Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

Living Large on a Limited Budget

The Dollar Store Diva: Back-to-School Countdown for $1

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Back to School Countdown

Back to School Countdown Chalkboards

I decided to run into the Dollar Tree the other day to do some window shopping.

Window shopping–yeah, right.

Back to School Countdown Chalkboards

There was no way I could pass up these beauties. In fact, I hurried back the next day to grab a few more because I was certain they would go fast.

Since my immediate family is overflowing with teachers and students, a back-to-school countdown is a legitimate project. And it couldn’t have been easier. Chalkboard, a piece of chalk, and a few school-ish items for a mantel display.

Back to School Countdown

So there you have it: a back-to-school countdown. And all for a dollar.

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Find more posts from the Dollar Store Diva here. 

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 and crafts that would brighten anyone’s day!

The Dollar Store Diva: The Surprising Dollar Store Purchase that Sparked a College Send-Off Gift Idea

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DSD Kendra PicM Collage

I was looking for a special college send-off gift for my granddaughter. Our family is spread across the United States, but we were spending a week together in Virginia so I wanted to seize that moment to help Kendra celebrate this off-to-college milestone in her life.

To get my creative juices flowing, I headed to a Dollar Deals Store. You’ll never guess what I found:

Wallpaper!

Wallpaper

Yup–wallpaper!

I couldn’t believe how perfect this paper was for Kendra’s off-to-college gift.

I was giddy with excitement.

I already had some 8×10″ canvas-covered mats I had found at Michael’s for 70% off. There were four scenes depicted on the wallpaper, so I cut each one into a rectangle and attached it to a mat with a fun assortment of washi tape.

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Our vacation cottage had the perfect shelves for the display.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA We all gathered around for the gift presentation and sipped Frozen Strawberry-Lemonade and Raspberry Slushies.

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The family had pitched together for gifts. A soon-to-be college student would certainly need a Starbucks gift card, so that was placed behind this picture.

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And most definitely there would be shopping for her dorm room, so a Target gift card was placed behind this picture.

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Finally, it would soon be time to pack the car and Off you go!, so we found a vintage suitcase at Goodwill and filled it with an assortment of towels and toiletries.

So there you have it–giggles and delight all around as Kendra’s family applauded her high school successes and wished her well on this next step in her young life.

NOTE: I am aware that this particular wallpaper may have been on a Dollar Store shelf only one time in the history of the world, but perhaps it will spark some ideas of your own. The internet is overflowing with free printables that can be used to create a story for any occasion.

Have fun and let me know in what direction your own creative juices flowed 🙂

***

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 and crafts that would brighten anyone’s day

The Dollar Store Diva: McD’s Copycat Frozen Strawberry-Lemonade

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

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One steamy summer day I decided to try a McDonald’s Frozen Strawberry-Lemonade. It was love at first sip.

I assumed that an elaborate-fancy-technology-McDonald’s-patented-secret-process was required to make this thirst-quenching treat. Then one day I stood on tiptoe, peeked over the counter and watched the girl in her McD’s uniform make my icy lemonade.

I was stunned at how easy it was. I can do this, I thought, and for a handful of pennies!

So here is my personal recipe using my handy-dandy-ice-crushing NINJA (see this post for details).

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Easy Step #1

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Easy Step #2 

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Easy Step #3

Pour the lemonade slush into the glass then:

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And there you have it: a sugar-free thirst-quenching frozen strawberry-lemonade for a handful of pennies.

[Oh, I think I’ll make one right now!]

***

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, crafts and recipes that would brighten anyone’s day!

The Dollar Store Diva: Crafty Solution to Vacation Dilemma

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

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 It’s an annual dilemma at family vacations: Where did I put my soda? or Is that your cup of coffee or mine?

With twenty of us gathered for a week in one cabin and lots of icy drinks and coffee cups standing around, it’s an extra challenge for us. But this year, when I found these small burlap squares [70% off at Michaels!!!], I knew I had found the solution.

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But wait! There’s more!

These handy-dandy burlap squares also became a first-day-at-the-cottage craft project. 🙂

P7050010The first evening of our recent Hill family vacation, I made the grand announcement:

“Everyone gather around for a craft! Yes, men too.” (Since I’m the matriarch of the family, I have some clout.)

And what fun we had.

I put my supply of washi-type tapes in the center of the table and handed everyone a burlap-wrapped square.  [Look at all those glasses and cans on the table looking for a home.]

Family members of all ages and sizes got their craft on–

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Men…

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women…

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 and children.

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Cool, huh?

All twenty of us now knew that this was Brian’s Diet Pepsi.

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My son Ryan took a minimalist approach.

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Son-in-law Rich, on the other hand, chose quantity over quality.

[Chuckle]

DSD 4 Coasters Pic

Some of our washi-tape coasters.

DSD Coasters Pic Collage

Teenage granddaughters, Kendra and Natalie, were a bit competitive in their efforts a create a too, too cute coaster.

P7060005And there you have it. A solution to the “Is this my drink?” dilemma and take-home memorabilia of our amazing 2014 Hill Family Vacation.

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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 and crafts that would brighten anyone’s day!

No-Bake 4th of July Treats You Can Make in Minutes

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Red White and Blue Treats

I had so much fun using my new Wilton decorating set when I made this American flag that I didn’t want to stop.

Sooo… I grabbed a box of vanilla wafers and spread them out on waxed paper. With the star tip I squeezed a lovely swirl of whipped topping on each wafer then placed a fresh blueberry or a tiny slice of strawberry on top.

Yummy, indeed.

And there you have it–easy, peasy 4th of July treats made in minutes.

{If you will be leaving these on a picnic table outdoors in the sun, you might want to use vanilla frosting instead of the whipped topping. For obvious reasons.}

Note from the editor: I tried these while I was at my Mom’s house the other day. They are a yummy little bite of fun!

***

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 items and other inexpensive finds into treasures that would brighten anyone’s day!

The Dollar Store Diva: My Super-Simple Secret Recipe for a 4th of July Jello

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

4th of July Jello Flag Recipe

I teach English to adult immigrants and refugees. Many of them are working toward US citizenship. I am so proud of them and grateful to be their “Teacher Nancy”.

I wanted to do something fun to teach my class about the happy American holiday–the 4th of July. So we played our national anthem and went to work.

Oh, how my international students enjoyed this thoroughly American project.

 OK, it’s not really a secret since so many people have asked for the recipe for my super simple jello. The secret is actually a surprise ingredient: applesauce. No cold water. Applesauce instead. It’s as easy as that.

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As in: a small box of Jello (3 oz. box) will call for one cup boiling water and one cup cold water. Cancel the cold water and replace it with  applesauce. Super simple, right?! The larger box (6 oz. box) calls for two cups of boiling water and two cups of cold water; simply replace the two cups of cold water with the same amount of applesauce. [See note in Step #3 if you use a larger pan.}

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So here you go for a thoroughly American 4th of July Jello:

#1

Choose the red Jello/gelatin flavor of your preference. For the flag Jello, use a 6 oz. package of Jello, and stir in two cups of boiling water until the powder dissolves .

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 #2

Next stir in two cups of applesauce (I use no-sugar added).

NOT ONE SPECK OF COLD WATER ANYWHERE–only applesauce.

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Pour the mixture into an oblong pan and put it in the refrigerator until it gels.

{You’ll notice in the picture that I used a small oblong pan for my flag. If you use a 13×9″ pan, you’ll want to use an extra 3 oz. box of Jello, thus adding one more cup of boiling water and one more cup of applesauce. The bottom line is that the exact amount of applesauce replaces the exact same amount of cold water.}

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And now the fun begins!

Place a handful of fresh blueberries over a a thin rectangular layer of whipped topping in the upper lefthand corner.

Use whipped topping to create the white stripes on the flag.  I had just used a Mother’s Day Amazon gift card to buy a Wilton Decorating set; the star tip was perfect for piping the stripes.

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And there you have it: Isn’t it beautiful?

And aren’t those two women beautiful? {Spoken by a proud teacher.}
Happy 4th of July!
***
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 would brighten anyone’s day!

The Dollar Store Diva: Raspberry Slushie for 10 Cents an Icy Glass!

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe - Only 10 Cents a Glass!

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe

A couple of weeks ago, on a hot June day, I decided to try an icy fruit drink at my beloved Dunkin Donuts.

 As soon as I took my first sip, I thought to myself: Oh, my goodness! I could get addicted to these.

I paid $3.39 for it.

$3.39.

For the Dollar Store Diva, that’s a chunk of change. Especially if my car pulls up to the drive-through window with any regularity.

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe - Only 10 Cents a Glass!

Then I stopped at the Dollar Tree. Wyler’s sugar-free, caffeine-free powdered drink packets–10 for a dollar.

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe - Only 10 Cents a Glass!

And I thought of the gift my children gave me for Christmas–a NINJA. {Isn’t it beautiful?}

Guess what a NINJA does--it crushes ice!

Can you see why I was getting happy-hyper?

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe - Only 10 Cents a Glass!

I experimented a few times to get just the right slushy consistency.

My NINJA container holds 16 oz. (two cups) up to the Max Fill line; the packet says to add the powder to 16 oz. of water.

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe - Only 10 Cents a Glass!

But, since I wanted a slushie, I put in one cup of water, stirred in the raspberry packet, and then added 10 fat ice cubes.

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe - Only 10 Cents a Glass!

And this is what I got. Just what I was dreaming of: a raspberry slushie made in my very own kitchen with my very own NINJA.

Since I had also bought lemonade packets, I couldn’t resist sprinkling in some lemonade powder to get a raspberry lemonade drink. Oh, yes!

And I could make 33 of these for the price of one DD beverage!

By the way, if you don’t happen to own a NINJA, you could make this recipe using anything that crushes ice.

However, I don’t recommend using a blender – ice has been known to break them. (Ask me how I know.)

Raspberry Slushie Easy Recipe - Only 10 Cents a Glass!

So there you have it: a glass of ice-cold yumminess for lazy summer afternoons.

For 10 cents.

{And, yes, I also bought the glass at the Dollar Store. Isn’t it fun?}

***

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, crafts (and slushies!) that would brighten anyone’s day!

 

The Dollar Store Diva: Five Craft Supplies I Shop For At the Dollar Store

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Best Craft Supplies to Buy at the Dollar Store

Since I am called the Dollar Store Diva, one might deduce that I really, really like shopping at one.

And that deduction would be exactly right.

 I don’t like to spend money–not even a dollar–on junk. I don’t like kitsch. And the last thing I need on my shelves is more “stuff.”

But I love to craft and when I pull open the door to a Dollar Store, I have the sense of being on a crafting treasure hunt.

Sometimes I leave empty handed; other times I do a happy dance all the way to the car.

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So, are you curious to know what craft items I search for?

Well, here goes:

#1. Wrapping paper and cello wrap.

I almost never go into a dollar store without sifting through their rolls of paper. Sometimes I find high quality paper that goes for four times as much in another store.

 I always buy Kraft paper to keep on hand–the opportunities are endless.

DSD 3 Wrapping Papers

Check out this post to see what I did with these treasures.

Hostess Gift Cello

Doesn’t wrapping a simple gift in cello wrap add such a happy flair?

#2. Random items that can be decorated or repurposed for gifts.

DSD Have a Ball

Oh, what a fun gift this plain ol’ plastic canister turned out to be for my grandsons.

#3. Notebooks

I always look for notebooks, usually for ones that can be decorated for gifts.

This time I struck it rich:

Pic Black Notebook

I transformed this high quality notebook into a lovely gift for a friend.

Pic Washi Notebook

I also created one as a time management tool for my adult ADD.

#4. Stationery

Occasionally I will find paper products I like so much I’d like to fill my cart with them. I have to exercise self-control.

 I have sent out so many letters using this neon paper and envelopes as happy stationery.

Thanks Colored Paper8

Here is some So Many Thanks stationery I also created with it.

#5. Frames

Oh, the uses for frames are simply endless. Below are two ways I used Dollar Store frames for Thanksgiving decorations.

Give-Thanks-Frame-

This is one of my all-time favorite craft projects: Give Thanks

Pic Countdown to Thanksgiving

In our house we don’t just have a framed countdown for Christmas; we have one for Thanksgiving too.

So there you have it–five craft supplies I shop for at the Dollar Store. Stay tuned for five more Dollar Store craft supplies.

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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 and crafts that would brighten anyone’s day!