Repurpose

Amy from Joyful Daisy just loves MacKenzie Childs’ whimsical furniture and home accents; however, many of the prices are deal breakers! This trash-to-treasure magnet board with magnets only cost Amy $10 for the tack and duck tape. Everything else she had on hand, including the old baking sheet that makes the board magnetic. Here’s what Amy has to say about her DIY memo board: “It is a very simple project that can be done in an afternoon and will add so much happiness to your décor and create a functional place to hang favorite photos and momentos. This is also a great gift idea!”

As soon as Aimee from The Vintage Estate came across some ugly canvases, she knew they’d be perfect for replicating the pricey subway signs she’d been eyeing from Restoration Hardware. All it took was some paint and handmade stencils for Aimee to give the canvases new life. It just goes to show that you have to use a little imagination in the thrift store aisles and see beyond what is to what could be!

Would you believe this gorgeous chandelier is made out of just wax paper??? Yep, that’s right – wax paper! Jenn from A Home in the Making used an old lamp shade from Goodwill as the structure for her chandy and then attached strings of wax paper circles. While cutting and sewing 2,640 circles may seem crazy tedious and time consuming, Jenn guarantees this is not a hard project and will save you a pretty penny from costly capiz shell pendants. Jen says, “If you love this light, the cost alone is worth it.”

Lauren from The Thinking Closet purchased one of Crate & Barrel’s Hakkari Candle Holders last fall and was inspired to create her own version, but ornament-style! Lauren repurposed an old tin can and shares tips for creating a punched design without indenting the can. To get the soft, glowing effect, Lauren just inserted a Christmas light from the tree. She says, “It’s one of my favorite creations…and is a really inexpensive way to get a high-end look!”

Carmel from Our Fifth House has a big old love affair with equestrian-inspired décor. So it’s no question why a horse candle holder from Anthropologie caught her eye. It’s also no question why she didn’t purchase the holder for $24 when she could make TWO for only $7. Carmel says, “I’m pretty much crazy for their cuteness and having two for about $7… makes me even crazier for them!  Plus getting a fun project done in less than an hour isn’t half bad either.”