6 Thriftworthy Gifts for a Happy Wallet this Holiday Season

The Holidays can really take a hit to your pocketbook. According to Star News Online, “The average person will spend $805 during the Holiday season.” The good news is, DIYing is in, and it can save you some serious cash. Plus, you get to play the sentimental card.

This month, we wanted to expand on our last blog – Holiday Craft Projects Made with Thrift Store Finds. We gathered 6 DIY gift ideas for everyone on your list. The best part is, they all feature something you are bound to find on the shelves of ThriftWorks!, making it even more affordable!

1. DIY Sweater Mittens

Do you buy new mittens every winter? This DIY solves that, and it’s perfect for those ugly Christmas sweaters in the back of the closet. Turns out they make really festive mittens!

All you need is a sweater, scissors, and light sewing skills. Trace your hand, or the hand of someone else, depending on size needs and cut. Flip the pieces inside out to sew them together, then reverse them again to wear. These sweater mittens are sure to keep the recipient super cozy. You may even want to make some for yourself.

2. No-Sew T-Shirt Tote Bag

The supply list for this DIY is not very long. Find a t-shirt with a nice pattern or image on it – thicker fabric is best– and turn it into this tote bag. Depending on the t-shirts you find, this could work for just about anyone on your list.

3. Thrift Store Beautiful Coordinated Decor

Random pieces at the thrift store can sometimes sit on the shelf for months because people don’t see the potential. Mismatched vases, bowls, and figurines can all become a coordinated decor set. Paint is the answer; pick out a color or 2 and get to work. This gift is sure to please someone who seems to have everything.

4. Hanging Jewelry Organizer

A large picture frame and a crocheted doily or piece of lace are all you need for this next DIY. We regularly have sales on frames, so make sure to shop for them during that time. Mount the doily or lace to the picture frame with staples – it’s as simple as that. This jewelry organizer is perfect to hang earrings on, you could even pick up a few pairs at ThriftWorks! to include.

5. Vintage Teacup Candles

Teacups, especially old vintage ones, are very pretty. Most of us don’t really use teacups like we used to, but they can be repurposed into beautiful teacup candles. Perfect for any hard to buy for person on your list, like teachers, co-workers, and neighbors!

6. Cable Knit Throw Pillows

We’ve saved our favorite for last. These sweater pillows look straight out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Perfect for the mom or mother-in-law who likes to swap her throw pillows with the seasons. Grab a few sweaters with a similar color palette. See if you can, find throw pillows as well to keep it thrifty, otherwise, a regular pillow insert does the trick. Add buttons or tassels to jazz them up.


Before you go to the mall, check out Thriftworks! with an open and creative mind. Head over to our Pinterest page where you can find more DIY ideas. If you have the time, they’re sure to save your wallet this holiday season. What will you do with the extra savings?

Holiday Craft Projects Made with Thrift Store Finds

Thrift stores are the perfect places to gather fun items to get crafty for seasonal decorations in your home. Secondhand scores turned into craft projects are inexpensive and inspiring. Check out these ideas for the coming holidays.

Halloween Candy Basket

ThriftWorks! thrift store often has a lot of baskets in stock. Decorate these baskets with your kids to create something unique instead of using the standard plastic store-bought counterparts. If you stay home to pass out candy, create a larger basket of your own. Kids who ring your doorbell will be surprised and impressed to see your unique basket painted like a pumpkin, covered in cobwebs, or frightening as Frankenstein like this one.

Spell Books for Witch Costume

If you or someone you know is dressing up as a witch or wizard this Halloween, do not skip the spell book! It is easy to re-purpose a book you find at the thrift store into a spooky spell book, complete with a 3-D effect. Find out how to make your own spell book here!

Thanksgiving Candle Centerpiece

You can often find candles at ThriftWorks! to decorate your home; they’re especially useful to celebrate Thanksgiving. Find candlesticks and drill a hole in a mini pumpkin's center to act as a candlestick holder.

Wine Glass Thanksgiving Centerpiece

It is easy to come by wine glasses or water goblets at thrift stores. Buy three and some small pillar candles to create an elegant centerpiece look that can work for any season. Flip the wine glasses upside down and fill the cup area with seasonal items. For Thanksgiving, add leaves, pine cones, small twigs, or other fall-related items. Then place candles on the bottom area (which is now up in the air offering a platform) and light them for a classy look!

Mug Craft Project For Christmas Gifts

You can decorate plain mugs in any design you would like with a simple sharpie and baking technique described here. This is a great gift idea for handmade Christmas giving. Try designing a snowman or reindeer to make your mug seasonal. ThriftWorks! has many mugs to choose from; you will certainly find what you need.

Christmas Decor With Salt and Pepper Shakers

At the thrift store, there are sets of glass salt and pepper shakers sitting on the shelf you would never think could be anything else. But this adorable Christmas craft is here to change your mind. Make little snowy scenes in the shakers and display them anywhere in your home for a unique and fun idea!


When perusing ThriftWorks!, keep in mind these crafts and see past the everyday items that lay in wait. Our items vary from day to day, so you never know what you’ll find lurking on our shelves! Get inspired to create craft projects using secondhand scores this season!

Meet the Team: Our Thriftworks! Store Managers

Meet ThriftWorks! store managers, Kayla Goering and Lisa Anderson. Together they make up a huge portion of what makes ThriftWorks! the fun and relaxing thrift store it is, although they would humbly tell you otherwise. They believe it is the teamwork of everyone at the store that leads to success.

Each day brings something new. Although the store doesn’t open until 10:00 AM, there is plenty of preparation for the management team before customers walk through the doors. Rearranging, adding new products, and designing displays on the floor takes up much of their morning. As Kayla explains, “What goes out on the floor reflects us.”

ThriftWorks! is known for its organization and aesthetic appeal for shoppers. Customers rave about this, making it one of the top reasons to drop in. The managers are a driving force behind the operations. Their mission to create a relaxing environment that encourages new shoppers and welcomes back repeat shoppers does not go unnoticed.

Both Lisa and Kayla said the favorite part of their job is interaction with the customers. “Regulars are awesome,” they say. Developing a personal connection with shoppers adds value to their daily tasks. In just 4 years, ThriftWorks! has transformed into a Central Minnesota thrifting hot spot.

“It’s amazing the support we’ve received from the community. Customers really get the word out and we are very thankful,” said Kayla

ThriftWorks! wouldn’t be what it is without their team: training specialists, retail assistants, volunteers, and the trainees, who are adults with disabilities learning skills with the goal of community employment.. The managers could not praise the efforts of the group enough, with teamwork being the backbone of success and smoothly run operations.

“We really appreciate our training specialists - the staff that work directly with our trainees, because they have the hardest job. They really make things work around here and we are so grateful for that,” Lisa added.

Whether you’re a regular shopper or thinking about making your first thrift trip to ThriftWorks!, stop in and say “hello” to Lisa, Kayla, and the rest of the team.

Celebrating Our Fourth Anniversary at Thriftworks!

In case you haven’t heard yet, IT’S OUR BIRTHDAY! ThriftWorks! is turning four years old this month. To celebrate our anniversary, we’re reflecting on how ThriftWorks! contributes to the community.

Employment Opportunities

ThriftWorks! works with our parent company, WACOSA, to fill staffing needs. WACOSA’s mission is to provide adults with disabilities the opportunity to work and live in their community, but they go far beyond this. WACOSA provides employment services, training opportunities for social skills, and resources to encourage an independent lifestyle for people with disabilities. We wholeheartedly believe in this service and incorporate members of the WACOSA program into our staff. They do amazing work and always bring smiles to the workplace.

Promoting Creativity

Thrifting is all about seeing the potential of an item, not it’s current state of being. We believe in promoting the creative spirit of DIYers who take on crafting projects or thrifting fashion. We encourage this creativity by providing the materials at affordable prices, as well as ideas to get you started. From our Pinterest Boards to our Blogs, creativity is always in the works.

Reducing Landfill Waste

We are proud to offer the opportunity for people to recycle gently used clothes or household items. By doing so we hope to reduce the amount of waste that sits in our landfills and provide another individual the chance to reuse an item. This means that when you buy an item from our store, you are shopping green. We continually strive to make a positive impact on our environment!

Volunteering Opportunities

In addition to our employees, we also have many volunteers that make our work possible. Volunteers at ThriftWorks! assist staff members and clients with sorting and pricing merchandise, store stocking, and donation drop-off. They also contribute to pleasant customer experiences. If you would like to become a volunteer, find out more by checking out the volunteer page on our website.

Thank you to our loyal donors and shoppers for supporting ThriftWorks! Our work would not be possible without our community. With your support we have had over 30 individuals with disabilities go through our retail training program at ThriftWorks!

To continue our birthday celebration, we will be having an in-store drawing for a $100.00 Visa gift card. Stop in daily throughout the month of May to enter for your chance to win.

4 Crafty Ways to Ring in Spring with Centerpieces

The weather is warming. The flowers are blooming. Spring has arrived. It’s time to spruce up your home with décor that complements the season’s bright, refreshing feeling.


The perfect way to bring in that feeling of spring is to create your own floral centerpieces, and spread them around your home. Not only are the centerpieces an attractive way to decorate or accessorize your kitchen or coffee table, they also bring that fresh, outdoor aroma and esthetic into your home.

Here are some ideas for crafty floral centerpieces that you can create on a budget this spring:

Rustic

Nothing warms up a home like rustic accent pieces for decor. Take that comfortable, inviting inspiration to create beautifully simple floral centerpieces. You can use distressed wooden boxes, old planters, garden pails, or a variety of other items to contain or replace traditional glass vases.

Fruity

If you want to try a less traditional decor craft, a great option is to use discs of sliced fruit to make the home feel sweeter. Slices of lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit add a vibrant and punchy element to a traditional (or perhaps nontraditional) vase of flowers. Just line your vase or bowl with various discs of fruit to brighten up neutral white flowers and add a fun, fruity aroma to your home.

Romantic

If you’re going for decor that relaxes your energy and creates an inviting atmosphere, use candles in your floral centerpieces. Fire and flowers may not seem like they would go together, but when done correctly, they can create a unique addition to any table or counter. Arrange short-stem, trimmed flowers around the edges of a small vase or cup and add a taller candle to the center. Voila! You have a simple and beautiful centerpiece for your home.

Festive

What is one of the first things you think of when it comes to spring? Easter, or course! Easter is a wonderful opportunity to decorate your home with pastel colors that brighten up your rooms and make them feel more spacious. A small addition to your home can be just enough to make your space brighter and more welcoming. Try using pastel colored Easter candy, including Peeps, M&Ms, or jelly beans, to fill a vase of flowers. This will add more color and festivity to your centerpiece and your home.

You can create these spring centerpieces on a budget from items found at your local thrift store. If you don’t find the perfect item, break out the pastel colored paint and get crafty! Stop into ThriftWorks! to find everything you need!

Using the Concept of “Hygge” to Combat Minnesota Weather

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish concept that has become all the rage in the U.S. in the last year.

According to The New Yorker, the Danish define the word as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” Some Danish doctors even recommend “tea and hygge” as a cure for the common cold.

Many blogs and recent books have taken up the craze. One author, Louisa Thomsen Brits, describes Hygge as, “a practical way of creating sanctuary in the middle of very real life … a cure for SAD in book form.”

Minnesotans are all-too familiar with seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) which seems to hit us harder towards the end of winter. Hygge is often imagined as a combatant to a raging snowstorm; a way to hunker down indoors with your loved ones, cozy, dry, and comfortable while the weather whips and whirls outdoors. As we begin to drift from the frigid months of January and February to the chilly-wet month of March, keep in mind that the idea of Hygge can be used to combat sloppy spring days as well.

How To Promote Hygge in Your Home

Gather These Items:

• Candles
• Cozy blankets
• A few good books
• Fuzzy slippers
• Hot drinks and pastries
• Big scarves
• Comfortable clothes
• Friends and loved ones

Hyggehouse.com defines Hygge as a feeling, not a task. A moment that is “cozy, charming, or special.” It’s about creating an atmosphere that is intimate and comfortable and sharing it with friends.

This is where many Americans misunderstand the concept. Celebrating the idea of Hygge doesn’t involve becoming a hermit and never leaving the house. Scandinavians put tremendus value on staying active all year round. The winters of the famously frigid area teach that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Hygge is not binge-watching Netflix in your favorite slippers. It’s not staying indoors all day in your pajamas. Although you can Hygge alone from time to time, it is meant to be shared with loved ones and celebrated as a way to stay connected even in the dreariest times of the season.

Celebrating Hygge means making your home more inviting and comfortable. Add a few cozy blankets or oversized pillows. Light a few candles. Invite some friends over to chat, enjoy a hot beverage, and relax. Hygge is a feeling of warmth and welcome more than an act. A few small changes to your living space may help you get into the idea, but executing it is all up to you.

To help make your home more Hygge-friendly, check ThriftWorks! in Waite Park for supplies; you never know what you’ll find!

Top Thrift Store Flipping Finds to Watch For

When you walk into a thrift store, you never know what you might find. Some customers are looking for something specific and others are looking for those second-hand items that they can flip and turn into something useful or extra spending money.

There are some common items that a lot of our customers find for flipping purposes that may surprise you. Whether you’re looking for a new DIY project or hunting for a priceless treasure, keep your eye out for some of these items:

1. Books and other literature. Instead of spending money on the latest books at an expensive retail bookstore, find something at ThriftWorks! that you can read secondhand and for a lot cheaper. If you’re a college student, you might even find a book for a class before the semester starts. There are also a ton of fun DIY projects that you can do using old books.

2. Old video games. You can often find a classic video game system at a thrift store. If you’re a collector of old Nintendo or Sega games, you’re bound to find a cartridge that you haven’t thought about since you were a kid.

3. Old coffee mugs. If you’re a coffee drinker, you can never have enough coffee mugs. People are always looking for an old collectible mug and you can usually find one that will suit you at a thrift store.

4. Vintage Collectibles. To really make money on thrift store vintage items, you’ll need to do a bit of searching. You never know when the perfect item will come into the store, and if you don’t pounce on it, it’ll be gone before you can think twice. Items like old record players, cameras, radios, and suitcases can go for a pretty penny!

5. Vintage board games. If you’re a parent looking to get your kids away from their phones and the television, this is a perfect way to spend time with them and do something constructive. ThriftWorks! has plenty of board games to pick from that are fun for the whole family!

6. Picture frames and old antique frames. Don’t spend money on a new frame at a retail store when you can certainly find a gently-used frame at ThriftWorks! We have plenty of sizes and styles to pick from. Upcycling and flipping old frames can create a true one-of-a-kind work of art on the cheap.

7. Throwback sports jerseys. These are more popular than ever and we commonly have plenty of old professional and college jerseys to pick from. If you’re a collector, a thrift store is a perfect place to look to find what you’re looking for.

8. Winter jackets. We all know that finding the right winter jacket isn’t always easy. And, buying a name brand jacket is very expensive. You might find what you’re looking for at ThriftWorks! We have plenty of secondhand name brand jackets that might work for you.

9. Mason jars. These classics have become more and more popular to use at parties for drinks over the years. You can usually find some for a great price to make your next party really stand out.

10. Vintage blankets and quilts. We live in Minnesota, you can never have enough blankets. You might occasionally find a vintage brand that suits your style.

11. Vinyl records. Vinyl records by specific artists are coveted by collectors young and old. There’s just something about a vinyl record that sounds better compared to a CD or cassette. You never know which treasures you might find!

If you’re looking to earn some extra cash by flipping, crafting, or finding hidden treasures, stop by ThriftWorks! You never know when you might find that special item you’ve been looking for!

How Do Your Donations Help WACOSA?

When you donate to any non-profit, you can be sure that you are helping make a difference. With WACOSA, there is no exception to that rule. In 2015 we served over 600 individuals, steadily growing from the year before. With over 50 total community crews we were able to serve the community even more than the previous year. Our success doesn’t stop there. We were able to add an additional four community crews last year, a 33% growth from the year before!

Our mission is to provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to work and live in their community. None of this would be possible without our generous donors. Here are a few ways your contributions can help to make a difference this year.

$50 Donation:

• One weighted lap pad to meet client’s individual sensory needs

$90 Donation:

• One chair for the WACOSA Senior Program at the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud

$125 Donation:

• One washable weighted blanket to meet various individual sensory needs

$600 Donation:

• One iPad for clients to use for activities including researching information on the Internet, playing group interactive games and watching informational videos

It’s more than just our employees that contribute to our success, YOU help us immensely year-after-year. We had almost 150 volunteers last year who clocked approximately 3,639 volunteer hours. Although this is a great start, we dropped 42% for our total number of volunteers from 2014. Our mission for 2016 was to continue to grow our group of volunteers and with your help, we can do just that. Our volunteer positions range from activities assistants all the way to musicians. There is truly a place for everyone at WACOSA! If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with us, you can find more information on our website here.

You can help make a difference this year by making a donation or volunteering, and there are many different ways to give. Help us grow ever stronger in 2017 by working alongside other community members to break down stereotypes and build up members of the community that are living with a disability.

5 Thanksgiving DIY Trends to Try This Season

Thanksgiving is about gathering with your family and friends and celebrating the things for which we are grateful. While spending time with family is most important, decorating for the holidays is still very enjoyable for people who love DIYs and decorating. There are endless fun DIYs that you can do around Thanksgiving time, but we did the grunt work and found our top five.

1. Colorful Leaves, Leaves and more Leaves!

These types of DIYs are cheap and EASY because there is an abundance of beautiful leaves to find outside for free! Start by gathering leaves of your choice–our favorite type is maple leaves–and dry them out for a day or two. You can spray paint your leaves or let their natural beauty shine through. Find 11 beautiful leaf crafts here.

2. Wreaths for Everyone!

At Thriftworks, repurposing is our FAVORITE word and wreaths have the ability to be reused over and over again, which we love. The first step is to get your hands on a quality wreath– maybe you even own one already. You can spruce it up with some items you find at the thrift store, or continue to repurpose the Thanksgiving decor you already own. It doesn’t stop there, instead of stuffing your wreath away after Thanksgiving, redecorate the same one for Christmas! This will help you save money and space in your home. There are a variety of wreaths to try, the hard part will be picking just one!

3. Neutral Colors are Everything.

If you want to create a warm feeling in your decor, you can’t go wrong with neutral colors. Pops of color can make a bold statements, but neutrals make a room feel soft and welcoming. Look for cool-toned fabrics and plants when planning your Fall DIYs. Some of our favorite colors this Fall are creams, coppers, aubergine and cool-toned browns. Check out this classy pumpkin centerpiece to get inspired.

4. Recycling Jars and Bottles

Speaking of reusing over and over, not only are Mason Jars and wine bottles cute, they are a creative way to reuse your refuse. We are loving the idea of painting and repurposing wine glasses because they are so versatile and can be very festive. For Thanksgiving, use all-purpose paint that you can find at the craft store and paint your old jars and bottles and decorate them with fun sayings. This is a perfect project to do with the kids, or could be an excellent girls night activity after you finish your bottles of wine. Find more Thanksgiving table crafts here.

5. Funky Frames!

The fun doesn’t stop with wine bottles and mason jars, there are also hundreds of brilliant ways to repurpose old frames. Rustic windows and picture frames go well in every home and can be thrifted for just pennies. When looking for the perfect frame, keep an eye out for picture frames with detail–this will make them stand out in your home. You can pick up chalkboard paint at the craft or hardware store to achieve a shabby-chic look. Pair your frames with foliage and you instantly have picture-perfect decor! You can find more DIY Frame Decor ideas at planningitall.com.

You can find more DIYs on our Pinterest Board, where we are always updating more ideas for Fall Thrifts every week. You can also check our calendar for weekly specials and more!

Stop by ThriftWorks! and find plenty of frames, jars, glasses, wreaths, and more to use for your DIY Thanksgiving decor.

Ways to Save Time and Money this Back-to-School Season

Back-to-school shopping can be stressful and overwhelming and the thought of how much money you are going to spend can only add to that stress. To save you time and money this back-to-school season, we have provided you with some tips and tricks for shopping at ThriftWorks:

Tips for Thrift Store Shopping:

1.     Make a list of what you need: To be successful on your thrift store shopping trip, you need to set up a plan of exactly what you need and what you are looking for. That way, you stay on task and know right where you need to go when you enter the store. Thrift stores can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been so set yourself up for success by planning ahead.

2.     Shop various racks and sizes: Have you ever gone to a store and something was placed in the wrong section? The same thing could happen at thrift stores. By looking through different size racks, you could end up leaving with a treasure you wouldn’t have found just looking in your size.

3.     Pay attention to coupons and sale days: Many thrift stores have colored tags meaning certain discounts. They also usually have sales calendars available for you. Our ThriftWorks! sales calendar tells you what sales are happening each day. For example, every Wednesday seniors, military personnel, and students receive 25% off.

4.     Make more than one trip: You will often find that shopping at thrift stores might leave you empty handed, but don’t get discouraged. New items are coming in all the time; so being patient and going back often will only increase your chances of finding the good deals and going home with new treasures.

School Supplies to Shop for at Thrift Stores:

1.     Clothing: Kids grow out of their clothes way too fast, especially for the price you are spending on name brand or designer clothes. By shopping at ThriftWorks!, you can find those designer or name brand clothing for just a few dollars. That way you will feel more comfortable with the price tag when your kid grows out of their new clothes in a few months.

2.     Supplies: We all know that kids get an endless list of school supplies every year. By the amount of money you spend, you might be thinking that either the prices have gone up or the list has gotten longer. To save money, check out the thrift store before buying new supplies. At thrift stores, you can often buy supplies such as notebooks, folders, pencils, locker accessories, and more for a reasonable price.

3.     Sporting gear: Kids grow out of sporting gear just like they grow out of clothing.  Before taking the more expensive route of going to a sporting goods store, stop into our thrift store to browse the sporting equipment we have available.

The back-to-school season can be a crazy time of the year. Take care of your health and finances this back-to-school season by shopping for your supplies at ThriftWorks! With these great tips and tricks, anyone can score great deals on back-to-school supplies. There is no better feeling than saving time and money while checking things off your list.