Dollar Store Design: Plasticware That Turns Your Head

Great design is everywhere. Sometimes it’s just a matter of looking at ordinary objects from a different angle, like Instagrammer and Montreal-based art director Gary Whitter did here:

Originally posted on Instagram by @gwhitter under #dollarstore.

Bright colors, clean shapes, catchy designs than pop–would you have known this was a dollar store find? Some things just work, no extra dollars required. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Tag your photos with #dollarstore or #dollarstorefinds or #liberty$store to share them with us!

Dollar Store Creativity: Indoor Butterfly Garden

Stumbling across the internets as I so often do, I happened on this terrific idea from mom blogger Amy Bowers, the “mamascout leader” at mamascouts.blogspot.com. It’s a terrific idea for a few reasons:

1. It’s raising butterflies, and everyone loves butterflies. They are the fairies of the bug kingdom, spreading loveliness and pollinating flowers wherever they alight. Plus, they’re lovely bugs that neither sting nor bite. Incredible. And they transform from one cool-but-buggish-bug into something entirely different. Where would metaphors be without butterflies? Besides the whole cocoon-emerging theme, a rose by any other name probably wouldn’t have been a rose in the first place without a butterfly to pollinate it.
2. It’s a project for kids. Kids are awesome, though they have been known to bite and sting. They obviously need the influence of gentle, non-bitey butterflies in their lives.
3. It’s a nature project and science project, but it’s one everyone in the family can get behind. Butterflies bring families together. Especially butterflies raised on the dining room table.
4. It involves a pop-up hamper, a device so cool it makes you want to do laundry just so you can have an empty hamper to play with and pop up and down over and over.
5. Aside from the nature stuff, which you can get either at a nursery inexpensively or free out in, ya know, NATURE, this Project of Infinite Wonder costs all of $1. How can you deny this to your kids now?

Point number 5 is why I’m including it here, though a butterfly blog would be a nifty thing, too. Getting to write a budget butterfly post just made my day.

Way Cute Find of the Week: Dollar Store Shoes

Cute Instagrammable shoes for $1? You kidding? Yes, please! These are way cute, and I like the pairing with the stripey socks. Nicely done!

That’s quite a find @neigenoir! Got a find? Tag it #dollarstore or #dollarstorefinds and maybe I’ll feature it here!

 

Thank God It’s Pinterest Friday: Quick & Elegant Ice Cream Slab Dessert

Source: dollarstoremom.com via Kammera on Pinterest

First things first: The above picture of a chocolate-draped quadrilateral of ice creamy delight looks unbelievably delicious…and I suspect still would look unbelievably delicious even if I hadn’t skipped lunch.

Second: It also looks decadent. That goes with the being a chocolate-draped quadrilateral of ice creamy delight, but it should be said.

Third: Delicious Decadent Desserts = Expensive, Time-Consuming Desserts. (Neither of which should be confused with deserts, which are hot and dry and pretty much the exact opposite of ice creamy delight.) I believe this equation DDC = ET-CD is one of the foundations of higher algebra. Caveat: I majored in English.

Fourth: The exception to this rule is when the said delicious, decadent dessert is MADE ENTIRELY OUT OF THREE INGREDIENTS THAT COST ONE DOLLAR EACH, quickly assembled, lovingly photographed, and pinned to Pinterest to tantalize and tease my tummy on a day I skipped lunch.

Yep, it’s even prettier now, isn’t it? Personally I’m fond of the draped-in-chocolate look (on desserts, not on myself), but you could also bedazzle your dollartastic creation with sprinkles, frosting, or any other imaginative accompaniments you could dream up.

I’m thinking this chocolate-draped miracle is missing something, a little sparkle perhaps. A huge silver spoon that nestles into my hand would look perfect, stuck right in the middle. Don’t you think?

Thanks to Dollar Store Mom for sharing the original post she found at Rambling As Usual, and to pinner Kammera Rice for pinning Dollar Store Mom’s post that tempted me so!

Here are the instructions how to make it:

1. Buy a $1 carton of frozen ice cream from the dollar store, and some $1 chocolate bars, sprinkles, candy or other toppings.
2. Put the box of ice cream on a platter, carefully cut the box away, and freeze the ice cream on the tray until it’s hard again and will keep its shape.
3. Top it how you want: Melt some chocolate and drizzle it down the sides, cover it with crushed candy or elaborate sprinkle designs–go crazy!
4. Put it back in your freezer until you’re ready to stick a giant spoon in the middle of it and hand it to me. I mean, your guests.

Did you make a version? Post it to your blog or Pinterest, then link to it in the comments! I’d love to see it. Please also include directions to your home (just kidding).

She’s Got $1 Smoke on Her Eyes

Have you every played with the makeup sold at the dollar store? This Instagram pic shows that @tiaalynnn has! And why not play with it? Whether you need to practice dramatic new techniques you saw on America’s Next Top Model, experiment with colors, or just pick up some cosmetics that no one will know cost $1, dollar stores have you covered. Love that!

All you need now is some s’mores, pajamas, and a gaggle of friends to come over for makeovers. ❤

You'd never guess she got this smokey look at the dollar store, would you? Beautiful work! Original post at: http://ink361.com/#/photos/147644953212194119_5011506

Got some brilliant #dollarstorefinds? Let me know in the comments, or just tag them on Instagram so I’ll find them. Fun, huh?

 

Free Smile of the Week: Kristina, the Butterfly Knight of the Dollar Store

Today’s post is proof that:

1. Some things at dollars stores are even less than a dollar. Like smiles, photo opps, and priceless moments of silly creative whimsy.
2. Some things you really only can find at dollar stores. Like Butterfly Knights. It really is pretty hard to find them anywhere else.

@itskristinaduh: I cant help it. #butterfly #knight #dollarstore #fun

{Motivation Monday} Discipline

What do you think it takes to accomplish your goals? 

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{Wordless Wednesday} Cereal

 

What’s your favorite dollar store cereal?

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{Motivation Monday} Success

How do you define success?

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Link Love: DIY Swiffer Covers

The Girl on a Budget has searched high and low for a craft project to show some love to, and she has found it! Each year, I look forward to doing some spring cleaning. I give away clothing, shoes or other items I don’t use. I also take the time to thoroughly clean my home, which includes hours of sweeping, mopping and getting rid of those pesky dust bunnies. I happen to love using my swiffer, but I hate having to buy refills, new cloths, etc… The seemingly psychic (I swear they know when I need a DIY project) bloggers at Dollar Store Crafts posted an article on how to “Make Reusable Swiffer Covers.”  This craft is easy to do, and they’ve included a step-by-step pictorial of how to make the covers.

What will you be “swiffer-ing” this spring?

Brought to you by Liberty Opportunities: Are you an entrepreneur? Join thousands of business owners who have chosen Liberty Opportunities to help realize their dream of owning a successful retail store.