Melissa of This Girl’s Life recreated a piece of woodwork art she liked from Pottery Barn to better fit her budget and color-scheme. Melissa knew it was going to be an easy DIY (since it’s literally just pieces of wood!) and had the entire piece of artwork completed in less than a day. Even purchasing all the wood for the project, Melissa still spent only what it would have cost in taxes had she purchased directly from Pottery Barn. You could save even more if you’ve got wood scraps stored away!

Merrill, the Girl of a Thousand Dreams, has been dreaming about owning some Kate Spade polka dot plates for what feels like her entire life. But does anyone actually need plates that cost $140 for a set of five? That’s where Merrill’s “alternative plan” comes into play that involves dollar store plates, glass paint, and paper hole reinforcement stickers for that perfect polka dot. Merrill says, “Lesson learned: Never buy something for $140  when you can make it for $5! Merrill:1 Kate Spade: 0”

Jennifer from Blissfully Ever After decided to give an outdated picture frame from a swap meet some love and turn it into a piece of vintage, industrial alphabet art for her son’s playroom. With some leftover paint and her own custom printable, Jennifer pulled it off for a whopping $1.79. That’s quite the saving compared to her $329 inspiration! Wowzers!

While strolling the aisles of Target, Beth from B & B Build a Better Life found a cute candle stand designed to hold an arrangement of pillars. Beth loved the concept, and even though the price wasn’t too shabby, she knew she could make something even better and cheaper. Off to ReStore she went, and the results are fabulous!

Amanda from Burlap and Denim loves the effect of lighting in design. Throw in a vintage-industrial vibe, and the girl is head over heals! That’s what propelled Amanda to create her own marquee star using rather unusual materials. Amanda’s star is not only incredibly less expensive than those offered at some of our favorite designer retailers but also quite a bit bigger!