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Ever drive past a crowded yard sale and wonder what in the world anybody could want with all that junk? You might be surprised by the treasure trove of unusual and unique items a yard sale can yield. If you are the crafty sort, there are all sorts of fun and interesting projects just waiting to be discovered at your friendly neighborhood yard sale. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your way to yard sale crafting:
1. What little girl doesn't love to play dress-up? A quick look through a line of yard sale clothing can turn up tons of fun items to add to your daughter's pretend wardrobe. A piece of lacy lingerie becomes a princess gown when tossed on over jeans and tee-shirt. Or you may find a fancy satin ballgown that will transform any tomboy into a queen. When shopping for dress-up clothing, make sure the items are in good repair (or that they can be fixed up) and are clean. Just to be safe, launder or have dry cleaned any questionable items. Before long, your budding actress will have a collection of dressy clothes any fairy tale princess would envy!
2. Those satin or silk creations that were prom dresses or cocktail gowns in their previous lives can be transformed into lovely pillow covers and shams. Pillow forms can be purchased at any department store, or possibly even at the yard sale. Look for throw pillows in shapes that can be re-covered in the pretty fabrics to be found in the yard sale clothing section. Simply take the dresses apart at the seams and measure the fabric to fit the item to be covered. A few simple straight seams and you have created a pillow cover. Look for bright jewel colors, or deep rich hues such as burgundy or midnight blue. Save any buttons or accessories to reuse for other projects. Fashionable, stylish, and cheap, your new throw pillows will add a touch of glamour to your sofa or bed.
3. Look for old costume jewelry that can be taken apart and fashioned into new and interesting pieces. Discarded pins, hair clips, rings, and bracelets can all be cleaned and restored into wearable items that you can use to fill a faux jewelry box. Teenagers especially enjoy retro jewelry items. Or, the pieces can be disassembled and used to adorn clothing, decorative boxes, mirrors -- you name it. A hot glue gun is a great tool to have on hand for these projects.
4. Old bottles with interesting shapes or designs have many possibilities. Add a ribbon or fill with colored marbles to create eye catching room decor. Or cluster a few on a corner shelf to add personality to a bland wall. In addition, some old glassware is valuable. If you think have possibly ended up with a piece that may be worth something, take it to an antique dealer to have it evaluated. Stranger things have happened!
5. Don't overlook yard sale artwork. Even though the pictures inside the frames may not appeal to you, the frames themselves can definitely be reused and will be much cheaper than ones you would find in a store. Many wooden frames can be stripped down and refinished in stains that match your home. You can even get creative and paint them in your favorite colors. If you find a frame you really like but the glass is broken, don't despair. Take it to a glass shop and ask to have a piece of glass cut to fit.
6. Old china teacups make stunning gifts. These cups are often fragile, so clean them carefully, but thoroughly. Package them in a pretty basket with specialty teas, coffees or cocoa mixes, a silver spoon, and a jar of honey or other sweetener of choice. Line the basket with a couple of embroidered linen napkins. These beautiful teacups also look lovely sitting on a shelf. Collect a few in various patterns and group them for a stylish, attractive display.
7. Collect old bath towels and transform them into fun terry cloth dog toys. Carefully launder the towels, then cut them into fun shapes. Sew them up securely, then stuff with leftover scraps of yard sale towels. Your dog will have a blast roughhousing with the toys and might even enjoy sleeping with them. Much cheaper than pre-made toys, and just as durable.
These are only a few of the great gifts that can be created from yard sale items. Make up a few to give away, and don't forget to keep something for yourself! Use these suggestions as a starting point and see what awesome things you can come up with on your own. You just might find that you are far more creative than you thought. Happy yard sale browsing.
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