Do It Your Freaking Self - dollar tree crafts Archives

Food Safe DIY Jack Skellington Cake Stand

on September 26, 2017

Scare up a good treat by making a simple DIY Jack Skellington Cake stand! Perfect for your Halloween decor or party tablescape! Dollar Store DIY!

Do you ever have those movies that you’re maybe glad you didn’t see as a kid but are also your favorites? I was not allowed to see Nightmare Before Christmas when it came out. Granted, I was about 5 years old with an overactive imagination so this was probably a good decision on my parent’s part. And while I still have quite the imagination, this film has become one of my absolute favorites… At this time of year especially.

MAKE IT: NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS ZERO PILLOW PAL

Also, Hocus Pocus! I saw that movie when I was 7 and it (for some reason) scared the bejebus out of me! I don’t think my parents ever would have let me see it at that age, but we were at a neighbors house and no one really told our parents what we were watching. I spent the entire walk home thinking Billy Butcherson was chasing me and that I should never light a black candle. Like… ever. Now… I love that movie! It is so delightfully campy and I can’t figure out why I was scared in the first place. However, I probably would have loved it anyway so there’s that.

Okay so yes, I had protective parents. But a part of me is glad they understood me enough to not let me give myself nightmares.

Anyway!!! Welcome the Halloween Season! I’m so glad you’re here! It’s probably my favorite because it is also fall and I can wear sweaters with Star Wars characters on them and not get funny looks. This year, I’m hosting a Tim Burton inspired Halloween party so I KNEW I needed to create something Jack themed. This Food Safe DIY Jack Skellington Cake Stand cost me $10 MAX and I can’t wait to show you how to make it!

Food Safe DIY Jack Skellington Cake Stand

Time: 30 minutes + Heat/Dry Time
Cost: $10 or less
Spooky Level: 2

Supplies:
9″ Clear glass plate – I got mine from Ikea but you can get the same ones from amazon.
Multi Surface or enamel paint in black and white
Paintbrush and large foam pouncer
Clear spray sealant (optional)
Glass candle stick – I got mine from the dollar store
E6000 Glue
Printout of Jack’s Face – I sized mine to be 7.5 inches just to give myself some room – you can do this by either loading it into a photo editor or playing around with the scale.

Start by cleaning the back of your plate with rubbing alcohol.

Place the Jack Skellington face on your surface with the plate FACE DOWN over it. This will give you a guide to paint the face!

Using a paintbrush and black enamel paint carefully paint the design on the back side of the plate. Allow it to dry then add a second coat. Let it dry for at least 2 hours.

After painting the face, it’s time to fill in the back. I originally used spray paint but it ended up bubbling and probably wouldn’t have held up after washing. SO! Switching tactics, using white enamel or multi surface paint and a large foam pouncer, fill in the back of the plate. Make sure to paint over the black areas too so the plate will look good from all angles. Let it dry for an hour and go back in for a second coat or just fill in patchy places.

To heat set your paints PLEASE follow the instructions on your paint. Each kind is different with different dry times and I don’t want to tell you different.

I let mine dry for 1 hour then set the plate in a COLD oven paint side up. I then heated the oven to 350 then let it cook for 30 minutes once it hit temperature. After that I let it cool IN THE OVEN with the door open.

Once your paint is set, it’s time to add the stand part. I’ve seen people use other things like painted vases or wooden candle sticks so just find what you like. You do you girl! I chose the candle stick because I happened to have a few in craft storage and figured I should probably use it.

Mark the center of the plate – I measured 4.5 inches in from the edges – and use E6000 glue to secure the candle stick to the bottom of the plate. Let it dry overnight and you’re good to go!

Use your DIY Jack Skellington Cake Stand as a cake stand or a cookie display! You can also use it as a jewlery holder or really whatever you’d need it for!

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ByChelsea

Turn dollar store placemats into a bright and fun DIY Placemat Handbag

on July 18, 2017

Take some cheap dollar store placemats and turn them into a bright and colorful DIY Placemat Handbag with a sew or glue method!

“Take me with you, I start to miss you…”
– Cross My Heart, Mariana’s Trench

If you’re a pop punker, power pop, whatever you’re into and haven’t heard of Mariana’s Trench, you’re missing out. I firmly believe they’re Canada’s appology for Justin Bieber (because all of this is after Celine Dion who is a national treasure).

This post may contain affiliate links. Shopping from these links means that the price stays the same for you but I get a few pennies to keep the coffee pot full and possibly the cat fed.

You guys! I made a thing. Okay so that’s basically how I start every day of my life. But seriously, I kinda love it. This project? It was made while on a binge of the Mariana’s Trench Pandora Station while it was 100+ degrees outside and my bedroom doesn’t have AC. I do have an evaporative cooler, but that is beside the point. To say that sweat went into this placemat handbag is an understatement… okay that’s gross. Ignore that. BUT this I gotta say is pretty cool. I even put pom poms on it and you know how I feel about pom poms. AND it’s ORANGE!!! So bright and sunny! And you can change out the pom poms for fall should you feel like it!

Make it: DIY Abstract Flamingo Bag

Time: 2 hours or less
Cost: $10 or less
Dork level: 2 – it’s pretty classy. You can dork it up with fun keychains if you want!

DIY Placemat Handbag

What you need:
2 round placemats from the Dollar Store
Sewing machine OR Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue® OR Hot Glue
Wooden handles
Matching color embroidery thread and embroidery needle
Wooden handles

Make It: Animal Butt Magnets

Start by folding over the top 1/3 of each placemat and secure it with a safety pin. Glue the inside with Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue® or hot glue to secure it down or sew the top edge of the fold. – let dry if you’re using glue

Match the fold sides inside and pin the outside edge around with safety pins. Sew around the outside edge right up to the folded area. It’s even easier if you’re glueing!

To attach the handles, position the handle centered so that 2/3 of the handle is above the fold. Secure down by loop stitching with embroidery thread and needle with 5-7 secure points. Secure each side and the center first and then add points on each side.

Do the same for the second. Trim up threads and glue down the stray embroidery thread to make sure knots hold.

Embellish however you feel like! Pom poms, tassels, have at it!

Don’t forget to PIN to your fashion or DIY boards!

ByChelsea

DIY Colorful Pumpkin Plaster Magnets

on November 10, 2016

It’s time for a fall refresh on the old refrigerator… because why can’t it be festive?!? I’ve been playing around with plaster of paris this week and I gotta say, these DIY Colorful Pumpkin Plaster Magnets make me pretty happy. As much as I love traditional fall colors of orange, gold and white (or whatever catches your fancy) I wanted to experiment with colors too. We had so much fun painting these pumpkin plaster magnets and experimenting with different patterns. Full disclosure… there was wine involved.

Helpful hint? Using Q-tips as your paint brushes makes for easier clean up and great polkadots!

ByChelsea

DIY Halloween Glitter Pumpkins

on October 6, 2016

I’m going to preface this and say that it has been a ridiculous amount of time since I have gotten to carve a pumpkin. So if you want to come over and get messy and do that with me, I am down.

That being said, I somehow ended up with 6 foam pumpkins from the dollar tree this year. I honestly don’t know how it happened. They just seem to multiply like tribbles or something. I made it my mission this week to “edit” at least one of them so I could join the cool club of wonderfully painted and decorated pumpkins. And you know what…. I did it.

Grab some paint, glue and glitter and no one will believe that these glitter pumpkins cost you less than $5 TOTAL. Seriously. Everything came from the dollar tree. Even the paint. Girl get on it!

Time: 30 minutes or less plus dry time
Cost: Under $5
Spooky level: 2…. they’re cute!

ByChelsea

Be a goddess every day with this simple DIY Greek Headband

on August 22, 2016

Unleash your inner goddess with a fun and simple greek headband.

You guys, I am so excited about this DIY! Why? Because it’s super cute and super classy and super easy! You can wear it year round… or just for halloween!

Do you ever buy a dress with the exact way you want to wear it? Accessories and all? Yep! That’s what I did! Except I couldn’t find the accessories I wanted and when I did, they were expensive as (you know what). And so, I did what any intrepid DIY-er would do, and I made it my Freaking Self.

One of the things I love about this headband is that, while it can be used for an Athena costume at halloween, it can also be worn with a lot of great outfits if you need just a touch of gold. Most recently we used it for an Olympic themed play date with my friend Erin over at athomewiththezierings.com! The moms and kiddos loved them!

So follow along and lets make some stuff!

Time: 30 minutes or less
Cost: $2 for headband and poster board/card stock
Cuteness level: a conservative 7

ByChelsea

DIY Foam Paint

on July 18, 2016

This post may contain sponsored and affiliate links. Purchasing from these links helps support this website and my craft supply addiction.

You guys know what I like? DIY Foam Paint. Yep Foam Paint. And yes. It can be messy, but it is also washable which means I am all over it! Stick some kiddos outside with some Kraft paper and let them go at it.

I sent 2 of my littles on this task and ended up with a family photo (myself included), flowers, dogs and…. a rainbow? She used all of the colors anyway.

Now, I watched a video of someone making these and they used really cool squeeze bottles and everything came out great…. mine, epic pinterest fail. How do you even get the stuff in the bottle without making a huge mess!?!? The first time we tried this I used small bowls. They were great until it was time to mix the shaving cream with the glue… yet another epic fail. Let’s just say, I figured out an easier way that is also super fun and (kinda) mess free!

It’s also really fun for the kiddos to make their own craft supplies, so this is really like 2 activities in one! Babysitter win!

ByChelsea

DIY Pokémon Go Pins

on July 13, 2016

Show your Pokémon Go Team pride with these fun DIY Pokémon Go Pins!

You guys! You guys! I’m sure you’ve noticed, but you can now play Pokémon in real life and I feel like it’s 4th grade again except we’re actually leaving the lunch table and walking around.

I’m not going to lie, I’m walking around a lot more, meeting new people and taking random pictures of my friends petting Pokémon. It’s pretty amazing. So… health benefits y’all. Also!!! It is now okay for all of us to walk around looking completely geeked out. People think it’s awesome. The boys I babysit are even excited to leave the ipads at home (WHAT?) and take a walk with me!!!

So, as you play this awesome augmented reality game and wander around your city trying to catch them all, you may want to show your team pride. I made these fun DIY Pokémon Go Pins in about 30 minutes and am wearing them all over town. So the real question is… are you team Instinct, team Mystic, or team Valor?

ByChelsea

DIY Clothes Pin Magnets

on May 18, 2016

This last week has been a bit cray-cray to say the least. With picking up extra shifts and birthdays abounding this month, I’ve been having a rough time making time to create and also getting myself in the right head space. So… I’ve been playing some video games and then took a walk for inspiration… because that is what one does. Oh, and I ate cupcakes. 2 of them. From Big Sugar Bakeshop. Because y’all know I love me some cupcakes.

Okay so, I’ve been working a lot on finding inspiration. I’ve been trying to get out of the house, go to the craft store, play… really just trying to unplug. I’m not sure if its been working, but I really feel that creativity is a muscle and you have to exercise it, so I’ve been trying to do more of that.

These Day of the Week Clothes Pin Magnets are a product of that “exercise”. What do you do to find inspiration?

ByChelsea

DIY: Watercolor Coffee Mug Tutorial

on March 2, 2016

I took a huge step this week in my journey. I quit a part time job that I’d had for almost 2 years… but it was time. Anyone else have experience with this? Quitting a job to pursue something else? Creatively or otherwise? Leave me a comment! I’d love to know!

For those of you that know, I took a break from the social media agency world to work with kids. It has been insanely rewarding and I’ve made so many friends. Some that I now consider family.

But it was time. I knew that if I kept this job, I’d always be scared to move forward. I would keep burning myself out. I would become resentful of everything that I was doing, and that’s the last thing I want. So I took the step. I’m not sure how everything will work out, but I feel like this was the best decision for me.

So, when I left I wanted to thank all of the wonderful women I worked with. I wanted to give them something special to tell them how amazing they had made my last few years and how much I appreciated the work that we all did (and they continue to do).

ByChelsea