Thrifting

Thrifty Thursday – Toy Chest

29 Nov 2012

2 Comments

The final piece Griff’s boys space room was missing was a toy chest for all those rocket ships and aliens. On my weekly trip to the thrift store, I stumbled upon this beauty.

It looked to me to be a handmade wooden box for storage. The only issue it had was one broken hinge. It came home with me for $10.00. I purchased it to transform myself, but my dear husband had the week of Thanksgiving off, and was not only completing the stuff on his “Honey Do” list, but also tackling the projects on mine. I didn’t mind so much. It was cute to see him trying to see the vision I saw in the box. First, it would take a new coat of paint. We picked a burnt orange to match the accent sheets on the bed and the big planet on the wall.

I purchased the cheap paint, and it took 4 coats to actually cover the red. Dear Hubby also changed out the hinges to larger more durable ones and painted the top black to match the rest of the furniture. Once all was dry, we moved it into the space.

It fits perfectly at the bottom of Griff’s bed. Price: $10.00, paint and hinges $9.00, total investment: $19.00. The whole room has really come together. It is so gratifying when a vision comes out better than you expected, isn’t it?

Now, to get to hemming those darn curtains!

Any good thrifts lately?

 

 

 

By: Category: Spaces, Thrifting Tags: , , , , , ,

Thrifty Thursday – Frame of Mind

25 Oct 2012

4 Comments

Okay, is the title too corny for you? Well, I do hope you like the thrift. I found this beautiful lithograph nicely set in a large 36″ by 30″ frame at my local thrift store. I like the print and I like the frame, just not together.

Shutterfly was having  a sale on enlargements. So, I did what I do and ordered my favorite shot from this summer (Griff playing on the covered bridge). It took some work to get the original print out of this frame. It was mounted very professionally. That’s what made the frame look all the better. Here’s the finished project…tada!

Frame was $10.00, print was $3.00 – total = $13.00. I still have the lithograph, I need to find the right frame for that next!

What did you thrift this week?

Happy Thrifting!

By: Category: Thrifting Tags: , ,

Thrifty Thursday – Tray Transformation

11 Oct 2012

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I have wanted to make a chalk board tray for my dining room for a long time. I first saw this project done on a fellow bloggers site a few years ago. So long ago, in fact, that I can’t find the bookmark from the site it was from *blush*. I want to give credit for where this fantastic idea is due, so please if it was your site, let me know so I can link you into this post!

The blogger had painted an old oval ceramic serving plate with chalk board paint and placed it on the sideboard in the dining room. In following posts she used it for menus, lists and other creative ideas. I have been keeping my eyes out in the thrift stores ever since, for the perfect oval platter. I knew I wanted one that was large and preferably metal, not ceramic. Last week, I finally found a large medal serving tray. It wasn’t much to look at, a dingy yellow with lots of chips in the paint, but I knew, for $2.00, it was perfect.

After two coats of chalk board paint, it is a fantastic addition to my dining room Halloween decor.

I already have Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas for using this tray. It was a great addition to the dining room for $2.00!

Have you thrifted anything good lately?

By: Category: Thrifting Tags: , , ,

Thrifty Thursday

4 Oct 2012

4 Comments

How about this thrift? I saw this wool runner rolled up on the floor as soon as I walked into my favorite thrift haunt. It had just come in and didn’t even have a price tag yet. I asked the attendant and she threw out “$10.00″. Sold.

After a little time in quarantine and a good washing (never can be too careful), it cleaned up great!

Have you found any good thrifts lately?

Happy Thrifting!

By: Category: Thrifting Tags: , , ,

Tuesday’s Space – All Hallows’ Eve

25 Sep 2012

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My son’s favorite holiday is Halloween. He loves it more than Christmas. He has been obsessed with the costumes, decorations, and legends since he could talk. He’s never been very scared of it and has always had a very good grasp on imaginary vs. reality. He is a creative soul with an amazing imagination. To celebrate him, I started my decorating a bit early this year. Kari over at U-Create turned me onto the printable graphic site by The Graphic Fairy.  This is an amazing site filled with all kinds of printable vintage images and crafty inspiration. I scrolled through the pages and pages of images and found the perfect shots for my mantel.

I started this mantel with a $2.00 thrifted mirror. I painted the frame a glossy black to hid the wear. What I like about this mirror is that it is very old and casts a rippled image, making reflections just a little off. It sets the tone for the spooky display. I then rounded up all the unused frames in my house and printed different skull and bone images from the Graphic Fairy to create an overall theme.

I dug out an old Styrofoam skull that we have had for years and adorned it with a black crow. I added one image with a vintage “trick or treat” message for some color in one of the larger frames. The cracked paint on the frame lends even more creepy to the collection.

Finishing everything off, I added some faux Chinese Lanterns with fall mix and an orange light up tree to reflect off the mirror. Lastly, I added two tall candles on either side of the frames to light during the town’s trick or treat night! We have other areas of the house I decorated as well, but this is by far, my favorite!

How are you decking your halls?

By: Category: Spaces, Thrifting Tags: , , ,

Thrifty Thursday

20 Sep 2012

6 Comments

I thrifted these great curtains without knowing what I was going to use them for. They were a funky shape at 12 inches wide and 26 inches long. But, I really loved the color and pattern, so I purchased them.

Once I got them home, I realized they match my downstairs bathroom perfectly. It just so happened, I wanted to add a simple valance to that window. I thought with a little transformation, I could make them work. I removed the tabs and the top decorative fabric from the top of the curtains.

Then I reworked them onto the long side to make it fit my window.

I sewed the decorative fabric back on (taking it up another inch to show more of the under curtain), added it to a curtain rod and tada…

Not a great picture, but not bad for a $1.00 investment.

Happy Thrifting!

By: Category: Sewing, Thrifting Tags: , , , , ,

Thrifty Thursday

26 Jul 2012

1 Comment

My thrifting adventures last week yielded some great finds! First, I found this red tea kettle for another pop of red in my kitchen. It was a whopping $2.00. I see these same kettles at Home Goods for $15.00-$55.00.

Then on the very bottom, of the very back, of a shelf, I found this beautiful coffee container. It is very good quality ceramic. It has pads on the bottom, and a label on the front which is made of copper. The lid is air tight and made of wood and detailed with a cover of more copper. It holds over a pound of coffee. I was really happy with this buy. I splurged on this one and spent $3.00.

I have been keeping my eyes open for a new crock for my crock pot. My crock pot crock is almost 15 years old and gets so much use that it has started to crack down the middle. I have been nervous the last few times I used it, afraid it may crack right apart. I was so excited to find the right size crock in a brand new stainless steal crockpot at my local non-profit thrift store. While checking out, the lady thought I was crazy when I brought the beautiful stainless steal crockpot to the counter and said, “I’ll pay full price, but I only want the crock.” She laughed a bit and shook her head. She sees me every week and finds my “treasure hunting” most amusing. Besides, the newer crock pots just don’t cook the same as the old ones. It’s not the same color as my old crock, but will run me another 15 years.

To hand down my thrifting talents, I have enlisted Griff. When he comes with me, I give him a dollar and three rules. He can search for treasures he can buy for a buck, it has to be in good shape, and something he will play with a lot. He has gotten very good and has even left the thrift store before with nothing saying, “Sorry Mommy, nothing in the “rules”. This day was a good day for Griff. He found this large Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter. It’s in great shape (besides the need of a good scrubbing). It has lights that work and it has a button that starts the Star Wars Anthem and other sayings including the famous “Let the force be with you.” He was so proud of himself for this buy. I have to say, I am pretty proud of  him too!

What did you thrift this week?

Happy Thrifting!

By: Category: The Pomegranate Chronicles, Thrifting Tags: , , ,

Thrifty Thursday

12 Jul 2012

3 Comments

I always go thrifting with a plan. I always know the shapes, sizes and colors of things I want. I never know what is actually going to catch my eye, but I always have something in mind. Some treasures take longer to find than others, but it is always so satisfying to find the perfect thrift.

I have been slowly collecting wooden spoons. They have become a nice collection, but need a home. I’d been looking for a utensil holder for a few months now. I almost broke down a few times and purchased a brown bean crock, but it just wasn’t tall enough, and I wasn’t sure it would add to my decor. Then, I came across this holder last week at my favorite little thrift store. I dug it out from behind a stack of dishes. It was the perfect shape, and the pop of red makes it the perfect color. What I like the most about it is the style. I just fell in love with the little flower decals. The ribbed bottom also gives it a nice finished feel. Best of all, it was $1.00!

Don’t you think it goes lovely next to my thrifted wooden recipe box and garlic keeper? A perfect home for the wooden spoons!

Have you thrifted anything lately?

By: Category: Thrifting Tags: , ,

Thrifty Thursday

10 May 2012

1 Comment

A good day at the thrift store this week:

:: A 5 cup sifter

:: A wide and flat wooden spoon

:: Some nice vintage fabric

:: A large quilting hoop

:: Total Spent: $4.25

**Don’t forget to check out my Pay It Forward- Handmade post. Leave a comment so I can send you a gift!

By: Category: Thrifting Tags: , , ,

Happy Easter!

8 Apr 2012

7 Comments

Happy Easter everyone! Yesterday,  I posted links to some projects I really wanted to try but didn’t get to this year. Well, I had a pleasant surprise yesterday when I was able to carve out some time from the day to stop at the thrift store and pick up some old ties to try Ellie Moon’s Tie Dye Eggs.

I was able to find these great patterns for $1 each. I cut them up as the directions say. I found that one tie cuts about 3 good size squares. I also grabbed some cotton fabric at the thrift store as well to wrap the egg and silk in.

I wrapped all the eggs with the “right” side of the tie facing the egg. I tightly twisted up the edges to fold in and lay flat on one side of the egg. Securing them in place with the cotton fabric and some yarn tied in a bow (for easy removal after they were finished).

I added them to a pot of water, then added the vinegar and let them go for 25 mins as Ellie’s directions state.

This has definitely become a new tradition for us. There is no mess, no dye all over the kitchen (and fingers!) and it’s such a nice surprise to open each little package to see what’s underneath. Each egg comes out so different and beautiful. Next year I’ll be better about getting out the air pockets – but gosh, are they pretty or what?

Happy Easter!

By: Category: Food, Thrifting Tags:
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