Thrift Store Finds

These are my recent purchases.

I fell in love with these little buggers the minute I saw them.

This is a terra cotta candle stick from Hallmark. I will probably paint it black.

I can't wait to fill this with super cute eggs at Easter time.

For some reason every time I took pics in our little house the colors were always muted. That is why sometimes you see my finds lying in the grass. My pictures always come out way better outside.

I am on a milk glass kick.

Super sweet little vase

For sure, no more pictures taken in my grubby little kitchen. Yay. We moved out completely before we left for MN.

We have never had a mantle before so, I am always on the hunt for fun little things to decorate ours with. I thought she would look so great, out for Christmas. I actually bought another similar one but, forgot to take her picture.

More milk glass.

This will go on our "new" buffet in our dining room for the spring. Can't wait to start working on the buffet and posting before and after pics.

I see this guy painted black with orange or red candles and spider web draped over it, on our mantle for Halloween.

I would like to paint this lady, white for our new master bath.

I am always looking for neat candle sticks for the mantle.

Oh my goodness, more milk glass. One thing I never want to do is, collect so many of one thing that each individual piece gets lost. So, I think that is enough milk glass for me.

I picked up this wine decanter, not because we drink wine, because we usually don't, but because it is green and I am doing green accents in our new kitchen. I just thought it was too neat to pass up for $2. Not exactly sure where it will go or if I will put any dried flowers in it or not. I will figure that out later I guess.

Blocks

I bought these blocks forever ago at a thrift store back in MN. They are made from chunks of a 2x4. The letters are a part of the wood, they are not just glued on. So, I think they were made by at home by someone who had one of those cool saws that can engrave. Ok, I sound like a boob, because I have no clue what kind of saw it is but, we just were watching a commercial on DIY where someone made a monogrammed fireplace mantel using one. -Hope they never plan on moving or plan to sell to someone with the same last initial-

Who cares anyway, I thought they were cute. I just didn't get why someone would have blocks spelling NASA?

Honestly, I think they probably said SANTA and the T got lost in Timbuktu.

Anyway, I took the little buggers outside and gave them a fresh coat of black spray paint.

This rock has been getting a lot of use lately.

After that, I cut a piece of thin cardboard the same size of the blocks. And then, because I am so cool nerdy, I took out this used birthday bag that I had been saving because I really liked the paper but, couldn't reuse as a bag because of a hole. I cut it a little bigger than my cardboard and folded and taped it to each piece of cardboard.

Ok, so earlier today, I went to the craft store and bought a whole bunch of these black letters. What I want to do is make removable fronts for the blocks that I can change out each month. I figured I would just velcro the cardboard onto the blocks.

So, I proceeded to buy like 6 O's and 5 E's, etc and then I got to thinking on the drive home. Duh, Cindy, just put velcro on the backs of the letters too and just reuse the letters.

Guess, I have to make a trip back to the craft store. I am really so sad and upset about that. Seriously, I loathe craft stores as much as I despise thrift stores. No, not really, because actually I am pretty OBSESSED. Honestly, I keep thinking about this little junk store we passed the other day when we went to Fillmore Glen State Park. I am just waiting until I have an hour to myself to go check it out. Seriously, this store invades my thoughts multiple times a day. I really need to get a life.

I do need some help with coming up with words for a few months though. Or more creative words for the ones I already have. So, please give me any ideas you might have. They can be 3 letter words too.

January-----SNOW
February----LOVE
March-------LUCK
April--------EGGS
May--------
June-------PLAY
July-------STAR
August----
Sept.------FALL
Oct.--------BOO
Nov.-------
Dec.-------NOEL

Chickie and I were just talking and we came up with GIVE for November.

Bird Cage Redo

Once upon a time a family had a formal living and dining room. Then, it just so happened that one day a special little girl was born. Her parents wanted her to have her own room (she has 3 older brothers). Being the innovative people they were and still are, they turned their formal living room into a dining room and changed the dining room into the little girl's room.

Who cares? I DO. That story was about my brother's family. So, the last time we visited, my WONDERFUL sister-in-law, Nicole gave me some great items. They still had a lot of leftovers that once used to be in their living room. Score for me! Ryan really didn't want me hitting any thrift stores while I down the shore visiting. Guess what? Didn't have to now, did I?

I was sent home with a new coffee table and matching end table, another coffee table that is one big shadow box, a little shelf, random hockey gear, old snow boots for Johnsie, which I don't think have ever been worn, and a super cute bird cage that is like 2 feet tall.

The flowers that were painted on this were really pretty, but I had no idea how to salvage them and still paint the rest of the cage. So bye, bye to the flowers.

I picked up 2 of the really cute birds I see everyone buying from the Dollar Tree.

Sprayed painted the cage silver.

Sprayed the little birdies white. I don't really like the one on the bottom of this pic so, I think I am going to run and get another one like the bird on top.

Bought a silver candle holder from the thrift store.

Formed a nest from

this stuff.

Last week I found these at Joann's for 75% off. They were about $1.25.

They work perfect in my nest. Being a science teacher, I have always had a thing for nests. I have quite a few of them stored away with my classroom materials. I actually have one that we found in our lilac bush that was made completely out of Lancelot's (our dog) fur. So cool.

The "finished" piece. I am currently keeping an eye out for another candle stick. I want two in here and I for sure want the other one taller. I will probably paint it black. Who knows.

The flowers you see are the ones my boys bought for me the other day when I was in the hospital. Gotta love my boys. And yes, gotta love my girl too. Made sure to add that in there for you Chickie because I know you are reading this. Miss you!!

And next time I visit the family, Nicole said I can look up in their attic. Can't wait.

Craft Desk

I got this desk a few weeks back at the thrift store. It is huge. 6 feet long. I am in love with it. My plan is to put it in my craft room in the new house.

The paint was a yucky yellow and it was really dirty. So, Johnsie and I wiped her down and sanded her a little.

Then it was time for primer. I let Johnsie help paint because first, he really wanted to help and second, because this is just going in my craft room and will eventually be covered in paint and glue anyway.

He was having so much fun.

All done. Things got a little messy so there weren't any in between pics.

I mod podged some paper on to the drawers.

Cute. I haven't done the other drawers yet. I am not sure if I am going to. I don't want it too busy.

Monogram

I picked up this 8x10 frame the other day at the thrift store. I liked that the center panel is raised.

I sanded it a little.

Then, I painted a little blue here.

And a little black there and then I actually added some black to my blue paint to dull it down a tad. And repainted the blue.

Then, I just printed out a J on plain old paper and covered it with a few layers of mod podge. It looks so cute and is going to look great in our new bedroom.

Mirror Mirror

Thrifting again. Oh No.


I actually saw this mirror the day before and passed on it. The next day I just had to go and get it. It is made really well and fairly big. I plan on painting the frame black. When it is finally hanging in our new house I will do before and after pics. It was $5.99. On the 27th the thrift store is having a 50% off everything sale. I was just too scared it wouldn't still be there.

I picked this hand and foot puzzle too.

Ok, so when I first started college this book was required for my Psych 101 class. I fell in love with it. I still have my copy somewhere. Quote---"Play fair. Don't hit people. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. "

Anyway, this last summer I found this book, of course, at a thrift store and loved it too. Fulghum is so easy to read. His books are made up of short stories and ideas. Quote--- "Above all, if what you've done is stupid, but it works, it ain't stupid."

So, the other day I found this book.

And this book. I am so excited to read them. Each chapter in Fulghum's books are usually independent so they are great to keep somewhere where you can just pick it up and read it for a few minutes.

I have heard this is a great book but, I have never read it. I saw the movie yrs ago. I can't resist a good book for $1.00.