101 Cheap & Chic Dollar Store Crafts

When the weather is crappy outside and my kids are cooped up, there’s nothing I love more than that magical craft project that’ll truly keep my son happily entertained for a precious hour (OK, more like precious minutes. But hey, a parent can dream…). Craft supplies can get expensive though, and when we typically hit up the craft store, I find myself limiting my son to just choosing one or two craft projects. It’s hard to justify these $15-20 craft projects that’ll likely end up in the recycling bin in a couple weeks.

Instead of dropping funds at our local craft store, we’ve taken to heading to the Dollar Store instead to load up on cheap materials. Because not all projects from the Dollar Store start as clean, boxed projects, I’ve needed all the ideas I could get. It turns out that the possibilities of what you can make from goods at the dollar store are limitless, as evidenced in the slideshow here. Scroll through, then head to your local store and let your imagination go wild.

Here’s my roundup of the best dollar store crafts that the internet has to offer.

More DIY Craft Ideas:

101 Dollar Store Crafts

DIY Paper Weights from Glass Candle Holders

Turn some tea light candle holders into a pretty paperweight for your desk.

See the project at Mod Podge Rocks.
Pottery Barn Inspired Easter Tablescape

Some paint and glue is all it takes to turn cheap looking toys into a polished tablescape.

See the project at Bubb Chic.
DIY Beaded Chandelier

An amazing art installation for your yard---this tutorial shows you how to create a beaded chandelier from dollar store buys.

See the project at Dollar Store Crafts.
Dollar Store Pantry Makeover

Stock your pantry with dollar store containers and keep everything neat and organized.

See the project at The Social Home.
Rubber Door Mat Wall Art

This project takes a cheap floor mat and dresses it up to look like it is a piece of antique iron for your wall.

See the project at Salvage Dior.
Stamped Alphabet T-Shirt

A dollar stamp set and a simple T-shirt make for a fun personalized tee for a kid.

See the project at It's Always Autumn.
Anthropologie Plate Art Knockoff

Create your own Anthropologie inspired art installation with a set of plates from the dollar store.

See the project at While They Snooze.
Plastic Animal Bookends

Everything looks better with spray paint! Make your own animal bookends from dollar store toys.

See the project at Mad in Crafts.
DIY Dinosaur Serving Dish

Another great use of dollar store toys! Make a dino serving tray for your next kids party.

See the project at Three Little Monkeys Studio.
DIY Pebble Bath Mat

You don't need to go to a fancy spa to get a fancy stone bath mat. Make one of your own with some rocks and glue!

See the project at Curbly.
Spring Dollar Store Ombre Vases

Spruce up those boring vases with a beautiful ombre paint job.

See the project at Living Well Spending Less.
Dollar Store Tiled Mirror

This beautiful tiled mirror is surprisingly easy to put together.

See the project at Tattered & Inked.
Easy Anthropologie Confetti Tumblers

These painted glassware pieces are way cheaper than buying a set from Anthropologie.

See the project at Radical Possibility.
Dollar Tree Makeup Storage

Stack a few trays from the dollar store and make your own luxurious makeup stand for your vanity.

See the project at This Casita.
Plastic Elephant Bookends

Another animal bookends project, this one is reminiscent of a Jonathan Adler design.

See the project at Love Grows Wild.
Painted Plates Garden Art

Every garden could use some art to spruce things up when the flowers aren't in bloom. This DIY makes some beautiful yard stakes out of plastic plates.

See the project at Infarrantly Creative.
Weekly Calendar Frame

Organize your family's weekly schedule with this DIY dry erase picture frame calendar.

See the project at Postris.
DIY Rope Basket

This DIY gets points for not looking like a DIY. Wrap colored rope around an ordinary laundry basket to get a beautiful basket you are proud to have on display.

See the project at iHeart Organizing.
DIY Gold Leaf Vase

Another way to spruce up a plain vase is to add some gold leaf to the outside.

See the project at The Creativity Exchange.
Chalkboard Platter

Need a fancy way to display the menu at an event? Turn a silver tray into a chalkboard for just a few dollars.

See the project at Soel Boutique.
DIY Flower Pushpins

Make your bulletin board more fun by creating some fake flower pushpins.

See the project at Popsugar
DIY Japanese Lantern

Make your own Japanese paper lantern to hang outside.

See the project at Dollar Store Crafts.
DIY Ruffly Umbrella

Add some fabric ruffles to an umbrella to make a fashionable parasol to keep you in the shade all summer long.

See the project at Dollar Store Crafts.
Pottery Barn Inspired Mirror

Who needs Pottery Barn when you can make your own version of their product for just a few bucks?

See the project at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar.
Cookie Cutter Candles

A great holiday project for the kids---make your own candle shapes with cookie cutters for any occasion.

See the project at Popsugar.
Mason Jar Solar Lights

Looking for a fun way to light up your backyard? Line up some solar light mason jars along your fence to create a fun nighttime environment.

See the project at DIY Ready.
DIY Dollar Store Cake Stand

The cutest little cake stand made from a cake pan and a candlestick holder.

See the project at The Chickabug Blog.
DIY Felt Owls

Lots of fun projects can be made with felt from the dollar store, but they won't be as cute as these felt owls.

See the project at Factory Direct Craft.
DIY Teacup Birdbath

More fun decorations for the yard, this one turns a set of coffee cups and a tea pot into a birdbath!

See the project at True Blue Me and You.
DIY Vintage Locker Bins

Spruce up your closet with some vintage looking locker bins. No one will know they are plastic from looking at them.

See the project at Hometalk.
DIY Succulent Planter

Stack your succulents high with this DIY planter setup.

See the project at Craftberry Bush.
DIY Picture Magnets

Make your fridge look like a photo gallery of your family by making your own photo magnets out of glass beads.

See the project at Popsugar.
Dollar Store Mirror Planters

Create your own chic planters out of some mirrored tiles for a modern way to display your small houseplants.

See the project at The Art of Doing Stuff.
DIY Wind Chime

Make use of all of that cheap silverware they sell and make a cool wind chime for your yard.

See the project at Emmie Lu Designs.
Three-Tiered Serving Set

Make a cute three-tiered serving tray out of candlesticks and colorful plates.

See the project at Spicy Tuesday Crafts.
DIY Gumball Machine Candy Holder

Every desk needs a jar of candy on it. Make a faux gumball machine out of a flowerpot and a glass bowl.

See the project at Dandelions and Dust Bunnies.
Burlap Napkin Rings

Impress your dinner guests with some handmade napkin rings.

See the project at Tater Tots & Jello.
Hanging Solar Lamps

Solar lamps are a great way to light your yard. Keep them off the ground by making them into a hanging lantern.

See the project at Running with Scissors.
Washcloth Travel Kit

Need an easy way to travel with all of your toiletries? Turn a washcloth into your own personalized carrying case. Bonus, it doubles as a washcloth!

See the project at Popsugar.
Dino Phone Tripod

Help your phone stand up when you are watching movies on a long flight.

See the project at Eat Sleep Make.
No Slip Dish Towel

This towel DIY will keep your kitchen towels off the floor and always at the ready.

See the project at Polish the Stars.
DIY Garden Stones

Use bits of broken glass and plates to create some unique and beautiful garden stepping stones.

See the project at Intimate Weddings.
Towel Bath Rugs

Don't throw out your old towels---instead, knit them together to make a new bath mat!

See the project at Fine Craft Guild.
DIY Yellow Fall Flowers

Create some cute flowers that will never wilt.

See the project at Happiness Is Creating.
Pom Pom Pushpins

Another bulletin board upgrade. Everybody loves pom poms!

See the project at Sarah Hearts.
DIY Starburst Mirror

These large mirror pieces can be really expensive, but you can make your own version with a small mirror and wooden skewers for just a few bucks.

See the project at Popsugar.
Monogram Soap

Soap is a wonderful gift, and here is an awesome way to personalize it for your friends.

See the project at Alyssa & Carla.
Pom Pom Pens

More pom poms! These fun pens will make work fun again.

See the project at The Casual Craftlete.
Anthropologie Inspired Mirror

Dollar store crafters really like making their own Anthro inspired pieces. Here's another mirror DIY from that wonderful store.

See the project at Dollar Store Crafts.
Chalkboard Spice Jars

Also inspired by Anthropologie, these jars are a fun DIY you can customize to hold anything you like.

See the project at At the Picket Fence.
Ampersand Art

This takes pushpin art to the extreme! Looks like a really fun way to make some custom monogrammed art.

See the project at Live Love DIY.
DIY Lap Desks

Craft some lap desks for the kids. A great way to keep the heat of a laptop off your legs, or just a way to do homework in the car.

See the project at Elle Belle Creative.
Cupcake Liner Chandelier

I love art installations of everyday items. These cupcake liners turned into an awesome chandy!

See the project at Make + Haus.
Wastebasket Makeover

Want to make that cheap looking trash can in your bathroom look a little nicer? Give it an upgrade by wrapping it in rope.

See the project at Hometalk.
Mason Jar Sewing Kit

Another project inspired by Anthro, these little sewing kits make a great gift.

See the project at It All Started with Paint.
Glass Marble Table Top

Spruce up your bedside table by adding a layer of glass beads to the top.

See the project at Madigan Made.
Chalkboard Wine Glasses

Here's a great way to keep everyone's wine glass organized when you are having a big party. Who needs wine glass charms when you can just write your name on your glass?

See the project at Just Short of Crazy.
Jewelry Organizer

Put a few of these expanding coat hooks into your closet for an easy way to keep your jewelry organized.

See the project at Adorable Antics.
Flower Petal Aisle Runner

Every wedding needs a beautiful aisle runner. This is a great way to get that flower petal look without all the mess.

See the project at Weddingbee.
DIY Sugar Skull

Make your own decorations for el Dia de los Muertos!

See the project at Twelve O Eight.
DIY Good Morning Mugs

Make your morning coffee special by customizing your very own mugs.

See the project at A Spark of Creativity.
Jazzed Up Ceramic Vase

Using just Sharpies and washi tape, this vase went from plain and boring to chic and modern.

See the project at Our Designed Life.
DIY Spice Racks

Organize your spices by hanging them on your cabinet doors.

See the project at The Stonybrook House.
Compact Wall Mirror

This awesome DIY turns simple compact mirrors into a full size mirror for your wall.

See the project at Thistlewood Farms.
Hanging Basket Lanterns

Another great outdoor lighting tutorial, this one turns upside down baskets into hanging lanterns.

See the project at The Art of Doing Stuff.
DIY Herb Pots

Make your own fun pots and labels for your herb garden.

See the project at Premeditated Leftovers.
Hurricane Candle Holders

Craft your own hurricane glasses out of cases and candlestick holders.

See the project at Decor Chick.
DIY Address Buckets

Use them as a cute way to display your address on the front porch, or make them into a fun backyard sandbag toss game!

See the project at Just Vintage Home.
Antique Dollar Store Tray

Get crafty on a plain silver tray and make it look like it came from a bygone era.

See the project at Crafting Rebellion.
DIY Ribbon Storage

Tired of your ribbon collection being in a pile in your drawer? Here's a creative way to organize it using a plastic bin.

See the project at Mini Moz Blog.
DIY Flat Iron Holder

Need to do your hair on the go, but don't have time to let your curling iron cool down? Make a heat protected sleeve for it out of a potholder, and you can just throw it in your purse.

See the project at Your Creative Juices.
Etched Monogram Glasses

Personalize your pint glasses with some etched monograms.

See the project at Thistlewood Farms.
Gold Glass Cloche

Make a cute little display stand for all your cupcake needs!

See the project at Refresh Restyle.
DIY Office File Racks

Put the dollar store's office supplies to good use and create a hanging file system for next to your desk.

See the project at Sayshea Media.
DIY Patio Lights

Fancy up those stringed Christmas tree lights for summertime with some wicker balls and make a custom string light for your patio.

See the project at Crafty Butt.
Hula Hoop Chandelier

Need an easy outdoor light fixture? Hula hoop + ribbon + string lights = chandelier.

See the project at Sarah on the Blog.
Picture Frame Lantern

Cheap picture frames can be put together to form cute little lantern candle holders.

See the project at Dollar Store House.
Kid's Crayon Apron

A little bit of sewing can make your kid their very own artist's apron.

See the project at Obsessively Stitching.
DIY Key Chain

Finally, something to do with all of those old Livestrong bracelets.

See the project at A Little Craft in Your Day.
Ombre Bead Frame

A crafty way to spruce up a picture frame with ombre painted wooden beads.

See the project at Dollar Store Crafts.
Cute Clock Makeover

Deconstruct a dollar store clock to make a fashionable version that fits into your decor.

See the project at Sweet Rose Studio.
Hanging Baskets

These hanging baskets are a creative way to get more bathroom storage when you are low on space and funds.

See the project at Be Different Act Normal.
Portable Spice Kit

Want to cook while you are traveling? Bring your own spices by converting a weekly pill box into a portable spice rack.

See the project at Dollar Store Crafts.
Spooky Crystal Ball Candlesticks

These are some awesome Halloween decorations made from some simple dollar store supplies.

See the project at Flamingo Toes.
DIY Embellished Sunglasses

Get some glam on your favorite pair of sunnies by adding a dash of sparkly beads.

See the project at Miss Kris.
Shabby Chic Hooks

These wall hooks will look great with your scarves or jewelry hanging on them.

See the project at Dollar Store Crafts.
DIY Felt Ball Coasters

These little felt ball coasters are adorable and would make a great addition to any Sunday morning coffee routine.

See the project at Inspired by Charm.
Faux Silver Bird and Flowers Pedestal

Silver spray paint for the win! Make little faux metal sculptures for all over your house.

See the project at Morena's Corner.
Animal Jewelry Hangers

A fun way to display jewelry, it could also be fun just to have some animals on the wall. Taxidermy without the icky parts.

See the project at Twinkie Chan.
Fancy Mason Jar Glass

Craft your very own mason jar sippy cup by adding a straw hole to the lid. This way all your summer beverages will stay put when they tip over at your picnic.

See the project at DIY Confessions.
DIY Teacup Sculpture

A super creative way to display your jewelry is on a custom teacup sculpture.

See the project at El Brooklyn Taco.
West Elm Inspired Globe Pendant

Turn a couple of colanders into a custom pendant light worthy of West Elm.

See the project at Mad in Crafts.
Mason Jar Prism Candle Light

Create awesome nighttime lights shows by making your own mason jar lanterns.

See the project at DIY Ready.
Collage Art Plates

Yet another Anthro inspired plate art piece, this one is rather ingenious.

See the project at Mad in Crafts.
Letter Mosaic

While the source of this project seems to have disappeared, you can see all the instructions in the full image on Pinterest.

See the project at Pinterest.
Wild Animal Magnets

Chop your little animal toys in half and make your very own animal magnets.

See the project at Lovely Indeed.
Glass Pendants

Wrap some dollar store beads in wire, and you can create some beautiful jewelry.

See the project at House Revivals.
Sunflower Wreath

This creative tutorial makes a sunflower art piece out of plastic cutlery.

See the project at Erica Barker.
Picture Frame Terrarium

Build yourself a mini greenhouse out of picture frames to help your houseplants flourish.

See the project at Ella Claire Inspired.
Faux Milk Glass Vase

Milk glass is gorgeous, but you can only find it in antique stores these days. Make some of your own with spray paint, and no one will be able to tell the difference.

See the project at Carolyn's Home Work.
DIY Dresser Mirror

A great way to spruce up your vanity is to make a custom mirror you will be proud to look at each morning.

See the project at Create & Babble.