DIY Dollar Store Hanging Bells

I am going to show you how to make some DIY Dollar Store Hanging Bells for only a couple of dollars. These bells look just like the gold vintage bells that people are decorating with. Hanging bells look beautiful on a door or even hanging over a blanket ladder. This project is super easy.

My stockings are hung on one side of my fireplace and I need something on the other side to balance it. Hanging bells will be perfect! I had the paint and rope on hand so this project cost me $5 for 5 bells from Dollar Tree.

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I am wanting some Christmas vintage-inspired hanging bells like I am seeing everywhere. Not only are the bells pricey but they are very hard to find. The less expensive bells are sold out at many stores and online. With the pandemic going on, I have really tried to be careful with my spending. I want to spend money on gifts this year and not on Christmas decor.

Inspiration

The photo above is inspiration for what I am looking for.

After looking at the bells online, I knew that they would be easy to make. I love using paint techniques on dollar store or thrifted items to achieve making something that I want. Dollar Tree had two different styles of bells.

Bells from Dollar Tree Store

Supplies

plastic bells

Rub n Buff or craft paint

black spray paint

paper towel, cloth, or paint brush

How to make the bells

1. Remove the decoration off of the bell.

2. Spray paint the bells with black spray paint. This black base coat will give you the black antique look that peaks through the gold paint. Also, I have found that sometimes craft paint does not adhere to plastic well. Spray painting the item first will make your craft paint adhere much better. I always spray paint plastic first. For this project, I only did one coat of black paint. Don’t forget to paint inside the bell.

TIP: Try to let the black spray paint dry completely before you paint with the gold paint. I let the black bells dry overnight. The reason for this is that if the paint is not dry or cured, the black paint may come off when you smear on the gold.

You can use rub n buff or gold craft paint. For the bells to look vintage, you need to use warm or dark gold paint. A bright gold that leans yellow will not give you the vintage look.  All of my gold craft paint was the wrong color gold so I tried some Rub n Buff that I had on hand. It is the perfect color for the look that I am going for.  TIP: If you use Rub n Buff, it takes a very tiny amount.

3. Dab a small amount of gold paint onto the bell. I find that using a paper towel worked best so I stopped using the craft brush.

4. Rub the gold paint all over the bell. You are smearing the paint to cover the bell. Leave a small amount of black paint showing through the gold paint.

Paint the bells however you want to give you the look that you desire.

Finishing the Bells

Tie the bells together with twine, string, or jute rope.

I am so happy with how beautiful the DIY Dollar Store Hanging Bells turned out. I love that this project only cost a couple of dollars to make and it was so easy.