 |
I am sitting here at my computer with a faint, goofy smile on my face thinking back to the first time I had a Dollarama revelation. The first time I looked at something in one of their aisles and thought hmm … I could make something out of that.
I don’t know if it was the buzzing of the fluorescent lights or the hypnotic drone of the soft rock, but something in me came alive that day. My body seemed like it was on fire. I had an electric sensation from my head to my toes as right there in the Dollar Store my innards gave birth to a something entirely new. In the blink of an eye I developed the Dollarama DNA. Which is wayyyyy cooler than a Y chromosome by the way.
So allow me to introduce you to my first born; my first project ever made out of Dollarama crap.
Oh and by the way, in case any Dollarama head honchos who have the ability to ban me from all Dollarama stores happen to be reading this blog … “crap” is actually a term of endearment.
Here we go ……… !
Bevelled Mirrors
Hot Glue Gun
mirrored box
Now, the observant among you may recognize these mirrored boxes from yesterday’s post on the always classy garbage bag table runner. I probably made these boxes for the first time 5 or 6 years ago. Since that time both my sister and my niece have also made them. My niece uses hers in her kitchen for her car keys and pens and such. As you can see the mirrored box also makes quite a fetching planter. Total Cost? Five dollars. Plus whatever a squirt of Windex and a paper towel will cost every time you pick them up to marvel at their beauty.
And here’s how you do it!
scrape the stickers off with a razor squeegee. Trying to peel them off will only end in tears and pill popping.
lay your base, mirror side down and hold one of the mirrored pieces up to the edge of the base.
once you're sure everything is even and level run a bead of hot glue along the seam where the edges meet.
wait patiently for the glue to dry before moving onto the next piece of mirror. This is exactly when the bottom of your foot will feel like it needs to be scratched.
Continue lining up and gluing the bottom and side edges of the mirrored pieces. My glue gun broke mid-craft so mine is messy.
done! if you think you're going to see inside the boxes, remove the round felt pads on the bottom of each square.
Oh! And, if you’re looking to eat up the majority of the hours in a day while also making yourself crazy, try taking multiple pictures of a mirrored box. Please send all cards of sympathy to me. At my house. Thanks in advance.
my mirrored box. took me 3 hours and a 2 calls to a mental health facility to take this picture.
|
Langela
I hope you got help for all your problems while talking to the mental health specialists! Of course, two calls may not have been enough time to get it all in.
Cute idea with the mirrors. And I love that nifty “cloth” underneathe it!
Shannon S.
I see a cheap and very cute wedding center piece in my near future!!!! Great Idea! Thanks for sharing!
Karen
Gasp! You’re right. They’d be perfect for a wedding centrepiece! Good thinkin’.
Yen
You’re a genius! I’m loving these dollar store projects.
Karen
Thx Yen! This one is particularly easy so it’s fun ’cause in no time you have something GREAT.
Oonafey @ Little Pink Houses
Holy crap, that is beautiful.
Karen
Thanks! Yeah, they turn out really well and they only take about 2 minutes to make!
Jeanenne
oooow, aahhhhh! I love these!
Karen
Oh the delight, the sheer delight! This just gets better every day. I am so inspired. You the bomb girl!
Karen
Thanks Karen!
Danielle
Love it! Now if I could just figure out what to do with all the dollar store flip flops I’ve bought over the years, I’d be in business.
Karen
Personally, I’d make some sort of outdoor chandelier with them. Go!
Mulva
Cut them in half (or not), insert a metal kabob skewer into the “heel” and viola, fly swatter?! Or keep the flip-flop in your back pocket (or discreatly hidden under your chair) so you can whack your sister-in-law, boyfriend, husband or self upside the head when being a dumb-ass! Just a suggestion!
Valli Ertl
The best thing to make with all those filp flops is a summer wreath. Glue the heels together and then a second row of smaller ones on top. Very easy. Hope this helps.
Tickled Red
That is just too darn cool!! Sitting wishing my Dollarama DNA had kicked in that one then again that’s why I have you
phoenix
What an awesome idea! I’m going to have to give this a go!
Rachel
oh em geee. this is great. lol i totally have a little stash of these mirrors from the dollar store because i too thought to myself,hey i could use these for something! originally the idea was a mirrored headboard DIY i’d seen in sunset magazine.
but it turns out im too lazy for large-scale projects lol
so now they just sit in my house waiting around until guests come where i use them as coasters.
but i lovee them with little plants! so cute.
thank you for sharing
Karen
Thanks Rachel! Happy glue gunning! – Karen
anne
You could do this with colored tile too! Can’t wait to try it…
Karen
Good idea! – Karen
Stephanie@cre8tive
Just saw this post on Design Sponge. Love your blog, so entertaining. I originally thought you attached them to a box, now that I see what you did, it is even more amazing! They are beautiful.
Helby
This is fantastic! And seems so easy. Can’t wait to make it!
Angela
Too cute! Thanks for the tips!
Shayna
This post instilled me with a sudden urge to visit the Dollar Tree… If these end up happening to be wedding centerpieces (like the voices in my head are shouting that they should be) I’ll send you some photos.
Amy
this IS neat, but how do you do the last step? It looks like a glue gun would be longer than the box is wide, so how do you get the glue in the box? Or do you put the glue on the sides and then stick the last mirror on?
Danielle
I helping out a bride do her wedding (she has champaign taste or a beer budget) and I am totally doing these for the tables! AWESOME! Thanks for making this and to whoever thought of wedding centerpieces GENIUS!
Darlene
These are adorable. I liked the idea of using them as wedding centerpieces. As an interior designer, I can see them as pedestals for lightweight artifacts. If concerned about them collapsing from the weight, could glue a 2 x 4 or several 1″ dowels cut to size inside to support extra weight.
Megan
Fantastic!! I can’t wait to do this for my little succulent collection!
torviewtoronto
lovely idea
Karen
Thank you! It’s an oldie but a goodie from my bag of Dollarama tricks. ~ karen
Melanie
Hi Karen!
First of I have to say that I think you are absolutely fantastic! I love when you are on Steven and Chris and I loved the segment when you were going through the Dollarama…. It is one of my favourite stores and I don’t often just run in for something quick. I love to browse around and walk through studying some things carefully I just love it! Lots of things in our living room is decorated from the Dollarama and you wouldn’t believe the compliments I get! I say guess where I got it from and my Mom and sister always say, “no way!!!!!”. Always asking how I find this stuff! I love to see people who appreciate the Dollarama as much as I do- keep up the fantastic work!
Melanie
p.s. I was in Homesense the other day, and your mirrored flower holder that you did on the show was in there, no kidding, it was $16.99!!!!!
Jenny
After reading this I wandered into the Dollar General by my house and looked at it a totally different way. I also decided to bogart this idea and buy some mirrors. In a strange twist of geometry gone wrong though, the bottom doesn’t quite fit….like it is smaller. I should’ve paid attention in math. Turns out I did in fact need that information later in life… Anywho, the point of this rambling is that I love my pretty mirrored boxes anyway and I will be spending a lot of time in my local dollar store now
dee
Hi,
I just came across this website today and you have some very nice things. I did the same thing with dollar tree mirrors about 2 years ago for a wedding but i glued the mirrors to square foam blocks so i could make silk floral arrangement centerpieces. They turned out nice.
Thanks for sharing your thrifty ideas.
Michelle
Wow, I’m thinking this would make great teacher gifts at Christmas time with a small poinsettia plant in it. What do you think of etching a design on the mirrors, like monogram letters or fleur-de-lis?
Karen
Hey Michelle ! I prefer the box to be plain. For some reason it seems more expensive to me that way. But I have absolutely no reason for thinking that! A monogram is a great idea. I’d just do it on one of the panes of mirror. Really fun idea! ~ karen
Chelsea
I just made this this afternoon and I am so excited about it! What is the type of plant you have in yours? I’d love to put the same type of plant in mine.
Karen
Good job Chelsea! I’m always so happen to hear when people actually *do* the things I show them! The plants I have in mine are called Baby Tears. They’re around $2 for a small plant. ~ karen
Chelsea
Thank you! I can’t wait to complete the project with the plant. Best wishes!
jill
Karen, Your blog makes me laugh, outloud, sitting here by myself. Glad to know that someone is as nutty as me when it comes to decorating on the cheap but making sure it looks oh, so classy! Have enjoyed this more than any I’ve come across. Keep up the good work!
Karen
Thanks Jill. Keep readin’. ~ karen!
Mindi
OMG. I love your sense of humor! Your mirrored box is great too.
Karen
Mindi – OMG Thank you!
On both counts. ~ karen!
Shera
I love this and am going to try it this week!!! I absolutely LOVE your sense of humor! I literally laughed out loud at “my mirrored box. took me 3 hours and a 2 calls to a mental health facility to take this picture.” Thanks for the idea!!!
Karen
Hi Shera – Thanks! Good luck with your mirrored box. Do NOT attempt to take a picture of it. ~ karen!
Yaya
I did thse about 25 years ago and they are still hanging on……………oh how I’ve used them for sooo many thihgs! One of the bbest was using them to display foods on buffet tqboe to qdd different heighte. So happy to wee diy/crafting is back again!
Cassie {Hi Sugarplum}
I have drooled over these mirror boxes for too long…I finally made my own and blogged them today. Thank you for the fab idea, Karen! I can’t seem to stop making them, and i can’t wait to gift a few, too!!!
Maksim-Smelchak
If you put some cheap square wooden dowel at each corner, it will be much stronger. And wooden dowel is cheap. Love your site.
Michaela {au naturel design}
Karen, I absolutely love this idea and it is so simple and stylish. Definitely going to give it a try. I’m sharing your idea on my blog as I know its something others will appreciate.
http://aunatureldesign.blogspot.ca/2012/06/current-crush-mirrored-box.html