Super Hero Storage Cabinet from a $5 Goodwill Find!

Goodwill Treasure Hunter & Guest Blogger Lisa McDowell has done it again! Lisa has been so kind to share her Goodwill discoveries and transformations. (See her coffee cup centerpiece guest blog) This time she has refinished an old cabinet she purchased for $5 from Goodwill into a vibrant Super Hero Cabinet.
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Lisa McDowell: 
This is a cabinet I purchased at the Stevensville, MI  Goodwill Boutique.

It truly was $5!!  Of course, it was like Brady Bunch simulated brown wood. ;).  Wish I had the "before" pic...

I primed it in white, added a few coats of blue and black acrylic with sponge brushes (check your craft section at Goodwill!) and let it dry thoroughly between coats. 

Obviously, I repurposed some plastic lids to avoid painting the cabinet shut! 

 After plowing through many comic choices, I selected a Captain America comic book, cut apart individual cells, and arranged them temporarily for the look I wanted.

Using a furniture grade ModPodge product, I coated the individual cells, let them dry, then arranged them again and fastened them down with the ModPodge.

I hit the little handle with some black spray paint.

Allowing the product to dry, I gave the piece several protective coats re-attached the handle, and....TaDa!!!

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Thank you Lisa so much for sharing your project! We appreciate your creativity and being able to see a kindly donated item to Goodwill with new eyes. 

6 Goodwill Finds Upcycling Ideas for Spring

It is still February - but when the temperature outside is reading 50 degrees then our corner of Michigan is going to have spring fever. 😃
Here is a round up of ideas that will get you ready for spring using commonly found items at our Goodwill store:
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This thrift store tissue box cover is pretty in pink! See how Diane at inmyownstyle.com transformed her find perfect for her house and her style.

SOURCE - inmyownstyle.com

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You can find plenty of baskets at Goodwill - why not try this Tribal painted style? Follow diycandy.com for step by step instructions.

SOURCE: diycandy.com

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How about a pop of color? erinshakespear.blogspot.com added paper flowers to her painted thrift store vases. 

SOURCE: erinshakespear.blogspot.com

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What is not to love? Re-purposing a vintage umbrella, thrift store flowers, and a fun twist for a front door wreath! sadieseasongoods.com has the idea (and more!)

SOURCE: sadiesseasongoods.com

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Gorgeous! Just Gorgeous! Learn how to create a beautiful brooch wedding at deerpearlflowers.com  

And see below for a HOT TIP! 

SOURCE: deerpearlflowers.com

A great source for bulk sorted jewelry is ShopGoodwill.com Search keywords like Broken, Scrap, Jewelry, Grabbag

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This super cute denim journal is a good upcycling project. Instructions are on lifemadecreations.blogspot.com

Winter snow will surely be back here in Southwestern Michigan, but it has been nice to Think Spring for just a little bit. 

Happy Treasure Hunting! 

Did you know that today is Clean Off Your Desk Day?

For the third year in a row, we have observed Clean Off Your Desk Day here at Goodwill.

Source - daysoftheyear.com

We mark this day by encouraging everyone to take a little bit of time to clean their desk or work station throughout our headquarters and at all of our stores. This is what we do....
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We set out cleaning supplies for the day:

We share a few tips by email:

Clean your Desk from Wikihow.com 

Take everything off your desk. Remove absolutely everything and place it all in one large pile. When it’s time to reorganize your desk, you’ll go through this pile methodically. However, don’t try to organize it now. First you need to create a clear space. Read more....

Try the Kon Mari method

Step 1. Hold an item from your desk and ask yourself this one question:

Does this spark joy?

Step 2. If you answer “yes,” keep the item.

Step 3. If you answer “no,” get rid of the item.

Read more....

An Easy Way to Deep Clean Your Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor (No More Excuses!)

How to safely remove streaks from your screen, smudges from your mouse and grime from your keyboard—in three simple steps from the Wall Street Journal.  Read more...

We then have a "tag sale":

How does this tag sale work?

Any items that team members have that are unwanted are brought to a central location.

All items are free for other team members to take and use for their office or work space.
Any left over items are then processed through our donations department and sent to a store!

This is a win win for us because often times an item is not needed in one department, but exactly what another department was needing! And just like home, we often accumulate things throughout the year that served a purpose at one time, but are no longing needed.

We add a little fun by having a "before" and "after" contest with a secret judge giving a "most improved" award. 😊

If you are inspired to celebrate Clean Off Your Desk Day, don't forget about donating your unwanted items to a good cause... Like Goodwill!  #CleanOffYourDeskDay

Donate Stuff. Create Jobs.

Thanks! 

Treasure Chest Etsy Store

The Treasure Chest Etsy Store is no longer on hiatus and we are filling our shelves with pretty things. Take a look!
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Antique Petit Trianon Collection of 3 of Books. 

These 3 books are works of art in their own right. The colors and graphics are beautiful. Part of the Petit Trianon Series published in 1901-1902. They all show wear from age but are still intact for reading. Each book measures 6.5" X 4" Etsy Link

Etsy

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Set of Six Vintage Enesco Japan Hand Painted Shabby Cabbage Rose/Floral Nut Dishes

Here is a sweet set of 6 Vintage Enesco Nut Bowls. Hand painted with shabby cabbage roses/florals in green & pinks.
This set has no chips or cracks, however each piece does need a gentle soapy soaking! Etsy Link

Etsy

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Lot of 3 Vintage Silver Charm Bracelets with Charms

3 Vintage Charm Bracelets. Two of them are Sterling Silver the other is a Monet (not sterling silver). A large assortment of charms, most of which are Sterling Silver. Etsy Link

Etsy

Ugly Christmas Sweaters at Goodwill

For the third year in a row we have had an Ugly Christmas Sweater Afternoon Party with our team members at Goodwill. We have a lot of fun creating and wearing our Ugly Christmas Sweaters and having popcorn. We give a little prize for "Best" Ugly Sweater but mostly it is bragging rights! 🙂

Here is our Party!

This year's Winner is Stasia and her ode to the movie "A Christmas Story".

Hot Tip: Like our background? It is a shower curtain! 

There are lots of easy and inexpensive festive holiday shower curtains out there, and they make a great backdrop for photos! 

Find your perfect ugly sweater at Goodwill. Visit our website for store information: goodwillswmi.org/our-locations

Happy Treasure Hunting! 

Fun Ways to Wrap Goodwill Gift Cards or Any Gift Card!

Do you have a thrift store loving person on your gift list? Perhaps a frugal friend or penny-pitching college student or treasure hunter? Get them a Goodwill gift card!

You can get a Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan Gift Card in any amount at any of our stores. (Find our locations HERE)

We have put together a round up of fun ways to give your Goodwill card or any gift card!
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 thetipgarden.com shows you how to give a yard gift ball (you can often find the yarn at Goodwill too!)

Source - Thetipgarden.com

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Cute DIY snow-globes. Find little Christmas trinkets and even jars at Goodwill and follow along at hip2save.com to create these snow-globe gift card holders.

Source - hip2save.com

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How about candy sleigh treat with a Goodwill Gift Card! Sweet! We found this idea on dearcrissy.com

Source - dearcrissy.com

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These are repurposed sweater mini mittens, but they would be adorable gift card holders!
cremedelacraft.com has the DIY details!

Source - cremedelacraft.com

Thank you for supporting Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan! 

When you donate and shop at our stores - you are supporting our mission! 

We provide employment, education, training and support services to individuals and families so they can become self-sufficient.

Happy Holidays!