5+ DOLLAR TREE DIY GIFT IDEAS

 It's that time for holiday gift-giving! Here are some holiday gift ideas that you can make on your own using inexpensive mostly items from Dollar Tree. Below are photos of each project. Scroll at the very bottom for the YouTube video.

DIY1: Wooden Box Sign 

Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond

DIY2: Decorganizer

Using 2 Dollar Tree wooden cubes with drawers attached together and painted in Apple barrel Limeade green acrylic paint. 

Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond

Use as a pen or pencil holder or...

Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond

Use as a silk flower arrangement vase. The drawer can contain small items like paper clips, washis, erasers, or any small items.

DIY3: Recycled Jars with Candies

Here, I used two small empty jars used for jams. I cleaned them up to contain mini candy canes from Dollar Tree. 

Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond

I used labels and chalk marker from Arteza.

DIY4: Edible Gifts

I used small lidded jars that I bought years ago from Michaels. Originally, they were $1.50 each but I got them on sale for 25 cents. I added assorted candies in holiday colors for a festive look. 

Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond

I also used Dollar Tree labels and embellishments to decorate them.

DIY5: Wooden Coasters

Here, I used four pine wood slices from Arteza. I decorated each using Dollar Tree butterfly stickers. 

Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond

They are perfect as gifts all year-round!

Watch my video to learn how to make each project! See you there!

Hugs ~ Josie 😘

DOLLAR STORE HOME ORGANIZATION HACKS & IDEAS MULTIPURPOSE BATHROOM KITCHEN CRAFT

Hi friends, I hope that you all are doing great! I have been bitten by the organizing bug! This usually happens this time of the year. So, you will see me make and post DIY organizers on my YouTube channel that are inexpensive and multifunctional. 

This time around I will be presenting dollar store ideas and hacks for organizing your home, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. I have 5+ (including 2 bonuses) new DIY organizers and 40+ organization ideas and hacks to share with you. Getting organized need not cost too much money.

I used shower caddies, shelf risers, zip ties and other materials that you can find at Dollar Tree. 

Using shower caddies and shelf risers to make organizers is very cost-effective. By connecting these items, you can make organizers that you can use in hard to organize areas like under the sink or inside the cupboard. The possibilities are endless and the only limitation is your imagination. Some of the projects featured in this video were requests from some of my subscribers. Thank you very much for those requests because they have challenged and inspired me to come up with solutions that are easy to make and very affordable. 

Materials used: 1st DIY: Dolar Tree DIY Double Shower Caddy Wall Organizers 2 Dollar Tree shower caddy 4 zip ties Scissors Hot glue gun and glue sticks 2 Dollar Tree small slotted tray baskets

I used zip ties to connect two (2) Dollar Tree shower caddies

I added the small white slotted baskets, also from Dollar Tree

The white small slotted basket from Dollar Tree fits perfectly on the shelf. Perfect for keeping small loose items!

2nd DIY: Dollar Tree DIY Single Layer Countertop Organizer 2 Dollar Tree wire shelf risers Zip ties Scissors Hot glue gun and glue sticks Cardboard or foam board (Cut to size) Dollar Tree contact paper

3rd DIY: Dollar Tree DIY Pantry and Bathroom Organizer 4 Dollar Tree wire shelf risers Zip ties Scissors Hot glue gun and glue sticks Optional for bathroom under the sink: 4 Dollar Tree baskets 2 pairs tied together with zip ties

I connected four (4) shelf risers with zip ties. Note that I used red zip ties for better visibility. 

I used Dollar Tree and Daiso bins to organize my craft supplies. 

I then put it in our kitchen cupboard, to create a mini pantry!

No pantry?! No problem! I was able to put my spices, sauces, some canned goods, oil bottles, etc in this small cabinet! On the top tier, I used two (2) clear plastic food containers to hold my spices so they do not topple over. I used a blue plastic bin on the right to hold tall bottles of oils.

I am sure everyone with a tight under cabinet sink can relate! The pipes can be a bother! Fortunately, this set-up is narrow enough to fit into the space!

I connected two (2) Dollar Tree baskets/bins together using a zip tie. This will allow me to pull the two baskets easily without breaking my back! I place them on the middle tier.

I connected two more baskets the same way and placed them at the very bottom. On the top tier, I placed an empty plastic shoe box from Dollar Tree towards the back. It can hold some tall items. 

At the top, I added clear bins. This one is from Daiso (a Japanese Dollar Store). The flip-out top allows for easy access of my toiletries.

4th DIY: Dollar Tree DIY Hot Drinks Organizer Stand 2 Dollar Tree wire shelf risers Zip ties Scissors Hot glue gun and glue sticks

I attached two (2) Dollar Tree shelf risers together with zip ties. I then place them on top of a tray. 

I filled them with hot drink goodies such as hot cocoa powder packs and tea bags. I used the Dollar Tree medium rectangular slotted basket at the very top and a clear Dollar Tree acrylic tray for the middle tier. 

I love how it turned out!

5th DIY: Dollar Tree DIY Under the Sink Caddy 2 Dollar Tree wire shelf risers 2 Dollar Tree shower caddy Zip ties Scissors Hot glue gun and glue sticks 2 pieces wooden rod (12 inches long) Optional: 2 baskets 2 skinny slotted baskets Bonus DIYs- before attaching the shower caddies, you can use the risers as a filing system for folders, stationery, journals, and notebooks. Or you can do the pull-out drawer system using the white wire basket from Dollar Tree. It can fit small and tight spaces!

I created this under-the-sink caddy using 2 Dollar Tree shower caddies, 2 Dollar Tree shelf risers, and wooden dowel rods. All tied with zip ties. This is perfect as is! Or...

Add bins or baskets to store more things!

Here, I showed that you do not need a basket/bin to store things. I put all the cleaning bottles on top. There is enough clearance since the caddies have tall handles. 

Adding storage bins definitely can hold more items and will prevent them from toppling over!

Please click on the thumbnail below to watch the full tutorial and to see more ideas, tips, and hacks that I shared! After you watch, I am almost certain that you will be bitten by the organizing bug too! Happy organizing!

Don't forget to subscribe to this blog and my YouTube channel for more projects like these!
Thank you so much for your support!

Until next time. Bye!!!

I am Getting Back On Track with Blogging in 2019

Hi everyone. It seems blogging never really took off as I had planned back in 2017; and in 2018, I totally skipped it. Thankfully, whenever possible, I had added some links of my DIYs for your perusal (check the DIY Tutorials tab). Then, life happened! Funny, how it often interrupts plans. Yes, LIFE interrupts LIFE!  I was doing too many things on my own. I am often full of plans and, sometimes, not everything materializes, not because of lack of motivation, but due to lack of time and capacity! Last year, I decided to concentrate on making my YouTube channel stronger. In that process, I learned a lot! I really dug deeper into what my channel should be and what it should represent.

When I first started my YouTube channel back in April 2016, I was not planning on becoming a YouTuber, at least not as a content creator. I created my channel so that I can subscribe and create a playlist, and leave comments on the channels that I followed. Back then, it was my daughter who wanted to become a YouTuber. She created a gaming channel. But then, her own life happens. Studying pre-med and being a YouTuber was not an easy feat due to her numerous activities and volunteer work. She has managed to upload a few gaming videos and some vlogs until she couldn't do it no more. Then, I got curious. Since I paid for the rig she was using for her YouTube channel, I might as well not let it go to waste. I started creating contents with things that are near and dear to my heart.

I created the monicker LifeAt50&Beyond since I am already past my 50 but I did not want my age to define what I can or cannot do! It is somewhat of a testament that at 50, I can still do anything as long as I put my mind, heart, and soul into. I knew nothing about being a YouTuber. My daughter helped me get set up my channel and also taught me how to use the video editing software that she used for her channel. Soon, I was rocking and rolling.

For my first upload in May 2016, I decided to give a tour of my pantry that I had organized. Home organization is not only a passion but also a necessity. All the more since we have downsized when we moved to a town near my daughter's university. Then, I started doing haul videos, from things purchased at Target and Dollar Tree. I did not know how many YouTubers were into Dollar Tree and Target Dollar Spot (Bullseye's Playground) and then a big community of self-proclaimed Dollar Tree addicts. I created an Instagram account and learned to post there too. I expounded to doing journals and planners and DIYs. Until I made my first DIY organizers, I was just doing whatever came to mind. No planning, just having fun and meeting new people. But, then, my channel became my passion and it helps too that I can make money on the side. I thought this can be a good income generator and can prepare me for my retirement. I have something to do even after I retire from my full-time job!

I am really enjoying this newfound hobby/passion/livelihood. I am forever grateful to my daughter for thinking of becoming a YouTuber and taking a break from it. Without her, I wouldn't have been inspired to do so.

Now, I need to improve some more and get back on track with Blogging. I intend to blog at least once a week. I hope to inspire and help people with their organization and decorating dilemmas. People who love to create things on a budget. I'd like to have you all be part of this journey with me.