Every time I go to the dollar store, I see so many things that would be great additions to a craft project or someone’s decor, but I just can’t buy them all. On my last trip to the dollar store, I decided to snap a few pictures to share my finds with you. I usually go to Dollar Tree, and we have about ten or more in our area (I alternate between about four or five of them). Maybe you’ll see something here that you want to get.
First up are these cute little birdies – they are pretty charming as is, but you could paint them and/or antique them to alter their looks a bit.
I found these cool finial things near the birds. I read a lot of your awesome blogs, and these would fit right in with a lot of people’s decor as is, or you could add them to other projects to add some drama. They’re about six inches tall. I bet they’d look awesome spray-painted in fashion colors (my current favorite color: red-orange). If you painted them and then sprayed them with clear gloss, maybe they’d look kind of like wrought iron? (I think I just talked myself into going back and getting some, by the way!)
Here are some paper lanterns in fun colors, and they come with a lightbulb and a spot for a battery, so you don’t even have to figure out how you would light them up. Easy! Fun party decor, or an easy way to add some color in a tween’s room. You can’t really beat the price, either!
This photo is bad, but these bulletin boards have nice wooden frames and are a pretty generous size (about the size of a legal sheet of paper – approximately 11×17″). I would love to see someone make a miniature version of this Pottery Barn rustic wall organizer with a burlap covering stenciled with postmarks.
(Pottery Barn Inspiration)
The last item is random, but I thought some of you would think these colored staples were fun. They can add a nice little touch if you are making booklets or zines, or I bet they’d be nice in scrapbooking.
What have you found at the dollar store lately?
33 Comments
JHill
I wish they had those finials at our Dollar Tree! They are so pretty. DT also has some collapsible storage containers that fit CD jewel cases, paperwork, crafts supplies, etc.
http://www.dollartree.com/school-office-supplies/desk-organization/Foldable-Utility-Box/291c229c229p306886/index.pro
Teresa H
cool finds!
i needs some paper lanterns like that, but in white, for my sister’s wedding. ever come across them?
heather
@Teresa Have you tried IKEA?
knitwych
Those corkboard frames look pretty cool, but I’ve learned from experience that cheap corkboards are useless. The cork is maybe 1/8 of an inch thick, and simply will not hold tacks.
heather
@knitwych Thanks for the input – very valuable! I wonder if you could alter the boards somehow (add more cork – the kind on a roll), or if it would be more trouble than it’s worth?
Vone
If only I lived in the US. Some cool things.
amy
Those little fleur-de-lis thingys would look cool dipped in paint…I saw a tutorial somewhere (Design Sponge?) once that showed how to make cheap-o items look very Anthropologie!
alli
just FYI, I bought white lanterns like that for a bday party and many of them did not work. had to go back and exchange them and some burned out before the party was even over.
Susan Hemann
Really like the things you saw at the Dollar Tree. I’m going to have to make a trip to mine for the birds and finials. Hope they have them.
I saw that bulletin board in Pottery Barn’s catalog and thought it was great too.
songbirdtiff
I bought one of those birds the last time I was at the dollar tree. I have been trying to decide whether or not to paint it, but I think I like it the way it is.
Shelley
Thanks for sharing! I went and picked up some of the finials today. I think I might get more too. If anyone is having trouble finding them, our store had them in the aisle with the craft supplies (opposite side of the aisle from the candle holders) rather than up front on the display shelves. I didn’t see any of those birds. I did see some cute bird candle holders but I didn’t buy any. Wasn’t sure if I wanted them with the candle holder in them.
Sarah Cook
I just bought a fleur-de-lis from Dollar Tree Thursday! I spray painted it with Rustoleum’s oil-rubbed bronze paint and stuck it up in my kitchen. I love their little knick-knacks for around the house.
Joanne
Great finds! Is it all from Dollar Tree? I’ve just finished painting my craft studio and need some cheap bulletin boards… hoping you found those there!!!
Tara
I bought one of the birds two weeks ago, but haven’t seen the fleur-de-lis items. Got to find those for sure!!!
darla
I bought the birds (two) and the finials, plus another type of ceramic bird (three) I painted those in very bright colors. The birds pictured can be angled slightly and I have one on my mantel looking up at my clock, they have a little bit of expression on there faces like they are curious, cute way to assist in displaying other decor.
heather
@Joanne, yes they’re all from Dollar Tree.
pam
I was thinking of you a few days ago as I was prowling around in the Dollar Store looking for something that might work for my “secret” project! IF it works, you will be the first to know!
You have inspired me to look with new eyes!
GroovieMom
I picked up a bluebird last time I was there. Have to go back and look for the finials now. I love them!
Ali G
I made a super cute bulletin board for my friend for valentines day. I used that board from the dollar tree and ribbon that I had on hand and also some little wood letters that I had from another project. Cost me only $1 and she Loved it! ill have to have her take a picture so I can send it in :)
knitwych
@Heather,
I think you could add cork to the boards, but it would be kind of a pain. It would also increase the cost. I tend to shop the dollar stores for plain frames, then paint them or cover them with polyclay to give as gifts.
Rachelle
I have seen those and too thought, wow, if I was crafty to decorate like those other bloggers, these would be perfect! lol
Heather H
I found the birds, but the finials were a no go at 3 different DT’s for me. I also found a plate in the most lovely shade of robin’s egg blue, which I’m planning to turn into a cake plate.
Joanne
@Heather: I found the corkboards! Yeah! I posted about them here: http://readysetcraft.blogspot.com/2010/03/sneaks.html
heather
@heather h: I have some of those robin’s egg blue dishes too… so pretty!
Anna M.
So cool, I went to the 99cents only store and they had the paper laterns too. They also those umbrella pick things and burgandy ink pads.
maize
I found tons of finals but not one single bird. If anyone wants finals but can’t find them and have some of the birds, I’ll trade ya!
Rachel Ramey
Ooh. Those finials are pretty. I don’t know what I would do with them, though. (I’m not very creative like that.)
I use matte black spray paint to spray metal items to make them look much like wrought iron.
Amy at The Red Chair Blog
Thanks for the heads-up on these items! I bought one of the fleur de lis finials awhile back and spray painted it in a flat black–it turned out really cute.
Sydney
I bought all of those things you listed (except the paper lanterns but I saw them and debated as to whether I needed them or not). They also have lots of pretty vases that you can glue to the base of a plate to make an instant cake plate. My daughter did this and she bought a clear plastic bowl from the bridal area that fit perfectly to cover the plate. It looks really cute in her kitchen. I also bought the metal trays and some of the alphabet magnets from the toy aisle and spray painted them with chalkboard paint. The little kids are really loving these!!
Sydney
Oh, and I forgot to add that we are using the fleur de lis figure by our sign in sheet for our Webelos Cub Scouts. Perfect and only a dollar. Can’t beat that!
ThriftyTeacherBlog
I recently had a post using those
http://thriftyteacherlady.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-have-i-been-up-to-crafty-makeovers.html