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!

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!

5 Ways to Reinvent a T-Shirt

Ever find an awesome new t-shirt at a thrift store that you really want to get, only it’s a few sizes too big or too small? There is a solution. It’s known by many names and terms: upcycling, DIY, repurposing, reinventing - the list goes on. One of the most trendy, fun, and simple DIY projects you can try is creating a new project out of an old shirt. All you need is a thrift store t-shirt and some imagination. There are hundreds of ways to reuse t-Shirts - we’ll get you started with five:

1. Tote Bag

Tote bags are super versatile for your household. Even better, they are easy to make yourself. Use them for trips to the library, the farmers’ market, a picnic, groceries and more. Personalize them for kids with bright colors, cartoon characters, or fun quotes!

Check out these ideas and tutorials:
No Sew T-Shirt Tote
Cinch Backpack Bag from T-Shirt
Market Produce Bag

2. Crocheted Pieces

Turning fabric scraps into T-Shirt yarn can create durable and useful items for your home. It is super easy and an excellent way to ensure that you get the most use out of your closet. Once you have T-Shirt yarn, you can crochet it together to make small items like coasters, trinket bowls, or a pencil holder, or you can make larger items, like rugs and baskets.

Check out these ideas and tutorials:
Crocheted Rug
T-Shirt Crochet Basket
T-Shirt Coasters

3. Throw Pillows

A well-worn and well-loved T-Shirt is always made of the softest cotton. Reuse this soft fabric to make a pillow for your playroom, couch, or bed. Alternatively, stitch shirts together to make a blanket. This is an excellent way to preserve your favorite shirts from childhood, school, college, or your favorite sports team.

Check out these ideas and tutorials:
DIY T-Shirt Quilt
Buttoned-Up Pillows
T-Shirt Pillows

4. A New Outfit

That’s right. There are tons of ways to transform a T-Shirt, but why not transform your T-Shirt into another T-Shirt, cover-up, or dress? Whether it’s a matter of cutting, braiding, embellishing, tie-dying, or stitching something new together, you can easily transform an old t-shirt into a new summer outfit.

Check out these ideas and tutorials:
41 Summer T-Shirt Ideas
DIY Tie-Dye Swimsuit Cover-up
Colorblock Dress

5. Accessories

Now that you’ve got a brand new outfit, how about adding some accessories? By simply braiding or turning old T-Shirt scraps into T-Shirt yarn, you can create a variety of fun and playful accessories including necklaces, bracelets, headbands, scarves, or belts. You can even use braided T-Shirt fabric scraps to make an exciting toy for your pet.

Check out these ideas and tutorials:
Fabric Flower Hair Clips
Jersey Knit Bracelets
DIY Dog Toy


Use these fun tutorials to get crafty this summer. Stop by Thriftworks! To pick up all the shirts you need to create a fun summer wardrobe, beach accessories, and more. And for all those T-Shirts that didn’t get a crafty treatment, ThriftWorks! offers convenient drop-off locations for gently used donations.

Breathing New Life Into Printed Artwork: A DIY Success Story

DIY: it’s been a popular abbreviation among thrifty crafters for quite some time. In our past blogs, we’ve given you more than a few different ideas for Do-It-Yourself projects you can create using objects from ThriftWorks!, like picture frames, silverware, even wedding decorations! This time around, let’s focus on a DIY success story.

Meet Meiko. This fuzzy feline belongs to Amy Jo Paul of St. Cloud. Her one-of-a-kind portrait (hanging on the wall) came from an upcycled thrift store print. The story of this unique work of art is just about as interesting as the painting itself.

“It’s something [my boyfriend] Chris came up with,” says Amy. “He saw it and realized it looked similar to my cat. He gave it to me for Christmas with the idea that I could paint the cat in the picture to look like Meiko! I think he secretly believes I’m a crazy cat lady.”

This painting is just one example of how to reinvent mass-produced prints. “Art in your home is so personal,” says Paul. Some may see it as taboo to paint over someone else’s art, but mass-produced art is a common occurrence in many stores and thrift shops. Reinventing them - as in Meiko’s case - is just one way you can take a thrifted object and make it your own.

In this painting, Amy explains, “I approached it by taking colors from another painting I have in my house and incorporated those colors into the painting. I made the wallpaper a mint-green color, brightened up the flowers with tints of red and yellow, and changed elements of the shelf to match my other decor.”

To make the white cat in the painting look more like Meiko, Amy blended shades of gray with the existing white, then changed her eye color. “It only took about an hour to complete,” she says.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve done something like this,” says Amy. “I’ve used lots of different approaches. I’ve used a gel medium to create more texture on some art prints.”

Depending on your goal, this can be a good method to match your decor items and add an element to the print that makes it a personal work of art.

TIP: Amy used acrylic paint on this painting, which can be found nearly anywhere; craft stores,  

big chain stores like Wal-Mart and Target - even the occasional thrift store (hint, hint).

Hopefully, Amy’s (and Meiko’s) one-of-a-kind picture has inspired you to create your own personal portrait. Stop by ThriftWorks! and see what you can find - you’ll never know what will inspire you!

6 Unique DIY Valentine's Day Gifts

Calling all DIY lovers: Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be an expensive holiday where going all out means blowing your budget. These 6 DIY Valentine’s Day gifts are inexpensive and full of unique qualities that are sure to impress your special someone. Thrift shopping is a hobby that many people enjoy and it’s even better when you can have a little extra fun with it.

1.      “I love you because…” chalkboard

The first step to this DIY project is to find an old frame - whichever size you prefer. Paint the border of the frame in your color of choice. Next, you will paint the inside of the frame with chalkboard paint. Finally, write “I love you because…” with chalk and hang someplace in your home where you can take turns writing your reasons.

2.      “You mean the world to me” globe

This one is about as simple and unique as it gets - all you need to do is find yourself a globe. Next, choose your favorite letter stickers or even use a permanent marker (depending on how fancy you want to get.) Spell out “You mean the world to me” and ta-da!

3.      “You are my type” frame

You will first need an old keyboard or typewriter. Next, remove the keys that spell “you are my type.” Then, arrange them on an old frame and glue. You can change this project up by using scrabble tiles or similar game letters and changing the message.

4.      “52 things I love about you”

All you need for this DIY is a deck of cards and a permanent marker. Make a list of 52 things you love about someone and write them directly on the deck of cards.

5.      Permanent marker mugs

For this DIY, find any plain colored mugs. Then, choose a phrase such as: “I love you a whole latte” and write directly on the mugs. If it is a ceramic mug, you can bake it to create a lasting message.

6.      Man bouquet

Not all bouquets are for women! Impress your man with his favorite candy or snack attached to wooden dowels (or something similar) and placed into a Styrofoam shape of your choice.  Once you have the Styrofoam shape full, place it in a vase and present it to your valentine.

Check out ThriftWorks! to find supplies for each project. Whether you always celebrate Valentine’s Day or it is somewhat new to you, these ideas are sure to inspire creativity. It may be time to spice up your regular gifts with these fun projects!

Dorm DIY's - Create Your Dream Dorm Room

Decorating your dorm room can be difficult and expensive. After paying for books, tuition, and food, you may not have the money to create your dream dorm room. Want to save big and deck out your dorm with cute decor items? Look no further, here are 5 super cute dorm room DIY projects to spruce up your space.

Vintage Suitcase Nightstand

Go back in time with a DIY vintage suitcase nightstand. It will add class and a bit of nostalgia to your room. Plop it on top of a nightstand with antique legs, or stack a few on top of each other for added storage.

Shoebox Charging Station

Sick of tangled, un-organized cords? Create your own DIY shoebox charging station to organize your cell phone and laptop chargers. Pick out or even decorate a shoebox to your liking. Hide your power strip inside the box and punch holes in the side of the box to thread your power cords through. Label each outlet on the outside with decorative tags or lettering.

Jewelry Holder

Create a shadow box jewelry holder to organize all of your precious jewelry. Add a cute design to the background as well as vintage hooks and you have yourself a beautiful DIY piece for your dorm. (There are tons of DIY jewelry ideas on Pinterest for inspiration!)

Tape Frames

Decorate your wall with some adorable and creative tape picture frames. This is an inexpensive and unique way to frame your photos or add designs to your walls. It also allows for you to get creative and personalize your wall without causing damage that can lose you big bucks off your damage deposit.

Flower Power

Strings of lights are a great way to make your dorm stand out from the rest. For a simple, creative solution, all that is needed are some Christmas lights and cupcake papers. (View the full tutorial here.)

So DIY your dorm with a few of these super cute ideas. You will create your dream dorm and save money doing so! If you are needing supplies to complete these projects, make sure to stop into ThriftWorks! We have all that you are looking for!

Creative Ways to Repurpose Picture Frames

Repurposed picture frames can make for some pretty awesome DIY items and projects. Frames come in different shapes, sizes, and colors to mix and match any potential idea. Many vintage frames have unique textures and carvings on them, which make great decorative pieces that cannot be replicated in any store or found in someone else's decor, making them perfect for a one-of-a-kind piece. Here are 4 creative and inspiring ways you can repurpose a thrifted picture frame!

Frame & Wire Reminder Board

Try this awesome DIY frame and wire reminder board. It is great for hanging inspirational sayings, photos or Post-it reminders on. All you will need is some old picture frames, clothespins, thumbtacks, and wire! You can use individual strands of wire threaded in a pattern (shown in the image) or attach chicken wire to the back of the frame. View the full tutorial here.

Outdoor Decoration

Frames make great outdoor decorative pieces too. Check out this cool tutorial from Better Homes and Gardens about creating a living succulent picture. You can also choose to hang empty frames in trees in your yard; paint them decorative colors or hang around bird feeders for added flair to your yard!

Pincushions

These DIY pincushions are adorable, and would make an awesome addition to your sewing kit! They are easy to make: all you need is a frame, some batting, and a piece of cloth. Keep them in your kit for easy accessibility, or hang them on the wall near your crafting table.

Chalkboard Serving Tray

This serving tray made out of a picture frame from My So Called Green Life would make a great addition to any kitchen. It has a clean, classic look to it, and you can write the name of the dish (or any personalized message) near the food on the board! This would be a great gift for a family member or addition to a surprise breakfast in bed.

As you can see, there are lots of cool things you can do with picture frames, so give some of these tutorials a try! Stop into ThriftWorks! and pick up some vintage picture frames. We have a large selection to choose from that is constantly changing!

Silverware: It's Not Just for Mealtime

When you think of silverware, you traditionally see it as a tool used to cut, lift, sip and eat your food. Well, think again! As it turns out silverware has many other uses. You can make jewelry, towel holders, yard ornaments and more! Silverware makes for a great crafting project because of its stability and bendability. Here are some fantastic ways on how to turn your old silverware into a awe-inspiring piece of artwork:

Silverware Stamping

Did you know that you could stamp silverware? Stamping silverware is a really great way to engrave little sayings into vintage spoons. When finished stamping, the spoons can be bended and made into custom key chains- just be sure you chose real silver, because stainless steel cutlery is too hard and will not give way to the letter stamps.

Custom Jewelry

Remember back in grade school, when you got to make your own custom jewelry out of plastic beads and rope? With a few cutlery materials, (and perhaps the help of Pinterest) take custom jewelry making to a whole other level. Rings, bangles and other silverware inspired jewelry look cute hanging in the shop window, but why pay inflated prices when you can make your own?

Wind Chimes

Another popular cutlery craft is wind chimes. This craft has nearly endless variations; you can add beading, use an old tea pot or other silver object to hang the silverware from, engrave the silverware before hanging them, or bend and shape your silverware before hanging them- let your imagination run free!

There are many, many more DIY creation options (like a vintage spoon ring) for you to try out.  Be sure to stop into ThriftWorks! and we will help you find the perfect materials for your next DIY adventure.