Make Something Today - Upcycling Sweaters to Mittens and Hats

"Make Something Today" idea sheets are full of curated craft projects made with items you can find at your local Goodwill store. Right now we are featuring hats and mittens made with sweaters. We have stocked our shelves so you can get started right away.

One of our own team members here at Goodwill likes to make crafts and shared with us a pair of pink and gray mittens she made with two wool sweaters. 
          

She told us that once she worked out the pattern they were fairly simple to sew. These are fleeced lined and boy are they warm and cozy! One of our customers kindly modeled a coat from the Alcott Half Off Store and the upcycled sweater mittens.

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Want to try making a pair too? Follow along with chicenvelopements.wordpress.com.

          

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Upcycle Sweaters into hats too. We found a tutorial at heidistock.blogspot.com
             

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Find more ideas for hats and mittens on our Pinterest Page .pinterest.com/vtgtc/re-use-thrift-store-sweaters/

Make Something Today with Christmas Tins

So many pretty candy and cookie tins this time of year!

 Let's look at all of the way you can reuse your tins. With all of these great ideas you will want to pick up more tins kindly donated to Goodwill.
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These tins are stacked on a cake stand. Add a little trim and a topper like this reindeer. Thank you to littlefarmstead.blogspot.com for this great idea!

                      

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Add your own touch to decorate tins filled with your best homemade cookies for gift giving. 

inspirationforhome.blogspot.com has this and 19 more great ideas for creative wrapping. 

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Matchboxes wrapped with Christmas paper are part of this Advent candle wreath. The website is in Danish - but you can translate it with the click of a button. www.soendag.dk

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Dress up a white metal tin with buttons and a carrot nose and scarf. If you are going to paint a tin white, visit cynthiashaffer.typepad.com for great tips. 

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mysocalledcraftylife.com is where we found these Christmas canisters. Here is a list of supplies she used. 

*Old Tins

*Wrapping Paper or Scrapbook Paper

*Chalk Paint or Spray Paint

*Decoupage Medium or Double Stick Tape

*Paint Brush

*Cabinet Knobs

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Reuse tins to elevate different treats on your holiday buffet table. You could use a turned over martini glass, lamp base or candle stick as the stand and glue the tin on top. Line with pretty paper and set in your treats! 

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Visit your local Goodwill Store to find a variety of tins. 

Our shelves are full! 

And you can find more ways to reuse commonly found items at Goodwill stores on our Goodwill Style Pinterest Page.

Make Something Today! Fall Flannel Fun

"Make Something Today" idea sheets are full of curated craft projects made with items you can find at your local Goodwill store. Right now we are featuring projects made with flannel and plaid shirts. We have stocked our shelves so you can get started right away.

           

Allegan Goodwill Store

Simply cut of the cuff of a flannel shirt to make these coffee sleeves.

Details at thriftdee.com

                 

Lots of pictures at theartofdoingstuff.com to help you make  your own lumberjack bag.

                   

One shirt would yield several of this flannel hearts to decorate your home or as present toppers this Christmas. See how they are made at betterbudgeting.org

Follow along with Vivienne at thevspotblog.com and make this cute flannel pumpkin.

                           

The flannel shirt to pillow is a favorite and robin-happyathome.blogspot.com

lays it out in seven easy steps. 

Sweater Weather Crafts

Is there anyplace better to be in October than in Southwestern Michigan? The weather, the leaves, the fresh air! A team member here said he loves this time of year because he can wear shorts and a sweatshirt at the same time! Love it! 

And of course it is sweater weather. Sweaters are our featured item in our "Make Something Today" projects. Look for the Make Something Today idea sheet and one of a kind sweaters at your local Southwestern Michigan Goodwill Store. 

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We "heart" these kittens! Find out more at byyourhands.blogspot.com

                       

No instructions can be found for these cozy star ornaments, but they look pretty simple to sew. 

                      

Start this project with the cuff of an old sweater. Find the tutorial at cfabbridesigns.com

brassyapple.com has great images and details to create these warm sweater pillows.

                 

You can quickly stitch up this sweater pumpkin before Halloween - it is so easy.

Follow smallfryandco.blogspot.com for the tutorial. 

           

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Happy Fall and Happy Treasure Hunting! 

            

Make Something Today with Ivy Bowls

We have pulled together some great ideas for crafts that can be done in an afternoon using commonly found items at your Goodwill store. We are calling these collections "Make Something Today". You will see display's at all of our southwestern Michigan store locations  with an idea sheet and the items ready to purchase so you can make something right away!

Right now we are featuring ivy bowls:
               

These little gems are very inexpensive and we have them kindly donated all of the time at Goodwill. 

Ivy bowls, or similar small glass bowls, are commonly used for centerpieces for showers and weddings, but look at all of the great ideas we found for re-purposing them:

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Fall Ivy Bowl Idea #1

How pretty this simply decoupaged ivy bowl is with a soft glowing candle. You will need an ivy bowl, fall leaves and Modge Podge. Follow along with the tutorial at happinessishomemade.net.

                       

Source

Fall Ivy Bowl Idea #2

Keep that Modge Podge handy and switch out the fall leaves for orange tissue paper and black construction paper. You could make several of these pumpkin cuties to keep and give away. oneartmama.blogspot.com has all of the details.

                       

Source

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Desk Terrarium 

                     

        

Fill with rocks and an air plant and trim the lip of the bowl with beads. Find great information about caring for air plants on Better Homes and Gardens website.

These would make a lovely and inexpensive gift too.

                          

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Christmas Ivy Bowl Idea #1

Recycle an ivy bowl and a sweater from Goodwill to make this cozy snowman candy dish.

                         

Christmas Ivy Bowl Idea #2

The simplest craft ever! Fill with unwrapped candy peppermints and place a red peppermint scented candle in the center. Beautiful! 

                   

Round Up of Thrifty Dorm and Apartment Decor and $50 Goodwill Gift Card Contest

Last week we gave the hint that there was a Facebook contest coming. Here it is and it is going on now through October 11th:

Facebook Contest

It is easy to enter. Just post a picture of something you found at Goodwill for your dorm room or apartment on our Facebook page. Share your photo today!

We rounded up thrifty ideas for your dorm room or apartment found on some of our favorite sites.

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 Apartment Therapy - Great website - chock-full of current ideas including upcycling projects. 

We really like this idea of using mirrors as art. It is perfect for a small space.

See more of this home here. 

         

Apartment Therapy

Instructables.com Wow... if you are new to this website make sure you set aside a few HOURS to search the site. Especially if you search "LED Throwies".....

Here is one fabulous idea for your old homework (add a Goodwill piece of jewelry for some bling). Find her tutorial here.

Instructables

TheGraphicsFairy.com  Love this site. Love it. Love. You can find free printable art on this site. You will be inspired to make things, but here is an quick starter project. Simply print out an image and put it in a frame from Goodwill. Here are a three examples of free printable images on her site:

TheGraphicsFairy.com

                  

thegraphicsfairy.com

The Graphics Fairy

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Do you have any go-to sites for your inspiration? Share them with us in the comment section.

And a side note about Back To School... Today it is all about lifetime learning. We have several resources available to help you further your education and continue to learn new things. 

Are you looking to get your GED? We have classes forming through out the year. We serve Southwestern Michigan and you can get information about our GED classes by calling 269.382.0490 ext. 229. Live somewhere else? Visit GED.com to find classes and testing in your area. 

Another very helpful, easy and FUN way to continue learning is GCFLearnFree.org. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers 125 tutorials, including more than 1,100 lessons, videos, and interactives, completely FREE! 

More free online learning links can by found on our Goodwill Industries Pinterest page. Come take a look! Pinterest.com/GoodwillSWMI/learn-free/

Wishing You A Fantastic School Year