Spoonful of Imagination

Add it to a Family for Something Beautiful

The Way I Thrift

By 13 Comments

5 and 5

Do you frequent thrift stores and look for treasures?  I do!  I know it can seem dirty and a way to bring germs into your home, but there is nothing a little sanitizer, Clorox wipes, bleach bath, or hot run in the washer can’t fix!  I have two short lists for you that can help you break into this world of thrifting.

thrift store shopping list

5 on my Thrift List

1.  Frames

I am always using a frame for something.  I bought a ton of frames for my wall of art.  I have found that you can find great wood frames with character for cheap!  Most frames I buy are just a $1.00 or $2.00.  I add a little paint and a light sanding job and voila!  You have a vintage frame.

wood frames

This past weekend I went thrifting with Erin, and I found this 3D type frame.

thrift store picture frames

I have been wanting one just like this to spruce up and make a tray like this one that The Lemon Tree Creations made.  For a full tutorial go see the great post Patrice wrote up on her coffee table tray!

tray

2.  Pillows

I love making pillows and you can’t beat the feather inserts being only a couple of bucks at a thrift store.  I always check to see if there are nice pillows for their inserts, but every once in a while I run across a pillow I don’t want to do anything to (except wash it).  Thus was the case when I found this rug/velour flower type pillow (in the center) for only $2.92!?!

colorful bed with pillows

3.  Toys

Toys can be so expensive, and I have found you can really find some nice inexpensive ones at a thrift store.  I have found some of the best monster trucks and action figure guys for my boys at a fraction of their normal cost.  This past weekend, I found a baby stroller for my little Reagan and I was so excited.  I had been wanting one ever since she freaked out over the one we gave her just a few weeks ago for her birthday, but it was plastic and cheap and broke quickly.

little girl stroller

This new one looked brand new and was only $2.92!  Plus, check out the double seating, canopy, and basket below.  She was giddy and thanked me all afternoon, after I gave it to her.

baby doll stroller

4.  Linens

I love looking at the sheets, table clothes, place mats section.  I usually buy these for their fabric.  Cheap sheets make incredible “liner” fabric for pillows or other sewing projects.  Just place mats can be great to change the scene on your table or transformed into small throw pillows.  I recently bought this vintage flower sheet for $1.00 and have been using it as a tablecloth.

vintage table with flowers

5.  Baskets

We are always needing more creative ways to keep us organized and baskets can be so cheap!  Check out this huge basket Erin got for $5 on our thrifting adventure.  To see all of her recent thrifting finds click over to the plans for her boys’ room makeover.

thrift store basket

**I also browse the furniture section and drool over fun pieces like these chairs (pictured below) I found last week.  Currently, I don’t have any room for more furniture, so I passed on a set of these chairs at $6 each!  I was happy a sweet reader was able to snatch them up from this instagram picture.  You can get such a great deal on furniture that is old and rich in character-that just needs a little lovin’.

old chair

5 tips to Thrift

1.  Have an ongoing list

My list is always changing of things I want/need.  It helps me to write the things down, so I have a game plan before walking in and my imagination running wild.  It is easy for me to see an item that I wasn’t looking for and wasn’t on the list and buy it.  Without my list, I will get home with a new treasure (that requires more items for “the list” since it needs a little lovin’), but my original items, I totally forgot to look for.

2.  Know the days for special discounts or find the coupons

Most thrift stores have color codes.  For example, the tags on all the items through out the store might be written on a piece of color card stock or have a letter written below the price that represents what color tag that item would be.  Some days the red (or any other color) tags might be 50% off the price listed.  So, look for items with that color tag to get the best deal.

One of my favorite thrift stores sends out coupons in the mail, and I always cut them out and try to go on the day listed.

thrift store coupons

3.  Have a prepared car

You don’t want to find the perfect dresser and have a carload of kids or stuff that makes you have to pass the item by.  I go thrifting a couple of times a week.  Most of the time I have my kids, but there is usually one day where I can swing in by myself and get a look for anything that is calling out to me! Some stores will allow you to purchase your item and come back for it but I have also found some want the merchandise taken with you.

4.  Know the days they restock

So, Erin is more gutsy than me and figured out the restocking day for one of our favorite thrift stores.  Wednesdays and Fridays would be the best days to shop for the new items before they get really picked over.  Don’t be afraid to ask for these details!

5.  Use your imagination!

Something make look old, dirty or weird but with a little imagination an old junky item can become your new treasure!!  All this talk of thrifting has me excited to go again in the morning!  What is on your thrift list?

 

signature

 

The Hunt of all HUNTS!

By 3 Comments

Last night I got to go to the pre-sale  (for sellers and volunteers) with All 4 Kids.  It was amazing!!  Look at what all my sister-in-law, Stacy,  and I walked away with!

That bottom basket is her bucket of goodies.  Yes, that means I found my jogging stroller that I talked about wanting!!  I was so excited!!  In preparation of getting to go to this pre-sale, I was so busy this week entering my for sale items on-line and then tagging them as a seller!  There were some late nights and one run to the store at midnight (from my amazing husband), but we got it all done!  There is nothing like running out of ziplocks and masking tape mid-tagging!

We got rid of a lot!  I hope it all sells and doesn’t come back into this house.  There is something so freeing about simplifying and getting rid of stuff!

As, I drove to drop my sale items off, I saw this banner, and I got pumped!  This really is my favorite sale!  You are about to see why as I show you what I bought and how little I paid for it!

I was a little excited headed to the sale with my coffee in hand!

I had my basket, water bottle (to stay hydrated!), and list of items to look for ready to go!  There aren’t shopping carts at the sale, so many people take a laundry basket or Ikea bag in with them to help carry their load!  TIP:  If you attach a belt to your basket, you can pull it behind you.  It saves your arms!!

Stacy and I had fun catching up as we stood outside waiting to get in!  Ha yes, we might be groupies to be this die-hard.  A good deal is WORTH it though!  Do you see the similarity from this sale to Black Friday!?!

To prove that we aren’t the only ones this dedicated, check out the other moms with their baskets in front of us!

I didn’t get many pictures inside.  I was busy searching for deals :), but I did get a few pictures off of the All 4 Kids facebook page, so you can see what all greeted us inside the doors.

 

After we walked around for probably two hours, Stacy and I sat down to go through everything we had collected in our baskets.  This is my favorite part!  We see what we have found, admire each other’s goods, and put anything back that we decided we don’t really need.

At this point, I sent this picture to my best friend and my hubby:


The comment I sent with the picture was “Reagan really needs this, right!?!”  They both said yes!  I am so pleased to have found this!  A little girl with fur!?  How stinking cute!!  We weren’t the only ones doing this sorting of goods either.

Ok, are you ready to see my finds!?!  Here are the clothes I bought:

Here is how it broke down…

The gray leggings for $4 are brand new (with the tags on) from Ralph Lauren!  One of my favorite finds is the most Incredible costume ever!!

Can you believe that it came with boots, gloves, and a mask all for $7!?  That was a great find!!  Another cool costume was this fireman outfit.

The toys are some of the best deals at this sale!  I found some like always!

Reagan didn’t have a purse. 🙂  My favorite find for her though were these boots!!

Wont they look amazing with her fur vest!?!  My mother-in-law wanted me to find her some new toys for at her house, for when the grandkids come over.  I couldn’t believe the deal on the Little People toys!  All three of my kids LOVE them!  I found an airplane and the Noah’s Ark set with all their people for $5.00 each!

My absolute BEST deal is what I went looking for!  I found my jogging stroller!!

Can you believe that I got it for $25!?!  I was so excited that I not only found one…but that it had a tray…and a cup holder/key/phone stash up top…and to top it off…it was only $25!  I was ready to pay double that!

I hope you guys can make it to this sale this weekend!  It’s not too late if you haven’t gotten to go today!  It is open tomorrow (Friday) 9:00am until 7:00pm and Saturday 9:00am until 1:00pm.

If you make it to the sale, please be sure to tell your cash register this blog got you there!  Also, I would love to hear what awesome treasures you find!!  Happy Hunting!