I Made a Spring Wreath Too - Dolla Tree Style

*Pssst...  there is a Spring Wreath link party @ the end of this post. 

I really wanted a nice Spring wreath for my front door, but I didn't want to shell out the big bucks.  Also, most pre-made wreaths are too big for the space between my front door and the storm door.  I'd planned to do another ribbon wreath, but then decided I wanted something a little more professional looking.

A few weeks ago, when I went to a doctor visit, I noticed they had a really pretty grapevine wreath that was covered in faux ivy.  I decided to make one just like it.  I bought this sad little grapevine wreath from the Salvation Army for 99 cents.  Then I went to the Dollar Tree and bought four packs of ivy garland.  

I wrapped the garlands around the wreath, hooking each end to the start of a new "vine".   The I hung it up with some hemp rope.  It looked sooo sad and plain.  So sad that I didn't even bother taking a photo.

I looked around for some kind of flower that would look nice on my poor little ivy wreath.  I was thinking roses & ivy would look nice together. I Googled "rose & ivy wreath", looking for some inspiration, but found none.  Boo!

I finally stopped by the Dollar Tree last Sat and found these "magnolia" bushes.  I say magnolia that way, because the stigma (that fuzzy thing in the middle) on these are gray, and our magnolias don't look like that around here (SC).  I've never seen one that's gray and so I don't know if that's right or not.  You know, there is a reason stuff ends up at the Dollar Tree.   

Anyway, I still think my wreath is awesome, and for $7, you can't beat it.  Or maybe you can.


Gotta cheap DIY Spring wreath to show off?  Link 'er up here.




Linking to:
Hookin' Up With HOH @ House of Hepworths
Everything but the Kitchen Sink @ A  little Knick Knack

Cheep Cheep - Dollar Tree Decor

Thanks to all of you who left such sweet comments on my last post.  I really needed the encouragement!

My bedroom makeover is finished, but I'm not sure when I'll get the post up.  It's raining here today and I think maybe tomorrow too.  As soon as I get some sunshine, I'll take my photos and whip up a post.

I love rainy days like this (breakfast for dinner!).  I just want to curl up on the couch and watch movies or fall into a good book.  I've done a tiny bit of that today, but I also worked on a little project that I came up with last night.

This project, including the vase filler from Target cost me only $11.

The Dollar Tree has these glass tea light & round pillar candle holders.  I bought the tea light holders in graduating heights, but I think a collection of these all the same height or taller ones on the outside with a shorter one on the inside would look good too. 

Anywho, you need these holders and some type of adhesive.  I used clear Liquid Nails.  I don't think it would be a big deal to use a visible adhesive since whatever you put in these will probably cover the bottom of the bowl.

Following the instructions on your adhesive, glue the bowls to the stands.  I was thinking that it might look cool to put something in the tea light compartment before gluing the pieces together, you know, like colored marbles, stone or glass.  I didn't do that thought because I wanted mine to be plain.  Maybe next time.

Once the adhesive has dried, fill those suckers with whatever makes your heart go pitter-patter.  I used these.  You can get them at Target for about $5.

Linking to:
Hoo's Got Talent @ Night Owl Crafting
Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Chic Cottage 
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple 
Under $100 Link Party @ Beyond the Picket Fence 
Crafty Soiree @ Yesterday On Tuesday
Friday's Unfolded @ Stuff & Nonsense  
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge 
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous 
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Another Dollar Tree Makeover

Remember these birds? 

I could kick myself for not buying more when I bought the first pair.  I was able to find three more pairs, which I ended up selling in my Etsy shop.  They did so well, that I'd give my left arm to have a whole flock to do, but it's just not meant to be.  I've been to every Dollar Tree around here (maybe 7) and they are all out.

They do have pigs, which I don't imagine would be very popular, and roosters.  I grabbed a pair of roosters back in Dec when I first started trying to find more birds and I gave them a couple of coats of bright red.  Then I used my trusty glaze to finish them off.  

While they aren't as popular as the white birds, I think these will do well in the shop too.  I've already sold one pair and I've got two more sets to do.  I've seen a few of these around at the Dollar Trees that I've been to, but it looks like they may be extinct soon too.  I'm OK with that because now that I'm able to look at Dollar Tree figurines and see what they COULD be, I'm sure I'll find some goodies when they put their Spring stuff out.


For anyone interested in using glaze, I'll be posting a tutorial sometime this week.




Linking to:
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff 
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Take a Look Tues @ Sugar Bee Craft Edition 
Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog 
Crafty Mondays @ The Tootsie Wootsie 

Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts 

Little Birdies - A Dollar Tree Makeover

I got these little ceramic birds at the Dollar Tree last month.  

I was planning to winterize them (paint them white) and add them to my Winter Wonderland vignette (post on that coming soon), but ended up not using them for that.  Instead, I painted one white and the other blue and then I used some antiquing glaze to finish them off.

I took a pre-glaze photo so that those of you who've never used it before, can see what a difference it makes. 

Here they are after the glaze.  

Totally different!  I've not been won over by the blue one, but I'm in love with how the white one turned out.  

*** The glaze I use is by Valspar and the color is Asphaltum.  It's already tinted and it comes in an 8oz plastic jar.  It was around $9.  You can get quarts custom tinted, but they're around $20.  When I bought this, I'd never used a glaze before, so I didn't want to invest that kind of money.  I've used this stuff on several projects and still have over half of the jar left.

*** I went back to my local Dollar Tree today to get more birds, but all they had out were the Christmas knick-knacks.  I went to another Dollar Tree and found 4 of them.  I guess it depends on the store.  Some have packed up their "normal" knick-knacks to make room for the Christmas stuff, but they'll most likely put them back out after the holidays.




Linking to:
Fab Friday @ Frugal and Fabulous Design
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge 
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest 
Everything but the Kitchen Sink @ A Little Knick Knack 
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous 
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff 
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter 
Make it $4 Monday @ Cottage Instincts  
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping it Simple 
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors 
Sunday Showcase Party @ Under the Table and Dreaming   
Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog 
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design 
Whatever Goes Weds @ Someday Crafts