DT Ornament Candle Holders DIY

I love shopping at the Dollar Tree as most of us do! You can find some amazing things there for a $1.25, especially during the holidays! I like to pick up a variety of Christmas ornaments from the Dollar Tree! There are so many projects you can do with ornaments besides hanging them on a tree. One project is making candle holders out of ornaments! And who doesn't love candleholders! They're not just for the holidays, either! They can easily transition into winter decor! Imagine a warm, inviting glow - chasing the chill in the air away!  A project perfect for this month's Winter Crafts, Projects Blog Hop Challenge!

Dollar Store Slippers Gnome Ornament

It's that time again for our Monthly Challenge Blog Hop!

I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you a monthly challenge blog hop. On the 2nd Monday of each month we share our themed creations for the month.  This month it's a Dollar Store Craft!  And who doesn't love creating something awesome using items from the dollar store!

 Gnomes continues to be quite popular and trendy this holiday season! They are  the absolute cutest and can be found just about everywhere in all kinds of materials, colors, shapes, and sizes!  And they're also the perfect addition to almost any type of holiday decor! So I've jumped on the band wagon to create my own using plaid slippers from the Dollar Tree!

I hope the first thing you thought when you saw this wasn't, "Oh no she didn't! I can't believe she destroyed a perfectly good pair of slippers to make this gnome ornament!" Well, yes I did! But please remember they were just a dollar!  Besides, I bought an extra pair to wear around the house! I couldn't resist! They are so cool and comfortable! Cool as a pair of slippers and cool as a gnome ornament, too! And the best part, you really don't need to spend anymore than a couple of dollars to make this adorable ornament! You better believe it! And I'm sure you have all the other items you'll need in your stash to put it together, too!

Materials:
Dollar store faux fur lined slippers
Dollar store nude foot-ped
Seam Ripper or craft knife
Cardstock to draw hat template
Fabric glue or hot glue
Fiber-fil or cotton ball
Cardboard
Twine/thick thread

Let's start by taking the slippers apart. I used a craft knife to break the side seams and I'm sure a seam ripper would be much easier for this, but I couldn't find mine - too much clutter right now, lol! 

The best thing about opening up the seam is that the faux fur lining separates from the sole completely into one piece.  And it's perfect to use for the beard!

Next, lay out the opened slippers and cut off just enough to make the hat! Save the rest for another awesome project!

Then, make a template of a gnome's hat out of cardstock - I purposely drew the hat to include the curvature of the slipper - it's a great spot for the nose! Next, place the pattern on top of the slipper fabric .  .  .

and cut out.

Place right sides (plaid)together and run a bead of glue along the inside edges, leaving the bottom open. Firmly press the edges together and let dry completely.

Once dry, turn the hat inside out. Oh boy, doesn't this look awesome!

Next, fold the faux fur from the sole in half, coating with glue inside to seal the piece together and let dry.

Insert faux fur at the fold into the bottom of hat, adjusting fit and gluing in place.

Then round off the shape of the beard with scissors.

Don't you just love how it's taking shape!

To make the nose - take a small amount of fiber-fil or a cotton ball from the medicine cabinet, and shape into a ball .  .  .

stuffing it in the toe area of the foot-ped and tying the ball tight with a cut-off strip from the ped.

Then cut off the excess fabric .  .  .

and glue nose onto center curve, just below hat edge.

Make a hanger by wrapping twine around cardboard - grouping in three, 
3 strands and tying in a knot .  .  .

to braid.

Once braided, fold twine braid to make a loop, adding glue to ends and insert into center top of hat for hanger. Let dry.

What a fun and easy way to add a bit of whimsy to your holiday tree this season!

Want to see more of what can be created from dollar store goodies? Be sure to visit each and every blogger who joined in this month's challenge! 

Meet this month's co-hosts!

Across the Blvd | Purple Hues & Me

This Autoimmune Life | Our Unschooling Journey

Domestic Deadline | Sew Crafty Crochet

Stone Cottage Adventures | Sum of Their Stories | Two Chicks & a Mom

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Dollar Store Craft Link Party

Do you love to shop for items you can use for crafts at the dollar store? Then this Dollar Store Link Party is for you! Along with a group of bloggers, we're hosting a party for your dollar store craft creations. It's open for two weeks and we can't wait to see your creativity!

Meet the co-hosts of our Dollar Store Craft Link Party!

Across the Blvd | Purple Hues and Me

Coastal Bohemian | Sew Crafty Crochet

Intelligent Domestications | Cookies, Coffee, and Crafts

Hi, it's Gail from Purple Hues and Me and one of the co-hosts for this fun link party!  I love MacKenzie-Childs decor! Most are done in what's called Courtly Check (black and white) and now, there's a new Royal Check (blue and white)! Both fabulous, but how about a purple and white check? I know, right! So, I'm making my own MC knock-off called Purple Hues and Me Luxe Check!  Created using a dollar store vase and some dollar store paints - a perfect project for our Dollar Store Crafts Link Party! Click here for my full tutorial on

MacKenzie Childs Inspired Dollar Store Vase:

Click below for more great dollar store craft ideas from your party co-hosts.

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LINK UP YOUR DOLLAR STORE CRAFTS BELOW: Now, it's your turn. We can't wait to see your dollar store craft creations!

Share old or new posts, but please only share posts that are primarily made using items purchased at a dollar store. Other links will be deleted without notice.  You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Layered Fall Leaves Placemat

Enhance your fall and thanksgiving tablescapes with this easy to make layered fall leaves placemat!  It's totally handmade using fall maple leaves packets from the Dollar Tree, pleather from a left over project and fabric glue.  How easy is that!  Best of all, the design was inspired from a placemat found at Pier1 .  .  . 

Pier1 Placemat

To begin, gather:

• Packets of maple leaves from the DollarTree (4)
• Sturdy material for backing - (pleather)
• Circle template - used an old serving plate
• Fabri-Tac fabric glue
• Scissors, pencil

Draw a 18" circle on back of fabric and cut out.

Arrange leaves in piles according to size and color.

I had two piles of small leaves and three piles of larger leaves. 

Begin gluing on the leaves using the smaller leaves and lighter colors first, adding them in a clockwise pattern.  It's easier to have a pattern in mind to follow. Apply the leaves structurally, in a design, and not haphazardly with no direction.

 Once the pale yellow leaves were glued on, I used the darker yellow ones with reddish orange tips to continue filling in.

Next, I started gluing on the larger leaves, first adding the yellow, reddish orange ones .  .  .

and then the darker, rusty orange leaves,  adding them to the edges .  .  .

and finally, to the center.  I didn't use any of the leaves that were green and tan.

The finished placemat looks more impressive in actuality .  .  .  I think even better than the one found at Pier1! 

The underside looks great, too!

A lovely nature inspired placemat!

I'm not good at creating tablescapes - but you can get an idea how this placemat would create a "WOW" factor, especially using clear plates that show off the colors of the leaves  .  .  .

that adds a delightful fall touch to any table setting.

Now, to make a few more!

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!