It seems like $5 won’t buy very much any more. A couple of gallons of gas at Exxon. A foot long sandwich at Subway. A Venti latte at Starbucks. That five dollars certainly doesn’t stretch very far.
About three and a half weeks ago, I issued a little challenge to the readers of this blog: the Five Dollar Challenge. I wanted to prove that we could in fact stretch $5 further than we thought, that we could put it to good use to create something beautiful for our homes.
For the challenge, I didn’t want you to run out to your nearest thrift store and buy a new vase or a picture frame and be done with it. I wanted you to create something with their own two hands using only products found at the dollar store combined with items you already had around your homes.
I have been so excited for the big Challenge day to arrive. I’ve heard from so many of you that you were working on your projects, that you didn’t think $5 was enough money, that you REALLY wanted to win the Grand Prize. Well, today’s the day you get to show off! After all of the entries have been submitted, one winner will be chosen at random to receive the Grand Prize.
You’ve read the rules. You’ve prepared your post according to the instructions. You are ready to link up. Get ready….get set….
Oh, wait. You have to see what I made first!
I found three white frames at the Dollar Tree – one 5×7 frame and two 4×6 frames.
I decided that I wanted to make something to display in the bookcase/cabinet that I have in my sewing/craft room. I recently lined the back of the shelves with some sweet yellow and white striped paper to coordinate with some new fabric I purchased for a window treatment, so I needed some accessories to tie that color into my room.
I found this tutorial to make some oh-so darling paper roses, and I knew that I had to use them in my room. This tutorial is wonderful with detailed photos, so check it out.
I cut some of the left over striped paper to be the same size as the cardboard backing in the frames and used double-sided tape to secure the paper to the cardboard. I then put the frame back together, but put the glass BEHIND the cardboard so I could make a three dimensional design within my frame.
Next, I used the tutorial to make the flowers. I made them in different sizes (8×8, 6×6, 4×4), but here I cut a sheet of scrapbook cardstock paper to 6 inches x 6 inches.
Following the tutorial, I drew a swirl on my paper and kept drawing until it ran off the edge of one side of the paper.
Starting with the large end of the spiral, I just rolled the paper opposite as I would roll a cinnamon roll (outside –> in instead of inside –> out). When I finished rolling, I had a sweet little flower.
Using my glue gun, I glued three flowers and a little twist of grosgrain ribbon I found in my ribbon stash into the larger of the three frames. I love the little bouquet it created.
Here are my new pretties in my cabinet:
And some individual shots:
Pretty cute for three dollars and some extra paper and ribbon I had lying around the house, huh?
Okay…it’s finally your turn! If you were up for Challenge, show us your creation. Please just remember to:
- Insert the link to your specific blog post with your Five Dollar Challenge entry below, not the link to your general blog address.
- Include a link in your Five Dollar Challenge post that directs your readers back here to www.MakelyHome.com.
- Visit as many other challenge entries as you can and leave comments. I know you want to see everyone else’s entries as much as you want to show yours off!
To be fair, I’ll have to delete any links to the entries that don’t follow these rules. I’ll try to contact you if I need to delete your link, but if I can’t reach you and you find your link has been deleted, please try again!
Let the festivities begin!
You made those roses look so easy! I love the way everything looks…great job!
Thanks for hosting this fun challenge!
~Flip Girl
Those are completely adorable. I love them. Seriously, I’m dying here.
This was such a GREAT idea. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the rules and have lots of thrift store $5 projects, but I definitely need to get going on some of these crafty ones. 🙂
Those are the sweetest looking frames – and such a great alternative when you just have too many photos around the house. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the roses!
I always wonder what kind of cool craft I could do with a frame and now I know! Thanks for hosting the challenge. I’ve been excited about it all week!
Very cute! And thanks for hosting 🙂
Oh my Im the first! How fun! I sure wish I had found your blog earlier so I could have promoted this on my blog- I know my blogging sista would have loved to take this challenge! Hopefully you will do this again!
Love those rose frames! Very cute and that bird tassel is just to die for! I have been wanting to try my hand at making one of these- maybe one of these days!
blessings
mary
Oh Lindsay, I loooove the precious flowers in a frame you made! I’m going to have to try that – they’d look so cute in my house. I can’t wait to see what everyone else has done. What a fun idea for a party!
Well played Lindsay! Great job!
Those flowers are beautiful! Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with. If I’m lucky, I might even have time to make something to post.
Those frames & flowers are GREAT!! LOVE them!
I just realized after re-reading that you only wanted us to get stuff from THE Dollar Store. Mine technically isn't, but it IS outside of the box, as also stated in the rules.
Please don't throw me out!! 🙂
Aww, everyone did so well! This is my first time here & i'm so sad I missed this! Is this an ongoing thing you host or did I miss it?!
You are so clever and crafty! I am so glad that I stumbled onto your site.
Wow. Those roses are so cute, that would be a great spring break project for us this week. Thank for hosting this challenge, friend, it’s been way fun!
Hi, Lindsay, I added a little beadboard project I did & it was free materials I had left, so I think that counts! Have a great party.
Your project is so cute! I love the roses. I see all the different frames at dollar tree, but can never think of what to put in them. Now I have an idea. Thanks for hosting this, I can’t wait to see what everyone is making.
Thank you Lindsay for having this really fun party. So many fabulous, thrifty ideas from everyone! Amy 🙂
I love those paper roses!!! Great job!!! 🙂
Lindsay, awesome job! This would be a great project for my little girl’s room. How exciting you have so many people participating 🙂
That’s very cute! Those paper roses are really cool!!
Heather
I love the roses! What a cool idea. I’m going to keep that idea for Mother’s Day cards (to the grandmothers) this year. We’ll see how nimble my kids’ hands are. ; )
thanks for hosting this fun challenge!
Lindsay your whole cabinet looks so pretty!! Love it all.
So I couldn’t stop thinking about your roses all day! It’s my sister-in-law’s birthday today and I had bought her a cute little gift and just put it in a brown box and was going to put a ribbon on it but then I changed my mind and made a cute little rose for the top and a leaf! I LOVE IT! I need to send you the picture – actually, I’ll just post about it tomorrow with a link to your tutorial! Thanks SO much!
I just now read about your challenge. So I reedited a post/tutorial I had published yesterday to include your challenge. It can be done on the cheap and with great results.
First time to see your blog, & LOOOve it!
Your paper roses are wonderful!!
Beautiful Blessings~Kelly Maria
cute as can be!
I entered two.
Thanks for hosting. I did two projects too! I love your roses!
Your roses are wonderful! I’ve got to give those a try.
This was a lot of fun. Glad I found you on friday! Love your blog.
Have a great day.
Sandra
WOW! I am soo gonna have to try this! That turned out adorable!!
I made it in under the wire with my Alien Abduction Lamp!
Wow! What a fun idea! I’m off to check out everyone else’s creativity
Thanks so much, this challenge made me start blogging again, I had so much fun,, not sure if it entirely follows the rules but great fun either way…. and a “leftovers” project to boot…
This was a fun idea. I loved looking at everyone’s projects.
This is such a great idea. I love it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Ruth
I submitted my entry! Hope to see everyone else’s ideas
I love those roses!
Hello
Andrea sent me! You are super talented…. I can’t wait to learn tricks and trades from you..
I signed your follower list … yeah!
I hope you come by and do the same..
Nice meeting you..
Jill
Oh my, am I to late?!?! I had my original link/post on the main page and just saw the Mr. Linky today!
Love the roses and love love love the whole cabinet.
I LOVE the flowers and frames!
I know it’s too late for the contest but can I still add mine today?
Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful ideas!
Blessings,
Ginnie
http://www.alliemilliedesigns.blogspot.com/
Better late than never! Thanks for doing this, it was so fun! I loved all of the ideas in the other posts!
so… who won?
Ahhh I love this! They are gorgeous and so cute! I have to do this. I'm cheap, so it's a perfect project for me. I think I will mine on a binder or something. We'll see!