Top 10 Things to Buy at the DOLLAR STORE for Summer

I love summer... and it's a perfect time to pick up some great items from the dollar store. Today, I'm sharing my top 10 Dollarama finds, tips, tricks, and DIYs for summer. You're going to love these!

1) Garden stakes - These garden stakes are inexpensive, versatile, and sturdy. They are great for hanging solar lanterns. I also love them by a fire pit to hold all the necessary s'more supplies.

2) Organization tools - I love these chalkboard plant markers as bin labels. They are cheap and easy to use. The vacuum bags are great for storing items too. They are fantastic space savers!

3) Seasonal glassware - The dollar store always has fun seasonal glassware options. This year, I'm loving this little watering can for my tiered tray and this super-trendy iridescent glass.

4) Bird feeder - The dollar store has many options for feeding feathered friends, but I love this clear one. It attaches to a window, so it's perfect for birdwatching from inside the house.

5) Wasp deterent - I know this is a weird one, but I am a believer in this inexpensive item. Last year, we had a wasp nest under our porch, and after I put up this fake nest, the little pests disappeared. I was skeptical at first, but it really worked for me.

6) Summer lights - The dollar store has a large variety of fun summer lighting options. I love the solar lights and paper lanterns, but I also love this cheap option. The fairy lights are attached to a cork that can be inserted into an empty wine bottle. It's a fun option for a patio light.

7) Discounted name brand cosmetics and toiletries - The dollar store has a large variety of name brand cosmetics and toiletries at fantastic prices. My favourites right now are this Dove cream and this lip balm with SPF. Perfect for summer!

8) Galvanized buckets - The are many galvanized buckets optios , but this one is my favourite right now. It's flat on one side and has a fantastic rope hanger. I've already DIY'ed one for summer, but I bought extra ones for Fall and Christmas too!

9) Summer bags - There is a cheap bag for every style preference at the dollar store. I love this knit, ombre bag... but go to the dollar store and choose what YOU like. I guarantee you'll be able to find something to suit YOUR taste.

10) Plant pots - I love the large variety of planters available at the dollar store. There are tons of different colour, size and style options. I love the brightly coloured ones and the faux concrete options. They can be used for plants, but I transformed one of mine into a tabletop fire bowl. What do you think?!?

For a closer look at my dollar store finds (AND HOW I USED THEM), check out this YouTube video I made for you.

What do you think of my dollar store finds? I hope I've inspired you do pick up some inexpensive goodies and use them in creative ways.

 

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the summer DIYs and free summer print 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.

FREE Spring Watercolour Print

Seasonal decorating is a fantastic way to periodically refresh your home. And one of my favourite EASY things to do is to update the artwork on a clipboard frame I made using dollar store supplies. Today, I'm sharing a FREE print for Spring that you can download and use. You are going to love this idea!

Isn't this print simple and adorable for Spring? I printed it at my local copy store, and I absolutely love it!

To download your own copy: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a normal 8x10 photo.

I put the print I designed on a dollar store clipboard that I dressed up with a bit of ribbon and some dollar store paper flowers. I love how easy it is to update this budget-friendly frame with new seasonal prints, don't you?

Alternatively, you could stick your free print in a frame. I love how it looks with some dollar store florals.

What do you think? Do you love the muted colours I used for this free Spring print?

Do you prefer the clip board frame? Or is the framed print more your style?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the budget-friendly Spring decor ideas here.

*NEW* DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas (made using DOLLAR STORE supplies)

Mother's Day is coming up, and it's time to start thinking about getting a gift for the special lady / ladies in your life. Today, I have FIVE fantastic Mother's Day gift ideas that are super-cute, thoughtful, and budget friendly. They use almost all dollar store supplies. I even made a video to let you see how simple they are to make.

1) Chocolate bar bouquet - I absolutely love this idea. I started with a dollar store pot, chocolate bars, dowels, and floral foam. 

Then, I used hot glue to attach dowels to the backs of chocolate bars.

I used my Cricut to add words to my pot, but this step is optional.

To finish my bouquet, I placed a piece of floral foam in the pot, inserted the chocolate bar "flowers", and filled in the blank spaces with tissue paper.

2) Personalized candle - This is an adorable personalized gift, and a great way to upgrade a dollar store pillar candle.

To make it, I printed a photo on my picture, cut it out, and positioned it on the candle. Then, I covered the picture with wax paper, and applied heat with my heat gun. I let it cool for 5 minutes and then peeled off the wax paper. That's it!

Note: The picture is paper, so if you aren't just going to use it for decorative purposes, make sure you only burn it until you reach the top of the picture.

3) Gorgeous Faux Flower Arrangement - Fake florals can look cheap, but with a little effort they can look high end. I started with these dollar store roses and dollar store milk jug.

I added some twine and beads to the milk jug, separated the flowers, and arranged them until the bouquet looked full and beautiful.

4) Custom Cutting Boards - These dollar store cutting boards are inexpensive and great for DIYing.

On one of the cutting boards, I used a wood burning tool to trace out one of my son's drawing. On the other one, I added a vinyl monogram and ribbon bow. I think they both make great gifts!

5) Unique dollar store find - You can always find unique items at the dollar store, and it's fun to "gift" them in a creative way. Recently I found this "wine buddy" cooler, and I absolutely love it!

I put a bottle of wine in my portable cooler, and poped it in dollar store basket. Then, I added a bag of chips (for the dollar store), and it's ready to go!

For a closer look, check out the YouTube video I made here.

Aren't these Mother's Day gift ideas fanstastic?

Let me know which one you like the best. I think the candle might be my favourite, but they are all fantastic.

Happy Mother's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the Mother's Day gift ideas here.