Staring at a pile of photos, wondering how to turn them into the perfect gift, I’ve mastered transforming simple supplies into cherished keepsakes—testing, fixing fails, and discovering solutions that actually work.
But I know the struggle: How do you give a heartfelt Grandparents’ Day gift without breaking the bank, and more importantly, without it looking cheap? I’ve spent hours figuring this out, sometimes with family by my side, and I’ve been there too.
That’s why in this post, I’ll show you exactly how to solve these challenges with tips I’ve tested myself. Stick with me, and you’ll learn how to create beautiful, thoughtful, and budget-friendly crafts that look anything but cheap, while creating magical memories with your loved ones! 💖
My Top 4 Picks From This List 🏆
If you’re short on time, these are the absolute must-try ideas that I personally love for creating a “designer look” with dollar store DIY!
- Elevated Photo Frame Masterpiece: A classic handmade gift, but with a high-end finish that will surprise everyone.
- Designer-Look Painted Vases or Jars: Simple glass transformed into chic home decor, perfect for any grandparent’s home.
- Personalized Photo Coasters: Practical, beautiful, and a daily reminder of love that’s surprisingly durable.
- Handprint/Footprint Keepsake Plaque: A timeless “Memory Maker” moment that captures precious tiny hands or feet in an elegant way.
A Few Supplies for Success 🛠️
To truly elevate your dollar store DIY projects and achieve that high-end, designer look, a few key supplies make all the difference. As your trusted family advisor, I always recommend having these on hand for any budget-friendly crafts:
✅ Good Quality Paint (acrylics, spray paint – especially matte or textured finishes!)
✅ Mod Podge or Craft Glue (for sealing and adhering)
✅ Paint Brushes & Sponges (various sizes help with detail and texture)
✅ Ribbon, Twine, or Yarn (natural fibers or elegant satins add a touch of luxury)
✅ A Smartphone or Camera (👑 Nancy’s Pick: Before printing, use a simple photo editing app like Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed to enhance your photos. Cropping, adjusting brightness, and adding a subtle filter can make even a humble print look professional, instantly elevating any craft it’s part of!)
1. Elevated Photo Frame Masterpiece 🖼️
Transforming a basic dollar store frame into a cherished keepsake is one of my go-to “Memory Maker” moments. With just a few simple touches, you can take a plain frame from drab to designer, making it a beautiful display for a favorite family photo. This is a perfect dollar store DIY gift that looks anything but cheap!
💡 Pro-Tip: Use textured spray paint (like stone-effect or matte black) or a dry-brush technique with acrylic paint to give a cheap frame a high-end, distressed, or sophisticated look. It instantly adds character and depth.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-1: A beautifully styled photo of a finished, “glowed-up” dollar store photo frame, perhaps with a black and white photo inside, on a clean, minimalist background.]
2. Designer-Look Painted Vases or Jars 🏺
Simple glass jars or vases from the dollar store become elegant decor pieces with a coat of paint and a personal touch. This budget-friendly craft is fantastic for crafts for grandma or grandpa, adding a touch of personalized home decor. After testing dozens of these, I’ve found they make stunning handmade gifts.
👑 Nancy’s Golden Rule: Always clean glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely before painting for a smooth, professional finish that lasts and won’t chip easily. This is key to achieving that quality, designer look.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-2: A close-up, artful shot of a dollar store glass vase or jar, beautifully painted (e.g., matte white, terracotta, or with a simple geometric design) and perhaps tied with a natural twine bow, holding a single flower.]
3. Personalized Photo Coasters ☕
Practical and personal, these personalized photo coasters are a daily reminder of your love, perfect for DIY gifts for grandparents. Using inexpensive dollar store tiles and cherished photos, you can create a set of custom, thrifty home decor pieces that defy their humble origins.
💡 Pro-Tip: For a truly professional look, seal your finished coasters with a clear acrylic spray (matte or glossy, depending on your preference) to make them waterproof, durable, and resistant to wear and tear.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-3: A stack of finished, personalized photo coasters, showcasing clear, vibrant photos and a glossy finish, perhaps next to a cup of coffee.]
4. Handprint/Footprint Keepsake Plaque ✋
Capture tiny hands and feet forever on a beautiful, display-worthy plaque. This is the ultimate “Memory Maker” moment, creating a truly priceless keepsake for Grandparents’ Day. This easy kids craft idea uses simple dollar store canvas or wood slices and acrylic paint to create a meaningful gift.
👑 Nancy’s Golden Rule: Don’t just do the print; add the child’s name and age (and the date!) in elegant script or neat block letters for a truly timeless keepsake that provides context and makes it even more special.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-4: A beautifully presented handprint or footprint art piece on a canvas or wood slice, with neat lettering and perhaps a simple ribbon hanger, looking like a boutique item.]
5. Memory Jar with a Decorative Twist 💖
A jar filled with loving notes becomes a beautiful piece of decor they’ll cherish, making it a wonderful idea for Grandparents’ Day gift ideas. This simple yet heartfelt craft, using a dollar store jar and decorative paper, creates a treasure trove of positive messages and shared memories.
💡 Pro-Tip: Use a mix of patterned and solid papers for your notes, and tie a pretty ribbon or some natural twine around the jar’s neck for an extra touch of elegance and visual interest. A custom-made label also adds to the designer look!
[Image Placement Instruction: image-5: A clear dollar store jar filled with colorful, rolled-up notes, adorned with a stylish label and a decorative ribbon, looking like a thoughtful, curated gift.]
6. DIY Recipe Book or Cards 📝
Compile family recipes into a personalized book or set of cards that will be passed down for generations. This is a truly unique and thoughtful handmade gift, especially for crafts for grandma or grandpa who love to cook or bake. It’s a wonderful way to preserve family history and create new “Memory Maker” moments in the kitchen.
👑 Nancy’s Golden Rule: Include a handwritten note on the first page, sharing why these recipes are special to your family or a favorite memory associated with them, to make it truly priceless and personal.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-6: An open, beautifully decorated dollar store notebook or a stack of embellished index cards, showcasing neat handwriting and perhaps a small, charming illustration or sticker.]
7. Painted Rock Garden Markers or Decor 🪨
Turn simple dollar store rocks into charming garden art or thoughtful paperweights. This cheap craft idea is fantastic for kids and results in beautiful, unique pieces of thrifty home decor. They also make excellent crafts for grandpa who loves his garden!
💡 Pro-Tip: For a polished look, use fine-tipped paint pens for details and seal with a glossy outdoor sealant to protect against the elements and give them a professional, finished appearance.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-7: A collection of beautifully painted rocks (e.g., with mandalas, simple words like “Love,” or garden-themed designs), arranged artfully, looking like high-end garden decor.]
8. Button Art Monogram or Design 🧵
Create a unique, textured art piece using an assortment of colorful buttons from the dollar store. This is one of my favorite ways to achieve a “designer look” on a budget, turning simple supplies into gallery-worthy art. It’s a creative and engaging dollar store DIY project.
👑 Nancy’s Golden Rule: Vary the size and shade of buttons within your chosen color palette to add depth and visual interest, making it look much more sophisticated and less flat.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-8: A close-up of a finished button art piece (e.g., a monogram letter or a simple heart design) on a canvas, showcasing the texture and thoughtful arrangement of buttons, looking like gallery art.]
9. “Open When…” Letters in a Decorated Box ✉️
A collection of heartfelt letters for different occasions, presented in a beautifully decorated dollar store box, is a profound “Memory Maker” gift. This truly personalized gift offers comfort, joy, and connection, making it one of the most cherished handmade gifts you can give.
💡 Pro-Tip: Line the inside of the dollar store box with pretty scrapbook paper or fabric for an unexpected touch of luxury and thoughtfulness. This hidden detail makes the gift feel even more special and high-end.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-9: A stylishly decorated dollar store box, slightly ajar, revealing a neat stack of “Open When…” letters in pretty envelopes, looking like a cherished treasure chest.]
10. Personalized Planter Pot with a Plant 🌱
A living gift that grows, housed in a beautifully customized pot, is a wonderful choice for Grandparents’ Day. This budget-friendly craft transforms a simple dollar store terracotta pot into an artisanal piece of home decor, especially when paired with a vibrant plant.
👑 Nancy’s Golden Rule: Choose a small, easy-to-care-for plant like a succulent, a small herb, or a snake plant, and include a tiny care tag for a complete, thoughtful gift that even those without a green thumb can enjoy.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-10: A beautifully hand-painted or decorated dollar store terracotta pot, holding a vibrant small plant, styled to look like a charming, artisanal piece of home decor.]
Make it Your Own ✨
As your trusted family advisor, I always encourage you to personalize and combine ideas to make your dollar store crafts truly unique and high-end. Here are a few ways to add that extra designer touch:
✅ Combine a personalized photo frame with a small, decorated planter for a cohesive gift set that feels curated and thoughtful.
✅ Adapt any craft for long-distance grandparents by taking high-quality photos of the finished product and sending them along with a heartfelt video message explaining the craft and its meaning.
✅ Encourage kids to sign and date their crafts on the back. It adds to the keepsake value and creates a “Memory Maker” moment for years to come.
Your Thoughtful Questions Answered 🤔
A question I get all the time in my DMs is, “How do I come up with a gift that my parents or grandparents will actually love?” Let’s dive into some common questions about elevating dollar store gifts.
Q1: How can I make sure my dollar store crafts don’t look cheap?
The secret to avoiding the “cheap” look lies in attention to detail and good quality finishing touches. Invest in better paints (matte or metallic spray paints work wonders!), use strong adhesives, and add elements like nice ribbon, twine, or elegant labels. Polished photos and neat handwriting also make a huge difference. Think about presentation – how you wrap or present the gift can elevate its perceived value significantly.
Q2: What are the best dollar store items to “glow up” for Grandparents’ Day?
From my experience, the most versatile dollar store items for a “glow-up” are plain glass vases/jars, basic photo frames, terracotta pots, simple canvases or wood slices, and ceramic tiles. These items provide a blank slate that can be easily transformed with paint, Mod Podge, and embellishments, making them perfect for budget-friendly crafts that look high-end.
Q3: My kids are very young. Which of these crafts are easiest for them to help with, while still looking good?
For very young children, the Handprint/Footprint Keepsake Plaque (with adult help for neat lettering), Painted Rock Garden Markers (let them paint, you can add details and seal), and the Memory Jar with a Decorative Twist (they can draw pictures or dictate notes) are fantastic. The Personalized Planter Pot is also great for little hands to paint. The key is to guide them, embrace their unique style, and then use those finishing touches to pull the whole piece together beautifully!
Conclusion
I’ve loved sharing these “designer look” dollar store crafts with you! As your trusted family advisor, I know firsthand the joy that comes from giving a handmade gift that’s both meaningful and beautiful, without breaking the bank. These budget-friendly crafts are more than just items; they’re “Memory Maker” moments waiting to happen, transforming simple supplies into cherished treasures.
Which of these ‘designer look’ dollar store crafts will you be creating for your grandparents this year? Share your favorites in the comments below!
