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The Dollar Store Diva Returns: Valentine’s Edition!

February 1st, 2011 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

I am so happy to share that the Dollar Store Diva has returned!  For those of you who missed her Christmas posts, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom, who has a special power.  She has the ability to transform Dollar Store finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

I asked her if she would share a few ideas on making Valentine’s special using her Dollar Store super sleuth skills.  Check out these fun ways to brighten someone’s Valentine’s Day through the mail!

***

Love makes the world go round!

For someone who loves 1) holidays 2) blessing one’s friends and family, and 3) inexpensive creative touches, Valentine’s Day shouts DOLLAR STORE! My project table has been overflowing with bits of red ribbon, pink paper, and heart patterns.  Below you will see three projects I have completed to date–with more to come!

–I have always been fascinated with mailing things creatively so that even if the gift is small, the smile will be big.  The first item I mailed was to my granddaughter. Karis loves to create, and she enjoys the little foam shapes to decorate her artistic endeavors. I found a clear plastic pencil case with pastel hearts on it, I filled it with Valentine-Day appropriate foam shapes (all from, yes, the Dollar Store), zipped the zipper, wrote her address on a white piece of paper, covered it with strapping tape and attached it on the end where the zipper opened so it wouldn’t come open during its journey to her house. It cost $1.39 to mail.

–For my grandson, I bought a Toy Story 3 puzzle (he’s quite proud that he can put together puzzles with 100 pieces), made an address label that said “To My Valentine”, attached that in the bottom corner and attached our return address in the upper left-hand corner, trying not to cover too much of the picture. I used a bit more strapping tape on the ends of the box just to be sure it didn’t open en route (the mail carrier might not be so happy with the 100 pieces.) It cost $1.73 to mail.

–The third project is one I’d like to keep for myself. 🙂 I filled a clear Dollar Store mug with red Dollar Store shreds, some tea bags wrapped in ribbon, added a spoon (2/$1), two X/O York patties, and decorated with some red, white and black ribbons. Chocolate and a steaming mug of tea–ahhhhh… (I am not mailing this one.)

Stay tuned for more creative Valentine’s ideas from my mama soon!  (Can’t wait to find out what she plans to give ME!)

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: Happy Smile Gifts

December 23rd, 2010 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.


Note: If you are reading this post in an email or reader, click here to see the video above.

I have really enjoyed sharing so many creative ideas with you from the Dollar Store Diva (a.k.a. my Mom!).

Today she shares a quick video with some final ideas for those last minute gifts.  Consider these ideas for neighbors, nieces or nephews, great aunts or…well, you get the idea.

I am currently getting ready to lock myself in my bedroom for a few hours to finish up my wrapping.  A run to the Dollar Store for some cute little gift bags has definitely crossed my mind more than once!

Thanks, Dollar Store Diva!  (Can’t wait to find out which of these presents are for ME!)

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Christmas Ideas, Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: Simple Gifts with a Special Touch

December 21st, 2010 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 post from the Dollar Store Diva with a few ideas to make those last minute gifts even more special.

***

Since I now give money instead of gifts, I still like to have a small gift under the Christmas tree for each person to open. And, since I have a large family, that’s a lot of gifts!

Each year I give the women a gift to open at the same time, the children a gift to open, and a gift for the men to open. Often, for the women, it’s slippers . This year I hit the jackpot with happy Christmas slipper socks 10% off at the Dollar Store. (I even field-tested a pair, and they’re great!) Since I got such a good deal, I also had fun decorating candy bars, and–along with red tissue paper–wrapped them in decorative Dollar Store gift boxes (8/$.90). I will give these eight gifts with pleasure–and all for only $17!

Shhhh…don’t tell Kaley about this; I want her to be surprised on Christmas morning.

And here’s a closer look at the assortment of Hershey bars wrapped in Dollar Store wrapping paper and decorated with ribbon from–Yes!–the Dollar Store.

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Christmas Ideas, Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: Sweet Treats

December 20th, 2010 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 is back with some creative ideas on how to use wrapping paper to most those sweet treats even sweeter!

***

In my super-sleuthing, I always stop by the wrapping paper section, especially at Christmas time. Here I have to exercise self-control, because the selection is almost mouthwatering.

Speaking of mouthwatering, I have had fun this year taking the outer wrappers off large chocolate bars (those wrapped in silver foil) and replacing it with some of the wrapping paper I simply couldn’t resist.

This particular paper was purchased at Dollar Bazaar, and the smaller candy bars are York Mint Patties.

I will be back soon to show off more wrapping paper creations!

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Christmas Ideas, Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: Gift Card Pizazz

December 15th, 2010 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

This has got to be my favorite idea yet from the Dollar Store Diva!  LOVE the Dunkin Donuts gift card holder! Be sure to check out the rest of my Mom’s creative Dollar Store creations here.

***

Gift cards have become a popular gift, for obvious reasons. However, I have a problem just handing over an envelope with a card in it–no matter how generous the card might be. In the picture above, you will see several ways to add pizazz.

From left to right:

–A large Hershey candy bar wrapped in white snowflake Dollar Store paper. I also found at the Dollar Store adorable red woolen mittens for a baby. I attached one mitten with ribbons and a bell, stuck a McDonald’s gift card inside, and added a candy cane.

–I think the three decorated soup cans in the back are a stroke of genius. When I found the idea with a picture tutorial here, I was so excited I could hardly sleep that night! The trick is to buy a can with a pop top lid and to open the bottom of the jar, instead of popping the top. Empty the can, serve soup for dinner, wash and dry the jar, put in a gift card (some candy Kisses would be fun too) and add some paper confetti. Then hot glue the bottom lid back on to the can. To open it, the receiver gets to pop the lid! Is that fun, or what! Thank you Beneath My Heart for such a colorfully creative idea!

–On the far right is an idea my sister Sharon told me about. I used a large latte cup from Dunkin’ Donuts, slipped in a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card, filled it with pinto beans (to look like coffee) and then topped it with cotton ball whipped cream. (Hope I find one with my name on it under the tree this year!)

–In the front is another Hershey bar wrapped in more Dollar Store paper. I opened a small envelope and used it for a pattern to create an envelope out of the same red snowflake paper just the right size for a gift card. Since the envelope is made from the same paper as the wrapping, I matted it with white paper. I cut out a star and added a button to weight down the flap of the envelope.

Yea for pizazz!

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Christmas Ideas, Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: An Easy, Yet FUN Cookie Tray!

December 13th, 2010 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

I hope you are enjoying this series Dollar Store Diva as much as I am!  I really LOVE this simple idea.  In fact, I’d like to receive it myself!  (Hint, hint, Mom….)

***

Cookies, anyone?

Another happy gift from the Dollar Store for teachers, neighbors, hosts, Sunday School teachers, or anyone you want to bless.

All of the items have a red and white snowflake pattern and are arranged on a plate with–guess what–red and white snowflakes! I tied it with red ribbon with silver snowflakes (am I seeing a theme here?). It makes me smile just looking at it.

–Plate
–Dish towel
–Oven mitt
–Pot holder
–Sugar cookie mix

The Final Product!

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Christmas Ideas, Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: Pizza Night!

December 10th, 2010 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 shares another clever gift!

PIZZA NIGHT!!

Two pizza crusts
Pepperoni
Pizza Sauce
Pizza seasoning
Pizza Cutter
All wrapped up on a pizza pan

Yes! All from the Dollar Store. I checked the Expiration Dates carefully–they are good through February. 🙂

The Final Product!

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Christmas Ideas, Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: The Gift of Time!

December 9th, 2010 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Note: If you are reading this in an email or reader, click here to view the video above.

The Dollar Store Diva (a.k.a. my Mom!) strikes again!  This time she shares a clever way to give the Gift of Time.

Who doesn’t long for an evening with no dishes to wash? The other evening some new friends had us over for dinner. I was so happy to take this gift to the hostess–and she seemed to be equally pleased!

Gift ingredients I included:
–One package of festive paper plates
–Matching paper cups and napkins
–Plasticware
–For the final touch, I threw in a few red and white “puffy mints” and wrapped the package in blue cellophane wrap

(I purchased these from the Dollar Tree for a total of just over $4.00!)

The Final Product.  Isn’t that fun?!

By the way, if you are wondering what the answer was to how many items were from The Dollar Store in this picture–many of you were correct.  ALL of them!

Filed Under: Saving money Tagged With: Christmas Ideas, Dollar Store Diva

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My  name is Kaley. Wife, Mama, and Dreamer, I have a passion for saving money, living simply, and helping others find creative ways to live large on a limited budget.

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