How Dollar Stores Enabled the Crafter/Decorator in Me

Years ago, when I was beginning to get the decorating bug, I began subscribing to a couple of those types of magazines. I longed to have my home mirror the beautiful rooms depicted within those glossy pages.

Alas, the family budget wouldn't allow for $60 sofa cushions or $100 artwork.

Around the same time, a dollar store appeared in my neighbourhood. I was fascinated by all the great stuff you could buy for only a buck and quickly realized that some of the smaller pieces in the magazines I was reading could be approximated with items, or a combination of items, from the dollar store.

Thus began my journey to create unique pieces for my home that could be made on a budget.

Up until this point, I'd never considered myself the sort of person who could craft. I've never had a yearning to paint pictures or make pottery and my infrequent attempts to knit didn't spark any deep motivation to create, either.

However, I found that my instincts were good when it came to making small decor pieces. At first, it was as simple as putting coloured stones and a candle into a glass vase. But I soon moved on to creating artwork using dollar store frames and scrapbook paper, and re-imagining pieces for different uses.

Sharing My Ideas

As a writer, I wanted to share my ideas and began writing articles about my creations. I decided that the best way to share them was on a website.

So, in 2006, with my husband’s help, my website, Dollar Store Style came to be. Since then, I've published hundreds of free DIY ideas and tips.

On Dollar Store Style, you’ll find simple ideas for making useful and/or decorative things for inside and outside the home. For instance, I discovered that you could make a pretty kitchen valance using dollar store tea towels.

Parties Without the Expense

I love being able to craft with inexpensive supplies. I've made decorations and party favours for each of the different holidays, as well as decor pieces I'm proud to display in my home.

Easy and Inexpensive

For me, simple and easy is what it's all about. You won't often see me sawing and hammering unless it's with hand tools. While I greatly admire people who can use a power saw to create beautiful pieces, large scale (or even small-scale) woodworking just isn't my thing.

Besides, collecting power tools is an expensive endeavour that doesn't match the easy and inexpensive vibe of Dollar Store Style.

I do, on occasion, use a 30-year-old sewing machine for simple stitching projects. One of my first projects was to use two fabric placemats from a dollar store to make cushion covers.

Good Quality Supplies

The other thing I like about dollar stores is the craft supplies you can buy for a nominal price. Acrylic paints, paint brushes, a variety of glues, including Mod Podge, and so much more.

I even found a rotary cutter at Dollar Tree that works a treat!

DIY to Make a House a Home

Along the way, I discovered that I love making things for my home just as much as I love decorating with the finished projects.

Now, I'm not going to claim that, because of my crafting, my home is now worthy of a magazine spread. But it is a comfortable place filled with things I've made that make me happy.

A home should reflect the personality of its inhabitant(s). Crafting helps me to make any place I live uniquely mine.