Thrifty Favorite Finds of the Month! $2 or Less!

There is a large list in my head of items that I look for at garage sales or thrift stores, which helps me spot them quickly.

Here are a few finds from the last month that I bought for $2 or less...

 These glass bottles I found for 75 cents each. A collection is pretty in the sunlight and also nice for a few stems of flowers.

 This ceramic, bulbular (is that a word?) piece I found for $2. People discard their classroom projects because they end up with so many pieces or decide they have no use for them. This looks like it was a more advanced than ceramics 101 (I sure know it's not easy to create this shape on the wheel), but I thought is was an interesting, unique decor item.

Mr. Gnome was faded when I found him at a thrift store for $1.95, but after I painted his hat and his buttons red, he had new life.

Any time I find mason jars, I for sure pick them up. There are soooo many uses for them. These were scored 8 for $1. Actually, the guy threw in a couple other items too, so less than $1 :)

This vintage vase was only 25 cents!!

These antique shoe horns caught my eye for only $2 for the pair. They're neat as decor, or I might hang them on the wall and use them as coat hooks.

Afghans are almost a for sure find at estate sales. They can add color, texture and softness to a room in an instant. This colorful one was $2.

I always look through the jewelry. Accessories can change your wardrobe, and at the very least, its fun for the kids to dress up with costume jewelry.

Good luck with your finds!

Thrifting

There are many thrift stores to browse through to find great items, but one particular one, Amvets, is my favorite. They have a ton of stuff and the store is constantly replenished by the truckloads.
There are a few Amvets in San Diego county, but the best one is near downtown off Frontage Road.

It is in an odd area, but it is a big warehouse full of stuff. They have half price off some items every day. Wednesday is half price almost everything. It does get crowded on Wednesdays, so you have to be in a patient mood when everyone seems to be pushy.

Also, it would help to own a staple remover because they double staple their tags to items, like the clothes. Nothing like a getting a rip in that great shirt you just found.

Here's a few of the items I found on my last trip:

95 cent tin tray with paisley design

90 cents for pair of spring tea cups

Pair of cappuccino cups $1

This last photo is of six plain coffee mugs. You can find these just about anywhere. Yes, they are very plain, but I have an idea.

Set of 6 white mugs for $2.70. 

So coming soon will be what I did with these plain old white coffee mugs.

Decorative tray

Over the weekend I stopped at a few garage sales and have to say lately that the pickings have been good.  
One find, that happened to be next door to my mom and dad's house, was this painted tray. It quickly made it to my coffee table. Check out the painted detail:

Only $1.50.

Yea!

Table setting

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped at a garage sale and found this square, red paisley tablecloth, made in France. It was only 2 bucks.  I had arrived later in the morning and was wondering why no one had yet snatched it up. Hmmmm. I don't know. Anyways, the colors are bright and saturated and the size fits my table in the nook in my kitchen. Take a look:

I thought it was a great find.

Now all I need is some ratatouille.

Side table

I had been looking for a side table for Evelyn's room to place next to the chair that is in her room.   I like to have coffee in the morning and watch her play, but I didn't have a place to set my cup down and out of the way.
At a garage sale, after browsing a few minutes, I spot this furniture piece. It had once been painted blue and green and then someone tried to strip the paint off, but never finished. The carvings were interesting but simple, drawers were dovetail, and it was all wood. The price was $3. So I bought it.

A lot of work, you say. I say I like it just the way it is. It is perfect for what I was looking for and with some added storage for Evelyn's things.

Here is the plain drawer inside:

Then I added scrapbook paper to line the drawers (I bought a box from a garage sale a while back) which fit quite nicely in these drawers.

I added some of Evelyn's toys and books and a lamp and I'm done!

Easy Decorative Foam Backsplash

So there I was again on an early Saturday morning rummaging at a rummage sale. I picked up about five items for a total of $2. Among the items I took home was a sandwich bag full of foam flower cut outs. I was sure I would find something to do with them.

At first I let my daughter stick them to the shower wall (when they are wet they just stick), so that gave me an idea. Here is my kitchen sink backsplash before...

don't look at the dirty dishes please

Here is the backsplash with the foam flowers added...

yea, dishes done!

Not to bad for a few seconds worth of time, and... I can't even do the math on what it set me back!