a super-yummy dollar store treat); and some Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate.

I used the curly ribbon on the individual gifts, then I wrapped a purple napkin (left over from who-knows-what event) around each of the items. Finally I stood the gifts in the basket, poofed up the napkins, and slipped the gift card in the back.

It was all so quick and so very simple–a gathering of items I already had on hand. I wish I had taken a picture of Andi when I presented her the basket; pleasure was written all over her face even before she opened it. She almost hugged it.

Yes, the gift card would have been enough–but the presentation of a colorful, beribboned basket added to the joy of thanking a young woman for a job well done.

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For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

The Dollar Store Diva: Easter Edition!

April 13th, 2011 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

The Dollar Store Diva has returned! This time with an Easter edition!

When my children were little, we actually had “Spring Baskets” instead of “Easter Baskets.” They didn’t get them on Easter morning, instead my children knew that some time during the following week their dad and I would make the happy announcement: “It’s time to hunt for Spring Baskets!” This time was totally random–it was basically whenever I found the energy to get the baskets ready 🙂

(A side benefit to this tradition was that the price of Easter candy was radically reduced after the holiday. Kaley, aren’t you proud of me?)

I have no little ones living in my home anymore, but our family does celebrate Easter together and we still enjoy hunting for baskets. This year I have been experimenting with a variety of ideas for baskets; perhaps some of these pictures will spark some ideas of your own. Spring and Easter–what glorious reasons to celebrate!

You can actually create delightful Easter baskets for pennies–honest! By using lunch bags, scraps of decorative paper and ribbon, and taking advantage of the Easter candy deals highlighted in Cha-ching on a Shoestring, you can bring a smile on the faces of the sweet little people–or not so little people–in your life.

For the pink “basket” I cut a couple of inches off the top of a white lunch bag, then glued pink cardstock to the front and the back. I used scraps of paper to decorate the front, then cut out a handy little handle. This can be used for a unique Easter basket, or as a gift bag for any occasion. In fact, I used mine to hold a hostess gift for a friend. Inside the bag, of course, were Dollar Store treasures. She was so pleased.

A brown lunch bag with decorative paper touches will hold Easter goodies for one of my granddaughters. Learn how to cut the bag here.

I found the $1.99 blue buckets at Michael’s for $.50, so guess who grabbed a bunch! Simply wrapping it with a ribbon and adding a colorful name tag makes a delightful container for Easter goodies that I got for almost nothing at CVS. For one I wrapped it in two layers of printed paper before I added the bow.

Because of the shape of the bucket, I couldn’t get the paper to wrap properly. Guess how I solved the problem? I laid flat the cardboard wrapper for hot Dunkin Donuts (also Starbucks) coffee and used that for a pattern! I just had to extend it a little bit.

I had a large clothespin from the Dollar Store that I covered with a scrap of whimsical polka dotted paper and used it to announce: He is Risen Indeed! (Or you could use it as a way to present a gift card.) I then had fun decorating regular clothespins and used them to adhere name cards and DD gift cards to bags and buckets.

So little time and so many ways to craft Easter baskets for pennies!

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Check out more from the Dollar Store Diva.

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into treasures that make super fun gifts and more!