Goodwill Christmas decoration makeovers
December 16, 2008
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I visit Goodwill (at various locations) more times a week than my best friend's houses. You know how they say you know a good friend when you can open their fridge and get what you want out without asking?
Well, if Goodwill had a fridge, I'd be opening it to grab a Pepsi.
We are TIGHT.
I had to show you what I've found there this season! The first item isn't actually from Goodwill though, it's from my basement. It was F.R.E.E. and it is hands down my favorite new Christmas decoration:
I got the vinyl lettering and the mirror was one I've had for years. I don't have a place to hang it in this house, so I spray painted it gold and stuck the vinyl design on the mirror.
Can you even believe how GORG it is?? Seriously.
OK, onto my best friend's stuff...a $1.99 sled I had to barely touch up. I stuck greenery and picks of greenery I already had. (YES, that is the toilet.):
I was looking for little Christmas plates to replace my normal ones by the kitchen window but everything was more expensive than I wanted to spend. I found these frames for $1.99 each:
In the blurry pic they look cute, but they were in sad shape. The snowflakes were pink and the paint was a mess.
In the blurry pic they look cute, but they were in sad shape. The snowflakes were pink and the paint was a mess. So I took off the easel on the back, spray painted them white and stuck some scrapbook paper in. One holds our picture from last year's card and the other three will be filled with each year after that...
This next one is my favorite find yet, probably just because it is greenery. :) I wanted to dress up the fireplace in our bedroom, but didn't want to buy more garland. (I wanted it thick!)
The local Goodwill had a half off day a couple weeks ago and I found 40 feet of greenery for $5. Woohoo!! AND -- the lights were .49!!
The lights are $10 at Target right now, and I think the greenery is $20.
To finish this spot off, I spent $3 on letters and used paint and ribbon I already had to spell out "JOY" on the artwork I made.
The whole project was $8.50 (I even had greenery leftover to use elsewhere!) and it's so simple and pretty -- I love it!
Have you found any goodies at the thrift store this year?
My "to do" list is dwindling and I'm SO happy. By this weekend I will be able to just totally relax, for real. :) Hope you and yours are hanging in there!
Goodwill is my best friend too!! Aaahh so thought I was the only one who has a love for the GW. I always find a treasure there that needs a lil TLC. :) I love everything you have shown!!
ReplyDeleteWhy yes I have, thanks for asking! I have posted so many times about my "thrifty finds" which are 99% from one little Goodwill store, that I seriously begin to wonder about my self. I could have posted a lot more but I was getting embarrassed about my, shall we say, obsession. In the last 3 months I have had so. much. fun treasure hunting there. It is SO great to know I'm not alone!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff!!! I love my Goodwill too... I'd sleep there to get the best deals if it wasn't well.. you know.. Goodwill ;)
ReplyDeleteMy Goodwill is smelly and expensive. But I love my Dollar General!
ReplyDeleteI think the mirror is my favorite too!
I love thrift stores!! {Not so much Goodwill here, it's too pricey and stingy}. We have some AMAZING ones here in town. Check out my posts here.
ReplyDeletehttp://amberfilkins.blogspot.com/2008/11/thrifty.html
http://amberfilkins.blogspot.com/2008/11/month-of-thanks-november-11.html
The "JOY" art really looks incredible.
ReplyDeleteGoodwill...who knew?
You always inspire us all.
Your blog is one of my new fav things. :)
Love all of your thrifty finds and the creative and beautiful ways you have used them. What a great deal on the lights and garland. I would love to have some lights for my mantel, but am not willing to pay that much for them this year. No way!
ReplyDeleteOur goodwill is really expensive too, though I do find some things there from time to time that I'm willing to pay their prices for.
Yes! Everytime I see Kimba involved in a spray painting project, it makes me want to RUN TO GOODWILL!
ReplyDeleteMy local goodwill stinks but maybe i'm just not going at the right times, or maybe i need to branch out into the neighboring counties.
ReplyDeleteI love Goodwill also! I love it so much, I applied for a job there last year! I didn't get it, they told I was over qualified, and they wanted to hire a man (how dare they). Your finds are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, the toilet thing....I'm terrible with remembering names and such. I was rushing through my blogroll just now, (dog needs to go out BAD), and I hadn't really looked to see who's blog I was looking at (bad me). When I got to the picture of your sleigh on top of the toilet, a light went off in my head..."Oh, okay, I know who this is"! How funny the things that stick in our heads!
Everything is gorgeous...love that mirror. cherry
ReplyDeleteMin eis the thrift store. I live there. Honestly, they know me by name. And I found some steals! Look at my post this week of the bowl (MOnday). I am in love!
ReplyDeleteWow! I love those letters on canvas!
ReplyDeleteCatherine
Oh my red hots that is a GREAT deal on greenery. It looks wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are making me want to keep on decorating instead of putting it all up! LOOOVE the JOY on the plaques! Gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteOooh...did someone mention Goodwill... we do love a find there...we also have buddied up with the old Salvation Army and are friendly with a new fav St. Vincent DePaul!! Seriously- love, love, love the JOY letters- so many goodies- and those plates! mmm-fabulous! Amazing job!
ReplyDeleteKijsa finally gave up on ever catching a plane out (4 flights in a row cancelled!!!) and convinced someone to make the seven hour round trip to pick her and her paintbrush up in Memphis!! Teehee-
have a good one!
kari & kijsa
This is awesome! I clearly need to be going to Goodwill more often!
ReplyDeleteGoodwill and I are best friends as well! I am surprised he has not introduced us before! Okay, those plate/frame thingys...adorable! What a great idea...your very own homemade china! And i love the joy sign...I found some letters at the hardware store on clearance to spell out snow and your idea would be perfect! So wonderful...all of it! Even the Biggest Loser! Yay, I really wanted Michelle to win...I mean lose. ;) Ashley
ReplyDeleteAfter all these years, I'm only now shopping Goodwill and thrift stores...thanks to blogging! I've seen some of the great great finds that are to be had and I want to get in on it too! Better late than never I say.
ReplyDeleteI never find great stuff like that!!!
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm addicted to Goodwill, too. The things that people donate!! My entire house is decorated with GW finds and it never fails that people ask where I bought this or that...shhhh...our little secret!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
I've been saving my toilet paper rolls for you because I bet you can make something GORGEOUS out of them! Just kidding, but I am amazed at the projects you manage to accomplish! Simply amazed!
ReplyDeleteYou rock.
Suzanne
I am LOVING it!! I wish we had a Goodwill here. The closest we have is a Salvation Army and it's really small.
ReplyDeleteYou've made some amazing decorations.
Goodwill has half off days? Why, they might as well just give you the stuff! Cute, cute, frames - I always forget about the spray paint, but man, it does wonders!
ReplyDeleteThat frame/plate holder/Christmas card thing was such a great idea, it's so pretty!!!
ReplyDeleteI had the crafting bug over the summer and have just lost it...probably because I can no longer go outside and spray paint everything in site, including kids and the cat ;)
Bella
I too love the frame plate things!!
ReplyDeleteYou find the BEST stuff!! It's all just beautiful!!
I've tagged you over on my blog, if you have time!
~Tidymom
I keep wondering how other people have such Goodwill locations! Ours is crap!
ReplyDeleteI love everything you found, and I love the mirror, great idea!
I haven't been lately but always find something when I go! You got some great deals!
ReplyDeleteSadly have not linked up my tree yet. My 3 year old decided the tree needed a special touch and more shiny stuff. Every time I turn around there is either a fork, spoon or butter knife in the darn tree! If this keeps up I'm just going to serve Christmas desert in the front room and have people grab their utensils from the tree.
ReplyDeleteAnd here I thought the cats were going to wreak havoc with the tree! *lol*
I love all of your greenery. It really is beautiful.
I love goodwill also!!! It is amazing what people leave off for me to find! Great Job on everything!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Yvette
I am glad you found some great things at your goodwill... Maybe I should move by you because mine STINKS (literally and figuratively!)
ReplyDeleteLove them all! I havent' been to the Goodwill in a while, I feel the need to go right NOW!
ReplyDeleteI love Goodwill/thrift store shopping. Here in Germany, you can find so many beautiful and unique items. I posted some goodies on my blog that I got from Goodwill.
ReplyDeletehttp:/http://theblogofmbw.blogspot.com/2008/12/chair-make-over.html
Sarah, I love the mirror with the words rubbed on.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Terrie
hahah goodwill is the best every other saturday when it's half off day!!! (which I thought was everyday but I guess not)
ReplyDeleteI haven't checked out your blog in a while but your sooo crafty I love it!
Tasia
Good will is certainly good to you! I especially love the "plates"!
ReplyDeleteI thought Goodwill was my BFF! Oh well I guess it can have more than one! It all looks great - love what you did with those plates!
ReplyDeleteManuela
GAH! I'm jumping up and down while clapping! The frames, the artwork, the garland! I am soooooo swiping that artwork idea! I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteWill you be my BFF? Well, after Goodwill, of course. :-)
Merry Christmas,
Kimba
O.K... so I see you have already had some requests to be someone elses bff... but who can have enough of bff's?
ReplyDeleteLove your ideas, your enthusiasm..is contagious even through blogland.
Blessings
Roxanne
I LOVE everything, but I have to say that the mirror with the christmas words on it! SO BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteYou so ROCK! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE MIRROR!!! Of course, the joy & snowflake frames are awesome too - and the sleigh, but the mirror really rocks! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. I also love thrift store shopping and garage sales. I hope you don't mind if I add you to my favorites? Thanks so much for the tour. Your home is beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteJen
Wow! That post was full of great ideas! Great job, Sarah!
ReplyDelete-kristen
I love the JOY artwork and linked to your br. OH MY.. you have a gift of putting all together! It looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! I will definitely be back to visit!
That mirror is to die for! I will be doing some scrounging, while I am digging through everyone's closets please stop by and pick up an award.
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by. . .
ReplyDeletei adore your blog, and i adore goodwill!!
say a little prayer for me. . .his party is saturday!! ahahah. . . .
:)
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI realized I linked up my blog post wrong on the tree trimmmimg. I am number 92. If you could remove me that would be great. I did it the right way on number 108.
Thanks again for hosting.
~Warmly, Melissa :)
I have come to visit via Kimba's blog. Your decorations are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll visit soon. I am having a giveaway on Friday.
Holy Crap!! And I mean that in a good way. I am in love with all that stuff. I will have to venture into our local goodwill.
ReplyDeletep.s. I looooovvvveeeeeee Biggest Loser.
I thought I commented to this..???? I know i did...anyways is is all gorgeous. I linked up to your paryt...but have yet to show my tree. cherry
ReplyDeleteGoodwill is TOTALLY my favorite... 1/2 off day this Saturday here!!! Woo-hoo! I've scored (I'm not joking) Dolce & Gabbana, Juicy, endless Gap and Banana Republic, lots of J. Crew. LOVE it. I even have a certain outfit I wear so I can try everything on to make sure it's going to fit. No sense in spending $3 on pants that aren't right. Right?
ReplyDeleteI am amazed that you found such beautiful items at the Goodwill. Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteYour creativeness puts me to shame!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
I'm a little late to the party, but I saw your JOY art on Kimba's site today. I had to stop by and tell you I absolutely love it. I've been looking desperately for something to put on my dining room wall and this idea is perfect. Now I just have to be creative enough to think of an everyday word that will last beyond Christmas!
ReplyDeletei can't believe goodwill is steppin out on me with you! i guess i can share....she's got a lot of love to go around:)
ReplyDeleteI can't choose a favorite (maybe the JOY signs?)! These are all just amazing. And to think--you got so much of it at Goodwill! A girl after my own heart. It looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeletePeople here have caught onto the Goodwill decor so our Goodwill is generally very picked over when it comes to useable items... darn.
ReplyDeleteThe Goodwill and I are on such close terms, that it is only referred to as the "GW". Happy Hunting!
ReplyDeleteYou lucky woman! Our thrift store is so expensive - shirts are normal $8 and up and I've even seen a beat up kitchen table there for $160. It's ridiculous. Doesn't quiet stop me from going though. Nothing is below $2 so $.49 lights are an incredible deal! I loved to see what you did with your BFF's treasures! :) Those plates are rocking my world!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! I look forward to digging around your archives. I hope you don't mind, but I linked to you in my post today.
ReplyDeleteHave a Merry Christmas!
I love your site. it is right up my alley. I'm all about finding things at yardsales or Goodwill/satvation army store and turning it into something worth looking at! thanks for the fab ideas!
ReplyDeleteSuch great ideas. The gold mirror is just gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteGreat score of your items. Beautiful, as always.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the mirror!
ReplyDeleteWow, you do great stuff with great finds. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
I just found you, and love all your thrifty finds!! I'm a Goodwill/any thrift store, shopper.
ReplyDeleteLove your JOY wall hangings.
I'll be back!!
Barbara Jean
wow, makes me want to go to Goodwill. Beautiful decor. Could you come and decorate my house.
ReplyDeletewow, makes me want to go to Goodwill. Beautiful decor. Could you come and decorate my house.
ReplyDeleteStopping over from Kimba's. I love your thrifty ideas! I can't wait to see what else you and your best friend come up with!
ReplyDelete