buttons galore

Remember those two frames I picked up at a yard sale for 25 cents apiece?

Well, I stepped on one and shattered the glass (thankfully my shoes were on at this point so I didn't have to pull out any shards from my feet!)- however, I still got to revamp the other frame using my grandma's old buttons that she gave to me.

My roommate Emily inspired me this year to craft with buttons. I also made these magnets using a tutorial I found on Craftgawker (a.k.a. the most amazing website ever).

Needless to say, I've gone a little button-happy. I'd also like to try this craft at some point- I've been on the lookout for an embroidery hoop at garage sales!

green glider glee

A few weeks ago my mom and I went to a few yard sales on a whim (a weekly occurrence as of late), and as we pulled up to the driveway, my mom spotted an old outdoor glider just like the one her grandmother used to have. She immediately asked about it, talked the guy down to $20, and we parked our tushes on it until my dad came to pick it and us up with my truck. The next day we got some supplies to revamp our, ahem, "new" glider and set to work.

It was pretty rusty and beat up looking, but it wasn't anything that a sander (both the power tool and some good old fashioned elbow grease) couldn't handle! When we finished sanding, we covered it with a coat of primer and two coats of green spray paint.

And.. wah-lah! A beautiful green glider bench dealio for our backyard.

all in a day's work

If you ask the average college student what their favorite part of summer is, they will likely give you the typical answers of being able to laze around by the pool in their parents' backyard, enjoying bonfires on the weekends with friends, or simply not having to go to class. All of these are well and good, but my favorite part of summer - hands down - are the dozens of garage sales just waiting to be happened upon each weekend.

I am always amazed by what people are basically giving away! and also by the stuff they must think is encrusted in gold. Here were my finds today:

A giant pizza pan, a spatula (my roommates and I are always breaking ours or accidentally melting them on the stove), two plain but brand new picture frames that I hope to paint and re-purpose, and Ingrid Michaelson's album Girls and Boys. I already own I.Mike's album Be OK and love it- the garage sale.. vendor?.. must not have known what she had because she sold it to me for 50 cents!

Okay.. my favorite steal (figuratively) of the day is this beauty:

An antique sewing chair! At first I didn't know that it a) was even a sewing chair or b) opened up, but the lady at the garage sale was kind enough to show me all of its features and seemed happy that I showed so much excitement towards it. Heck yeah, because it had a sticker on it for a measly $2.

My last find caught my eye because I am a born and bred Cubs fan. I find that I can practice commitment by owning up to the fact that I root for this team, because honestly, you have to display true commitment and loyalty to be a Cubs fan.

"It's the kind of catch you always dream about...you know, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth..." 

I'll admit, it might be a bit creepy to buy someone's old pajamas.

I'd consider it a successful day in the garage saling world!

All of this for a whopping $4.10!