10 Dollar Tree Bargains for Spring

Spring 2019 Fairy House items from Dollar Tree. I love these!

Now that my Valentines are in the mail, I took a trip to Dollar Tree to see what's new for Spring.
Not only did I spot some great finds, I learned that Dollar Tree has a BLOG! Who knew?  The blog is full of ideas for "hacks", crafts, decor, and party ideas using only inexpensive items from Dollar Tree.

The Dollar Tree "Tips & Ideas" Blog includes headings for "Tips & Hacks", "DIY & Crafts", "Celebrations", "For Teachers", and "Weddings". There are hundreds of great ideas on this site.

Here are 10  Bargains that I loved, some from the blog and some from the store.

1. Holiday Decor.  I love to decorate for holidays.  I confess: most of my holiday supplies come from either the Target "Dollar Spot" (see my previous post, Valentine Tablescape On a Budget) or Dollar Tree. I love the challenge of making something unique with inexpensive materials.  Here's one idea for an Easter themed wreath using only Dollar Tree items.  I'm calling it my "Dollar Tree Spring Bargain #1!"

Click here for the materials and directions:  DIY Peeps Wreath

Spring Bargain #2.  Polka-Dot Chickens

These are new in our local Dollar Tree Store. I just love them! Wouldn't they be cute in an Easter Basket or as part of an Easter tablescape?

They remind me of the red chickens on the top shelf at Brenda's Cozy Little House

Spring Bargain #3. Stylish Storage Baskets

These are simple, classic, well-designed, useful, and a perfect color . . . 'nuff' said!

#4.  Galvanizd Plant Pots

These are classics!  Use as Easter baskets, gift pails, to carry garden gloves and supplies while you're working in the yard, for BBQ items, or . . . for flowers and plants!

#5. And this time in French . . .

#6.  Cake Carriers

These are amazing. At Christmas, my DH makes rum cakes for hundreds of lots of our friends. These were perfect for "wrapping" and storing them. And, the click-clack fastener on the bottom means that the bottom and top actually stay together when carried by the handle on top. A major bargain for $1.00 each!

I remember the old Tupperware Cake carriers; I think I even had one once. But they were too expensive to give away. This does the same thing and costs less than a gift bag!

#7.  Jars.

I use jars to organize almost everything. From kitchen to craft room, they're the best!

And Dollar Tree has jars in both glass and plastic . . . 

     in about every shape and size!

Bargain #7.  Frames        

There is a huge selection of frames for $1.00 and, if you want more of a farmhouse look, click here:     How To Distress Picture Frames from Dollar Tree . The Dollar Tree blog has simple directions for distressing dollar frames.

#8. Party Supplies.

I get most of my party supplies at the dollar store. They have every item, in every color, and all for a dollar. They even have "silver" flatware and serving pieces that by candlelight could pass for the real thing . And on their blog, they have directions for lots of clever party decor I would never have though of  - like these Pinatas made from party hats! Cute and much less expensive that buying a pinata, even at WalMart prices.

Here's the link: DIY Party Hat Pinatas

Bargain #9.  Basket Bags.

These are the best! Our local library uses them for its annual "A Tisket, A Tasket" fundraiser. They're also big enough to hold a real kids (aka huge) Easter Basket. And there are two in each dollar package.

Here's how we used them at the library:

And finally, #10. Hallmark Cards

In a previous life, I owned a Hallmark Shop in Kennebunk, Maine, and I still love to send Hallmark Cards. But . . . my young grands don't appreciate them enough to spend $3.99, $4.99 and 5.99 apiece on them. At the holidays, that really adds up. Enter Dollar Tree. They now sell Hallmark Cards for $2/$1.00, Fellow grandparents: we can't go wrong at that price! Check them out.

I don't own stock in Dollar Tree and I don't even know anyone who does, but - I do know a bargain when I see one. If you're good at sniffing out a good buy (and passing over the less appealing stuff) and have some creativity, you can do pretty well at Dollar Tree.

I'd love to hear what you've found there!

This post is linked to:

Inspire Me Tuesday #488 at A Stroll Through Life
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Homestyle Gathering #5 at My Wee Abode
To Grandma's House We Go Linkk Party #126 at Chas" Crazy Creations
Thursday's Favorite Things Party at Crafts a la Mode
Flaunt It Friday #435 at Chic On a Shoestring

Look What Kathleen Made!

I recently blogged about wanting to paint and stencil Flour Sack Towels.  For two weeks I've been meticulously drawing designs and hoarding supplies for the "big project".

Meanwhile,  my artsy friend Kathleen Gerdes, went to Target, bought a few towels, and  and actually completed them! (Obviously we work from opposite sides of our brains).

I love what Kathleen did!

For $1.00 plus the cost of a little fabric paint, wouldn't these make great gifts?

I've used 50% off coupons on a few stencils at Michael's and A.C. Moore but they can get pricey, even with coupons, so . . . 

I purchased some Mylar sheets and am having fun downloading simple shapes from the internet and cutting my own stencils.

 

Between Kathleen and I, our Target is now out of the towels, but, if you'd like to try this craft with us, they're still available at Target Online - $4.00 for a simple ribbon-wrapped package of four. To save on shipping, they'll "Ship to Store"; you can order online and pick them up at your local Target store.

Two friends and I plan to get together in my craft room later this week to trace and cut stencils. Since I've already squirreled away 8 packages of towels, we'll have to work fast.  At least I've got all the supplies we'll need:  Sharpies, Xacto knives, a bottle of wine, and . . . band aides!

Yours in Mylar,

This post is linked to:

Inspire Me Tuesday #432 at A Stroll Through Life
Craftastic Monday Link Party at Sew Can Do
Style Showcase #39 at Savvy Southern Style
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Flour Sack Towels

I've been looking for affordable 100% cotton Flour Sack towels to use with my craft group. We'd like to "play" with them using dye, fabric paint and/or stencils. Since we're experimenting with this craft for the first time, we don't want to invest a huge amount of money.

  (Maybe when we get really good!)

I've checked out flour sack towels at a local quilt shop, on Amazon, and with friends who own a screen-print shop. Until now, I've only found the 30" towels at $3.00 to $6.00 each.

Imagine my surprise to find these at Target on Saturday!

Four for $4.00!

They are good quality, 30" square and 100% cotton. I thought they must have been mismarked but they did ring up at $4.00 for 4, all neatly wrapped in a grosgrain ribbon. I bought two packages . . .  and went back the next day for two more!

 They were located in the new Target section of products called "Made By Design".

Now I'm looking forward to having my crafty friends over to see what we can create with them.

I have a few ideas from last year's Fiber College of Maine. These ladies used a combination of fabric paints . . .

 and stencils.

Another technique I'd like to try is shibori.

This shibori towel was a gift from a friend.

There is a good tutorial on the Japanese tie-dye technique here. Thanks to Tammy at her blog, Honestly WTF, for her great fiber art ideas!

The finished towels could be used as curtains for a small window, a table cloth for a small table, fabric for a sewing project, or as, well . . . dish towels!

Yours in flour sacks,

This post is linked to:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life
Talk of the Town #131 at Knick of Time

Target Farmhouse Decor Under $30.00

I've been in the mood for some Spring decorating, so I stopped in to Target today to see what was new. I thought I'd check out the "Magnolia" collection for some inspiration while I was there.

I had barely made it ithrough the door when I had five items in my cart . . . all from the "Dollar Spot".
Who knew?  I hadn't expected to find any "decor" there but take a look . . .

The teakwood tray (10" x 14") was $5.00 and came in either natural or whitewashed. I love arranging seasonal vignettes on trays and this one is the perfect size.

Then I saw these tall (9") tin olive baskets with copper handles . . . only $3.00 each. 

I bought two!

 I was on a roll now!

To add height to my vignette, I grabbed a white cake stand, for $5.00. . . 

still in the "Dollar Spot". 

Four great finds for $16.00!

In the home section, I added this little clear vase for $3.99 . . . perfect for sprigs of spring flowers on a tray or windowsill.

I did finally make it to the "Hearth & Hand" section to see what Joanne Gaines has come up with for Spring. I loved these big flour sack towels (30 inches square with black, coral, or gold stripes) and at only 3.99, I got two. I often use fabric to add softness and texture to an arrangement on a tray or antique piece.  Or, if I'm not feeling creative, I can just use them to dry dishes!

 Total for all seven pieces = $27.97!

After all the errand-running, I had lost my energy by the time I got home so my Target finds are all sitting in the dining room waiting to be arranged. 

Since Joanne Gaines doesn't live here, I'll hope for a new burst of farmhouse inspiration and arrange them tomorrow!

This post is linked to:

The TFT Party at Katharine's Corner

Wow Us Wednesday #381 at Savvy Southern Style

Flaunt It Friday #397 at Chic On a Shoestring

The Farmhouse Friday Link Party #51 at The Painted Hinge

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things