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!

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!

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!