Crafty Texas Girls

7/9/12

I Love Thrifting 2012

We went Thrifting

In honor of Mr. Goodwill Hunting's "National Thrifting Day", I decided to take my family on a little adventure to our local Goodwill. I have to say, it was kind of fun to have "an official excuse" to go thrifting!

Lots of Great Treasures

After a quick breakfast at Chick-fil-A, we were ready to find some deals. My Afton was quite excited, she had brought $3 from her piggy bank to spend at the store. And as you know, $3 will go pretty far at Goodwill! I told her she could buy anything she wanted with her money.

Set a Budget

I gave myself a budget of $12-- because that was how much cash I had in my wallet. (Giving yourself a budget when thrifting can be fun, it creates a challenge and really forces you to consider how/if you need something.) For this trip, I wasn't looking for anything in particular. I was just looking to see what I could find.

Use Your Imagination

These cute wooden chairs could be painted and...

turned into something like this:

Source: spearmintdecor.com via Samantha on Pinterest

This $30 arm chair could be reupholstered and...

look something like this:

Source: jossandmain.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Or these brass lamps could be painted and...

turn out like this:

Source: modpodgerocksblog.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Other fun finds

1.) Galvanized Tubs 2.) Bright Artwork 3.) Silver Serving Trays
4.) Yellow Casserole Dish 5.) Nautical Plates 6.) Reebok Hightop (I had yellow ones like these!)
7.) Sketchers Skates 8.) Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine 9.) Colored Bamboo Placemats

What Did I Actually Buy?

For $12. 61 I got:
1. )Turquoise Blue "Ball" Jar
2.) Four white plates
3.) Four white coffee mugs
4.) Two embroidery hoops

What Am I Going to do with my New Finds?

Thrifting Success!

Our morning out was a success. I stayed on budget and bought things I will really use. Afterall, it's not a 'good deal' if you buy a bunch of stuff that you don't actually want! And my sweet Afton ended up buying that old phone. She couldn't believe it was only $3 :)

Did you get any thrifting done over the weekend? Where is your favorite place to shop for deals?

-For more "Thrifting Tips" and to see "14 Thrifted Projects" in my home- click here.
-Come back later tonight for "Cowgirl Up Linky Party"- this week I am featuring 10 of your awesome projects!

-Sharing my thrifting tips here: Home Stories A to Z , Tatertots and Jello, The 36th Avenue, Serenity Now, Be Different, Act Normal, Positively Splendid

7/6/12

National Thrifting Day

Did you know tomorrow is

National Thrifting Day?!

So get ready to save some money and find some deals. Shopping at thrift stores like Goodwill and other second-hand shops has become more than working with a small budget, now it is also about the thrill of finding a deal. It is about taking pride in re-using and re-purposing something that was once beautiful. And when you transform a second-hand find, you can create something unique, something that can't be found in a glossy catalog.


Official "I Love Thrifting" shirt via Mr. Goodwill Hunting

The Guru of Thrifting: Mr. Goodwill Hunting

National Thrifting Day will be held this year on July 7th. The event is being organized by DIY blogger Rashon Carraway aka "Mr. Goodwill Hunting". His work has been seen on the Nate Berkus show and he was a favorite speaker at the Haven Convention last month.

Now I don't have an official "I Love Thrifting" shirt **yet**. But I have become a thrift store junky myself. Desks, dressers, frames, and lots of my chairs have come from our local Goodwill.

Thrifted Projects from Crafty Texas Girls

1. Thrifted Frames and Thrifted Mirrors
2. School Chairs
3. Vintage Dress Form
4. Blue Chair
5. Antique Dresser
6. Wing Back Chairs
7. Iron Chairs
8. DIY Recover a Chair
9. Cane Side Table
10. Side of the Road Wingback
11. White Legged Chair
12. Oven Cleaner Mirrors
13. Vintage School Desk
14. Coffee Table

Want to score big at the Thrift Store?

1. Go often. But keep in mind the best days for shopping are near the end of the week. Weekends are the most crowded, so be prepared! Try to avoid going on a Monday or Tuesday, most stores' stock is usually depleted after the busy weekend.
2. Keep an open mind. Instead of looking for just one thing specific, look at everything. You never know when inspiration will strike.
3. Find out when prices are at their lowest. Most Goodwill and thrift stores will have sales days when things like furniture and clothing are half price.
4. Try before you buy. Whether it is clothing or a lamp, make sure it fits and works before you leave the store.
5. Have fun. You will probably seem some crazy things-- but remember, one person's trash is another person's treasure!

Best Places to Thrift

If you are local, my favorite thrift stores are the Goodwill on Hwy 157, Graceful Goodbuys on Northwest Highway, and the Vineyards Antique Mall on Hwy 26. Most areas have a Goodwill, so check this link to find a Goodwill near you. And don't overlook garage sales- usually you can bargain with the seller to get a great deal.

National Thrifting Day is the perfect opportunity to grab some girlfriends and go hunting for treasures. If you go, tweet about your finds, use the hashtag #ilovethrifting. I am hoping to get up early and hit a few of my local favorites. Fingers crossed for a great day of thrifting!

Sharing my thrifting tips here: Home Stories A to Z , Tatertots and Jello, The 36th Avenue, Serenity Now, Be Different, Act Normal, Positively Splendid

7/4/12

Happy Fourth of July

We are floating in the pool today and snacking on some 'R,W&B' treats. I hope you are spending the day with your family, enjoying your 4th of July too.

God Bless America!

7/2/12

Cowgirl Up #22

Welcome to Week 22 of

Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .

the party with a cowgirl can-do spirit!

1 Party, 4 Blogs

Howdy, it's Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch here.
Is it really July already??

Our summer is just going by in a flash. My sixteen-year-old has been on two mission trips already, and now is headed to two summer camps. Why two of each? Well she goes with our city church on their trips, and with our country church on their trips.

Meanwhile, I've been sewing (until my sewing machine decided to freeze up) and painting, and bargain shopping, and... oops, where are my manners? You're here to see the features, link up your project, and see the other links, right? Well, let's get to it.

To be honest, it is really difficult to chose just a few projects each week to feature. I went through the list, and made a note of the ones that really stood out to me. Normally I go through that list, and narrow it down even further, but what the heck, I'm sharing all 14 of them today, and here they are.

Happier than a pig in mud - Yummy, patriotic pie

Hymns and Verses - Silver tray turned chalkboard

Chateau Chic - Always on the hunt

Petites Passions - Custom pillow

Desire Empire - Dessert in a Jar

Daisy Mae Belle - More of her Family Room

Just Grand - Outdoor shower

Be Book Bound - Lemonade Bar

Must Love Junk - Office Space

Number Fifty One - Flag Tutorial

White Lace Cottage - Step Above

Decorating Ideas - Bedroom Makeover

I'm Sharon with You - Refreshing Porch

Vintage Goods - Ellie's Room

If you were featured here, grab a Featured button. Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post many other favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also.

Now about the party...

You link up on my blog and your link shows up on four blogs.

More exposure, less time.

We are looking for the latest and greatest projects, tutorials, ideas, crafts, recipes, decor, and inspiring stories. Anything that you are proud to show off.

Cowgirl Up! is the link party that saves you time and brings you inspiration. Doesn't get any easier than that!

What blogs will your link appear on? Check us out below!

Linsey with The Farmhouse Porch

Anita with Cedar Hill Ranch

Amanda with The Ivy Cottage Blog

Samantha with Crafty Texas Girls

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up! You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!

Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines:

(Please read the guidelines before participating)

* When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs. Awesome!

* Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC (and if you have a linkyfollow account, then please follow that way too.)

* You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.

* You may link as many links as you want.

* Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post, (mine can be found on my sidebar.) Mandatory to be featured!!

* Be courteous and visit the two links before yours. Several projects will be featured each week!

* By linking up you are agreeing that we may use your photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course.

"Pinteresting Ideas" for the 4th

I thought I had seen just about everything the blog world had to offer for the Fourth of July. But then I found a few more on Pinterest. That "see more pins" button can be so addictive!

Mini-Flag Wreath