Grasshoppers and Butterflies

A Little Bit Of Sewing

I went to my local thrift store today and found several items that were too cute......only the were in woman's sizes (not mine).  I started looking at them and thought I could turn them into something for my daughters.  Take a look!

The top one I did absolutely nothing to.  It is from Limited Too and the perfect size for one of my girly girls.  The one on the right was a woman's skirt (extra-small I think) and I rolled the top down and added elastic.  The skirt on the bottom was a woman's size 5.  I cut the waistband off and rolled the top of the skirt down to make a new casing for the elastic.  Now it is about a size 8 in little girls.  The skirt on the left believe it or not used to be a woman's dress.  I just cut off the top part added the pink waistband and some elastic and Voila!  A brand new skirt for my little one.  From start to finish the three skirts took about an hour and a half to complete and cost me around $10.  I have two happy little girls and I didn't break the bank!

Frugal Finds Friday

I missed Thrift Shopping Thursday so I thought instead I would bless you with Frugal Finds Friday!  I haven't found that many steals lately at the thrift store but I did run across this book that I had to get.  I thought it was funny and vintage.  Plus it was from my birth year so I thought I would pick it up just for that reason too.

The Illustrated Almanac for Homemakers by Vera Kemp Stevenson and Robert P. Stevenson, illustrated by Roy Doty.  It is a concise and indispensable year-round guide to lively, efficient and trouble-free living in today's American home (according to the cover anyway). 

The entry for August 7 is:  What You Should Remember about Rabies

Basically it say inoculate your animals and call the police or humane society if you should see a wild animal acting strangely.  Some of the entries are funny but a lot of them are still just as applicable today as they were 35 years ago.  The book was printed in 1974....so now you know my age!

Here are the entries for the first six days in August:

August 1 - Bedmaking - Miter Those Corners!
August 2 - Circular Mat Keeps Down Grass around Shrubs
August 3 - Do Wild Berries Grow in Your Region?
August 4 - Save Energy - and the Window Air Conditioner
August 5 - Water Hanging Plants with Ice Cubes
August 6 - Ratatouille Is in Season

That is just a few of the 365 days of info in this book.  In 1974 it cost $9.95.  I picked it up for $1.49!  Thrift stores are a great place to find books old and new for a great price.

Thrift Shopping Thursday

Over the last few days I have been getting rid of excess stuff and trying to do some decorating of my house.  Home decorating is something I am just not very good at so I am taking it one little area at a time.  Right now I have been concentrating on my mantle.  I have rearranged it several times and think I finally have it the way I want it.

Anyways, I went to the Goodwill store the other day to see if I could find that last piece to put the finishing touch on the mantle...a clock.  I really didn't think I would find anything let alone this.

 

The top part of the clock is actually a door and inside you can hang keys or whatever.  Then there is a little drawer on the bottom half that you can store more treasures in.  I only paid $4.50 for it and when I started cleaning it up I looked on the bottom and realized it was from the Bombay Company.  I love thrift shopping!!

Thrift Shopping Thursday

Here is what I found this last week at Goodwill.  I had been looking for a teapot for awhile and I finally ran across one that I liked.

I spent a total of $12 and some change.  It is more than what I would usually spend but I found a neat  pot, a candle, a shirt and some brand new princess bath flakes for the girls.  They were unopened and cost less than $1.  I love thrift shopping!!

Thrift Shopping Thursday

Every Thursday I will post my Thrift Store finds (if any) for the week.  This is what I picked up last week.  I spent a total of $5 and some change.  The white storage box had 21 Beanie Babies in it and it was $3.  The rest of the items (the file box, pitcher and photo box picture) were only $1 each.  I have a discount card which saves me 10% off my total purchase.  Not bad for $5 and the girls are having a lot of fun with the Beanie Babies.  I forgot to mention that the file box was completely full of file folders too!

My Best Thrift Store Trip Yet

I went to the thrift store the other day and had my best find yet.  I have a Cricut machine that I use for scrapbooking and card making.  The cartridges for it usually cost anywhere from $40 to $90 depending on where you buy them.  I found one at my local thrift store for ONE DOLLAR!  My jaw dropped to the floor.  I could not believe it!  I don't think they had any idea what it was or what it was for because if they did I think it would have been priced a little higher.  Take a look.

I plugged it in to my machine and it works just fine.  I also found several books, 2 Cranium games, the Scrambled States of America game and a pair of shorts for my youngest.  And it cost me less than $8.  It is definitely worth checking out your local thrift stores.  You never know what you will find!

Thrift Store Makeover

Here it is.  I didn't do much to it but just paint it black.  I still don't know what I will do with it.  Maybe I will add some ribbon to it and use it as a craft tool organizer.  If you have any ideas on what I should do with it leave a comment and let me know!

Before and After pics:

Thrift Store Finds

I always love checking out the local thrift stores.  You never know what you might find.  Here is what I picked up the other day.  The first one with the rocks and tea lights had a little makeover.  It originally had wax candles in all 3 bowls.  I removed the wax and added the rocks and the tea lights and voila! I have a new centerpiece for my table.  I will eventually put some flowers in the middle.

 

The second piece is a before picture.  I'm not sure what it is but it caught my eye.  It will be getting a makeover once I decide what I want to do with it.  When I am finished I will post a picture of the finished project.

 

 

There you have it.  If you ever get a chance go and check out your local thrift stores.  It is fun to see what you can find!

The Homeland ad will be available tomorrow so I will do deals and coupon match-ups and post them tomorrow night.  Check back tomorrow and have a good night!