Dollar Store DIY: Vintage Inspired Brass Bells

A budget-friendly way to create easy DIY vintage-inspired brass bells!

I'm about three weeks behind sharing December's Dollar Store DIY, but who's counting? A late project is better than no project, right?

Last month, I updated basic dollar Tree ornaments and this month, I was inspired to create budget-friendly, vintage brass bells. Vintage bells have been one of my favorite holiday items to hunt for, so creating a DIY version seemed like the perfect Dollar Tree project.

Christmas may be in a few days, but these DIY brass bells are perfect all winter long!

- SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE DIY BRASS BELLS-

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- Dollar Tree plastic shot glasses

- Cardboard

- Gold spray paint

- Dap Rapid Fuse (you could use hot glue too)

- Dollar Tree Jute Twine

-HOW TO MAKE DIY VINTAGE INSPIRED BRASS BELLS-

With the brass bell idea in mind, I headed to Dollar Tree in search of a product I could use to create the bells. As soon as I came across a pack of 10 plastic shot glasses I knew they would be perfect.

I also picked up a roll of jute twine to use for hang the bells.

STEP ONE:
Spray plastic shot glasses and a few small pieces of cardboard with gold spray paint. Coat both sides of cardboard and both outside and inside of the plastic glasses.

Spray painting Dollar Tree shot glasses and cardboard

STEP TWO:
Once dry, cut cardboard into thin strips. You will need two strips of cardboard per bell.

Spray painted Dollar Tree shot glasses and cardboard

STEP THREE:
Create the tops of each bell by forming a cardboard strip into a circle. Use Rapid Fuse All Purpose Adhesive or hot glue to close and form each circle.

STEP FOUR:
Glue one cardboard circle onto the top of each spray painted shot glass.

STEP FIVE:
Create a clapper for each bell by bending the top 1/4" of the remaining cardboard strips and gluing them to the inside bottom of each glass. Cut any excess cardboard so that the clappers hang down about 1/4" past the bottom of the bell.

STEP SIX:
Measure approx 2 feet of jute twine, fold over and measure another strand until you have four strands (with two loops at the top). Separate the strands (two on each side) then twist together, making one thick piece of jute. Tie jute onto bell and repeat the process for each bell, making sure to stagger the length of each jute strand.