Easy Thrifty Halloween Sign

I was determined to find another project at the thrift store the other day.

Why? I have no idea since I have a box full of things waiting to be repurposed.

My Halloween decorations had not found there way out of the box yet since I was still enjoying the arrival of fall!

So as I shopped at the Goodwill inspiration arrived….

Here is how to make a cute inexpensive Halloween sign.

(Please excuse the nails if the wall, to eager!)

Do you know what it is was in a prior life?

Yep, a plastic placemat. And 0.49 cents at that.

Then I set out looking for a frame.

Can you believe that someone got rid of this needlework?

I hope you heard the sarcasm!

I splurged more than I usually do on a thrift store frame and bought this one for $5, because it was a perfect fit (top to bottom, that is).

I have never done a tutorial and this is real basic probably missing some steps in the pictures, but here is what I did.

• Take the frame apart.

By the way, genealogy is another love of mine and I find old family pictures, bibles, and such very interesting.

So as I flipped this picture over, it told a story.

Apparently Eva Wilkins from Pittsburg, PA visited Colorado in 1973 and bought this for Ernie and Rosemary Vetter. I suppose this is the story as I found it in a Colorado Goodwill here locally and it was made by the artist in Boulder, Colorado.

Anywho! On to the transformation.

• Spray paint the frame.

These are some wonderful things that help with all my thrift store finds in realizing there full re-purposed potential.

• Clean the glass and placemat.

(who knows where they have been, ewwww!)

• Then cut placemat to fit.

I minimized my cutting by finding a frame that fit the placemat top to bottom, so I only have to cut an inch off of each side.

• Then put everything back together.

I didn’t put a back under the placemat because it changed the white letters and made them darker. I preferred the leaving it so that it could be more translucent if I ever wanted to hang in front of light source or window.

• To secure in frame, use a small nail on each side of the frame.

I nailed my mine right against the placemat on the inside of the frame you could also use nails and bend them over to secure it.

• Hot glue one strand of ribbon on the two top back corners of the frame.

• Tie sweet little bow.

Now this is temporary decor and up out the way of little hands so the picture is hung by a a wire that came on the back of the frame. It does not hang from the ribbon! There is a tiny nail for the ribbon to rest on and hey, the bow isn’t even attached it just rest on the nail :)

Super easy!

If you want to see other great creations from talented people check out the places I party:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Power of Paint at Domestically-Speaking

Twice Owned Tuesday at Creating a House of Grace

Thifting for Treasures

Could not wait to post all of my great finds. This week was an adventure as I made it to my first estate sale and it was great!

First, let me start with what the little one got as Mister always says that little man gets the most.

I love the little monkey pajamas.

We have recently been wondering if they make thermal underwear for little ones. We thought they might come in handy for the late season hunt this year.

To my surprise, (at the thrift store) there was the cutest pair of green thermals and a brown thermal Henley that would be perfect for layering!!!!

And last by oh no not least in this picture is another cute little pair for Merrell shoes. Mister and I both have a pair and I am sure that eventually little man will want some to be like daddy. We these are hardly worn, in great condition, and a fraction of the cost of a new pair at $2.99!!!

I also found a bell CLOCHE (squealing with excitement), an old LANTERN (been searching for you for the little man’s room), a cute wooden duck, a potpourri bag full of putka pods (or little pumpkins), a glass canister, and a cute “Give Thanks” sign with beaded garland. Love them all!

Have you ever heard of Once Upon a Child?

Love that place and I have to confess that there are several near me that I check out from time to time. Check out what I got below.

Four cute long sleeve onesies for the changing season.

(All are GAP and Old Navy!)

And two more cute little pajama sets.

(Old Navy)

If you haven’t heard of Once Upon a Child check it out here.

Finally, the ESTATE SALE! So excited for my first and definitely not last one. Look at all of my treasures.

Let’s take a little closer look at all the lovely loot.

Four vintage burlap sacks for $1.

A cute little yellow and white quilt for $5

Four vintage metal spiked flower frogs $1

And yes that it a little vintage ruler with all of the early Disney characters (probably wouldn’t have noticed, but the little man did and loved carrying it around).

Vintage packs of paper doilies, flour sacks, and cheesecloth.

A glass flower frog for $2. This will make a great present for my MIL from little man since she collects them.

A bag of old coins from different countries all from the 40’s and 50’s. This will make a great gift for my father from little man as he collects coins.

And on this side of the table… an old scrabble game with all the pieces, a bag full of vintage ribbons, two boxes of wooden thread spools, a small jar of buttons…

And some great old books… some with Christmas hymns, and German writing.

Some of it may not look like much, but just imagine all the crafting possibilities. I have ideas in mind for each thing and hope to share in the near future.

Happy Thrifting, Garaging, Salvaging or whatever is your true love!

Thrifting for Treasures – The Highs and Lows :(

I have always envied those bloggers that have thrift stores with a dollar day. In my neck of the woods, Goodwill have 50% of a certain color tag that changes every Thursday and an occasional weekend sale with 50% off everything and $0.99 denim. ARC has 50% off a certain color tag and a Saturday sale with 50% off all but the current week tag. There is still a profit to be made in re-sales on Ebay, but you just have to sell more items!

One day a few months ago I had a lady shopping in Goodwill verbalize her disappointment that they don’t have a dollar day like the Salvation Army does. I was quick to check with the Salvation Army and yes they confirmed that they have $1 clothing on Wednesday. I was excited and surprised that although it is certain color tags, it generally is everything that is not current week. Clearly this place is not picked over until Wednesday!!!

I can see my profits on Ebay going up already $$$$ :)

Here is some of the items that I found.

These Prana Size M (yoga wear) pants were $1 and sold for $8.00

J. Jill 100% Tencel Size M pants were $1 and sold for $6.99

Abercrombie & Fitch Navy Cargo Size 10 pants were $1 and sold for $6.99

Caribbean Joe Green Cargo to Capri Size 14 pants were $1 and sold for $6.99

J. Jill Aqua Cropped Size 14 pants were $1 and sold for $6.99

North Face Size S shirt was $1 and sold for $5.99

Chico’s (always a sure fire sale) was $1 and sold for $6.99

So in a days work this $7 investment made me $41.00

The so SAD part (yes, I might be screaming) is that on the usual Wednesday visit to my new love, I am surprised to not see the usual sign on the door to greet me with my treasure hunt colors :(

The sign stated that all clothing was 50% off!

What? Wait, what happened to dollar day?

As I found a few items and made my way to the cashier, I noticed a calendar of upcoming sales and notice that every Wednesday is 50% off day? I politely asked the cashier if Wednesday was going to now be 50% off and she stated, “yes, the day of the dollar is now gone.” She said it such a way as to imply that it is like everything else good that comes to an end.

So now I see my profits being eaten away a little more with cost!

My Red Friends at the Salvation Army

Now have me a little sad and blue!

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!

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.