Embrace Imperfection: The Beauty of Crafting

By Alexa Hess • March 4, 2024
Hey there, fellow crafters! Have you ever looked at your latest project and felt a pang of disappointment, thinking, "Why isn't it perfect?" or "It's not as good as I hoped"? Trust me, you're not alone. Throughout my crafting journey, I've wrestled with these same thoughts. But here's the truth I've come to realize: perfection doesn't exist in crafting, and that's perfectly okay. We all have our own unique style and perspective that we bring to our projects. While it's natural to aspire to the level of other crafters, comparing ourselves to them only leads to unnecessary self-criticism. Your work may not look identical to someone else's, but it carries your personal touch, making it uniquely yours. Consider this: when you come across a tutorial or a DIY video, you're inspired to create something similar, but with your own twist. You choose different materials, colors, and techniques, tailoring the project to reflect your creativity. And yes, there will be times when things don't go as planned. Trust me; I've had my fair share of crafting mishaps. Take, for instance, my attempt to make acrylic gift tags for Valentine's Day. Armed with glitter, Mod Podge, and a vision, I was ready to dazzle. However, reality hit hard when my glitter experiment turned into a glitter catastrophe. But did I give up? No way! I pivoted to painting the hearts, embracing a different approach that still captured the essence of my vision.
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Alexa Hess • February 27, 2024

Dollar Tree Valentine’s Day

Let's Get Started!

Photo Buckets


These buckets are perfect for filling with candy or cute Galentine’s Day items like nail polish and gift cards. They're also ideal for kids' classroom Valentine’s or teachers could use them to fill with candy, crayons, or other grade-related goodies.


Grab your photo buckets here!

Gift Bags


Since I don’t have kids, I use these gift bags to create Valentine’s Day goodie bags for my friends. I usually fill them with candy and homemade sugar cookies. It might not be much, but my friends seem to enjoy them! These bags can be used for any treats or as gift bags.


Get these bags here!

Heart LED String Lights


I adore these lights – they are incredibly cute! I discovered them thanks to Kim at Sweet Red Poppy, who featured them on her Instagram story for making Valentine’s gifts. Click here to check out her Instagram profile. Use these lights for personal home decor by hanging them in your house or room, or place them in a jar or vase. Note that they don't have timers like some craft lights from Michaels, so keep that in mind. You could even incorporate them into one of the plastic buckets mentioned earlier for a unique gift presentation.


Find these lights here!

Heart Garlands


I didn’t notice these at first, but once I did, I knew I had to buy a couple! These would be fantastic for decorating your house or placed in a jar or container to add a little sparkle without resorting to glitter. They're versatile and can be used for various craft projects.


Get heart garlands here!

Valentine’s Day Themed Tissue Paper


I love how festive this tissue paper is, so I always grab some when I find it! I tend to use it when I make goodie bags for friends using the cute Valentine gift bags, but you can use it for anything your heart desires!


Grab your tissue paper here!

Tin Pails


Similar to the buckets and gift bags, these are great for candy and other gifts. You could even use these for flowers instead of a traditional vase. While they say not to use them for food, I've found success by lining them with parchment paper for extra protection.



Get these pails here!

Popcorn Buckets


These popcorn buckets are pretty self-explanatory based on the name, but you can also use them for gifts. For a unique Galentine’s gift, fill them halfway with paper shreds and a small bottle of prosecco, along with a wine glass or champagne flute. If you prefer a kid-friendly version, replace the prosecco with a small bottle of Martinelli’s Apple Cider and an acrylic or plastic champagne flute or wine glass.


Find popcorn buckets here!

Gnome Picks


I spotted these gnome picks and thought they were really cute! They can be used as a centerpiece in a bouquet of flowers, a candy bouquet, or as home decor. If you're particularly festive and have a Valentine’s Day tree, you could even stick these throughout the branches. 


Get these cute gnome picks here!

Valentine’s Day Themed Candy


Candy, candy, candy! The Dollar Tree is a fantastic place to buy candy for any Valentine’s Day gift. They offer a wide variety, and the packaging is always so festive. I’m planning to use the candy boxes to create a square box and fill the inside with other candy. If that sounds too complicated, simply throw any of this candy into the gift bags, buckets, or tins, and you're good to go!


Get candy here!

Napkins


I bought these napkins to use for dinner, but you could also use them as tissue paper instead of parchment paper. I often line cookie tins or boxes with festive napkins when I don’t have or want to use plain parchment paper.


Grab them here!

Heart Wooden Sticks


I'm unsure what exactly I'm going to do with these yet, but they can be used for anything. Stick them in styrofoam, flowers, or use them for larger appetizers if you're having a Valentine's Day party.


Get heart sticks here!

Valentine’s Glass Container with Heart Lid


I spotted this while waiting in the checkout line and had to pick one up! I initially thought of using it for a gift, but now I'm considering placing it in the center of our dining room table and filling it with candy. It would also be fun to fill this with goodies and give it to your best friend for Valentine’s Day.



Grab this adorable jar here!

So there you have it, my Dollar Tree finds! Of course, there is much more, especially if you order online or have a larger Dollar Tree in your local area. Ours is on the smaller side, but they do stock well for the holidays!


Comment here if you enjoyed this blog and be sure to follow my Instagram and YouTube channel! Talk to you soon, fellow crafters! XOXO

More Craft Inspirations

Embrace Imperfection: The Beauty of Crafting

By Alexa Hess • March 4, 2024
Hey there, fellow crafters! Have you ever looked at your latest project and felt a pang of disappointment, thinking, "Why isn't it perfect?" or "It's not as good as I hoped"? Trust me, you're not alone. Throughout my crafting journey, I've wrestled with these same thoughts. But here's the truth I've come to realize: perfection doesn't exist in crafting, and that's perfectly okay. We all have our own unique style and perspective that we bring to our projects. While it's natural to aspire to the level of other crafters, comparing ourselves to them only leads to unnecessary self-criticism. Your work may not look identical to someone else's, but it carries your personal touch, making it uniquely yours. Consider this: when you come across a tutorial or a DIY video, you're inspired to create something similar, but with your own twist. You choose different materials, colors, and techniques, tailoring the project to reflect your creativity. And yes, there will be times when things don't go as planned. Trust me; I've had my fair share of crafting mishaps. Take, for instance, my attempt to make acrylic gift tags for Valentine's Day. Armed with glitter, Mod Podge, and a vision, I was ready to dazzle. However, reality hit hard when my glitter experiment turned into a glitter catastrophe. But did I give up? No way! I pivoted to painting the hearts, embracing a different approach that still captured the essence of my vision.
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