We have a buffet in the dining room that we like to decorate for each holiday. My daughter and I tend to go a bit overboard on certain holidays like with our candy buffet for Christmas, but we’re able to keep the cost to a minimum by picking up the majority of our supplies from the local dollar stores… and of course, using a lot of creativity. Three of my dollar store crafts this week included a Candy Bouquet, Sparkly Valentine Votive Cups, and a Sour Cherry Candy Topiary.

I realize that it’s easy to walk into a dollar store and see nothing but junk, but if you look really close and use your imagination… the possibilities are endless. You’ll be amazed by the fabulous things you can create by spending only a few dollars!

Dollar Store Crafts

Candy Bouquet
I made this candy bouquet for my fifteen year old Grandson to give to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. The two have been an item for almost 2 years now. There is nothing sweeter than young love, so I’m glad to help him out by making her a this candy bouquet. It’s a gift that I know she’ll love.

This DIY Candy Bouquet cost only $6 to make and I think it looks just as nice as the super expensive one’s I have seen online. In fact, just the other day I saw some of the exact same candies that I purchased for $1 in a very high end magazine picture.

For the base of the bouquet, I used a Valentine’s Day themed mug that I picked up for just $1. I cut out a piece of styrofoam to fit, and inserted it into the bottom of the mug. Any sort of foam will do. For the bouquet I used an assortment of suckers and lollipops in varying heights. I kept all in the original packaging, except the three large striped heart shaped suckers. The plastic wrapping had a lot of print on it, so I replaced the wrapper with clear cellophane bags that I had left over from Christmas baking. I tied a simple ribbon bow around each lollipop stick before inserting them into the foam. This whole project took no more than 30 minutes to make, and the result is a beautiful candy bouquet that is sure to make my Grandson’s girlfriend very happy.

Valentine Votive Cups
Need an inexpensive way to set the mood for that special dinner your planning? These sparkly Valentine Votive cups couldn’t be any simpler to make. I found the votive cups that already had pretty pink candles in them, for just $1 each. A package of press-on pink and red gems created beautiful candles that will help set the mood on the Valentine’s Day dinner table. Total cost was just $3!

Sour Cherry Topiary
This sour cherry topiary couldn’t any simpler to make and only cost about $4 to make, between the supplies I picked up at the dollar store and what I already had on hand. It looks so great on the dining room buffet for Valentine’s Day, but I now realize it would have also been adorable for Christmas. Guess I’ll be making another one next December! Here’s what I used to make it:

Styrofoam ball
Wooden skewer
Small pot
Piece of styrofoam to place inside the pot
2 bags sour cherry candy
Glue gun
Piece of ribbon

Cut and place a piece of styrofoam into a small pot. Insert the wooden skewer into the styrofoam ball, using a dot of glue to secure. Insert the other end of the wooden skewer into the styrofoam base, using a dot of glue to secure. Using a glue gun, glue the cherry candy onto the ball until it is completely covered. Tie a simple ribbon bow onto the stem.

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