10 NEW Dollar Store Finds and DIYs for SUMMER | inexpensive decor and more! ☀️

Who doesn't love a good dollar store find? Last week, I went to the dollar store and picked 10 products that are absolutely perfect for summer. I'm sharing my favourite finds and DIYs (and a fun video) below.

1) Summer glassware - The dollar store has tons of cheap and cheerful glassware, and these are two of my favourites. For me... summer is all about ice cream! Who's with me?

2) Candle handle - There are many options for summer candle holders, but I love the colour and style of this one. The glass mixed with the wood gives off a cool, summer, boho vibe.

3) Summer supplies - The dollar store has great prices on summer essentials, so make sure you stock up. I love this heat bag, and the advil and suntan lotion that fits in my purse.

4) Home improvement supplies - Summer is a great time for home projects, and the dollar store is the best place to get inexpensive supplies. I've been doing a lot of painting lately, and these brushes are great.

5) Frames - The dollar store has fantastic and inexpensive frame options. Here, I painted one with yellow spray paint and printed the free lemon picture here. I also framed a napkin! Clever, right?!?

6) Citronella candles - I love summer... but I hate bugs... so candles that keep bugs away are perfect for me. The dollar store has tons of citronella candle options that are pretty and function. Check out my favourites below.

7) Summer travel essentials - The dollar store has wonderful items that are perfect for summer flights and road trips. I love these little pouches. They are cheap and perfect for a variety of items.

8) Baskets and bins - Dollar store baskets and bins are perfect for getting organized, and I love this basket for containing countertop clutter. It's the perfect place for papers that need to be sorted.

9) Socks - The dollar store has variety of fun clothing and sock options. I love these cute socks I found for my husband for Father's Day. Cute, right?!?

10) Nautical craft supplies - I'm loving the nautical rope that is plentiful at the dollar store right now. It comes in a variety of colours and weights. I used mine to make summer coasters. I added some hot glue to the middle of a dollar store circle board, and twirled the rope around and around (securing with hot glue). I LOVE how they turned out!

For a closer look at the fun products and projects, check out this video!

I hope I've inspired you to add some easy and inexpensive fun to your summer. Let me know which one is your favourite!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the summer DIYs here.

GORGEOUS Summer Decor DIYs... made using dollar store supplies and a FREE download

If you love SUMMER, FREE things, CHEAP decor, and craftting... this post is for you! Today, I'm sharing gorgeous summer decor DIYs that I made using dollar store supplies, and I am sharing a summer print that you can download for free.

First up... is this beautiful piece of porch decor I made using dollar store supplies.

I started with this galvanized planter that I found at my local Dollarama. 

I used my Cricut to add a decal to the front, but you could leave it plain, paint the front, or add stickers. It's totally up to you.

I finished by inserting floral foam into the bucket and inserting dollar store florals and greenery. Cute, right?!? For a closer look, you can check out the YouTube video here.

It looks great on my porch next to the dollar store bird house planter I made last year.

Next up... is this FREE summer downloadable print I designed for you. 

To get your copy: click on the photo below, right-click, and save it to your computer. Then, print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

You can display it on a dollar store clipboard embellished with ribbon and paper flowers.

Or, you can pop the picture is a dollar store frame (or a frame you already have). I have a frame in my house dedicated to seasonal and holiday prints, and I just switch out the photo periodically.

The last project I have to share today is a fun way to upgrade a wooden dollar store shelf. The dollar store has tons of these shelves with words on them. 

I painted mine with white chalk paint, added some wooden beads for feet, and secured a bit of ribbon around it with hot glue. I styled mine with dollar store greenery and lemons.

You can get a closer look at the "before" and "after" here.

Look how cute the tray looks with the free print. No one would guess that this summer decor came from the dollar store!

I also made a short little video showing how I made ALL these projects. Check it out below!

What do you think of these dollar store DIYs? Which one is your favourite? If you would have done something different, let me know in the comments below. I'm always looking for inexpensive home decor ideas.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find more budget friendly DIY ideas here.

DIY Summer Decor... made from inexpensive supplies

What is better than fun and festive summer decor? Answer: fun and festive summer decor ON A BUDGET. Over the years, I have created some fantastic items using dollar store supplies and inexpensive finds, and today, I am sharing a few of my favourites.

Placemat Wreath - This is one of my favourite summer DIYs. It's a simple idea, but the result is super-cute. All you need is a dollar store pizza pan, a placemat, some nautical rope, and the instructions you can find here.

You can also try this cheery version. Find the full instructions for the HELLO SUNSHINE wreath here.

DIY Planter - I was inspired to make this planter when I saw a similar one selling online for $140. I gathered up some dollar store supplies and make this one for only $10. Check out both versions and the step-by-step instructions here.

Turquoise Grapevine Wreath - I made this wreath several years ago, but it's still one of my favourites. I love the bright colours and the simple design. You can find out how to make your own version here.

YELLOW Summer Decor (made mostly from dollar store supplies) - Yellow is the perfect colour for summer, so lemons and yellow flowers are a great source for decor inspiration. You can check out FOUR fantastic YELLOW summer decor DIYs here.

I hope I've inspired you to gather up some inexpensive supplies and create your own, unique Summer decor. I love all these DIYs, don't you?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also enjoy my simple patio transformation (using paint) here.

And check out my Summer survival hacks post here.

Simple Patio Update... a huge transformation for just a few dollars

Don't we all have a list of things in our home that need attention? I've been looking at my dreary and faded back door patio door and light fixture for years, but it's never made it to the top of my "to do" list... until now. A couple weeks ago, my husband and I decided to tackle this little project, and I couldn't be happier with the result! Today, I'm sharing how I transformed my patio door and light fixture for just a few dollars, and I'm sharing my tips and tricks for doing it in your own space.

As you can see from this before picture, my light fixture was faded (and had turned a weird "pinkish" colour), and my doors were boring and dingy.

I started by tackling my light fixutre. I didn't want to get into removing my light fixture, dealing with wires, and worrying about getting spray paint on the glass... so, I decided to use exterior paint and an artist brush.

I used black exterior paint I had leftover from painting my front door a few years ago. Then, after a good cleaning and a quick sanding, I used an artist brush from the dollar store to paint the fixture.

I used a little painter's tape to protect my house, but I did everything else freehand (without tape).

Didn't it turn out great?

Then, I decided to tackle my door.  I removed the hardware, and I taped all the areas I wanted to protect.

I used a combination of a brush and a foam roller. (FYI... I started with a dollar store roller, and didn't love the texture it was leaving on the door, so my husband went to the hardware store and got a higher quality version.)

I used a brush to do the edges, and smoothed it out with the roller. It worked really well. I ended up doing two coats to make sure I had good coverage.

After the paint on the door was dry, I removed the tape and replaced the hardware.

Doesn't it look great? In case you are wondering, we used was called Flirtatious.

I think paint is a wonderful, budget-friendly way to transform a space. Since I completed this project, I also painted 4 more exterior lights and the door going into my garage. 

I'm in love with cheerful yellow colour. What do you think?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in my interior door painting tips and tricks here.