Thrift stores have a ton of wood – all different shapes and sizes. Some with weird quotes or sayings, some with cheesy holiday paintings, etc. But oh the possibilities!
Here are a few reasons and ideas for WHY you should buy that ugly decor…
Yes, yet another chalkboard project, hehe. I’m obsessed. This gift was for our dear friends who got engaged over Christmastime!
I used a drill and added knobs I bought from Hobby Lobby so this can be used to hang keys or jewelry, etc.
My sister is also getting married this year (August!)
She used this as decoration at her engagement party :)
Supplies used (for the above projects):
-thrifted wood
-chalkboard paint (pictured above) -this particular kind I have found is my personal favourite! SO incredibly smooth. It is expensive but you wouldn’t believe how far a little bottle can go. $5/6 Hobby Lobby (probably any hobby store – and use a coupon! :)) and ALWAYS let the chalkboard paint dry for at {least} 24 hours preferably 48 hours before using it.
-stickers for the words – make them yourself or buy. I made mine with a Cricut.
-chalk – you can buy an assortment of coloured or white chalk (boxes) at Hobby Lobby for just $2 (for 48 pieces). You can either give an entire box (12 pieces) or use little baggies like I do with just a few pieces with the gift you’ve made them.
DIY gifts for grandparents (or other possibilities!)
supplies used:
-thrifted wood
-mini canvases
-printed photos (wallet size)
-modge podge
- mini hooks (painted then screwed into wood) bag of 8 for $2
-ribbon (used hot glue to attatch them so the canveses to hang)
-stickers (I used my cricut but you could buy them)
My mom sings this song with Chase often so we thought this would be a cute idea :)
The above was for my mother-in-law. I am kind of regretting not doing something a little more in the middle – like a cute quote. This was for her office so she could see her grand babies everyday (she lives in AK.)
Supplies used:
-This particular project I actually did {NOT} thrift the wood – here is an example of a time it was cheaper to use a coupon and visit a hobby store (it also came with little hooks to hang it)
- ribbon
-photos printed – wallet size
-little mini frames (that actually had little canvases in them which I used for the above gift for my mom) Hobby Lobby $2.80 a piece but used for 2 gifts.
- little hooks (I just screwed them into the bottom of the wood)
-stickers or Cricut and vinyl
Other thrifted items turned gifts:
Left: Gift for my grandparents for their front yard. Right Top: Jewelry holder for my sister Abie (knobs from Hobby Lobby) Right Bottom: I found a HUGE beer lid and couldn’t pass it up. Made this for my future brother-in-law.
Some things to look/look out for while sorting through thrift store decor:
-Look for ones with a way to hang the piece. Obviously you wouldn’t want to pay more on a piece of wood from a thrift store than one at a hardware or hobby store. The plus about thrifting it – even if the price may be similar to a blank piece you could buy – most of the time the thrifted piece already has a way you could hang the decor.
- Look out for paintings that aren’t smooth on the wood. Because you would most likely paint or modge podge, etc on the wood you would want to be sure the surface is flat. Sanding is an option too, but a little more work for you.
-Look for deals within the thrift store. After holidays most thrift stores put their holiday decor 50% off and I’ve even seen it 75%! This is a perfect time to search for pieces of wood to repurpose.
(not many tips, but I hope that helps)
Below is a photo to show that I DO indeed fail at things I try to create… I tend to show the things that have worked… well, here ya go ;)…
My friend Brittany and I attempted to make the Starbucks peppermint cake pops. BAHAHAHAHA.
Thanks for popping by! Hope you are inspired and that you look like you have HORRIBLE taste when you now buy that ugly thrifted decor you once turned away from.
Hehe.
We drove a TON over the holiday – with relatives visiting from Alaska where they live in igloos and there isn’t much ;) I kid, of course. but seriously, they don’t have many of the places we do, so we ventured out and explored :) I got my very OWN camera lens to go with my very own camera (I already owned the camera- a hand-me-down from Ted)! woot! I no longer need to borrow Ted’s or be without when he is gone and using his cameras and lenses. this photo as well as the next few below, are taken with my 50mm.
for me.
Christmas eve tradition: open our stockings, change into our newly opened jammies and drive around to see Christmas lights in the city. This year I had desired to make matching flannel jammies for the boys and totally didn’t end up with enough time. I crammed way too much into December, unfortunately. (I have some MAJOR resolutions this year regarding the busyness of life) I was {thrilled} to stumble upon these matching (yes, I’m a sucker for the matchy-matchy) Jake and the Neverland Pirates jammies for the boys! Anything pirates is Chaseyboy’s current obsession which I love, especially because it’s not CARS. ;) And it’s SUPER cute to have my little ones running around saying, “Har har” and (Chase) saying “Hoist the sails, Matey.” Bahaha, sure love these boys.
Ted woke us ALL up early, early. He was as excited for Christmas morning as Chaseyboy was. Hehe. We began our Christmas morning with a tradition and that is reading the story of Jesus’ birth, from my personal favourite: Song of the Stars. It is such a beautiful book with stunning illustrations. Makes me tear up every time. (Definitely recommend!) 
What a fun year! I loved watching their reactions. Best. ever. (I am kind of “that” momma whose kiddos will either grow up thrifty too, or want everything BRAND NEW haha, I thrifted this little doctors set. And also, wooden blocks for Shai)
Fun morning and then. Ted surprised me with a date out annnnnd to see…. 
Les Mis (which I love, the old and new)!! AMAZING, btw.
