Customer Reviews

Dollar Store Decor: 100 Projects for Lush Living That Won't Break the Bank

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I absolutely LOVE the idea of this book, but it left me a bit disappointed. Out of 101 ideas, I only found four or five that I might want to try, which also may just be my personal taste. A couple things bothered me about the book. Some of the stuff just looked cheap and icky. Also, some of the ideas were repeated over and OVER throughout the book but on different items, like a tray a lamp a box, etc. It's all really the same idea, so why does it count for more than one? Just something that disappointed me.

This book is a complete and utter waste of money. The projects are completely recycled... for example, how many different cheap items can you hot-glue to a picture frame? Apparently all of them. Most of the designs are not only lame, ugly and done-to-death... they are the type of thing that will end up being ready for the garbage after a week. For example, covering a garbage can with tissue paper. As a matter of fact, Mark Montano seems to think that everything in your house would be bettered by adding a coat of tissue paper. Forget that the colours fade almost immediately, it is just a stupid idea. My sister and I agree that anyone with $20 and 5 minutes to spend at the buck store could come up with hundreds of better ideas. Do not waste your money! Even if you see this dog at the dollar store, it would still be a rip-off.... The positive reviews given this book were obviously written by either Mark Montano's minions or denizens of the Land of Bad Taste. Check their other reviews... only books by Mark Montano... coincidence? I think not.

I had added this book to my wishlist and subsequently received it for my birthday a few days ago. I was really disappointed as I flipped through this book. It was page after page of cheap looking crafts. I could see making a few of these with my kids just for fun, but to spruce up the look of my home, I don't think so. As another reviewer mentioned, most of these projects are all about gluing cheap, dollar store, items to things like frames, trash cans, magnets, etc. Want to find several ways to repurpose a dollar store rag rug? This is your book! Besides the fact that the projects are cheap looking, they also require tools that most people don't have sitting around their house. So good luck spending just a few dollars on these projects!
Seriously though, I'm bummed that this book was bought for me. I feel bad for the one who spent the money. Save your money and go to [...] where you'll find fun dollar store crafts with lots of creativity!

I love Mark on While You Were Out and saw him on the Tony Danza show...really don't go to dollar stores much but after this book and all the FABULOUS ideas, I'm hooked. The book is amazing and the ideas are fun! I've made tons of gifts for friends and my apartment. Mark is ahead of his time!!!!!

I bought The Big Ass Book of Crafts and was incredibly impressed with it. This was before Big Ass Book of Home Decor came out, and I wanted more ideas from Mark! Unfortunately, it turns out I could've just as easily not purchased this, as the best ideas were recycled for Book of Crafts. What wasn't put in Book of Crafts are just some awful, trashy looking ideas, just like the other 2 and 1 star reviews said. Book of Crafts has many more good ideas that are actually worth having in your home, so save your money here because even though it's cheaper, money down the toilet is a waste if it's a dollar or a hundred dollars.

Thanks, Mark for writing a great book with projects that I can actually complete and afford. Mark Montano is a creative genius. Buy this book and impress everyone you know with these fabulous projects.

I love the dollar store and this book is filled with tons of great ideas to make with items from my favorite place. There are 4 dollar stores in my home town and everything in this book is carried in at least one of them. Okay, some of the ideas I wouldn't do, but they made me use my brain and come up with alternatives. Mark is great on a budget (I have seen him on While You Were Out for years now) and some of these projects are pure magic. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in to making things.

If you thought Mark Montano's designs blew you away on While You Were Out just wait until you see his 101 Dollar Store Decor projects. This book contains everything from cool light fixtures to funky art projects. The best part is that all these projects look so great that even a decorationally impaired person such as myself can complete them.

I love this book! it has so many great ideas that make cute personalized gifts. I have used some of their ideas and created crafts with the kids i babysit. If you're ever bored, open up this book, and head to wal-mart to pick up some of these items. my favorite idea is the jungle lamp shade. just hot glue some leaves to the shade, and cover the lamp with some twine and you have a really cool unique lamp.

hope this helps!

no one is probably more stoked about this book coming out than me! i ordered this book for my sister's birthday and after i got to see it, i had to order one for myself. i did the advance purchase thing so i had to wait for 4 weeks, but other than that, the wait was totally worth it!

my sister is 13 and reads cosmogirl every month and this guy mark evidently has a column in it about making over a girls room. that is how i heard about him. the things that he created in this book are way creative. i never would have thought of them. i made my mom a rug purse already! it is scary to think that someone like Target is going to steal these ideas. at least we get to keep them original to our own style.thanks for the inspirational ideas!!