Chase the Star is officially one week old! I’m so excited to have started this adventure, as I truly had no idea just how therapeutic having a creative outlet like this could be!
{Decorating and Crafting On a Budget}
Over the last week I’ve shared a few of my creations focusing not only on the project itself but also on how easy it can be to decorate on a budget. Today I thought I’d elaborate a wee bit (I lie, it’s alot!) on where to shop for décor items and supplies
when decorating and crafting on the cheap….
Making your own home decorations can not only be rewarding, but fun! However, if you aren’t smart about where you get your supplies, you may end up spending a fortune so listen up!
Thrift Stores:Don’t be afraid, they’re chock full of steals and deals, and it’s FUN! My local favorite is a Goodwill store where I have found many, many of my decorations. The trick is to see beyond what you actually see. Huh? Yes, see the potential of an item. See, I recently bought a decorative tray that was an old and worn dark wood with an Asian inspired design circa 1980’s that the old me would’ve passed up right away. The ‘new me’ thought it was ugly too, but the ‘new me’ saw beyond what I saw. Follow? I pictured it to look like this:
And for $5, a few coats of spray paint and some distressing, it now sits on my entry table, along with other thrift store re-vamps. Whether new or old, many of the things donated to the thrift stores are name brands. One great tip for shopping at the thrift store (besides carry hand sanitizer): Shop on Fridays or the early part of the weekend (like me, on Saturday mornings!). At least at the Goodwill stores I know they change their color of the week every Friday. To explain, every item has a different color price tag, and each color goes on sale for the week on Friday morning, so if the color of the week is purple, and you get there Monday, well there may not be too many purple tags left. This is a big deal, because the sale is 50% off! What is half off of $1??? Yes friends, I have come home with bags full of items that cost just cents each. In fact I can do some major damage at the GW with just $20, this includes furniture pieces too. I know!!! GO!
Craigslist: If you aren’t an avid Craigslist Free Section stalker, become one immediately. Here are 3 awesome (and major) items I’ve gotten for zero dollars on Craigslist:
See this transformation here |
Old solid wood dining room chair I painted a cheerful apple green |
24×24 Beach Style Frame I got this as-is! |
Here are the some I’ve purchased for very little on Craigslist:
I paid $40; originally from Pier One, in excellent shape, just updated the drawer pulls. |
Very old cabinet in awesome shape, $30, I just added the trendy paint job and updated pulls |
See? Craigslist rules! As with anything else online related; definitely use common sense safety guidelines when responding to ads and making transactions.
Big Lots: If you haven’t been there in a while, pay them a quick visit! They have great deals on decorative stuff, and get this–you can use coupons!! WOO to the HOO on the coupon usage! If you sign up for their online thingy they will send you coupons. Their prices are dirt cheap, and their stuff is seriously cute.
Target: You already know and love this one. Let’s move on!
Garage and Estate Sales: Wake up early on a Saturday (I know it’s painful) and take a stroll through your neighborhood hunting for sales. Other peoples crap can become your treasure (or has the potential to…) for peanuts!
Supplies-
Walmart: Ok friends, by now you know I love the Big W. I know, not everyone’s Walmart is as great as my local store, but seriously peeps, mine has the greatest craft department eva! There are tons of fabric bolts to choose from, aisles of brushes, art supplies, paint, stencils, ribbons, sewing machines, the Cricut vinyl cutter I’ve been hinting at forever, just so much! And you get their ever famous ‘roll back’ pricing. Can’t beat that one with a stick.
Michael’s: This one should be a no brainer, except I know they aren’t cheap! However, if you check online, almost every week they have a 40% off of one non sale item coupon just sitting there waiting for you to click and print it out. And here’s the very bestest part….drumroll…..if you don’t have your coupon, you can pull it up on your smarty phone thingy and just flash it to them they will scan it right then and there. AAAHMAZING. I had to go twice today cause I forgot something and was able to ‘flash’ them my coupon twice. Aaaaww yeah! I will say though, if you are in need of spray paint (which I am always in need of) I’d skip M’s and go straight to the Big W. Michael’s spray paint can be costly and I hate to use my awesome coupon on a can of spray paint, unless I have to.
Big Lots: While your scouring the décor aisle, head on back to the hardware area and pick yourself up some paint brushes, tape and many other supplies you may be running low on.
So that’s it peeps! Hope this helps you on your quest for beautifying your home on a budget. What tips or tricks do you have for decorating and crafting on a budget?
Bunch of Something says
Hobby Lobby is the bomb!! I have to drag myself out before getting out of control (since becoming a stay at home mom my DIY obsession has started). They have awesome decor as is but they have so much stuff to craft with. Hi, $5 twig wreaths!! Also http://www.save-on-crafts.com is a good website to get supplies on the cheap :)
Love your blog, so glad I stumbled upon it today!
Sarah
http://www.bunchofsomething.blogspot.com
Barbara Hiatt says
Thanks you Sarah! I’m glad you’re here! Enjoy your thrifty shopping (I’m obsessed too!)