Turn A Dollar Tree Paper Towel Holder Into The Sweetest Countertop Decor Piece

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If MacGyver were a crafter, he'd have a blast in Dollar Tree. The '80s TV legend was a genius at turning unlikely things into incredibly useful tools. Aside from imaginary scenarios with fictional characters, there are online crafters IRL who alchemize cheap-o Dollar Tree purchases into completely unexpected items. The best projects among them are both cute and handy. Thrifty crafter Kallie Branciforte, aka That Practical Mom, did just this by assembling an attractive metal display rack for photos. On Branciforte's YouTube channel, we see how one Cooking Concepts Paper Towel Holder, four Cooking Concepts Metal Cooling Racks, and packs of document clips and zip ties come together for a pretty and practical vertical space to tidy up clutter and display anything from postcards to jewelry to — as Branciforte did — snacks for hungry kids.

Pull off your own clever Dollar Tree DIY for any purpose with the DT wares mentioned above, a can of spray paint in your choice of color, and a really reliable glue for metal on metal, like J-B Weld Steel Reinforced Epoxy; this stuff will stand up to lots of handling much better than conventional crafting glues. If you want to avoid using plastic on this project, you can substitute the zip ties for wire from the store's floral section. While you're at the Tree, pick up a pack of sandpaper and alcohol wipes to help the paint and glue stick.

Treat the racks, towel holder, and both sides of the binder clips to a light sanding, and wipe away the dust with an alcohol wipe. Stand two cooling racks horizontally, one on either side of the towel holder's central bar. Since the racks have four attached "feet" made from bent wires, orient the racks in the same direction so the feet will project together on what will be the back of the rack. Line up and center the racks against the towel bar, and use zip ties or small twists of wire to connect them both to the towel rack and to each other. Repeat this process with the other two racks, arranging them above the first set. If you want to hide the zip ties, connect the racks at points where you'd like to attach clips. Don't forget to connect the two sets of racks to each other, as well.

Trim each zip tie's end, mix up the J-B Weld epoxy, dab a bit on the solid back of a binder clip, and hold it onto the rack, either over a zip tie or at another point. Make sure it's the side of the unit that doesn't have the racks' feet on it. Once you've glued all of your clips in place, check the glue's instructions to see how long the adhesive needs to dry and cure. Spritz the structure with a couple of coats of paint. Once it's dry, place it in your household command center, or anywhere that could use cute organization.