Estate sale finds and Halloween crafting

Last year, I purchased a box of award ribbons from estate sale land. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, but I loved the colors and thought I might be able to use them in some type of display at Halloween.

I recently dug through my craft room and found a few things to add to my ribbons.

I'm really happy with how they turned out and they are now part of my Halloween bunting.

I'm using mini clothes pins to hang some of my Halloween treat bags in between the ribbons. After 25 years of Halloween parties, I can't stop tweaking and creating new displays. Have a thrifty/crafty weekend, friends.

Summer fluffing...

All my patriotic decorations have been packed up at home and I’ve pulled out a few of my favorite summer treasures. 

 A few of them were recent additions from estate sale land, including the sand pail shovel with the mermaid.

The shells were collected from our recent trip to Florida in April. The vintage sailboat teapot was a Goodwill steal. My grandmother had the exact same style teapot and I remember it fondly.

I’ve been picking aquarium figure and castles from estate sales. I just love their onion top shaped roofs.

 I’ve shared this picture in previous blog posts, but the little girl in the sunglasses is me with my Dad probably around 1970. Love those big purple sunglasses.

 I hope you are staying cool. Have a thrifty crafty weekend, friends.

Lake life and estate sale treasures

With all the high school graduation events finally over, we have gotten into our summer routine of heading to the Aframe and enjoying lake life as much as we can. 

That also means finding a few more things from estate sales to bring to the lake.

I'm not sure where we are going to put this 8 seater toboggan sled, but it's the coolest thing and the jingle bells still jingle!

 My thermos addiction continues thanks to estate sale land.

Although this has nothing to do with estate sales, Five Below is carrying these flamingo lights.  Aren't they the perfect touch on our back patio?

I hope your summer is off to a good start!

Hard to believe July is nearly here!
 

Thanksgiving mantle

My single bin of Thanksgiving decorations came out of storage.

I've had good luck collecting turkey planters, paper diecuts and honeycomb turkeys this past year during estate sales.

  Gobble gobble!  

I don't know about you, but I'm counting down the days until Thanksgiving break.  

Orange and black treasures...

I have a shelf in my hutch that I've been tucking a few estate sale treasures until it's time to get the rest of the Halloween chaos out of storage.

I would say that it's been a pretty good estate sale season for vintage Halloween .

Dollhouse #9

I didn't intend on bringing home another dollhouse.

Really I didn't.

But the price was right, it was in mint condition and it was full of Renewal furniture. 

Most metal dollhouses are left in damp basements and rust takes over.  

This 1948 T. Cohn home is in perfect condition.

Of course, this meant rearranging all my other homes to make space in my craft room.  

I hope you found time to play this weekend.  

XOXO

My forgotten craft room...

I’ve been neglecting my craft room as much as I’ve been neglecting my blog (or visiting blogs).

So, a week ago, I spent some time cleaning up my special space. It had become a dumping ground of estate sale treasures.  It's still packed but there is a sense of order now (kinda).

Yes. I have Christmas out year-round in my craft room.

I also have Halloween out year-round too.

As well as a zillion Chinese checkerboards.

 And my amazing vintage record album collection from estate sales.

 Speaking of estate sales, Chris has hit some really fun estate sales lately.  He's come home with some cool treasures for really good prices. It’s been a while since I shared any estate sale treasures. Next post.  Pinky swear.

Dumpster diving at the dump...

I had hinted that I had a trash-to-treasure story.  Earlier last week, we went to the town dump near our lake house because that's where the garbage service is located.  We had finally decided to pay for a service instead of hauling our trash home every weekend in our van.  Stinky STINK!

Anyways, as we were getting ready to leave with our shiny brand new garbage can, I spotted a rusty outdoor chair near a dumpster.  Knowing we just couldn't grab it and run (although tempted) Chris and Josie went back inside the office and inquired about the metal outdoor chair.  They were told they could take the chair but we weren't suppose to pick trash and not to make this a habit.  Thanks, ladies. Got it!

 After a few hours of sanding, Chris chose ocean mist rustoleum paint.  

I think our trash- to-treasure chair is pretty darn cute now.  Don't you just love a happy ending!?!

Here we go again!

Greetings! How is your week going? While I’ve been busy at work, my husband and girls have been purging and preparing for a garage sale which happens Friday and Saturday at our house.

 They've also managed to hit an estate sale or two.

I've been on the hunt for more blowmold planters and this swan was another fun rescue and she's now quite happy nestled near our tiny backyard pond.

 Gotta love a husband who isn't afraid to purchase swan blowmolds and dollhouse furniture without his wife.  Yes.  I do have more dollhouse furniture than most people have real furniture, but I can justify my collections because I do have several empty dollhouses.  hee hee.

 No lake time for us girls this weekend, but Chris will be supervising the installation of 3 new slider doors on the lake-side of the A-frame on Monday.  

Can't wait to have slider doors that seal properly and leave Mother Nature outside.

He'll also be painting the rest of the non-sliding doors at the Aframe this deep red.  Boy, I love my handy husband!

 Be sure to take time to play this weekend, friends.