Best of eBay Week 1

I began my “thrifting to profit” journey this week.

One of my favorite blogs to follow is My Dear Trash. They tell you how they sell on eBay and Craigslist. Yea, yea, yea. Blah, blah, blah.

I know you aren’t impressed yet. You think that isn’t exciting. No I am not selling stuff that I have. It is more exciting than that. I promise, read on.

First, I took my love for shopping to the thrift store and went searching for things that could resale for more. Brand name clothing in great condition, super treasures that you can turn into something beautiful…

Are you getting it? Turning someone else’s trash into treasures, or in my case “thrifting to profit.”

So this week I began selling on eBay…

"Best of this week" highlights

GAP denim overalls.

Purchased at Goodwill for $0.99.

Sold on eBay for $43.00!!!!!!!

What? I bet however took them to Goodwill had no idea.

Calvin Klein denim overalls.

Purchased at Goodwill for $0.99.

Sold on eBay for $15.00

Ann Taylor LOFT dress.

Purchased at ARC for $3.99.

Sold on eBay for $18.00

Now I have not admit that my success on the overalls is due to My Dear Trash. I would have never known that overalls were so hot and probably would have passed them up!

Tune in each week to see future highlights of the “thrifting to profit” journey.

Also check out Kelly and Laura at My Dear Trash if you haven’t already. You will learn so much and see some beautiful trash!

Little Monogram

I love this little “M.” Isn’t it so cute?

I wanted something small and sweet to go with the plentiful pictures of my little one. I thought that his first initial would be perfect. Now which came first the egg or the chicken? Well, in this case the cute little frame came first and then the idea.

I had two little 3.5x5 frames from the dollar store. This size is perfect since many of the studio pictures we have taken of him are 3.5x5. It seems that you usually see more 4x6 frames in the stores. Dollar store frames made over to be mine, are just perfect for me! Especially since I am now a thrift store frame snob. I can’t imagine paying more than $1 for a frame now (people get rid of such great stuff?)

The little frame came from the thrift store for $0.69. It is one of those tiny frames that can be used for seating assignments at a wedding.

The candle stick was another thrift store find. See what I did with it here.

Of course everything will get a coat of Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.

The little “M” was super easy.

1. Paint the frame.
2. Cut two types of coordinating scrapbook paper to size desired.
3. Apply cute scrapbook sticker letter.
4. ENJOY!

Fan of Food Revolution

If you haven’t been watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, you aren’t too late.  Most importantly you can still sign the petition to change the way our children eat in schools.  Go here to find out more.  I know kids love french fries, but should a vegetable be removed and replaced with french fries because a USDA rule/regulation requires it?  And who knew that chocolate and strawberry milk had more sugar than soda?  It is fascinating and the petition will help make the changes needed.  All you have to do is go here and take less than a minute to type your name!

Thrifting for Treasures

Okay so yesterday I went to the mailbox and inspiration had arrived!

It was late and I had to get some sleep so that I could be up when the little one woke this morning, but falling asleep was difficult knowing that I wanted to sit and dig into the Pottery Barn catalogs.

If you don’t get them, go here and request them.

So this morning, I sat with my breakfast and pined over all the pretty things.

What then was I to do with myself except get in the car and head to the thrift stores.

Here is what I scored:

This basket is a huge 22 inches across filling the coffee table and looking so PB “like”. Not sure what I will do with it, but I like looking at it.

Then these goodies looked to PB “like” for me to pass on!

1. The wire basket will eventually look great by the tub filled with rubber duckies.
2. The three glass votives will make a shelf or mantle with sand and candle. Wonder how they would look with a number on them?
3. The blue frame will get a makeover and new purpose.
4. The small divided frame will be spruced up, but I think the shells are looking very PB “like”.
5. The cute glass covered dish will also find a special place filled with something wonderful.

The cute cutting board will get a makeover and decorate the kitchen. Oh, the things I can do with the wood candle holder, like this. You can never have too many! The soap dish is cute and needed.

Then the two larger bowls….

I admittedly am not a china collector or expert, but decided to surf the marking on the bottom.

(You know it said England , maybe that’s important?)

What I found the butter dish on an antique site for $95

Are you kidding?

Maybe this is worth more than the $1.99 that I spent.

To be on the safe side, I may go back tomorrow to round up the rest!

If you know anything about china or anyone who does, let me know.

Seriously if I were the pee you pants kind of girl, I would have when I found this spice set.

Of course they weren’t together, but I found them both. The bottom shelf was broken, so I asked if they would discount it. Yep, they gave it to me for $2.

It is tongue and groove and slips together well, so a little Gorilla glue should do the trick.

I have great plans for this if you want a sneak peak, check out what I plan to copycat that Remodelaholic did.

Of course the other item is four spindle legs for $3.99. No ideas yet, but it will come.

Now there is some money to be made here.

• Tan capri Chico’s pants
• Navy Lauren skirt
• Pink Tommy Hilfiger capri pants

These are all larger sizes and will resale on Ebay well.

I will do a post on that later, but I currently have 38 items listed and am making a NICE profit. These items will have to wait till posting time next week.

Of course the baby clothes are great and today the little one got REI blue swimsuit and the cute camouflage set!

The eagle picture is a real photo with a signature. I don’t think it is valuable, but it sure is beautiful. Don’t know what I will do with it, but my dad loves eagles and the little could always use it in the cute camouflage nursery.

Ahh! It was a great day and certainly “a piece of the better life.”

Then as if nature was smiling on me and my great finds, I was blessed with a rainbow and the beautiful cherry tree blossoms.

How was your day?

Copycat Treasured Cloche

Okay, so I have been surfing blogs for a while and checking out some parties and this idea quickly became a must for me to have.

Everyone was pairing up items to make cute cloches that made beautiful displays and my shelf was wanting one too!

So here is what I wanted…

from House of Hepworths

and this from Lemon Tree Creations

Wow! aren’t they beautiful?

I am finding my style more and more, but I believe that I am a ORB (oil rubbed bronze) girl mostly. However, I can’t help but stare at the heirloom white beauties. Maybe I will figure out how to have a few of those too.

Well for my desire to copycat these, I have my attempt below.

First find two objects at the thrift store that would work. This cheese dome and candle stick from the thrift store would work just fine for $2.50. I didn’t have enough patience for 50% off day!

Next I gathered my supplies

Then I cut the candle stick to size and shape desired.

Gorilla glue and the closest thing with weight to permanently join my candle stick and cheese dome into a cloche forever.

(The bowl is heavy, not that I think onions are LOL!)

Then some spray paint and you have this.

What do you think? Beautiful!

Thanks to the sites above for the inspiration, restless nights, and ultimately great dreams come true.

Camouflage

Well, we knew when out little boy was on the way what the nursery theme was going to be. We are a hunting family and reading my husband’s mind (no matter what other cute themes I saw), I knew it was going to be CAMOUFLAGE!

So here are some nursery pictures.

Notice all the stuffed animals aren’t traditional.

I set out when planning to find all the forest animals I could find to fit with the theme and expose our son early to the things that we love. It was so much fun looking for them and then finding the elk, deer, squirrel, coyote, eagle, big horn ram, and black bear.

The nursery was pieced together with craigslist finds and frugal ideas to compliment our camouflage.

Craigslist finds:

Crib and Changing table/dresser was $400 (retails for $1200).

Pottery Barn style rocking chair $150 (similar retail for $500-$800)

Creative Frugal Ideas:

Wall name art

Items needed: Branch, coordinating ribbon, small pine cones, letters, paint, glue gun, and poster putty.

Shelf with Mason Jars

Items needed for shelf: Wood, router, brackets, liquid nails, drill, and screws.

Items needed for Mason Jars: old mason jars with lids; and various natural materials such as moss, pine cones, and pebbles.

Aren’t they cute?

Storage for Mad Coupon Skills Needed

I have been honing my coupon skills and learning to shop for what we use when it is on sale and paired with coupons for the greatest savings. This means that I need space for the quantity I purchase until the savings opportunity comes around again. This doesn’t mean buying in bulk, but buying what you need.

If you want to learn more about coupon savings and how to get more for less, check out two of my favorite sites, Hip2Save and Southern Savers.

So on to the project at hand, the pantry or lack of….

We have a great large cabinet that is used as a pantry for the items that are currently in use, but I quickly needed a place to store items also. The “trash closet” seemed to have too much wasted space.

Aren’t the BEFORE pictures the worst?

It was a coat closet in the kitchen off of the laundry room that had two high shelfs and a hanging rod.

Well that wasn’t going to do, so we turned it into this with a few more wood shelfs, wire shelfs, and a new trash can.

Getting better, the new wood shelves were so easy.

1x2 supports on the sides and back of pantry with the shelf on top.

Screws and paint, done!

And now there is this beautiful stocked pantry in my kitchen that we shop from when we need more of something.

I am happy now that I know how to save on groceries and have a place for them.

What can you do when you learn how to use coupons?

For starters you can do this.

Check out some of the highlights.

6 boxes of Cherrios regular price $2.99, on sale for $1.99, (6) $0.75 coupons that store credits as $1

Cherrios regular price $17.94, paid $5.94 or approx. $1/box

SAVED $12

Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, biscuits, and crescent rolls.

Regular $1.99, sale for $0.99, paired with (2) $0.50 coupons, (3) $0.40 coupons, and (3) $0.30 coupons. This means that there was an additional $6.20 off.

Pillsbury regular price $39.80, paid $13.60 or approx. $0.68/each.

SAVED $26.20

**Remember that the grocery stores double coupons up to $0.50. Also the coupons that are greater than $0.50 and less that $1 are increased to $1.

Pasta regular price $1.50/each, on sale for $1/each, paired with (5) $0.50 coupons. All combined = FREE.

Can’t beat that!

Pork Tenderloin regular price $8.49/each, on sale B1G1, plus (2) $1 coupons. All combined cost $6.49 for both or $3.25/each.

SAVED $10.49

Tide detergent regular price $8.77, on sale for $5.88, paired with (2) $1 coupons.

Regular $17.54, paid $9.76.

SAVED $7.78

Tide Stain Releaser regular price $7.49, on sale for $5.88, paired with (1) $3 coupon and (2) $1 coupons.

Regular $22.47, paid $12.64.

SAVED $9.83

All those savings waiting to be had on the things we buy every week. I am sure glad that I didn’t buy one a week and lose all those savings.

Who Is Going to Read This?

Well, my friends, I don't know. I am beginning this blog journey to document and share all of the things that are important to me that allow me to live the life I love.

I am doing this for me and a few friends that are very encouraging.

;-) you know who you are!

Also, for my husband who always supports me in whatever I want to do.

I will share my projects and thirfting. I have been learning from some of the best bloggers how to create from junk, turn a $ into many more, shop, and SAVE. All of this while being able to do the most important job in the world, raise our son and love my husband. I hope along the way to encourage someone to try something new or to just do what makes them happy.

Who knows maybe I will be as lucky as other bloggers and pick up new friends along the way.