Hey gals,
Talking today about some goodies I discovered earlier this week at our neighborhood Dollar Tree. Right up front just wanna say that this is in no way a sponsored post. I just love me some Dollar Tree. That simple.
As a (former) librarian and (current) librarian sub, I like to decorate the libraries where I work. I have always put a lot of effort in making them inviting spaces where my students and teachers (adminstrators? some, not so much) want to be. There was always a semi-fresh pot of coffee for anyone who needed a cup. In elementary education, one needs coffee as much as she wants it. Always had cookies or biscotti and occasionally (very occasionally) homemade goodies. We spend as much of our waking hours in our work space as we do on our couch at home. It should be attractive, comfortable and reflect YOU.
That being said…here are a few of the great things I found on my last trip to my neighborhood Dollar Tree. Here’s the whole fall wall display.
So much to look at. So much to buy!
They were just getting the summer-themed merchandise moved out. What precious little there was left of it. Things sell quickly at Dollar Tree. You have to be on your A game. Get things when you see them. Don’t wait!
You’ve probably seen and maybe bought some of these already yourself. Like giant felt die-cuts. They come with a little plastic hook to hang them by. And hang them I do. All over the library with fishing line. Would brighten any space. A couple of the owls sitting on a butcher paper tree branch and you have a back-to-school bulletin board.
They also make great seasonal place mats. And because they are so inexpensive, you can buy a few extra in case your princess spills her milk one night. For a dollar, you can throw that one away!
Check these out.
Use these on your classroom doors. Or put some self-adhesive plastic hooks around your space to hang them on the walls. They are very light-weight and could easily be changed out from season to season. Buy two of the same pattern and glue-gun those babies back to back. Hang them from the ceiling too. They are only decorative on one side, though.
I can think of lots of uses for these.
The packages of leaves could be used to create a bulletin board border. The ribbon could be used as a border, too. Or create your own garland with ribbon and leaves. I put mini gourds and pumpkins in lanterns at home. They work well in vases and large glass jars, too. Put a few leaves in first, add the gourds and tie a ribbon around the mouth of the jar.
Find a cute Dollar Tree basket to fill with a combination of these metallic pumpkins, little gourds and pine cones. Walmart usually sells cinnamon scented pine cones for a few dollars. Throw those in to fill your space with fall fragrance. Tie a bow round the basket or pull the ribbon through the basket weave, twist the ribbon around the handle.
The leaves and gourds make great seasonal math manipulatives, too. Use them, pine cones, acorns at math learning centers.
Try these window clings to jazz up appliances, cabinets or bulletin boards. At home, let your little prince make a fall display on his bedroom window. Or invite children to trace around the shapes on paper to color for their own harvest art.
How sweet is this little guy?
See how many shapes are used in making up our espanta pajaros. (I love the Spanish name for scarecrow) Have children identify all of the shapes. Label the shapes on his body. Invite students to create their own shape scarecrow. Use him on a bulletin board. He can be a new student’s first friend. Why is his smile so wide? Ask your students to write a story about what is making him smile. Is he a scary scarecrow? What a colorful writing prompt.
Speaking of garland… we were, weren’t we?
Ta-da…garland. Drape it across cabinets at home or school. Use it on the mantel. Tie ribbons (see above) on it for extra pizzazz. Glue gun that bad boy around your door frame. Use for bulletin board border. Above windows. Peeking between blinds.
And this?
You tell me. What could you do with this? Of course, bulletin board border. But what else?
I like to use seasonal decorations not only at the library but around my house, too. Especially in the kitchen and family room where we spend the most time. Here are a couple of quick pics of what I did mid-summer.
Nothing to write home about especially but kinda fun.
See the basket of “mums” – I am going to stick scarecrows in there for fall. Might do the same thing with my fruit pitcher above. Like a scarecrow bouquet.
And here are just the things I need for that project.
Hey, look! They have refrigerator clings. Ha! Bet they would be cute on the guest bathroom mirror. Will be using the black garden posts to line the wall between the grass and desert landscaping in my front yard. The center part in the circle spins! Fun, huh?
Last but not least, this was a whole display of picks.
To add to my mums. Or to put in my flower bed? To use in filling baskets and jars and vases. It might be cute to tie plastic ware to a pick with twine or ribbon to create a festive table setting.
We don’t entertain. I am shy and socially awkward and have you seen my splayed toes? Check them out, here. But wouldn’t these picks be precious rolled with silverware in a fall paper napkin and tie with string. Add a felt placemat and some cute paper plates.
In writing this post, I realized that you can shop Dollar Tree online. Don’t know why but that hadn’t occurred to me before. Stop by, here.
I just love my Dollar Tree. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Hobby Lobby and Michael’s, too. But you can’t beat these prices. Where everything is always… a dollar!
Hugs and kisses,
Deena
I also love getting my random school decor from our Dollar Store!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Isn’t it fun? One of the perks of teaching, even if we have to pay for it all ourselves.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
I spotted some mini white pumpkins, those can be SO expensive if you buy them at Hobby Lobby, Target, etc.! I love checking out the fall section in the dollar store. I even saw some succulents for $1 a PIECE when I went in one this week and they are like $5.99 at Hobby Lobby. Of course, the quality isn’t as good… but, you can make them work! It sounds like you make the library super inviting… give me all the coffee and homemade goodies!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Check out the white pumpkins at Dollar Tree. You are right that the quality might not be a great as Hobby Lobby but I like to change things up after a year or two so sometimes it is more practical to have less expensive/lesser quality stuff. Thank you so much for the kind words about making the library inviting. I hope that the kids I have had the pleasure of working with will always associate a library with a warm, comfy place to be.
Katie
Love that you have a whole post dedicated to the Dollar Tree. There is no Hobby Lobby round these parts…I think thanks to you, Dollar Tree might be the next best thing!! I gotta go!! Have a great weekend Leslie!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am going to start checking out the goodies at my Dollar Tree on a regular basis. I will be back in an elementary school library in November for a few months so will be able to decorate more. Can’t wait.
Mary
Love your fall decorating ideas, Leslie! Thanks for the inspiration.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Mary! Going to get my fall stuff out this week. Can’t wait. If you decorate, please share a pic with me. XO
Sharon
Love all your ideas friend! Might have to snatch that cute scare crow up this weekend! Fall is my favorite time to decorate. Can’t wait to put mums and pumpkins in my old wheelbarrow! You have such a talent for decorating your bulletins boards! I think it all started in a hallway at Elmore Park about 46 years ago. 😊
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I am going to find a wheel barrow this fall if it … well, if it has me running all over El Paso til I do. Thank you for always being in my corner, sweet friend.
Whitney @ Whitney à la mode
I wish you were the librarian at my school! How wonderful that you make it a nice place for the teachers to be. That’s just so thoughtful of you!
Lana
Super great stuff at the Dollar Tree! I got all of Thomas’ graduation party stuff there!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Isn’t Dollar Tree the BEST? Love them. Need to get back in there to see what they have new.