Average But Inspired

Craft a home you love. DIY and craft tutorials.

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Dollar Tree Pizza Pan Craft: Pretty Memo Board

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Pizza pans from Dollar Tree are the new “hot” crafting item.  People have so many creative ways to use them, and I’m going to add another Dollar Tree pizza pan craft idea with this pretty memo board project!

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

This is a great project because it is really fast to make and the supplies used are inexpensive!

Supplies Needed to Make a Dollar Tree Pizza Pan Memo Board

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It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

Dollar Tree Pizza Pan Craft Instructions

This pizza pan craft project is fun to make!

Step One: Paint the Pizza Pan

To begin, flip the pizza pan so its upside down, and paint around the outer edge.  This will ensure that if your scrapbook paper circle isn’t perfectly shaped (mine definitely was not!), it will still look nice and not as much like a pizza pan!  

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

What kind of paint do you use on a pizza pan?

Make sure to use a paint that has good adhesion properties!  I used chalk paint because it sticks to just about anything.  You could also paint a Dollar Tree pizza pan with a multi-surface acrylic paint.  Two coats of acrylic paint will likely be needed, whereas you can probably get away with just one coat of chalk paint.

Step Two: Cut Scrapbook Paper to Fit the Pizza Pan

Once the paint has dried, trace the pizza pan onto the scrapbook paper.  

Then cut about 1/4″ smaller than the circle you traced.  

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

Step Three: Spray the Pizza Pan and Scrapbook Paper with Spray Adhesive

Next, spray the pizza pan and the scrapbook paper with spray adhesive, and carefully place the scrapbook paper onto the pizza pan.  It will be hard, if not impossible, to move the paper once it’s made contact with the pizza pan, so be very careful in your placement.  

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

If there is a significant amount of scrapbook paper sticking over one side or the other, you can carefully trim the excess with the scissors.  

Step Four: Add Rope to the Edge

Next, cut a piece of rope long enough to wrap around the pizza pan.  

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

Glue the rope around the edge of the pizza pan and weigh it down with heavy objects or craft clamps to get it to lie in place and form a strong bond with the pizza pan.  

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

Step Five: Get the Pizza Pan Memo Board Ready to Hang

When everything has dried, flip the pizza pan over and press two 3M Command hooks to the back of the pizza pan, upside down. 

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

Run a ribbon through the hooks and tie a bow at the top, and then you’re ready to hang your Dollar Tree pizza pan memo board!  

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

It is just that easy to upgrade a pizza pan to a stylish and functional magnet board!  

This Dollar Tree pizza pan craft idea is so cute! See how she turned a pizza pan into a cute memo board that's stylish and functional.

Two important things on this to-do list: (1) call mom; (2) buy wine.  (That’s my to-do list; not my daughter’s.)

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

And I just have to show you these adorable magnets my daughter picked out for her magnet board – they’re animals and pretty glass gems!

It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

I might have to borrow those animal heads for my own workspace!  🙂

If you enjoyed this project, would you please pin it so others can find it, too?  It's so easy and fun to make a pizza pan magnet board! This inexpensive project will help you get organized in a stylish way.

Now that we have a cute magnet board for my daughter’s room, let’s hope that it will help control some of the clutter she manages to keep in there!

-Bre

How to do Nail Polish Marbling {A Video Tutorial}

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Two weeks ago my family and I went to Colorado for a vacation and family reunion, and I have not been able to get my you-know-what together to get anything done on this blog!  It’s like my brain is still on vacation!  No creativity happening up there at all.  I think I left it all in the mountains.

That being said, I did have a blast putting together a new video tutorial that shows you just how fun it is to do nail polish marbling!  I made these beautiful marbled Christmas ornaments last year, but it was hard to show just how cool this technique is through photos.

So . . . I snagged a white ceramic bowl and nail polish at Dollar Tree and brought this project to life!  Click to watch the video and be mesmerized!  And then keep reading for three great tips that will make nail polish marbling even better for you!

Now, here are the tips I promised:

Tip One:  get some disposable latex gloves to keep your hands polish free while doing this.  I wish I would have had some on hand!

Tip Two:  wipe off any stray nail polish (like I had on the inside of my bowl), with nail polish remover.  It comes right off!

Tip Three:  if you want to wash your marbled object in the dishwasher, coat the marbling (once dry), with two or three coats of dishwasher safe Mod Podge!

Learn how to make just about any plain object beautiful with nail polish marbling! This post has a video that shows you how to marble with nail polish. It is such a fun technique!

Nail polish marbling is so fun and so easy!  If you enjoyed this video tutorial and my nail polish marbling tips, I’d appreciate it if you would “pin” this post so others can find it, too!

Learn how to make just about any plain object beautiful with nail polish marbling! This post has a video that shows you how to marble with nail polish. It is such a fun technique!

-Bre

12 DIY Vacation Souvenir Ideas

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I feel like everyone I talk to is going on vacation in the next few weeks!  And if they’re not going on vacation this summer, they have some amazing adventure planned in the near future.

I like it.  We should all travel more!

While I’m not one to load up on souvenir tchotchkes, I do love to have something special from the trips I’ve been on; whether it’s a rock I found, a photo I took, or a postcard I picked up in a local store.  There are so many creative things to do with items like that, and I feel like those types of souvenirs often outlast the cheap, junky ones you find in a souvenir store!  Because of that (and because this is a DIY and crafts blog), here are twelve DIY vacation souvenir ideas to help you keep those vacation memories alive long after your trip ends!  Click through to visit the original posts and get the full tutorials!

Pressed Penny Souvenir Bracelet– Dukes and Duchesses

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Souvenir Wine Cork Ornaments – The Kim Six Fix

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DIY Glossy Photo Wood Slice – Hazel + Gold Designs

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Clay Vacation Map Photo Ornament – Where the Smiles Have Been

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DIY Beach in a Bottle – Average But Inspired

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Souvenir T-Shirt Pillow – Happy Hour Projects

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Memorabilia Shadow Box – Dwell Beautiful

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Vacation Memories Map Box – View From the Fridge

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DIY Map Coasters -The Country Chic Cottage

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Postcard Gallery Wall – The Weathered Fox

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Beach Treasures Shadow Box – Table + Hearth

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Travel Photo Display in an Old Window Frame – Green with Decor

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Are you going on any fun trips soon?  Tell me where and what kind of souvenir you’re thinking of buying or making!  And please make sure to pin this post to help others think of creative ways to remember their trips!  Don't settle for junk from a souvenir shop as a way to remember your vacation! Check out these creative ways to make DIY Vacation Souvenirs! They're a great way to create travel keepsakes that you'll cherish.

-Bre

DIY Burlap Basket from a Laundry Basket

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Looking for a Dollar Tree laundry basket idea? Why not turn one into a pretty basket! This is a great, low-cost makeover for any home!

Baskets are an organization and decor staple; you can never have enough!  They’re a perfect spot to plop your pillows and blankets, stick a potted plant, or hide some junk when you need to do a quick house pick up before guests arrive.

Because there is no such thing as too many baskets, I decided to add another to my collection with this upcycle of a Dollar Tree laundry hamper to a pretty decorative basket for my office space!

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

Now, let me show you how to upgrade a plain laundry basket into a stylish burlap basket for your home!

Supplies Needed to Make a DIY Basket from a Laundy Basket

This post contains affiliate links.  Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

How to Make a Burlap Basket from a Laundry Hamper

Before I give you instructions, I have to show you the plain old laundry basket that I bought at Dollar Tree.  So simple, right?  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

Step One: Spray Paint the Laundry Basket

I started by spray painting the laundry basket with spray paint that adheres to plastic.  My favorite type of plastic spray paint is Rustoleum 2x, but I had to use a different kind from Target for my project. 

The Target spray paint worked just fine in case you were wondering.  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

After I spray painted, I let the basket dry for a looooong time to make sure it really stuck to the plastic hamper, and I plotted the best way to transform it from a laundry basket to a pretty basket.

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great burlap craft project!

Love Dollar Tree DIY? I Think You’ll Like These Projects, Too!

Step Two: Cut Burlap Ribbon Into Strips

Once it dried, I grabbed some soft burlap ribbon that is extra wide at 5″ across, and that has sewn edges to reduce fraying.  This burlap ribbon comes in an 11 yard roll, which is the perfect size for this project!  

To begin, I cut a piece that measured 1.5 times longer than the circumference of the laundry hamper base.  (How do you like me throwing around those math terms from second grade?)

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great burlap craft project!

Step Three: Weave the Burlap Ribbon

Then I began weaving the burlap ribbon in and out of the slots in the bottom row of the laundry hamper.  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

Step Four: Cut the Excess Burlap

When I got all the way around the base of the basket, I tied off the ends on the inside of the basket and cut off the excess burlap ribbon.  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

Step Five: Repeat the Process

Next, I cut another piece of burlap ribbon and moved up to the next row of slats on the basket; repeating the steps above and making sure to start my weaving one column of slats to the right in order to offset the weaving pattern.  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great burlap craft.

I did this until all of the basket was woven with burlap ribbon!  

In all, I probably used about 8 yards of the burlap ribbon, so I’m glad this spool came in such a long length!  

To finish off this burlap basket, I added a little hang tag that reads “Cozy Things,” and some pom poms.  Pom poms are my fave.

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

Can you believe how easy it was to transform a plain Dollar Tree laundry hamper into a pretty basket?  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!
It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

Jasper couldn’t resist posing for this photo shoot.  He’s a big fan of this DIY burlap basket. 🙂  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great burlap craft idea!

Next time you see one of those small laundry baskets at the store, make sure to pick one up and transform it into a cute piece of functional decor for your home!  

It's easy to transform a dollar store laundry basket into a pretty burlap basket! What a great Dollar Tree craft project!

And please make sure to pin this post to share the love!  

DIY Birth Stats Monogram {Easy Baby Gift or Nursery Decor}

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For the first time in my life I am officially an AUNT!  You might recall me mentioning my excitement last month when I shared pictures from the Secret Garden Baby Shower that I hosted for my sister-in-law and “Peapod,” my soon-to-arrive niece.  Well, I am so happy to report that “Peapod” is here, she has a real name, and she is perfect in every single way!  To celebrate her arrival, I did lots of online shopping for the cutest baby clothes I could find, and of course I made her a little something for her nursery wall – this cute and colorful DIY Birth Stats Monogram!  blank

I’m so excited to give my niece her personalized baby gift because it was made with love (and I think it will look great in her nursery, which her mom and dad filled with adorable DIY and personal touches)!

If you have any babies in your life, consider making a personalized birth stats monogram for a gift or for nursery decor.  It is such a fun project to make and doesn’t take a lot of time at all.

Supplies Needed for a Birth Stats Monogram

Some of these links are affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Making a Birth Stats Monogram – The How To

First up, paint your unfinished wood letter in the color of your choice.  I used chalky finish paint on my letter because it had a black finish on it already, and I wanted to make sure the paint would stick really well.  If you’re using acrylic paint on a letter with some pre-existing finish, get a multi-surface acrylic.

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I gave the letter two coats of paint and let it dry completely.  Then, I traced the letter onto a piece of adorable scrapbook paper. blank

I cut out the scrapbook paper letter and applied a thin, even layer of Mod Podge to the front of the wooden letter.  blank

I placed the scrapbook paper letter on top and smoothed it all down.  Once that first coat of Mod Podge dried (about 25 minutes), I put a thin, even layer of Mod Podge on top of the scrapbook paper and let it dry.  blank

While that was drying, I wrote my niece’s birth stats on a wooden heart.  Double checked to make sure I had it all right, and then I went over the pencil with an oil based paint pen.  blank

Once the Mod Podge dried on the letter, I used wood glue to attach the heart to the letter.  blank

After that dried, I repeated the tracing, cutting, and Mod Podging (not a real word) of scrapbook paper onto the back of the letter.  Because it’s the back, you definitely don’t have to do that!  Anyway, when that was dry, I cut some ribbon and stapled it to the back of the letter so that the birth stats monogram can hang in my niece’s room!  blank

It makes such a cute decoration for a baby’s room!

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I think the best part is that it’s totally personalized and a really sweet thing to give as a gift!  blank

Make it in any color and with any patterned scrapbook paper you like, and you have a sweet DIY baby gift or DIY nursery decor for any newborn.  I’d love for you to PIN this post so that you remember to make it later or to help others find it!  blank

What’s your favorite gift to give a newborn?

-Bre

DIY Fourth of July Wreath Made with Dollar Tree Supplies

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Make a patriotic Dollar Tree craft to celebrate Memorial Day and the Fourth of July!

I can’t believe it’s that time of year again where patriotic decor is lining the shelves.  The Fourth of July will be here before we know it!  

Last week my daughter begged me to take her to Dollar Tree so she could buy her daddy a Father’s Day present (so sweet), and while we were there I picked up some supplies to make a fun Fourth of July Wreath that took ten minutes TOTAL to make.  I promise!  

Make a DIY Fourth of July Wreath with supplies from Dollar Tree! This wreath cost $5 total to make! The tinsel garland adds a festive and sparkly touch for the Fourth of July.

This patriotic wreath is so sparkly and fun for the Fourth!  It reminds me of fireworks.

I made a tinsel garland wreath for Christmas long before I was blogging, so I was excited to have a new holiday to make one for!  

Anyway, RUN to Dollar Tree and get what you need to make this adorable tinsel garland wreath for the Fourth of July.

DIY Dollar Tree Patriotic Wreath Supplies

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Make a DIY Fourth of July Wreath with supplies from Dollar Tree! This wreath cost $5 total to make! The tinsel garland adds a festive and sparkly touch for the Fourth of July.

How to Make a Dollar Tree DIY Patriotic Wreath

To learn how to make your own tinsel garland wreath for the Fourth of July, watch this fun video I made showing you just how to do it!  

The only thing to mention is that I cut the sparkly stars off of the headband (not shown in the video) to glue onto the chalkboard star.

If you enjoyed this project, please pin this post to Pinterest or share it on Facebook to share the love!  I’d really appreciate it!

Make a DIY Fourth of July Wreath with supplies from Dollar Tree! This wreath cost $5 total to make! The tinsel garland adds a festive and sparkly touch for the Fourth of July.