While the selection is better, large craft stores prices can be a little rough on the wallet. There are tons of supplies for general crafting at the dollar store; i.e. tacky foam shapes, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, etc. Those can be great for kids, but it gets a little tougher when looking to do primitive/country crafts.
Here are a few projects that I have done that involve dollar store supplies. A lot of these have been featured in previous posts, so the pictures may look familiar! All of the photos with a white background were found at dollartree.com.
Salt Dough Ornies & Cinnamon Applesauce Ornies
Salt, flour, cinnamon, and applesauce, wax paper – all of your main ingredients for both salt dough and cinnamon applesauce ornaments – can be found at the dollar store. The recipes can be found all over the web, I don’t feel like typing it out…hehe. I make cinnamon applesauce ornies in bulk – usually stars, hearts, and gingerbread men for the holidays.
A wonderful salt dough tutorial can be found at
http://andbabymakesfive-colleen.blogspot.com
This “snowman pop” I picked up at a craft show looks like salt dough. I definitely want to try this. A cute stocking stuffer perhaps?
Primitive Electric Tea Lights and Jar Candles
My best seller and favorite dollar store craft: electric tea lights! I recently found the tea lights on the right at a local Dollar Tree…. 3 for $1! I have found that they are as good the ones at the craft store, and last just as long!
These particular ones have been coated with gold and brown texture fierro, a textured paste made by DecoArt (found at the craft store for about $6 a jar). I have however used plain cinnamon which I get at the dollar store. First I put a piece of tape around the base of the little silicone flame, so my cinnamon doesn’t get on it. Then, paint them with regular glue or modge podge, roll in cinnamon, and let dry. Once dry, re-paint with glue/modge podge to seal! The cinnamon technique works great, but I prefer the look of the texture fierro.
This candle was grubbied up using the cinnamon/glue technique.
These candles were found at the Dollar Tree. I used the same technique as the electric tea lights. This can be done to any glass item or jar candle. Same thing goes for these – dollar store cinnamon works great for a more rusty look!
Wooden Spoon Kitchen Decoration
You can get packages of wooden kitchen spoons at the dollar store (usually 4 per pkg) that can easily be painted and made into very cute country kitchen decorations. I spray painted them black, sanded the edges, and finished off with a homespun tie and dollar store faux berries!
Silicone Dipped Bulbs – Christmas Lights and Country Night Lights
Hand dipping silicone bulbs looks like a daunting task, but is actually quite easy. I do this with night lights found at the dollar store and also with strands of Christmas lights. I scooped up a huge supply of plain white Christmas lights at the dollar store during the holidays to use all year round! The silicone must be bought elsewhere, but I found it real cheap at Walmart. To see how to dip silicone bulbs, view my previous tutorial here.
Turn these…
into THESE!
Christmas lights for Everyday Country Decor
As I said, I stock up on these after the holidays to use for a variety of projects. One simple idea (not a “craft” per say, but cute nonetheless) is to look for old bottles at yard sales or thrift stores, and put a strand of lights down inside to illuminate the colored glass. I got this blue house shaped bottle at a yard sale for 10 cents, added a string of white Christmas lights, and it looks so darn cute! This picture doesn’t do it justice, but I swear it looks awesome up on a shelf!
Another idea is to take small strips of homespun and knot them on the strand of lights in between each bulb. I have seen it/done it before but can’t seem to find a picture! Cute idea and super-duper easy!
Brown Craft Paper
The Dollar Tree has a surprising selection of brown crafting/wrapping paper that can be used for numerous craft purposes. The one on the far right has little gold stars, and is super cute – one of my favorites.
They also sell plain (without patterns) brown craft paper by the roll. I use this to make labels for my products like the one seen below. I use a paper cutter to cut 8.5 x 11 sheets that can be run through the copier. The Dollar Tree also sells a really great red gingham craft paper – the one that the snowmen are clipped to!
I use it to cover my craft table too, so I can make a mess and then replace it as necessary!
Brown craft paper gift bags are great for stamping.
Homespun Wrapped Candy Cane Ornaments
You get 6 plastic candy cane forms for $1…you can’t beat it! Simply wrap in homespun. I used hot glue to dab on the ends. Another one of my FAVORITE crafts of all time. This could be done with the large candy canes also found at the dollar store!
I haven’t tried these LARGE Dollar Tree candy canes, but I bet they’d look great!
Jingle Bells – As Bowl Fillers and Accents for Other Crafts
Dollar Tree sells all kinds of little jingle bells at Christmas time. I typically spray paint them barn red, navy blue, and forest green, tie a bit of homespun on the top for a little country flair. I use them as bowl/jar fillers and tree ornaments.
This cute holiday candle decorated with these same (spray painted) jingle bells was found at re-purposed.blogspot.com.
Scatter around candles or mix in with your potpourri. Heck, plop a big wooden bowl on your table and fill it up with these suckers for a nice holiday center piece! A nice silver candle and bell display is shown here, by http://creativehomeexpressions.blogspot.com
A list of other craft supplies I have found at the dollar store:
- Small round magnets & clear gems/marbles (marble magnets)
- Styrofoam cone forms and balls (rag ball ornaments)
- Basic floral supplies (wire, moss)
- Baskets
- Mini terra cotta pots & spanish moss (country witch head)
- Jute
- Large Christmas bulbs (the old-fashioned looking ones)
- Small glass jars (use to hold potpourri, putka pods, cinnamon sticks, buttons, etc!)
- Buttons
- Glitter
- Wooden frames (to paint and distress)
- Wooden shapes for all kinds of crafting
- Super glue/basic craft glue
Visit The Dollar Diva for more great dollar store craft ideas!
Hope you found this post helpful in saving a few bucks while working on your country/prim crafting endeavors. I don’t think I could survive without my local Dollar Tree. If you have any great dollar store ideas and/or crafts, I’d love to hear! Have a great week ya’ll!



























Feb 26, 2011 @ 01:06:02
Great post!! I do look for things at the dollar store…but you have opened my eyes to items that I hadn’t thought to look there for until now.
Have a great weekend.
~Cindy~
Feb 27, 2011 @ 09:30:47
Thanks Cindy! I love a good bargain and as I said, could not live without my dollar store! There is lots of potential if you know where to look! Hope you have a great weekend as well! ~Maggie
Mar 19, 2011 @ 18:43:35
Wow, lots of great dollar store tips & tricks! I love the rag-wrapped candy canes. Fun idea!
Mar 19, 2011 @ 18:45:47
Oh, p.s. I linked up at the Dollar Store Crafts Facebook Page (and tagged on the Dollar Tree fb page, so they will see it too!) http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/dollarstorecrafts
Mar 21, 2011 @ 09:07:56
Thanks Heather! I am honored! I looooooove my Dollar Store! hehe…
Mar 20, 2011 @ 00:56:32
Hi Cindy!
Thankyou so much for reminding us of really cool stuff that is at Dollar Tree and ideas of what to do with them. Loved your entire blog!
Mar 22, 2011 @ 16:20:16
Love all your ideas!
May 16, 2011 @ 23:03:43
I love looking and reading on these blogs, so keep it up. Cause you know
One mas treasures is another mans junk, I have found this to be true so
many times.
Please blog every day and always show new ways to set up and oh, and wow
the pictures of your booth look really terrific. So keep on keep up.
Tour style is intriguing me start getting back in to crafts again ,==, but definately keeping up with this blog.
TILL NEXT TIME
Paula
Nov 21, 2011 @ 10:14:01
THANK YOU! Great (on the cheap) ideas for my friends at social groups, etc!
Dec 02, 2011 @ 01:18:18
Thanks for the tips! I made the candy canes and I think they turned out great!
Dec 06, 2011 @ 15:31:45
Wow! I am impressed. Everything looks awesome and fun to do! Love the idea with the cinnamon. I have never heard of Fierro.
Jan 02, 2012 @ 19:34:09
someone posted this on pinterest and so glad they did!! I make some of these similar to yours but found a couple new ones here@ @ TY SO MUCH!!
Happy new year!!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 16:04:54
Omgosh…love, love, love. I am nursing one wicked migraine and one of my favorite strategies is to find things to get me excited, happy and looking forward to feeling better and I came accross this site. How fun! I’m disabled so my crafting habits have been curtailed by a decidedly smaller budget. My husband and I are also about to celebrate our one-year anniversary so I’m looking for fun ways to make our house, our house. I love, love, love your ideas. I had forgotten about applesauce ornaments! Thanks for the wonderful post and ideas!
Jan 20, 2012 @ 05:52:20
I want primitive candy canes…I did do the large ones this year and I can show you a picture if you’d like. But I didn’t get any of the smaller ones to make…DARN! I’m going to post on FB now to see if any of my friends bought some that they want to give me!!! Thanks for ALL the great ideas. Have you ever sealed real candy canes?
Jo-Anne
Jan 23, 2012 @ 09:09:16
Hi Jo-Anne! Thanks for checking out my blog! I usually run out after Christmas and stock up on those smaller candy canes so that I can start working on them in the Fall for the next year!!! Don’t worry…you know Christmas stuff is on the shelves in October these days…so they’ll be back out before you know it!! lol. I have never used real candy canes and I don’t think I’d want to…too much work to just be unwrapped!!! But that’s just me…I know other people that have. Send me a pic of your large candy canes, I’d love to see them! powersmargaret@yahoo.com.
Thanks again for stoppin by and leaving a comment, I appreciate it!
~Maggie
Apr 03, 2012 @ 21:06:54
OMGosh!!! You are awesome for sharing all of these great ideas!! Thanks so much!!
Apr 25, 2012 @ 05:42:41
I love your ideas may try a few of then for Halloween too
Apr 25, 2012 @ 09:18:26
Thanks Sue!!!!
Jun 28, 2012 @ 02:04:03
Just found you on pinterest, and had to let you know how much I love your blog. I have used about half of the items you mentioned from DT, and you KNOW i’ll be looking for the rest. Thanks!
Jun 28, 2012 @ 08:23:18
Thanks Elaine!!! LOOOVE my DT…don’t know what I’d do without that place!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Jul 03, 2012 @ 13:23:59
Love it!!!
Jul 12, 2012 @ 23:21:20
You have a wonderful site and GREAT ideas. I’m looking for candy canes already. What width do you do the fabric? Do you cut fabric or rip it? Thanks for your help and your creations!
Jul 13, 2012 @ 08:02:42
Thanks Deborah!!! Every year at Christmas time I stock up on those candy canes at the Dollar Tree so I can work on them throughout the year! I look like a crazy person checking out with a basket overflowing with candy canes, but whatever. hahaha. I don’t cut the fabric, I tear it. It gives it a more country look. The strips are roughly one inch wide. It’s an easy project and you really can’t go wrong. Good luck and thanks for reading my blog! ~Maggie
Aug 05, 2012 @ 18:45:12
Love your ideas! I frequently shop at Dollar Tree; now I have more things to add to my shopping list!!! Thanks! – Karen C.
Aug 10, 2012 @ 08:01:15
Thank you Karen! Gotta love the Dollar Tree! I have a few more projects I will be posting that are dollar tree inspired. It’s a fun challenge to see what I can do with supplies from there! Thanks for checkin out my blog! ~maggie
Aug 29, 2012 @ 20:22:59
That’s all you do for the candy canes? Just get material and tear it into strips?
Aug 30, 2012 @ 11:23:11
Yup Kathy…it’s so easy and they FLY out of my booth every year. They are so much fun to make and super-duper easy. I use hot glue with the fabric so it’ll dry quick. I tear the strips rather than cut them to give them a more country / primitive look. I use about 1″ strips, sometimes a little wider. Give it a try!!
Maggie
Aug 30, 2012 @ 12:40:36
Is there one kind of material that works better than others? And do you mind sharing what you charge for them? Thank you so, so much!
Aug 30, 2012 @ 12:54:29
I just use homespun fabric from Joann, and it all seems to work pretty well. Once in a while I’ll get a random fabric that doesn’t “tear” as well as the others, but there’s no way to tell until you start tearing those strips! I think most any of those homespun fabrics will work great. At my craft show I charge $1 per candy cane or 6 for $5. It’s a great profit and yet still a reasonable price for the customers…I sell out every year!
Good luck…let me know know they turn out!!!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 23:04:10
I made the homespun candy canes! So easy!
Oct 16, 2012 @ 09:32:24
Aren’t they though?? They are probably my favorite project of all time…easy with awesome results!!!
Aug 29, 2012 @ 22:04:16
Thisis the best site ever!! I cant wait to go to the Dollar Tree tomorrow. You have a lot of great ideas^wish I would have tohought of this, you are amazing!! April
Aug 30, 2012 @ 11:24:09
Thank you April!!!! I would die without dollar stores!!! Good luck on your projects and thanks for reading my posts!
Maggie
Sep 09, 2012 @ 15:11:15
Love your ideas!! Thx so much!
Oct 11, 2012 @ 16:04:34
Thank u so much for sharing your wonderful ideas… My girlfriends and I have craft night 2 to 3 times a month and are always looking for something different… Thanks to u we have made your tea lights , candy canes , silicone night lights ,plus christmas lights along with the salt dough and cinnamon ornaments or fillers .. We made pumpkins , leafs (maple and oak) acorns also with cookie cutters for fall… Halloween ones also.. They all make great gifts for sharing too… Thank u again
Oct 12, 2012 @ 08:47:29
Thank you Debbie! Wow, I am honored that some of these projects have made it to craft night! I wish I had some friends that were into crafting too, because that sounds like a lot of fun!!! Have a wonderful Fall
~Maggie
Oct 24, 2012 @ 09:05:30
Love your blog! You have some great ideas and are so creative! Love it! Thanks for sharing
Nov 01, 2012 @ 16:41:09
I am big on the christmas lights as every day decor! I use them to add ambiance to my living room! Loved your other ideas!
Nov 02, 2012 @ 07:56:05
Me too!!! I have them everywhere!
Nov 07, 2012 @ 21:28:20
I wanted to give a tip of my own. I looked in every craft store in my town and we have 4 major stores for Texture Fierro, I was unable to find it!! I was desperate to make a few of the items I found on this blog, so I came up with my own Texture paint. I mixed acrylic paint, White Glue & Sand. I will have to take a picture and post it. Its not exact, but its darn close, and really cheap to make!
Nov 09, 2012 @ 12:21:46
Thanks for the idea – I just may have to try this!!! I believe the texture fierro has been discontinued, which I am very bummed out about. That always seems to happen when you find a product you like. I’d love to see a pic when you finish some projects! Thank you! -maggie
Nov 30, 2012 @ 13:47:51
I was also looking for the texture fierro and they did not have it. So I bought some snow-tex for 2.99 just to see how it would turn out and it worked great! I used my finger to spread it and dabb it on the candle, put cinnamon all over it then sealed it with mod podge. I couldn’t see the difference maybe just a little more work. Hope it works for you too!
Nov 26, 2012 @ 20:24:05
What do you price the cinnamon cut outs in a bag for ? I love the homespun candy canes ! Doing my first craft sale this weekend in years . Thanks for all the great ideas ! Love your blog !
Nov 29, 2012 @ 08:27:25
Hi Christy! I sell the cinnamon cut outs for $1 per bag. It’s a huge profit margin considering the cost of the materials! Best of luck at your craft show!! Thanks for stoppin by!
Maggie
Nov 30, 2012 @ 13:36:36
This is by far my favorite blog I have found on pintrest! I have tryed almost all of the projects n I am in love!:) I will be deffenatly be making lots of Christmas gifts this year! Thank you so much for sharing!
Dec 02, 2012 @ 18:23:16
Thanks so much Danielle!!! So glad you love it here and have tried some projects!
The texture fierro has been discontinued (I think…) and is impossible to find. LOVE the idea f using the snow tex…it’s way cheaper too! The texture fierro was like $8 a jar or something so this is way more economical!! I will definitely have to try this! Thanks again for stopping by and for the super idea! Happy holidays!
maggie
Dec 05, 2012 @ 17:38:23
The only thing I am having trouble with(as I see some others are) is getting the long flame on the night lights! Urs look so flawless!
Dec 05, 2012 @ 19:19:33
Yeah it can be tough to get that long flame, and I definitely don’t get it on ALL of them. I think the type of silicone plays into it. Keep on experimenting!
Jan 01, 2013 @ 22:35:05
great ideas def going to try some of these
Jan 25, 2013 @ 08:29:38
Also the ribbons all occasion for a dollar a roll. Makes wonder bows !! Love the dollar store. Always look there first, lol
Jan 28, 2013 @ 13:26:46
Ditto! Gotta love the dollar store…for anything and everything!
Jan 26, 2013 @ 09:54:23
Great Ideas…I have tried everything on your page and has worked out great!!!!
Jan 28, 2013 @ 13:27:31
Thanks so much Sandy!!! So glad you’ve had some success with the projects! Hope you’re keepin warm and thanks for stopping by my blog!!!
maggie
Mar 01, 2013 @ 15:03:27
Thank you so much! I love the Dollar Tree and your ideas are fantastic!!! Terri
Mar 25, 2013 @ 18:16:39
Did you find the faux berries at the Dollar Tree or Dollar General?
Mar 29, 2013 @ 09:46:24
I actually got those at the Hobby Lobby but they were all $1! Thanks for stoppin by my blog Amy!