The time has come for the final Dollar store post. *sniff* It's one of those occasions that's both sad and happy. Like watching a child go off to school for the first time, or eating a whole strawberry-rhubarb pie in one sitting.
Mostly though, this is an exciting moment. The final Dollar store post is perhaps the most dramatic transformation ever to be recorded in history. Ever. If you don't count some of the better drag queens.
So here we go .... deep breath ... the final Dollar Store post.
Ta da! An outdoor lantern. I'm almost positive the other shoppers in Dollarama heard something in my head *pop* when I came up with this. I was actually looking at Dollarama's Chinese paper lanterns thinking how I liked them, but how they'd get wrecked if they were left outside in the rain for one night. Not a good thing for someone who might not be exactly, completely on top of things like bringing stuff in from the rain. Ever. Also a poor trait for someone who has a sunroof in their car. Just sayin'.
To prove that you could do this with ONLY things bought at a Dollar store I bought everything at Dollarama. You can improvise with stuff you already have at home, like chain or metal rods or whatever else you have in your basement or junk drawer. The Led lights I bought are meant for outdoors and are thusly waterproof, so pay attention to that if you go shopping around to do this.
So here we go ... it's simple enough to do but here are the instructions just in case you need 'em:
And guess what?!! You can do this with just about anything! I used plastic pots, clay pots and woven baskets. With a little screwing around with your materials and technique whatever you want or find should work. For example:
This one is done a little differently:
Total cost for each of these outdoor lanterns? About $5. I ate more money in snacks while making them. Curse you Smartfood.
This concludes my very first Dollar store series. If my brain doesn't explode I'll have another series for you in a while. If my brain doesn't explode. Probably eating more Smartfood would help with preventing that.
becky
this is another fabulous idea. put the led light in a pretty bowl - then light it up and put glass half colored marbles in it. Pretty ~
Karen
Good thinkin'. Thanks Becky. ~ karen
becky
you are genius! love them :)
Julie
yay for dollarama creativity!
Do you know how long those LED lights last for?
Karen
Julie - Thanks! The lights tend to last forever, but the batteries will die out. If you buy them at a hardware store as opposed to Dollarama, you can get ones that hold larger volt batteries than AA's. The bigger the battery, the longer they'll last. ~ karen!
Kevin
Karen, I happened unto your bog by sheer luck! This was a excellent design! Often times, when I walk into a Dollar store and persuse the isles, I come with these types of design ideas! I sincerely hope that you continue with the Dollar store series! It is such a novel idea overall!
Karen
Thanks Kevin! Yes, I'll get back to the Dollarama stuff once I have time. (once the chicken coop is built) ~ karen!
Reed
just wanted to say... your idea for this was so amazing and wonderful, that me and my co worker couldn't wait to try it out... so we went to the dollar tree, picked up the stuff and made one today!!! we are in love with your stuff!!!
Karen
Reed - I'm happy to oblige! I'm awfully busy now with building the chicken coop but once that's done and over with I plan to do another Dollar Store series. :) LOVE dollar stores. ~ karen
Brandi
Ummm... LOVE THESE! As a matter of fact, I think I love all of your posts. I just found you today and have been laughing the whole time while reading your posts.
I totally have a blog crush.
Keep em' coming!
Ixbi
I... I think I'm in love.
I've just moved away from home for college, and your ideas have given my so much inspiration for decorating my new place!
You're incredibly brilliant and innovative! <3
Karen
Well, well! Thank you very much Ixbi. Stay tuned ... plenty of more inexpensive, quick ideas to come. I think. I hope. Oh God ... what if I run out of ideas like my mother says is likely to happen? I have to go to bed now.
ann
wow- are those the battery-operated lights? They look so much brighter in the pic! Maybe its the effect of the shade? Gosh I gotta do this...I added a link to your great blog in my latest post!Love this blog! (found you on design*sponge)
Karen
They're battery operated LED lights from a Dollar Store. I know, eh?! Super-bright. Thanks for the link by the way! Yay!
mick
Absolutely awesome idea!!! Off I go to Dollarama.
Karen, you are amazing!!!
Mick
Oonafey @ Little Pink Houses
So pretty!
Alissa
Glamming up cheap battery-operated lights. Brilliant! Why haven't I thought of that? Always on the lookout for renter-friendly ideas, and this is definitely one.
Tickled Red
Okay you officially Rock!!!
Shauna Wobeser
That's so cool!! I am going to make those! Just don't know where I will put them yet!
Karen
Thanks! They'd look good hanging from a tree on a chain too. Hmm ... maybe I'll try that actually.
Rita
I love this and know exactly where they are going... right into my backyard Lounge.
Mike
So much for Pottery Barn. You're going to put them out of business.
Jan
Absolutely stunning! So very cool...and I love the way you don't need electricity. Though I must say my cats were a little insulted about calling the plaque ugly--they're quite sure those are the paw prints of their great uncle from Tallahassee!
earthpuppy
Wondrous!
michelle
You're a genius. Do you take orders? We would like to place an order for the cottage. I think six of those baskets would look really nice. I'll send my chauffeur to pick them up.
Tricia Rose
You have surpassed yourself Karen! And saved the world from several ugly cat plaques. Maybe you could turn them into something else too - pot stands? Plump Halloween ghosts?
Liz
Ugh, you're so smart. It's not fair.
Karen
Liz - Well that depends on who you ask. If you ask all of my highschool math teachers I'm sure they'd disagree. And rightly so.
shannon@bakeandbloom.com
AH-MAZ-ING! I love it. Our dollar shops in Australia are prohibitively expensive compared to thier American & Canadian counterparts. I was in one today & saw a cute candlestick & it was $38....thats not a dollar!!! I love the way the light looks with the second basket lanterns it is attractive :)
Ana
Lol, I totally agree with you :)