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I wanted to know whether I could recreate my DIY fiber art witch doll using supplies from Dollar Tree, and, perhaps, just as importantly, whether the finished witch would actually be cute.
The short answer is yes. But… my first attempt at it was ROUGH, while my second Dollar Tree witch turned out adorable and I think every bit as cute as the witch I made from my coordinated craft kit.
If you enjoy the challenge of turning ordinary craft supplies into something awesome, this is a really fun budget Halloween project. If you would rather have all the right supplies coordinated and ready to use, you can grab one of my craft kits on Etsy. Either way I’ll show you how the Dollar Tree version compares with my DIY witch kit.
Can You Really Make This Witch With Dollar Tree Supplies?
Yes – with a little creativity.
I was able to find most of what I needed at Dollar Tree, taking some creative liberties and doubling up the duty of a few of them, but all in all I think it came together well and I can share this project knowing that others can also create something fantastic for themselves.
Dollar Tree didn’t have the miniature broom or molded witch hat included with my kit. I ended up using plastic flower pieces, pipe cleaners, and a small fabric flower petal to make one. It required more work and experimentation, but the finished hat worked well enough for me.
That resourcefulness is part of the fun of a Dollar Tree challenge: you aren’t necessarily finding exact replacements. You are looking at what is available and asking, “What could this become?”
Dollar Tree Supplies I Used
Your local selection may be different, especially with seasonal merchandise, but these are the types of supplies I used:
- A hanging Halloween pumpkin decoration with wooden beads, and a tassel (Wood beads for the dolls face, tassel for the broom)
- Soft, standard pipe cleaners (for the body and arms)
- Yarn for the hair, shirt, arms, and legs (3 colors)
- Artificial fabric flowers (the bigger the better, I ended up using a flower hair clip?)
- Glittery pipe cleaners for accents and for constructing the broom and hat
- Glue or adhesive (I found doubled sided craft tap in the crafters area)
- Scissors
- Black Cat Eraser Pack (Not necessary, but I thought they were fun, there was also a mini pumpkin in one of the eraser packs)
- A piece of cardboard approximately 5.5 inches long for measuring the hair (I used the pumpkin from my hanging decoration)
- Hanging string, if you want to turn your witch into an ornament … I just used a bit of my yarn, but it was pretty visible, thinner string would have looked better
My First Dollar Tree Witch: What Went Wrong
My first attempt technically worked. It was recognizable as a witch, and I proved that the basic concept could be made with Dollar Tree supplies, but she was not nearly as cute as I wanted her to be.
The biggest problem was my choice of pipe cleaners.
I tried using glittery pipe cleaners for the witch’s body, trying to cut down supplies and only have one kind of pipe cleaner, but they were difficult to cover. Even after I wrapped them with separated strands of yarn, the stiff, sparkly fibers refused to lie flat and continually poked through the wrapping.
The arms created an additional problem. I was trying very hard to use only the materials exactly as I found them, so instead of cutting one pipe cleaner in half for the arms, I folded the entire pipe cleaner in half. That created arms that were twice as thick as they needed to be.
Doubling an already stiff, glittery pipe cleaner and then attempting to wrap it smoothly was, in hindsight, a particularly unfriendly combination. The arms looked bulky, the glitter kept escaping, and everything was harder to shape.
The first witch taught me two very important lessons:
- Use soft pipe cleaners for the doll’s body. Save the glittery ones for details and accessories that do not need to be wrapped smoothly.
- Cut the arm pipe cleaner to the correct length. Do not double its full thickness simply to avoid cutting it.
Those small changes made a huge difference in the finished witch.
Here is my first attempt… she had some things working for her, I loved the hair and skirt, but her upper body was just blobby and too thick for her tiny bead head. If I’d been able to find a bigger wooden bead, I think it could have worked better, but the thickness of the rough pipe cleaners and the tiny head just make this a really mediocre finish for me.
My Second Attempt: The Two Changes That Fixed Everything
For my second Dollar Tree witch, I used soft pipe cleaners for the head, body, arms, and legs. I only used the stiffer glittery pipe cleaners for handmade broom and hat.
I also cut the arm pipe cleaner in half instead of folding the entire piece over on itself.
This time the arms were thinner and easier to wrap, they weren’t tearing apart my yarn stands, and the fuzzy pipe-cleaners stayed hidden, and the whole process was just easier. Those two simple changes solved nearly every major problem I encountered during the first attempt.
The finished second witch was adorable. In fact, I think she holds her own beautifully next to my kit witch. She has a more improvised, handmade props, while the kit witch looks a little more polished and coordinated, but both are genuinely cute.
How to Make a Dollar Tree Fiber Art Witch Doll
The basic construction is almost identical to my full DIY Witch Doll Craft Tutorial, so you can follow that tutorial for detailed photographs and step-by-step doll assembly. Here is how I adapted the project for Dollar Tree materials.
Step 1: Make the Witch’s Hair
Wrap your chosen hair yarn around the long side of a 5.5-inch piece of cardboard approximately 12 times. Place the center of a soft pipe cleaner across one end of the yarn bundle, then twist it tightly to secure the hair.
Cut the yarn at the opposite end of the cardboard.
For curly, fluffy hair, untwist each piece of yarn and gently pull apart the smaller strands. You can also leave the yarn intact, braid it, or mix several textures.
If you want your finished witch to hang, add a knotted length of clear string or fishing line to the center of the hair bundle before securing it.
Step 2: Add the Wooden Bead Head
Insert both ends of the pipe cleaner through the opening in the wooden bead. Slide the bead upward until the hair sits securely inside the opening.
If the bead will not slide into place, remove a few strands of hair and try again. Too much yarn can make this step unnecessarily difficult.
Step 3: Add the Arms & Make the Torso
Cut a soft pipe cleaner to the correct arm length (about 6″). Bend it in half to locate the center, then position it horizontally across the doll’s upper body.
This is where my second attempt improved dramatically: use one thin layer of soft pipe cleaner for the arms rather than folding an entire glitter pipe cleaner in half. The slimmer arms are much easier to wrap and shape.
Wrap another soft pipe cleaner around the body to give the torso a little shape. You can wrap it more widely around the chest, stomach, or hips depending on the silhouette you want.
Step 4: Unravel Yarn to Replace Embroidery Floss
My original witch uses skin-toned embroidery floss to wrap the arms and legs. For the Dollar Tree version, I substituted off-white yarn.
Regular yarn is too bulky, so gently untwist it until you can see the smaller strands that make up the yarn. Separate one thin strand and use it as you would use embroidery floss. I worked in about 24″ strands at a time.
This takes more time and yarn unraveling, but it works surprisingly well.
Wrap the separated off-white yarn strand tightly around the neck and arms, covering the soft pipe cleaner. Bend the very ends into small loops to form hands, then wrap over the loop ends until they are covered, but leave the loop open so you can slide in a broom.
Step 5: Shape and Cover the Torso
Separate a thin strand from your shirt-colored yarn. Secure it at the back of the doll with some sticky tape and wrap it around the torso until the pipe cleaner is completely covered.
Again, separating the yarn is the key. A full piece of yarn will create a bulkier, fuzzier shirt, while one unraveled strand gives you much more control.
You can cover down her shoulders or arms as well if you want to have a shirt with sleeves.
Step 6: Create the Flower-Petal Skirt
Take apart your faux flowers, and put one of the small petals aside (to make the witch hat brim) then arrange the remaining petals. I like to arrange them from smallest to largest. Thread the doll’s legs through the holes in the centers, layering the petals around the waist until you are happy with the shape of the skirt.
The available flower colors and sizes may vary from store to store, so this is a good place to embrace the one-of-a-kind nature of the project.
Step 7: Wrap the Legs
Separate more strands from the off-white or black yarn and wrap them around the legs, just as you wrapped the arms. Pull the yarn firmly and work slowly to keep the covering smooth.
You can wrap the feet in different colors, such as a darker yarn to create boots or shoes, or continue with the same color for a simpler look.
Step 8: Make a Tiny Witch Broom
I couldn’t find a mini broom, so I reused the tassel from the hanging pumpkin decoration.
Use a short piece of sparkly pipe cleaner to form the broom handle and wrap it around the tassels on one end. Trim the bottom of the tassels if they’re too long, and shape the whole thing until it looks like a tiny broom, then slide the handle carefully through the witch’s hand.
This was one of my favorite Dollar Tree substitutions because it turned a leftover part I destined for the garbage into one of the key assessories I couldn’t find at the store.
Step 9: Improvise a Witch Hat
To make the hat, I took the plastic pieces from the artificial flowers and layered them together with a small flower, then shoved a glittery pipe cleaner through the mess to hold it together. With nothing but a vague idea of how I wanted the hat to look I started wrapping that pipe cleaner in circles to make a cone hat shape, adding more pipe cleaners as I needed them, and letting the flower be the hat’s brim.
This version definiently takes more creativity than adding the ready-made plastic hat from my kit. No two handmade hats will look alike, and I’m choosing to think of that as part of their charm.
Tip: Glitter pipe cleaners are useful here because the stiffness that made them frustrating for the arms helps the hat hold its shape.
Step 10: Add the Finishing Touches
Pose the witch’s arms and legs, arrange her hair, and place the broom in her hand, and use a bunch of double sided sticky tape to tape the hat in place.
You could also:
- Braid a section of her hair
- Add a tiny flower to her hat
- Create yarn boots
- Give her a hanging loop
- Add a little black cat eraser or other Halloween accessory
- Mix flower colors to create a pastel, traditional, or witchcore palette
Dollar Tree Witch vs. My DIY Witch Kit
After making both versions, I don’t think there is one universal “winner.” They are best for two different kinds of crafting experiences.
| Dollar Tree Witch | DIY Witch Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping | Requires hunting for usable components and seasonal stock | Everything is gathered in one place |
| Preparation | Decorations may need to be dismantled and yarn separated | Supplies are measured, selected, and coordinated |
| Accessories | Broom and hat require improvisation | Miniature hat, broom, and embellishments are included |
| Color choices | Limited to what your local store has available | Colors are intentionally coordinated |
| Difficulty | More problem-solving and experimentation | More straightforward and beginner-friendly |
| Finished look | Unique, resourceful, and handmade | Polished, cohesive, and handmade |
| Best for | Crafters who love a creative challenge and already enjoy Dollar Tree hunting | Craft nights, gifts, beginners, and anyone who wants to start making immediately |
The Dollar Tree witch can absolutely be just as cute as the kit witch. My second attempt proved that. However, the Dollar Tree version required more trial and error, more yarn unraveling, and more creativity to construct the accessories.
The kit is less about claiming that you cannot source the materials yourself and more about removing the frustrating parts. You don’t have to visit the store hoping the right stuff is in stock, buy a bunch of extra stuff, and have a ton of left overs, or make a hat and broom from scratch.
You can simply open the kit and make your witch.
➜ Shop My Witch Kit on Etsy and Skip Gathering the Supplies
Is the Dollar Tree Version Actually Cheaper?
It is, but …
I think some parts of the dollar tree version are better, like the skirt, but I wish they had bigger beads for the head and a few of the other supplies were good enough… but not quite good. So certainly some give and take to it, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have the two version of the witch (the one from the kit vs. the one from Dollar Tree) side by side I don’t think you would question that the Dollar Tree witch is adorable and fantastic halloween decor.
My Dollar Tree total: 9 Items x $1.50(ish) =$13.50 ($15 total – if you are able to track down clear string at your store to hang it)
My DIY witch kit price: $19.50 (+ free shipping)
Two great ways to make this kit, Dollar Tree if you like hunting down supplies and really making something your own, kit supplies if you’d like to leave the coordination to me and focus on your crafting skills 🙂
My Honest Verdict
If you love a creative challenge, definitely try the Dollar Tree version. Turning a pumpkin decoration, artificial flowers, yarn, and pipe cleaners into a cute little witch was both fun and satisfying. Just learn from my first attempt: use soft pipe cleaners for the doll’s body, cut the arms to the proper size, and save the glittery pipe cleaners for accessories.
If you want the smoothest and most relaxing experience, or you are buying the project as a gift or planning a craft night, the kit is the easier choice. Everything coordinates, the specialty pieces are already included, and you can focus on the fun parts.
Most importantly, both routes make an adorable witch.
The first Dollar Tree attempt may have been rough, but yours doesn’t have to be. Figuring out how to make everything work is one of my favorite parts, and being able to share something wonderful to teach others is too.
More Creative Doll Projects
- DIY Fiber Art Witch Doll: Complete Tutorial
- DIY Adult Flower Fairy Doll
- DIY Fiber Art Mermaid Doll
- Shop My DIY Craft Kits on Etsy
If you make a Dollar Tree witch of your own, I would love to know what unexpected supplies you found and how you made them work!