Good Things

Beautiful things that you can replicate with dollar store materials:

1. Anthropology inspired mirror

Materials needed:

3-5" round Dollar Tree candle mirrors -$3

1- full length mirror with black frame - $15 at Target

1- Dollar Tree double pack of electrical tape- $1

1- Dollar Tree tube of super glue- $1

TOTAL -$20

Instructions: position three round mirrors evenly down the center of the long mirror and glue in place with super glue. Let dry over night. Tape straight lines from the round mirrors out to the edges and down the center. Carefully tape around each round mirror, being careful not to stretch the electrical tape too much. It can result in peeling later. Hand mirror vertically or horizontally.

2. Placemat pencil cups

Materials needed:

2- Dollar tree placemats -$2

thread and sewing machine or needle -on hand

sewing pins- on hand

TOTAL -$2

Instructions: Cut one rectangle each out of two contrasting place mats along the edge of the place mats. Cut one circle each out of the remainder of the place mats. Sew both rectangles into a tube along the short edge. Place one rectangle inside the other with seams facing each other. sew the hemmed edge of the rectangles together. Turn that piece inside out and pin circle to bottom with patterns matching. stitch in place. Turn right side out and fold down the top inch.

3. Paper Bag Vases

Materials needed:

1- bag of Dollar tree lunch sacks -$1

assorted rubber stamps- on hand

white stamp pad- on hand

TOTAL -$1

Instructions: Cut brown paper lunch sacks down to size. Stamp front and back stamps in white ink. Place any container inside such as a bowl, jelly jar, or glass. Fill with flowers. Make several designs and store flat for whenever you need them.

4. Lace Doily Bowls

Materials needed:

1- crocheted lace doily -$1

bowl- on hand

liquid starch- $2+

TOTAL -$3+

Instructions: Completely soak the lace doily in liquid starch. Drap over the back of an upturned bowl and smooth down. Let dry over night or until completely dry. De-mold and fill with lovely things.

5. Clip Bookmark

Materials needed:

1- set of large clips- $1

1- permanent marker- $1 (or rub on words)

TOTAL -$2

Instructions: With a marker or rub on words. Decorate a large office clip and use as a bookmark or mail clip.

Easy Halloween Party Decorations

Quick, cheap and easy were my Halloween party decorating themes last year. I managed to get a majority of my decorations at the Dollar Tree. Here's what we did:

Witch Laundry. I used black and long socks that I had in my closet and decorated them with pinned on bows and the plastic spiders I got out of a pack of spider webbing. The hats are plain and sparkly hats from the Dollar Tree and Target's dollar spot decorated with scarves of my own and black and orange crepe streamers. The gloves are just a pair of stretchy orange gloves with pinned on bows. All hung up on green dollar store clothing line with old fashioned clothespins.

Witch laundry

witch hats $1 ea.

stretchy gloves $1

ribbon and scarf accents (on hand)

black crepe streamer $1

orange crepe streamer $1

clothesline $1

clothes pins $1

safety pins (on hand)

socks (on hand)

plastic spiders (from a bag of spider web)

The 'laundry tub' cauldron stuffed with crumpled newspaper and topped with spider webbing. The bubbles are silver and blue christmas ornaments tucked inside. Clear would work well too. It rests on a 'fire' of orange twinkle lights. I added some empty laundry containers and a few more clothespins next to it. On the window ledge behind is a dollar tree raven, a dollar store frame with a pic of the Bride of Frankenstein and a tall dollar store vase filled with orange, green and purple Christmas decorations on a bit of spanish moss.

Laundry Cauldron

cauldron (on hand)

Twinkle lights (on hand)

spider webbing $1

Christmas decorations $1

Window Display

raven $1

silver frame $1

tall glass vase $1

Christmas decorations $1 (or on hand)

spanish moss $1

Another window ledge holds some dollar store bones, a tea light and a glitter skull on a bed of spanish moss. The dome is a 2 liter bottle with the bottom cut off and the top covered with tin foil set upon a saucer. The skull is decorated with scrapbook paper and black and orange crepe paper streamer. The dome is accented with scrapbook ribbon from Target's dollar spot and a small button that we had on hand.

Glitter Skull Dome

glitter skull $1

scrapbook paper $1 (or on hand)

black crepe streamer $1

orange crepe streamer $1

spanish moss $1

saucer (on hand)

2 liter pop bottle (on hand)

tinfoil (on hand)

scrapbook ribbon $1

button or other accent (on hand)

For the costume contest awards, I decorated some dollar store bones with scraps of ribbon and some metal scrapbook accents I had on hand (plastic skull or spider rings would work too.) I wrote the categories on the sides of the bones in permanent marker.

Costume Bone Awards

bones $1

scraps of ribbon $1 (or on hand)

accents $1 (or on hand)

Costume contest winners also received a goody bag full of Halloween pencils, skeleton bendy straws, plastic bookmarks, rings and other favors, and candy.

Goody Bags

goody bags $1

Halloween pencils $1

skeleton bendy straws $1

plastic Halloween favors $1

Candy $1

Classic Literature Halloween Theme

Want Classic Literature themed halloween decor? Here's a few ideas that can be replicated with dollar store materials.

Great Expectations: Miss Havisham's rotted wedding feast.

Set up a table like a wedding cake table, draps with white or lacy cloth. stack three varying size white hat boxes or make fake ones from foam board circles and tag board sides. Glue together. To tier the layers, use candlestick holders. Add white fake flower blossoms and strings of mardi gras beads as iced decor. Spray paint it all white Top with two toy skeletons (dollar stores usually have the rubbery kind or use the skeleton party straws) Decorate as bride and groom with scraps of black fabric. Make a bridal bouquet with white and black flowers and tie with a black ribbon. Lay alongside cake. Cover the entire table with a wrap of spider webbing as thin as you can get it.

Dollar store supplies:

Toy skeletons or jointed skeleton straws

Black ribbon

Black and White faux flowers

white foam board

white tag board

superglue

candlesticks

spiderwebbing

White spray paint

white lace doilies

White plastic table cloth

Edgar Allan Poe: The Raven.

Set up a halloween vignette. With a piece of chalk or a white paint pen white quotes from the book on a piece of black tag board and use this as the back drop. Grab a dollar store easel and set up a copy of Poe's book. If you don't have one, find a cover you like online and print out a full page color copy, glue to white foam board. Throw down some tattered cheesecloth or Dollar Tree creepy cloth and some black craft feathers or feathers plucked from a second bird. Get a small silver ornate frame and add a photo of Poe to the table. If you're lucky enough to have a decorative bird cage, place a feathered raven inside. Print NEVERMORE on a strip of paper and glue it to beak as if he were holding it in his mouth. If you don't have a birdcage, glue a roll of black tag board or a stick to the top of a candlestick horizontally, Spray paint black and glue bird atop. Nab a couple ceramic bird sculptures and spray paint black, add red painted or glitter eyes. Mix in any other number of household items like black and hard cover books, pumpkins, clocks, an old typewriter, a vase of fake flowers, etc.

Dollar store supplies:

Back spray paint

black plastic tablecloth

halloween creepy cloth

ceramic bird sculptures

black craft feathers

black tag board

foam board

chalk or white paint pen

easel

small silver ornate frame

feathered raven

candlestick

fake flowers

vase

The Legend of Sleepy Hallow: Ichabod Crane.

Paint a pumpkin white and write 'Ichabod' on it in a fancy script. If your handwriting is not the best, print a large font and cut it out and glue it to the pumpkin. Top with a top hat. Here's a link to make a top hat from tag board, scrap fabric (like a black t-shirt) and wire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKcbk6xnSz4

You'll also need a hot glue gun and sticks. Percha atop a wooden stool. Add a pirate spyglass painted black from the party favor section. Decorate hat with a black ribbon hat band.

Dollar store materials needed:

white spray paint

black spray paint

black tag board

black t-shirt

pirate spyglass favor

hot glue gun

glue sticks

black ribbon

Alice in Wonderland: The Red Queen.

Spray paint two more pumpkins white. Paint the Queen of hearts silhouette on one. Secure a frame of black lace around it with sewing pins or glue. Use a victorian face silhouette like in the picture or a full body silhouette like in the clip art below. On the second pumpkin write 'off with your head in black permanent marker or cut and paste printed letters. Decorate with thin black ribbon and more pins or glue.

Dollar store materials needed:

white glue

sewing pins

black lace

black ribbon

white spray paint

Mac Beth: The three witches.

Set up a dessert buffet that recalls the three witches from MacBeth. Cover your table in black or lime green plastic tablecloth. Add halloween creepy cloth. The dollar store usually has small plastic cauldrons. Fancy these up by super gluing them to black spray painted candle sticks, upside down ice cream glasses and plant holders. Mini cauldrons can hold nuts and candies. Make witch broom take home favors by vertically shredding brown paper lunch bags. layer two together and fill with candies. gather loose ends around a stick and wrap tightly with black electrical tape or a twist tie. For centerpieces: the dollar store has some great fall grass and pussy willow stems tight now. Grab a couple bunches and slip them into a pair of black shoes or boots. Place in the center of the table. On either side of the shoes, display two simple black witch hats that you have decorated with feathers, ribbon, pom poms, jewels and whatever else you find. Perch them atop pillar candles set in black spray painted candle holders. With a permanent marker, write 'bubble, bubble' and 'toil and trouble' on two white candles. Or pint and wrap around the pillar candles. For added effect, super glue a glass plate to an upside down ice cream glass to make a cake plate, Fill with assorted bottles from the dollar store and your recycling bin that are labeled with ingredients mentioned in the passage and decorated with plastic spiders and bits of ribbon.

Check out my next post for a simple dollar store dessert buffet!

Dollar store supplies needed:

black or lime green plastic table cloth

Halloween cheesecloth

small and mini plastic cauldrons

candle sticks

ice cream glasses

plant holders

black spray paint

brown paper lunch bags

black permanent marker

black electrical tape

faux fall grass sems

black witch hats

feathers

ribbon

jewels

embellishments

pillar candles

white candles

plastic spiders

assorted glass bottles

candies and treats

Bonus: More great images to frame and place around the home:

Big Labowski Bowling Party

Here's some great ideas for a Big Labowski inspired bowling party that would be awesome at your favorite bowling alley. Could also be paired with a home Wii Bowling tournement. Don't forget to whip up a batch of White Russians and sarsaparillas (fancy rootbeer). Eats can be boling style food like chips, pretzles and popcorn. Here's some simple cupcakes you can make with colored frosting:

Here's a cuter version made with marzipan decorations complete with gel and sprinkle accents:

I love the details of these rug coasters available on Amazon but they are spendy. You can make your own by printing out coaster size rug images and sticking a sheet of sticky cork or fun foam to the back. Laminate the image with clear contact paper first to prevent spills from spearing the image. These make great take home favors to!

Here's a great idea for another kind of favor. Just replace the 'lucky you' sticker with three dot stickers to resemble a bowling ball. place at each place setting in a clear plastic bag. This lets us explore the favors without losing all the little toys afterwards.

To make these, simply bay a few colors of crepe streamers from the dollar store, a few sheets of tissue paper or crepe paper, dot stickers and assorted flat favors such as mini badges, printed bandaids, printed balloons, rub on tatoos, silk pirate eye patches, mardi gras beads, toy rings, fake mustaches, foil wrapped chocolates, novelty coins and any thing else flatish that you can think of. Pick a bouncy ball or other 3D toy for the center to give it it's rounded shape or slip a cool toy into a clear plastic ornament. You can make your own laminated three leaf clovers by picking a bunck of clovers and laying them on clear contact paper, add a fourth leaf and top with more contact paper (or if you're lucky, run it through the home laminator) cut into squares.

Finally here's a cool toy that retails for about $12, The Big Labowski in your Pocket, a toy that has several spoken lines from the movie. Great prize gifts for the best bowling team or the person with the highest score or bowling average at the end of the night.

$20 Weekly Grocery List

This is my attempt at at $20 weekly grocery list for 2 big eaters, 2 parents and 1 young child, or 1 parent and 2 children. I have not tried this but if anyone does, please let me know if it's feasible and how it went.   UPDATE:  See my variations below

This is a list of fresh items such as fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat to buy. I make the assumption that you have basic pantry items on hand such as spices and herbs, flour, sugar, rice, oatmeal, couscous, oils and vinegars, salt and pepper, baking powder and soda, honey, peanut butter, Ramen noodles, powdered sugar, popcorn seeds, bouillon cubes, onions, garlic etc.

I also assume that you have a variety of basic recipes at your disposal such as white sauce, yogurt cake base, crumble topping (flour or oatmeal based), home made vinaigrette dressing, stir fry sauces (stir fry, peanut or teriyaki), riz au lait, oatmeal cookies, cake salé base (using white wine or beer), risotto base, etc. These can be easily customized.


Here's the basic shopping list: Aldi, MN 2020

1 head lettuce or choice $1.50 $1.09 bag spinach, $1.05 iceberg head
1 bunch of carrots $0.50 $1.55 2 lb bag, $0.99 baby, 
1 fresh or frozen "meat" $3.00 $2.19 frozen ground turkey, $0.89 tuna, $0.89 hot dogs, $2.59 brats, $2.75 Italian sausage, $2.09 turkey bacon, $3.25 sliced ham

• chicken
• beef
• lamb
• turkey
• tofu
• sliced ham

1 bag of pasta of choice $1.00 $1.09 rotinni, farfalle, penne, 2 boxes mac and cheese
1 bag of generic cereal of choice $2.00 $1.35 crispy oats, $1.65 crispy rice, $1.45 fruit rounds, $2.05 multigrain squares
1 large container of yogurt $1.20 $1.99 32oz vanilla
1 fresh fruit $1.50

• bananas
• pears
• apples
• strawberries
• oranges
• kiwis

1 fresh vegetable $1.00

• tomatoes
• cucumber
• zucchini
• pumpkin / squash
• corn

1 dozen eggs $1.50 $1.55
1 canned vegetable $0.50 $0.75, $0.55 corn

• spinach
• mushrooms
• tomatoes
• corn
• artichokes

1 canned fruit $0.50 $1.05 pineapple/orange, $1.25 pear/peach/cocktail

• pears
• pineapple

1 bag sliced wheat bread $0.80  $0.89 white, $1.39 wheat
1 gallon of milk $2.50 $2.19 1 percent
1 brick of cheese $2.50 $1.85
dried beans of choice $0.50  $0.66 most cans, $1.65 dry pinto

TOTAL $20.00 $20.70


Shop smart and stay in the budget. If you see meat on sale, buy more than usual and freeze it for later, or try a meat you usually can't afford, choose the fruit and veggies in season so you can get more for your money, vary your lettuces, fruit veggies, pastas and cheeses, buy whole items like a head of lettuce instead of bagged lettuce, use coupons and look for sales before heading to the store.


That might not seem like much to eat so here's a simple weekly menu to show how to use it all. M-F show breakfast and dinners Sat and Sun show lunches and desserts too.

MONDAY:
B: Muffins
L: Hot pasta with salad

TUESDAY:
B: Crêpes or Pancakes
L: Couscous or Tajine

WEDNESDAY:
B: Fruit and Yogurt
L: Quiche with Salad

THURSDAY:
B: Oatmeal
L: Bean dish with rice

FRIDAY:
B: Tartines or french toast
L: Stir fry with rice or noodles and oatmeal cookies

SATURDAY:
B: Cereal
L: Sandwiches or Cake Salé with tabbouleh and crudités
D: Risotto and yogurt cake

SUNDAY:
B: Omelettes
L: Cold pasta salad and Riz au Lait
D: Stew with salad and fruit crumble or fruit salad


Yeah but eat the same thing each week? No, that's boring and not healthy. Here's a list of variations that you can do:

Muffins: Spiced, Apple cinnamon, chocolate, lemon, oatmeal...
Pasta: tomato sauce, pesto, cream and garlic, lemon pepper...
Salads: fresh herbs, fruit and cheese, apples and raisins, nuts, shredded carrots, tomatoes...
Couscous: vegetarian, meat...
Bean Dishes: Lentils and ham, casoulet, baked beans, reified beans, hummus...
Stir fry: Veggie, Chicken, Beef, Noodle...
Sandwiches: BLT, Egg salad, cold meat, grilled cheese, cheese and onion...
Risotto: Tomatoes, Squash or Pumpkin, mushrooms, zucchini, artichokes...
Yogurt cake: spiced, lemon, chocolate, banana nut, glazed, pineapple upside down...
Omelettes: Cheese, ham, mushrooms, spinach, herbs...
Pasta salad: add tomatoes, cheese, beans, mushrooms, zucchini, corn, onion...
Stew: Chili, white chili, beef stew, beef stroganoff, pot pie...
Crumble: apple, pear, berries...
Quiche: ham and cheese, potato and bacon bits, onion, leek, cheese, chicken...
Tartines: tomato, cucumber salt and dill, cheese, butter, honey, peanut butter...


Finally, here's some tips for organizing and making the most out of your menus:

Wednesday: set dried beans to soak in a large bowl for Thursday.

Friday: prepare tabbouleh to marinate for Saturday.

Friday: movie night, make a big bowl of popcorn. Flavor with shredded or parmesan cheese, sugar, cinnamon, garlic, etc.

Saturday: Invite friends. Risotto is cheap and easy to multiply. Serve carrot chips with yogurt and dill dip as an appetizer and serve a special yogurt cake for dessert. Glaze cake with powdered sugar and water or sprinkle with powdered sugar or cocoa powder. Try mixing powdered coffee with a chocolate cake base for an adult taste.

Saturday: make extra risotto rice and set aside for riz au lait for Sunday.

Sunday: If you have a slow cooker, put stew together at lunch for dinner

Sunday: Make your grocery list and do the shopping, bake muffins, precook and freeze pancakes with a sheet of wax paper between them for easy microwaving later, cook and freeze french toast.

Use homemade vinaigrette dressing on veggie salads and cold pasta salads.

Add powdered curry to vinaigrette dressing on cold pasta salads for more kick.

Stir fry and pasta salads are a great way to use up odds and ends of leftover beans and vegetables.

Use a basic white sauce on hot pasta to make cheesy, lemon, or garlic sauces

Don't have a muffin pan? Bake a rectangular cake and slice.

Snack? leftover crudities with yogurt dip, cereal, cereal trail mix, fruit, oatmeal cookies, popcorn...

Dessert after meals: a la Francais: fruit, yogurt, compote, square of chocolate, coffee

Keep a shopping list handy if ever you run out of pantry staples.

Serve french toast and pancakes with powdered sugar, fruit, or compote.

Top tartines with honey, butter, cheese, peanut butter, cucumber, tomatoes, cheese...

Flavor yogurt with fruit and freeze in small paper cups with Popsicle sticks for a fresh dessert or snack.

Not enough meat for a dish? Mix with or substitute tofu or beans.

Stock up on canned goods when they're on sale.

Buy cheap baking chocolate bars, chop and add to muffins, cakes, cookies, pancakes and riz au lait.

Use a dollop of yogurt to soften a pesto or tomato sauce.

Throw a dollop of peanut butter in a hot stir fry for a nutty sauce.

Grow your own vegetables and herbs if possible

Here's my menus for the two weeks:

Week One:

MONDAY:

B: Muffins made with cinnamon, nuts (optional) and 1 banana, diced and brown sugar crumble topping

L: Hot pasta with salad linguine with garlic cream sauce and 1 chicken breast, diced; salad with thinly sliced radishes and a bit of onion and homemade vinaigrette dressing

TUESDAY:

B: Crêpes or Pancakes  pancakes topped with powdered sugar or maple syrup if you have it

L: Couscous or Tajine Couscous with carrots, cinnamon and white beans with raisins if you have them and 1/2 chicken breast

WEDNESDAY:

B: Fruit and Yogurt plain with sugar and topped with one canned half pear each, sprinkle with cinnamon or top with a mint leaf

L: Quiche with Salad onion quiche or tart with sweet vinaigrette dressing on green salad

THURSDAY:

B: Oatmeal with banana, cinnamon and nuts

L: Bean dish with rice cajun white beans and rice

FRIDAY:

B: Tartines or french toast  radish tartine with butter and salt on wheat bread or toast

L: Stir fry with rice or noodles and oatmeal cookies  leftover veggies and meat over rice, sub Marshmallow O's bars for oatmeal cookies if you have marshmallows

SATURDAY:

B: Cereal honey nut O's

L: Sandwiches or Cake Salé with taboulé and crudités cake sale with 1/2 can mushrooms, and sliced radishes with yogurt and herb dipping sauce

D: Risotto and yogurt cake  zuchinni risotto and chocolate pear yogurt cake

SUNDAY:

B: Omlettes with shredded cheese

L: Cold pasta salad and Riz au Lait with diced cheese, fresh onion strips and a vinegarette dressing 

D: Stew with salad and fruit crumble or fruit salad  Chicken white chili with 1/2 chicken breast and white beans

Week Two:

MONDAY:

B: Muffins from last weeks batch

L: Hot pasta with salad linguine with lemon pepper sauce and 1 chicken breast, diced; salad with thinly sliced radishes and a bit of onion and homemade vinaigrette dressing

TUESDAY:

B: Crêpes or Pancakes  crepes with sugar and lemon juice or any jam or peanut butter you have on hand

L: Couscous or Tajine Tajine with carrots,zuchinni, lemon and olives and 1/2 chicken breast 

WEDNESDAY:

B: Fruit and Yogurt plain with sugar and topped with 1/2 sliced banana each, sprinkle with chopped peanuts or walnuts if you have them

L: Quiche with Salad   fine herb quiche with potatoes if you have them and diced radish and onion salad with vinaigrette served on a lettuce leaf

THURSDAY:

B: Oatmeal  with brown sugar and maple syrup if you have any

L: Bean dish with rice  Cassoulet with white beans over rice

FRIDAY:

B: Tartines or french toast  french toast made with eggs,milk and cinnamon, top with thin sliced banana and chopped nuts if you have them, sprinkle with powdered sugar

L: Stir fry with rice or noodles and oatmeal cookies  any leftover veggies and meats with homemade teriyaki sauce over noodles

SATURDAY:

B: Cereal honey nut O's with sliced bananas if there are leftovers

L: Sandwiches or Cake Salé with taboulé and crudités radish sandwiches cut tea style with crusts trimmed served along side peanut butter and honey ones, taboule with herb and sliced olives if you have them, served with fresh carrot 'chips' and yogurt and dill dipping sauce.

D: Risotto and yogurt cake 1/2 can mushroom risotto and spiced yogurt cake

SUNDAY:

B: Omlettes with fine herbs

L: Cold pasta salad   with left over veggies and homemade thai peanut butter dressing and Riz au Lait

D: Stew with salad and fruit crumble or fruit salad chicken pot pie with carrots, leftover veggies and 1/2 chicken breast, diced with homemade crust; pear crumble with 2 pear halves and brown sugar crumble topping

SNACKS:

popcorn

snack mix made from honey nut O's tossed with leftover popcorn, raisins and nuts

radish tartines

peanut butter and honey tartines

extra oatmeal cookies

extra muffins

extra yogurt cake

cheesy popcorn

cheese slices 

Dollar Store Sock Creations

Socks are easy to find at dollar stores. With one pair of adult socks and three pairs of childrens socks, you can make a pair of cuddle Knitwit dolls as shown here an Martha Stewart.You can also make a sock dog or elephant from mismatched socks.

You can vary the look by changing the tail or ears. Here's a basic tutorial from a peek inside the fishbowl.


Here's where to find instructions for the Original Rockford Red Heel Sock Elephant. I gave mine a retro circus look with yarn pompoms and fabric scraps hot glued or sewn on.

Book Club Crafts

I ran across this janneypie crafts blog with some awesome book club crafts made with dollar store stuff.

My favorites are the little book tags for discussion.

If you find a good read at the dollar store, stock up on copies. Then give them to each person in the club.

Other great dollarstore items for book clubs are coffe mugs and bookmarks.

Puy a pack of plactis spoons, dip each spoon head in melted chocolate and let cool.
Wrap dipped ends with a piece of cellophane and a bit of ribbon.
These make excellent coffee stir ins.
Add flavors to melted chocolate like mint, orange, etc.