Spring is on its way (or already here for some of us!), and I feel like my home needs a little overhaul. Sure, I need to put away our winter coats and start my Spring cleaning, but what I’m really excited about is adding a little Spring into my decor.
If you’re anything like me, you find a thrill in a challenge. Or maybe I’m just over competitive. Regardless, I love trying to decorate my home as beautifully and as cheaply as possible. In these tough economic times, it seems that thriftiness is more important than ever.
There’s nothing quite like the flutter in my heart when I find or create something wonderful for very little or no money. It can definitely be a challenge, but thrifty home decor can be done and can be done beautifully.
What do you think? Do you like that thrill? Are you ready to meet the challenge? Do you want to win a great prize? Yeah, I know you do.
I’d like to introduce you to The Five Dollar Challenge.
The Rules:
1. You may only spend $5 out-of-pocket (not including sales tax) on this challenge.
2. Your $5 may only be spent at a “dollar store,” such as The Dollar Tree, Everything’s $1.00, Family Dollar, Dollar General, or similar stores you may have in your town. Yeah, I’m trying to make you think outside of the box. Get creative!
3. You may also use items you already have around the house, such as tools and supplies.
4. On Monday, March 30th, post “before” and “after” pics on your blog and tell us all about your new treasures. If you don’t have a blog and would like to participate, I’d love for you to email photos to me and a little blurb about your project, and I’ll come up with someway for everyone to see them. My email is LivingWithLindsay [at] gmail.com.
5. Check back here and post a link to your entry. I’ll provide further instructions later if you haven’t ever used Mr. Linky. It’s really easy.
6. Be sure to visit the other participants’ links and remember to leave comments! The more links you visit, the more great ideas you’ll discover.
7. One participant will be chosen at random to win the Grand Prize.
Did you see that last part? A GRAND PRIZE? Woo hoo! I’m going to reveal the prize piece by piece as we get closer to the big challenge date…’cause I like to draw things out like that. I promise you’re gonna love it, though.
So, are you up for the challenge? Leave a comment below to let the world know! Also, I’d love for you to grab the button and add it to your blog so your readers can know how to participate, too.
Need a little inspiration? Check out Dollar Store Crafts for lots of fun projects! There’s even a Home Dec section listed there.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
P.S. I’m so excited that Heater at Dollar Store Crafts has added a link this challenge to her site. Welcome to everyone visiting for the first time!
P.P.S. I’m totally hooked on this challenge! I’ve had so many ideas running through my head, and I just don’t know where to start. Check out Hooked On Houses to see what others are hooked on this week. 🙂
sounds fun – now I just have to make it to a dollar store 😉
What a great idea, Linds!!! I’m IN!
sounds fun…. just hope i’m crafty enough!
Posted about the challenge at Dollar Store Crafts!
Looks like lots of fun. Might I suggest creating a Flickr group for the sharing of finished projects.
great idea, i will definitely be doing this!
This looks like so much fun! I’m a little over extended this month, so I hope you do this again 🙂
Ooooh, a contest! That’s got the ‘ole wheels a turnin’. A whole $5? Dollar Tree, here I come!
Sounds like fun!
How fun! I am so excited!! And I can’t wait to get others’ ideas too! :O)
I’m in and I have $5 burning a hole in my pocket right now. 😀
I saw this via Heather/Dollar Store Crafts so I’m excited to give this a whirl!
Oh, I’m totally going to do this! Awesome idea!!!
fun idea!
Great challenge!! I actually looked up while reading this, and looked on the shelves I redid last week. I noticed exactly 5 dollar store things that I incorporated into my decor. Imagine that!!!
I LOVE that Leanne did the exchange rate on the $5! Way to go!
Kathryn- I think it would be fun to do as many projects as you’d like to! The more ideas, the better.
I’m in! Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!
http://newlyb.blogspot.com/2009/03/challenge-of-best-kind.html
I love a challenge – and this is a good one! Can’t wait to see everyone comes up with!
I’ve seen your links several places, and I’ve finally decided to give in and join. I have a fun little plan. Thanks for doing this!
Yay, sounds like we have a lot of interested parties! 🙂
I came over via Dollar Store Crafts. I’m from Northern Ireland and I’ve checked the exchange rate. I have a whole £3.51 to spend, so it should be interesting to see if I can come up with anything. I can’t wait to se all the other entries.
This is such a great idea! I’ve added your button to my blog and I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!
This should be fun! I was just wondering if we are limited to one entry, or if we can post more than one.
I think this is such a fabulous idea. Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with–there are a lot of really creative people in the blogosphere! 🙂
(Just Stumbled your post!)
This sounds like so much fun.I’ve already started 2 projects.I added a link from my blog to here. Can’t wait to see what everyone else does.
I’m not sure if I’ll participate, but I can’t WAIT to see what everyone comes up with! I love getting more inspiration!
This is so cool! I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I’m up for the challenge.
I’m in… and my kids want to participate, too!
What a fantastic challenge!
This is something I want to try!! Sounds like a lot of fun 🙂
I am a first time visitor to your site and I would be glad to take the $5 challenge. I have posted this challenge on my blog. What a great way to usher in spring.
Count me in. I’ll add the button to my blog. It will be fun seeing what ideas everyone comes up with. Can’t wait.
Kris
Oooh, This sounds fun! I am definitely IN!
Oh, this sounds like so much and what a great way to think “out of the box”, especially during these crazy economic times. Count me in! I have added a post and link to your blog about this fun contest!
I would like to invite you to visit my blog, I have hosting an event for “Support Our Troops” Day on March 21st and would love for you to be a part of the tribute to our American Soldiers! You can read about it at my blog by just clicking on the banner on the right side bar “Support Our Troops” Day Blog Event!
Can’t wait to see what everone creates for under $5.00!
Mimi
This is interesting…I will try to participate…
Oh, how exciting! This is so cool. Can we use things that have been sitting unused in our craft box for years?
I’m in! Sounds like fun…and I published your button on my blog.
Does Big Lots count as a Dollar Store???
Oh yeah! I am in! Spring fever has set in and since I am cutting dining out for breakfast and lunch I think it will fit nicely in my budget!
As much as I LOVE Big Lots (I was just there yesterday!), I don’t think we can count it as a dollar store since they carry items that cost more than $1.
oooh!! sounds like fun!! I hope you have a great day!! xoxo!! Britt 🙂
I got ahead of myself and decided to make my craft this weekend. I posted it on my blog. Come by and see if you get a chance! I will definately be back on March 30 to add my post to Mr. Linky!! Thanks for the challenge! It was so much fun and a great way to get those creative juices running!!!
That’s it!! I’m on my way to the dollar tree!!! I am so excited!!!
I’m going to give it a shoot. I’ll hit the dollar tree on Friday and see what I can find.
How fun! I think I already I have something!
Ann- Absolutely you can use something you’ve already made!
Yeah – I have just the thing that cost me about 5 bucks. Cool challenge. I’m up for it!
I have already posted a lot of $5 crafts on my blog can I use one of those? I am so in and would love to participate. I have also put a link in my blog.
This really sounds like fun. I may have to hit the Dollar Tree this week to see if I can come up with something, maybe for Zoodle’s room?
I am ready for the challenge and put the button on my blog. I made sonething yesterday that I would like to enter into the contest. Should I just write another comment and include a link to my blog once I put it up there?
Okay, here is my entry:
http://princesswithahalfpricetiara.blogspot.com/search/label/Easter
Not an original idea, but I love it just the same and it only cost a total of $4.00!!
OKAY, I’m late signing up for this since, I just found you. But I think I’ll give it a try. Hmmmm….
Everyone that’s made a comment is such the groovy crafters. Can’t wait to see how and what they do.
Sandra
I’m so in on this one…I’ve posted the link on my blog, and I’ve got my entry all ready! Can’t wait for the 30th!
I posted on my blog but we live in a tiny town with no Dollar store. A few antique stores, a safeway and Duckwalls is about it. My entry may not qualify but maybe you can make concessions and feel sorry for those of us country folk who don’t get out much!!
blessings
mary
Woo! I’m really excited about this challenge!
Here’s my entry:
http://lifeisphantasmagorical.blogspot.com/2009/03/spring-break-dollar-store-crafting.html
I can’t wait to see what the others come up with!
This was such a great idea 🙂
I got mine done. Wow,it took me almost as long to get it posted as it did to get them done,LOL. This was so much fun. Thank you for doing this for us.
Here is my entry:
http://ribbonsrosesandmore.blogspot.com/2009/03/500-challenge-spring-is-in-air.html
Off to see what everyone else came up with.
Here’s mine, sorry it’s a day late. Am I disqualified?
http://cheap-n-cheerful.blogspot.com/2009/02/make-your-own-cute-storage-box.html
I had the box at home already and I bought the cupboard liner from the dollar store.
total cost? Under $1
so who won?