So, Lindsay has thrown down the gauntlet and wants to know what attractive home decor items we can make with $5 of materials from the dollar store. My trip to Dollar Tree after she posted last week netted me materials for two different projects. (Here’s the second one!)
I was inspired to make vases the instant I saw these colorful bamboo place mats. I spent about ten minutes playing with the glassware at the store to make sure I could make the number of vases I wanted with only $5 worth of stuff.
I came home with this:
-Three large sugar shakers (at least that’s what they’re labeled – I think they look more like Parmesan cheese shakers)
-Two bamboo placemats
Yesterday, I gathered my tools:
-Hot glue gun (with extra glue) – plug it in before you start cutting
-Scissors
-Craft knife
-Self-healing mat (um, you might want to have yours right-side up)
-Ruler
-Rubber bands (not shown)
-Silver Sharpie (not shown – I chose silver rather than black, so any marks left on the bamboo wouldn’t be too obvious)
I began by setting the shakers’ tops aside (they might come in handy for another project someday, right?) and wrapping a mat around one of the shakers. I then cut the mat to just fit around the shaker.
I figured out pretty quickly that you’ll want to secure the end pieces of the mat immediately with some hot glue in a couple of places, to keep it from falling apart. Once the strings are cut, the bamboo sticks will pop off and scatter like mad.
I then applied hot glue to the mat and carefully wrapped it around the shaker, being sure to line the bottom edge of the shaker up with the bottom edge of the mat, and secured it with rubber bands.
My plan was to come up with three vases of different heights. Here’s where I spent my time in the dollar store: making sure that I could get two shorter vases out of one place mat.
The manufacturers of the “sugar” shakers were quite helpful and made them exactly 5 inches high. So, I measured and drew a line 5″ from the edge of the mat with my silver Sharpie. I scored it a couple of times with the craft knife (I put a fresh blade in first!) before cutting it with my scissors. The scoring helped keep my scissors on track, and I ended up with a pretty straight cut. I cut and applied the two pieces of mat to their shakers and set them to dry/cool while I hit the yard for some appropriately springlike blooms.
Doesn’t forsythia scream “Spring is coming!!”? It reminds me of my parents’ yard in Georgia. By the time I had the stems de-budded, the vases were all ready for some water, flowers, and a photo shoot.
I have got to learn to use the manual settings on my camera…
Don’t they frame the boys nicely? I’m thrilled with my new $5 set of vases. It occurs to me that they might make nice tea light holders, too. I’ll give that a try with the forsythia dies and let you all know how it works out.
So how about you? Are you up for Lindsay’s challenge?
23 comments
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March 4, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Amanda-TheEckLife
ok that is just too cool!!! and it looks so easy to do! great job!
March 4, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Mom
I am super impressed! They are gorgeous. You rock, baby doll. AND. NO, I am not up to the challenge. I am still trying to get stuff out of my house. No new stuff allowed until after I move. Thank goodness I have genealogy stuff to work on. That pile just keeps getting smaller and smaller. My cup of tea these days. Love you, Mom
March 4, 2010 at 5:19 pm
introvertmom
Those are very cool. The wonders of hot glue!
j.
March 4, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Beth
You are truly gifted my friend!
March 10, 2010 at 11:15 am
Sheri
Aimee, You are amazing. I LOVE those. And you are right, they frame the boys pic lovely.
March 15, 2010 at 4:26 am
Jen
I’m impressed, as well! Pretty creative there!
Jen
Creative and Curious Kids!
March 15, 2010 at 6:14 am
Sydney
They also have the Forsythia sprays at Dollar Tree so when those die off you can replace them with the fake ones. I usually don’t use silk flowers but these look real. I just went to DT and bought some to put around the house yesterday. They look great on the hearth with the real orchid I have on the other side.
March 19, 2010 at 2:48 am
kn
Those look so cute! Great idea!
March 24, 2010 at 1:50 pm
angelina
Those turned out so well- very striking with the forsythia.
March 25, 2010 at 9:26 am
Laura Ingalls Gunn
What a great project! You are a clever and crafty girl. Happy Spring!
March 25, 2010 at 11:31 am
Erin
Aimee, These look great! Just when I thought I was being oh-so-original for the challenge, I found your post. 🙂 I promise I didn’t see yours before I made mine! Oh, well. Great minds think alike, I guess!
Erin
March 25, 2010 at 11:33 am
aimeewrites
Thanks, Erin! I laughed when I saw yours…I thought I was being so original, too. I knew there would be a few using those placemats – they’re irresistable!
March 25, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Kim@cheapchichome
These are so cute – nice flowers you found for them, too.
March 26, 2010 at 11:43 am
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
Cute vases!!
March 26, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Jess @ Just a Blink
Wow! They have such a great impact! Love the colors of the place mats.
March 27, 2010 at 4:26 am
Jessica @ This Blessed Life
Totally fun and funky!
April 1, 2010 at 5:51 am
diana
I love simple projects like this that make a big statement! I also LOVE the blue/grey color behind your mantle. Do you happen to know what the color is called? I’ve been looking for that shade for a while now!
April 1, 2010 at 5:10 pm
aimeewrites
Thanks, Diana, the wall’s actually a mint green, which I’m not fond of at all. LOL The color didn’t show up quite right in the photograph…sorry!
April 1, 2010 at 12:10 pm
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April 1, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Jeri
I really like that! I have looked at them but could never see beyond making a purse, which you really can’t with these. I’m stealing your idea girlfriend!
April 1, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Heather
I love it- they look great! Our store never got those ones in, though. 😦
April 2, 2010 at 3:49 am
Sharon@KeenInspirations
These are amazing! I saw some of these placemats yesterday and of course thought, ‘they are really nice, but what would I do with them?” someday, I will learn to just bring a few home, someone will come up with a great craft for them! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 9, 2015 at 12:40 am
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