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!

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.

DIY for the Fourth of July

Decorating for any holiday can be difficult and expensive, especially if that holiday is only a weekend celebration. Many people would rather spend most of their time and money on food for a Fourth of July party, but these 5 DIY décor projects are easy, inexpensive and will bring out your patriotic spirit!

1. Patriotic Mason Jars

Some adorable red white and blue mason jars make the perfect centerpiece for your 4th of July party. This DIY project has two easy steps, first painting the jars, second arranged the pieces how you prefer.

2. Patriotic Wreath

Add some spirit to your front door with this Patriotic Wreath! You will first need clothespins, wood cutout stars, and a wire wreath frame. Next, separate the clothespins into 3 piles to paint red, white and blue. Arrange all of the blue clothespins together, followed by a pattern of 5 white then 5 red clothespins. Paint the stars white and glue them onto the set of blue clothespins. Your wreath is ready to hang for the summer!

3. Lollipop Centerpiece for the Kids

If you have kids attending your 4th of July party this Lollipop Centerpiece will be a great addition to the table. This quick and easy project can be made in just 10 minutes. All you need is a bucket, a foam ball and 40 red and blue large lollipops or cake pops. Push the sticks into the foam ball, set the foam ball into the bucket and ta-da!

4. Flag Table Runner

This flag table runner adds the perfect patriotic touch for your 4th of July party! It’s simple, easy, and best of all involves No sewing! This burlap flag runner can be as long or as short as you want to cover all tables or just one. It is affordable and easy to do. Once completed you can fray the edges for a rustic look or fold the edges over for a finished look.

5. Patriotic Shutter

This two-step patriotic shutter is a great addition to your front porch or lawn.  All you need is a shutter and paint - it’s that easy! Tape off the stars and stripes and paint away. When completed, put it up for your Fourth of July party or leave it all summer long!

There is still time to create fun, festive projects for your Fourth of July party. Step up your spirit and try out a few of these fun and simple projects. Be sure to check out ThriftWorks! for all your project supplies, and have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

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!

Upcycle Your Wedding to Downsize Your Expenses

For many people, the prospect of getting married is thrilling and adventurous. Spending the rest of your life with the person of your dreams should be a fulfilling occasion. All too often, however, it is also a rather expensive occasion and more and more people have looked to DIY ideas to inspire their wedding decor. Check out a few of our ideas for DIY wedding bliss:

Silverware:

Silverware has become a trend among DIYers; It can be used in a wedding to make a variety of different decorations, including napkin rings or placecard holders, that are sure to be a hit at your wedding. See our silverware upcycle blog for more inspiration

Glassware:

Upcycled glassware is a great way to decorate your wedding on a budget. Try your creativity by assembling different styles and heights of clear glassware, or shades that match your theme. (Hint: with a sharpie and a few minutes in the oven, you can also  personalize your own glassware.) Can’t find the perfect color? You can always paint them to match, add glitter or ribbons, and add candles and other decorations to the mix. Try turning a wine glass or goblet upside down, placing a candle and the top, and a flower under the glass for a unique look.

Mason Jars:

While technically glassware, mason jars have decorating power of their own. There are endless possibilities to decorate with these trendy vessels. Try adding candles, painting a portion of them to match your theme, or adding ribbon or burlap for a rustic feel.  Our favorite mason jar decor idea is adding a flower, filling them with water, and topping off the jar with a floating candle. Have a summer theme? Try adding parts of fishing nets, twine and seashells, sand or rocks to your mason jars for a beautiful centerpiece.

Picture frames:

Empty picture frames make a great backdrop or photo booth on a budget. Instead of looking for a matching set, look for textures and appropriate sizes, and spray paint them to match your wedding theme. You can also build a display of engagement photos with different frames around the cake, or your card box. Having an outdoor wedding? Hang painted frames from trees and add flowers or other decorations in them for a unique look.

Books:

No, they’re not for your guests to read when they get bored, they’re decorative! Strategically folding book pages allows you to make a beautiful decoration that is sure to be memorable. From an elaborate sculpture, to just a simple letter or word, there are many possibilities to decorate with used books. One idea is to make your wedding table numbers from hardcover books.

There are plenty of possibilities for decor in a thrift store. You don’t have to bank on finding a special piece, like an antique bird cage to use for your wedding, just find some inspiration and have your wedding become upcycled and low-budget!