75+ DIY Dollar Store Crafts That Are So Easy to Make

Author:
Chloe Reid
Updated date:
Oct 18, 2022

Chloe Reid is a crafter and DIYer who loves a good bargain on supplies.

Save money on craft supplies by shopping at the dollar store. You won't believe what you can make!
Photo by Rhodi Lopez on Unsplash; Canva

Turn Cheap Craft Supplies Into Pretty DIY Décor

For many crafters, the secret to staying within budget is buying supplies from the dollar store. All dollar stores are different, but each one carries tons of items that can be transformed into things like cute shelves or decorations for your home.

You can also make great gifts from dollar-store items and make them look high-end with just a little bit of imagination and creativity. Many brides make DIY wedding decorations from these low-cost supplies to save money, too. Whatever the occasion, check out these ideas for inspiration!

Craft Ideas From Dollar Tree (and Other Dollar Stores)

Cute Storage Basket
Fall Wagon
Arched Lantern
Picture Frame Lantern
Apple Crate Shelves
Foam Dice Tic-Tac-Toe Set
Salt Shaker and Butter Dish Planter
Miscellaneous Crafts

Cute Storage Basket

You can easily transform many different items into adorable storage containers, like this wire basket storage idea.

Supplies

Candle holder
Wire basket
Burner cover set
Mini teatime set
e6000 glue
Spray paint

Instructions

Begin by gluing your mini teapot onto the burner cover.
After the glue dries, spray-paint your burner cover, basket, and candle holder.
When the paint is dry, glue your basket to the candle holder.
Let the glue dry, then place whatever you want in the basket and use the burner cover as your lid.

More Blinged-Out Container Ideas

Go from "blah" to glam by upgrading plain jars and baskets with new lids, new colors, and a little sparkle. The photo gallery below contains tons of additional ideas for containers.

Glue a figurine onto the lid to serve as a handle, then spray paint the whole lid a metallic color.

A cameo and some glittery ribbon turn this jar from boring to glam!

Decals, ribbons and bling are all great additions to a plain glass jar.

Cabinet knobs can become amazing handles for these jars!

Here's another example of using glittery ribbons and crystal cabinet knobs.

Have Q-tips ever been this glamorous before?

This is another idea for those wire baskets—with two of the larger ones, you can actually make an end table!

Here's another take on a teapot-lid container.

The before and after on these baskets is so cute!

Show off a perfect faux rose in a blingy jar.

You can stack two jars together to create a larger piece.

The teal ribbon and sparkly rhinestones make these candle jars amazingly eye-catching.

Glass table scatter is an easy way to update a plain candle holder.

A candleholder, a wooden knob and a wooden letter turn this plain glass jar into a personalized candy container.

With some tulle and deco mesh, you can make a great centerpiece for a princess-themed birthday party.

Look closer at this elegant fairy house—that's a glass bowl, a flower pot and a ceramic plate and bowl!

Fall Wagon

This would make a great decoration for a fall-themed event or a seasonal piece for your home. These materials were found at a Dollar Tree, but you may find similar items at other dollar stores.

Supplies

Brownie pan
Spatula
Two packs of magnetic tins (four tins total)
Paint (red, black, and other colors for decoration)
Glue

Instructions

Begin by painting the brownie pan red and the tins black.
Glue the tins to the brownie pan for wheels.
Glue the spatula to the bottom of the brownie pan for a handle.
You can now decorate the wagon how you like and fill it with seasonal items, like cute pumpkins.

Arched Lantern

This lantern would make a fantastic decoration or centerpiece for a wedding, and nobody will believe it was made with dollar store items!

Supplies

One package of Hot Wheels race car tracks (two tracks per package)
One 8″ square box sign
One ping-pong ball
Scrap cardboard paper and foam board
Faux greenery and/or flowers
Hot glue and a glue gun
Spray paint
Battery-operated tea light

Instructions

Bend the race track to form the lantern arch.
Place the arch in the square box sign, using the corners to hold the arch.
Glue the race track in place with the hot glue gun.
Glue the ping-pong ball to the top.
Paint the arch the color of your choice.
Once the paint dries, add whatever decorations you like, including a battery-operated tea light so it lights up.

More Arched Lantern Ideas

Try constructing these lanterns for different holidays and events. You can paint them a wide variety of colors and use various items for decorating them, from ribbons to rope to wooden beads. Check out more ideas in the photo gallery below!

Create a miniature scene in your arched lantern.

Add some lace to the tracks to make a pretty piece for a wedding.

The black paint on this lantern really sets off the floral display!

Between the paint job and the fabric laid on the tracks, this lantern looks upscale.

You can add wooden beads to the tracks and to the top of the lantern for a nubby decoration.

Bling out your lantern for a true statement piece.

Why not put an actual lantern inside your arches?

Here's a reminder that these beautiful creations are made from Hot Wheels tracks!

This is the "before"—here's an assembled lantern prior to painting. Look at the clever use of a mason jar lid at the top!

Rope also makes a lovely decoration for your arches.

This pretty white lantern has an "aged" patina done by dry-brushing.

Picture Frame Lantern

Here's another DIY lantern idea. Can you believe this is made out of dollar-store picture frames? Using black electrical tape for the "leaded glass" is an ingenious hack!

Supplies

Four black picture frames
Black electrical tape
Black cardboard or cardstock
Glue
Battery-operated candle (do not use a flame candle; it's a fire hazard)

Instructions

Remove the glass from the frames.
Cut electrical tape into thin strips and tape it onto the glass in a criss-cross diamond pattern (see the photo for an example).
Put the glass back in the frames.
Glue the frames together to form a box. Use black cardboard to create a removable top or bottom.
Place the battery-operated candle inside the box and turn it on to enjoy your lantern!

Apple Crate Shelves

Most dollar stores have a section of plain wood items in a variety of fun shapes, including apple crates or other rustic crates. With some creativity, you can turn these into cute little shelves!

Supplies

Three apple crates (mini crates were used for this project)
Two wooden arrows or other long wooden pieces for the sides
Glue
Paint
Stencils for writing (optional)

Instructions

Paint the crates and arrows in the colors of your choice. Leave the areas where you'll be gluing them together unpainted so the glue adheres well (you can pencil out these areas).
If you want to paint words onto the crates, do that now. Use a stencil if you need some help making neat letters.
When the paint is dry, glue the arrows and crates together to create a shelving unit. Start by gluing one of the arrows to each crate, then glue the other arrow on the other side.
Let the glue dry, then fill the shelves with whatever you like.

More Cute DIY Shelf and Crate Ideas

There are tons of other crafts you can make with these simple wooden pieces. Scroll through the gallery below for more ideas!

These crates and arrows are decoupaged for a pretty floral look.

Combine a crate with a cutting board for a lovely kitchen storage piece.

Individual crate panels can create a great rustic sign.

These crates have been turned into handy bathroom shelves.

Fill a crate with jute carrots for an Easter display.

Combine crates together to make kiosk-style shelves.

Foam Dice Tic-Tac-Toe Set

Most dollar stores carry large foam dice that can be turned into letter blocks, cute characters, and other crafts for your home. This idea changes the blocks into a chunky tic-tac-toe set that works both as a decoration and as a fun game!

Supplies

Nine foam dice
White paint or white balloons
Black paint or decals

Instructions

First, decide if you want to paint the dice or cover them with balloons. If you're using paint, then paint the dice. If you're using balloons, stretch the balloons over the dice and snip off the ends with scissors. Watch the video below for an example!
Add a design to one side of each die, either by painting it with black paint or adding a decal. Use one design for five of the dice and a different design for the other four. The project shown above used chickens and eggs, for example.
Dry-brush on a little black paint along the edges for a rustic look, if you like.
Display in a 3″ x 3″ square on their own or in a wooden tray.

More Foam Dice Craft Ideas

You can do so much with these chunky pieces of foam. It's hard to remember they started out as dice! Scroll through the photo gallery below for more ideas, from foam snowmen to seasonal messages.

Dribble on some brown paint to create chocolate-covered marshmallows.

Stack up the dice for little snowpeople!

Here's another take on a tic-tac-toe set.

You can nestle your letter blocks in a frame or crate for a sweet display.

One neat idea is to create a different message on each side of the dice.

Letter blocks make great seasonal decorations, like spelling "LUCK" for St. Patrick's Day.

Add hats to foam dice for a wintery decoration.

Salt Shaker and Butter Dish Planter

Nestle some salt shakers in a butter dish, then fill each one with faux flowers to create a gorgeous planter—on the cheap!

Supplies

Three or four salt shakers
one butter dish
Paint
Faux flowers and greenery
Other decorations of your choosing, like jute rope, ribbons, and buttons

Instructions

Remove the tops from the salt shakers.
Paint the salt shakers and the butter dish. You can paint them all the same color or use contrasting colors.
When the paint is dry, decorate the items however you like. In the photo above, the crafter wrapped jute rope around the shaker tops and the dish, then glued on rustic buttons.
Arrange faux flowers and greenery into the shakers and display.

More DIY Salt Shaker Planters

You can have so much fun with this idea! Use more salt shakers, use different paint colors and decorations, and swap out the greenery every season. Scroll through the photos below to see some examples!

This set is painted a gorgeous turquoise shade.

These tiny planters look so sweet in the kitchen, especially next to a cutting board craft!

This colorful display would look especially nice in springtime.

The simple black, white and beige color scheme of these planters offsets the soft purple flowers.

Use glittered greenery for a Christmas display!

The before and after in this photo shows the amazing results you can get with this easy craft.

Miscellaneous Crafts Made From Dollar Store Supplies

The photos below show a grab-bag of other things you can make, from wreaths to beehives to light-up lighthouses! It's really remarkable how you can transform simple items into beautiful decorations.

This wreath is made from painted clothespins!

By wrapping jute rope around upside-down goblets, you can create adorable beehives.

Here's another jute beehive idea. This one uses a candleholder.

This lighthouse is made from upside-down flower pots stacked on top of each other. Don't forget the fairy lights!

Here's another flower pot lighthouse idea. These are topped with tin lanterns!

Enjoy Your Next Shopping Trip!

The next time you visit your local dollar store, look at everything from a crafter's perspective. It's not about what it is; it's about what you can turn it into!

Good luck finding some inexpensive crafty supplies, and share your ideas in the comments!