Project Estimate

• Tea ball - $1.00
• Plastic toy duck - $1.00

Total:  $2.00

(note: you can get a PVC-free duck here)

This simple project requires a stainless steel teaball, and a small buoyant toy. The toy needs to be small enough to fit inside your mug, in this case it was a small baby duck (Mama duck will be used for bath-time). These ducks have a small opening located on their underside, this is where our teaball will attach to. If the toy you use doesn't have an opening to hook the teaball in, you will need to create one.

Teaballs have a chain tether that allows them to be dipped into a mug of hot water without burning your fingers. Using needle-nose pliers, remove the chain links until you have a short tether.
Keep the hooked end piece.

With the chain clipped to a short length, insert the flanged hook end into the opening in the ducks underside.
That's it, your tea duck is ready to go!

Boil water, load up your tea duck, dunk, and enjoy!

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Using a medium-fine grit sandpaper (150-175grit), lightly sand the shiny surface of the cover, make sure to sand over the edges, too. The light switch cover needs to be roughed up to allow the paper covering to stick when glued, without sanding the paper transfer is likely to fall off.

It's a good idea to lay out your materials in advance, as you may have wet fingers when applying the paper.

Sheets: Cut each sheet slightly larger than the cover. One sheet of pattern per cover.

Glue Mix: 2 parts white glue (about 30ml [1oz]) 1 part warm water (about 15ml [0.5oz]) yield: 6 covers

Once the glue solution has been mixed, dip the sponge into the solution and apply a thin coat to face and sides of the light switch cover. To let your patterns really pop it may be advisable to apply a base layer of white tissue prior to applying the patterned sheet, similar to priming a surface before painting.

Also, because tissue is so thin I would recommend only applying one sheet of patterned paper to each cover. Applying a second pattern over top of the first, even if it's the same design, has the possibility of creating a distorted double-image look.

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Application:

Lay a sheet of dry white tissue on top of wet light switch cover surface, then use the sponge and apply more glue solution on top the white sheet. Next, apply one sheet of dry patterned tissue wrap, dab with more glue solution. I was able to do about 2 covers at a time without the glue drying out too much between applications.

Once patterned sheets have been applied, carefully fold excess tissue sheets over edges and back of the switch cover.

With the tissue still wet, it's time to expose the centre opening. Using a sharp knife carefully pierce the centre opening of each cover and gently fold back/smooth the tissue until the tissue forms a tight skin around the light switch cover. For now, leave the screw openings as they are small and can easily be created when tissue has dried. The excess tissue found around edges and back of switch cover can be removed by gently tearing the tissue at the cover edge (as shown in picture). With the tissue wet this should be easy, just go slow to ensure the tear doesn't run onto the cover face. Apply more glue solution as required to stick down any errant tissue.

Prop covers from the underside, allowing the sides and edges exposed to dry, leave to dry for a few hours at room temperature.

It's time to install them around your house or apartment. Maybe smiley face ones in kids rooms, and some nice pastel pattern in the bedroom. This cheap and simple modification is sure to bring a little extra fun into any room. And if your tastes change these covers can be stripped down to the base plastic with a new pattern applied, or they are inexpensive enough that you can just make new ones.

Have fun!

Tool belts are typically worn by people working in the field who need a place to keep their tools easily accessible in case they need them. Tool belts come in all shapes and sizes depending on what you're doing, and are a handy place to keep tools which are commonly used when working. This project is a twist on the typical tool belt, aimed at crafters and makers, allowing you to centrally store many tools out of the way yet still in easy reach.

This tool belt is able to hang some of my commonly used corded-tools above my workspace, such as soldering iron and glue gun. It's also able to hang extension cords, safety goggles and almost anything with a handle or hook. Using an old belt and some plastic grommets you can hang your crafting tools vertically when not in use and free up some much-needed space on your workbench, this tidy solution keeps your tools as close as you like and is an alternative to a peg-board or shelf storage.

Project Estimate

Total: $3.00

Safety Warning:
Ensure belt selected is in suitable condition to hold light-moderate weight. Cracked/splintered leather belts are not recommended as they may fail when hanging tools.

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Before drilling, it's important to ensure the grommets and belt are compatible.
Ensure your belt is wide enough to accept the grommet and still have enough room left on either side so the belt can handle weight of tools when hung.

The belt used here is 31.8mm (1-1/4") wide, the grommets are 12.7mm (1/2") ID (interior diameter), leaving 9.5mm (3/8) of leather on each side. Drill openings along centerline of belt, I offset each opening by 15cm (6").

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Grommets are used to protect openings from splitting or tearing, made of plastic or metal and used on thin materials like plastic sheets and fabric. The most common place to find grommets in your everyday life is on lace-up shoes.

They may look like doughnuts but are more like sandwiches because the top and bottom of the grommet separate. Poke the bottom neck of the grommet through the opening in your material then place the top of the grommet over the bottom neck, you have now sandwiched your material between the grommet.
Place sandwiched grommet on a solid surface and strike top with hammer, snapping closed the grommet and securing it in place.

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This belt is to be hung from the ceiling. Since the belt will be holding some weight it needs to be secured to a structure to avoid it falling, in my garage I used a ceiling joist. Do not hang from gypsum, it will fall. Anchor to a solid structure.

With a joist located drill an opening for the eye bolt. Drill opening slightly smaller then the diameter of the threads of the eye bolt, this will allow the teeth to grip into the wood and create a solid anchor point.

With hole for eye bolt drilled, feed threaded end of eye bolt through belt buckle. Then, screw eye bolt into opening in ceiling. Use a screwdriver through eye to tighten bolt and give it a snug fit.

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Once belt is installed add s-hooks and start hanging your tools.
The s-hooks I used were thin enough to have two through each grommet, making this tool belt able to store tools on both sides at each grommet point.

The limitation of the belt is determined by weight load, so consider the condition of your belt and which tools you want to hang. That being said, I was able to fully load my belt will all kinds of tools without any issue, as an extreme example I even loaded on my old circular saw. I would estimate this belt could hold 30kg (60lbs) easily.

This project freed my workbench of the usual tool clutter and has given me back some prime real estate, all while keeping my tools close by.

My boys are avid fans of the game Angry Birds.  They love to play it on Daddy's phone -- however, they truly enjoy the whole concept of the game, and love role-playing it!  Well, I too have had Angry Birds on the brain.  But I haven't been playing it; in fact, in all honesty I am just no good at it.  But I have taken my boys' love of the game as an opportunity to MAKE STUFF!  (Check out my plush Angry Birds!)

Yesterday I whipped up some Angry Birds Christmas ornaments.  I am not kidding when I tell you my kids were standing at my feet waiting for me to finish them up!  They are in love!  [Come see how I made them!]

Project Estimate:

• ornaments, $1
• acrylic paint, $1
• felt scraps, 35 cents or on hand
• needle and thread

Total:  $2 and up!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one little girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

After my skull light project a couple weeks ago, I had my string of twinkle lights sitting on my craft table, and the skeleton straws right beside them.  A fantastic idea was born right on the spot!  [click here for details]

Project Estimate:

• skeleton straws, 5/$1 ( used two packages)
• twist-ties, on hand
• twinkle lights, on hand (I used a 20-light strand)

Total:  $2 and up!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one baby girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

The other day, reader N sent me a link to this CB2 Pebble Mat and said she didn't have time to work on the project now, but that it would be a fun dollar store craft. I agreed with her: it would be fun (and also, I don't have time right now either! So many ideas, so little time.) As luck would have it, I stumbled across this project, posted by Meli Melo at After I Finish This Row. She's already done it for us, so I get to post about it, and you get to make your own! You can use the multicolored river rocks like Meli did, or as reader N noted, Dollar Tree has black river rocks available as well. [click here for how to make a river rock pebble mat]

Project Estimate:

• 2 bags of river stone pebbles, $2
• 1 placemat or suitable sturdy fabric cut to preferred size, $1
• e6000, on hand

Total: $3

Additional Resources and Ideas:

• Felted stone rug at yes, i MADE that
• Tree Trimmings doormat at Anthropologie

Today's project is inspired by the idea of "kitbashing," where you take pieces from several model kits to create something new and unique.  My family first got into this concept on a recent trip to my brother J. Clark's house, where we created some unique model spaceships out of items we went and found at a local thrift store.  That was only a few weeks ago, and we have already had two additional "building" sessions here at home since then!

For the Dollar Store Crafts version of "kitbashing," you might pick up a few toys or household items at your local dollar store and combine them with thrifted items or things you no longer use at home.  The possibilities are quite literally endless, and you may be surprised how fun it is to look at everything you find in a new light -- with spaceship-building in mind!  [see how it's done!]

Project Materials:

• Junk!, mine totaled approximately $3
• screwdrivers (for disassembling junk)
• E6000 glue, $5 or on hand
• spray paint, $1

Total:  (for my ship) about $4

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one baby girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

Whenever my nieces come over, they raid my dish towel drawer for "dress-ups."  Yes, they use dish towels for everything from dresses to capes.  It's very fun, and very cute -- but it makes for a lot of laundry!  :o)

Last week at the dollar store I spotted some dish towels -- flour sack style, but a bit smaller and in fun, bright colors.  It was meant to be!  I went straight home with a few and turned them into Dish Towel Superhero Capes -- complete with contrasting lining and a superhero initial!  And it only took about 15 minutes per cape!  [come see how I did it!]

Project Materials:

• two dishtowels, $1 each
• scrap of fusible webbing, on hand
• velcro, on hand

Total: $2!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one baby girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

When Mother's Day rolled around (sneaked up!) this month, I needed something to dress up a gift card.  What better gift for Mother's Day than flowers, and how about something that can be worn year-round?  Enter the silk flowers!!  I created a quick little pin, and pinned it to my card's envelope.  It was quick to make, used simple supplies, and was extremely well-received.  And the best part -- it was SUPER inexpensive!!  [get instructions AND a bonus project idea!]

Project Estimate:

• silk flower bouquet, $1 (mine had enough flowers for 8 pins)
• buttons, on hand
• pin backs (I used 1 1/4" size), $1.30 for 10
• tough scissors (I use kitchen shears)
• hot glue gun

Total:  about $0.25 each!!

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one baby girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.

Fast forward to two weeks ago!  My son recently had a birthday, and on a trip to our local library we learned he was now old enough to get his very own library card.  Oh, the excitement!  But where to keep it, so it would be safe?  His idea:  He needed a WALLET!  Today I'll share how I made it!  [get instructions]

Project Estimate:

• dish towel, $1
• velcro scrap, on hand
• heavy-ish interfacing, on hand

Total:  $1

Caroline Sanchez (Care) has been sewing since her mom taught her the basics at around six years old.  She has always been driven to CREATE, even from a very young age.  She is mommy to two little boys and one baby girl, and almost every spare moment she has is spent in her sewing room or working on her blog, Obsessively Stitching.