It was on one such stop that I came across a homemade chest that would make a perfect item for house guests to use as a luggage rack. It was sturdily made of OSB on the top and Masonite for the rest of it with the rough side out. It was also unpainted and the cost was only $5.00 so I purchased it and dragged it home.
In order to insure that my bargain stays a bargain, I rarely indulge myself in special paints and in this case this was true because it was going to be near to impossible to do any decorative painting on these surfaces.
I wish I had taken a picture of it prior to me giving it a base coat of some blue I had left over in a can. This took about 1 hour. Once dried it then took about an hour to attach all the hinges, lock and corner pieces which were brand new and included in my initial $5.00 purchase.
At any rate I decided to do some decorative painting over a two day period and it took about 3 hours on each day.
Here is a picture of the front when it was done and the next day I did the top.
Once it was completed and dried I gave the whole thing a spray of indoor/outdoor clear varnish which took about 10 minutes. I let it dry overnight and the next day gave it a second coat which took another 10 minutes.
Here is the finished piece in its place in one the guest rooms at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center. 
$5.00 initial cost, some old paint that would eventually no longer be any good, some of my decorative acrylic paints, perhaps a total of 50 cents worth and 7 hours and 20 minutes later I had a pretty addition to a room, a nice chest to put things into, a place that could be used as a luggage rack and the satisfaction of recycling besides having my initial purchase go to help Habitat for Humanity.
It can’t get any better than that!
“Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime…
May your day be filled with…
Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
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i use a combo of shea butter and aloe vera moisturizer. Works great. I use shea butter on my lips, around my eyes and nose (dry areas), My father swears by vasoline.
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
Wish I could join you in the hunt!! Love thrife, second hand, bargain hunters shops. Just call me “Bargain “Betty”, l.o.l….TRACK…you work is lovely
Thanks Track for your kind words and for taking the time to read my article.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
Girl – you are blessed with a talent and don’t even know it. How many of us wish we had the talent to purchase something inexpensive and then turn it into a gleaming diamond. God Bless.
Dear Persimian,
I truly believe anyone can do stuff like this. The best thing about it is you don’t like what you have created you can let it dry and then paint over it and start again.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
Arlene: You have actually inspired me to start a small project either this weekend or next. I need a chair for my bedroom and now I’m thinking about going to Goodwill and purchasing a chair and then repainting it to my liking. If I do this, I will definitely let you know. Thanks for the inspiration.
Persimian,
Absolutely wonderful. Remember to lightly sand down any part of your chair that may have varnish on it and your new paint will adhere much better. Also you may want to wash it down lightly with something like 409 in order to remove any grease build up that has probably accumulated over the years.
Good luck and let me know the results.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
Hi Arlene,
Amazing what one can accomplish with a little work. You have certainly brought a new life to this once unwanted item.
I also love thrift stores, yard sales etc. My best purchase so far: a narrow wooden table with paint stains on it for $3.00. It was just what I needed for my hallway to put my phone on. After sanding and a coat of varnish I already had it looks great.
How is your garden growing?
anir
Hello anir,
Sounds wonderful. The garden in the flower department is magnificent and in the veggie department especially the straw bale garden part is a disaster and I will soon write a followup on that. Perhaps telling the downside of straw bale gardening.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
I love great deals! ! ! ! I Love the challenge of making someone else’s throw away, but usable, things and making them into wonderful things. When my husband first married he would say…”it is just easier to buy a new one”. Now he goes along with it all the way because he has seen what I can do with them, how money we save, and the joy I get from a great deal. He even does his own thrift shopping now with the hopes that I will find something wonderful to do with it.
Thanks for reading my article llacey200 and I love your shared comments.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
Arlene, you’re my kind of a shopper. Even if I had tons of money to spare I’d still hunt for bargains! I get a thrill and a high from not spending much money on an item. I go to thrift shops, garage sales and also shop for discounted meats, fruits and vegies whenever possible. I’d rather use the money I save for something else. LOL Ata
Ata,
As a 5 year old kid I remember Macy’s had a logo on their shopping bags and advertisements which said, “It’s smart to be thrifty” and 70 years I still like those words.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
Love color and design. Excellent work!
Elisa’s C,
Thanks for the kuddos and it is great to see how many others are recycling good stuff and perhaps will try some decorative painting. The Donna Dewberry books are a great learning aid as they are easy and inexpensive especially if you buy them here.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
Know that you are gifted.
Hi Nettiefre,
Thanks for the kind words.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll
ARLENE…I JUST LOVE THE CHEST. I HAVE 2 HERE AT THE HOUSE THAT I AM GOING TO TRY TO PAINT. THE ONE SMALLER ONE WILL BE EASY AS SOMEONE PRIOR TO ME HAD PAINTED IT GRAY. IT IS SMALL AND I BOUGHT IT YEARS AGO AT A GARAGE SALE FOR 50 CENTS!!!. I HAVE MY PHOTO ALBUMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT STORED IT IT. THE OTHER I PURCHASED LAST YEAR IT IS A STEAMER TRUNK THAT THE LADY HAD $50.00 ON IT AND ONE LADY STARTED TO WALK OFF AND SHE SAID LOOK, THE FIRST PERSON WHO WILL GIVE ME $10.00 IT IS THEIRS, I SNAGGED THAT RIGHT UP. IT IS HUGE AND IN GREAT CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I SAW THE SAME SIZE STEAMER TRUNK AT AN ESTATE SALE WITH A $250.00 PRICE TAG AND SOMEONE HAD TAPED THEIR NAME AND SOLD ON IT. MY HUSBND AND I DO A LOT OF SATURDAY SALES BOTH ESTATE AND GARAGE SALES, HE COLLECTS ANYTHING “EAGLES” AND IT COLLECT EVERYTHING “CATS” I HAVE 4 CURIOS FULL OF “CATS” AND 3 LARGE SHELVES IN MY HOME OFFICE, ALONG WITH OTHER SHELVES AND OF COURSE PICTURES. MY HUSBANDS “EAGLES ARE IN A HUGE CURIO AND ON TOP OF THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER WITH MY LIVING ROOM WALLS COVERED WITH “EAGLE” PICTURES AND EAGLE REPLICAS ON THE WALLS. I HAVE SOME REAL OLD CAT ITEMS THAT I HAVE HAD APPRAISED. THE ONE IS A SMALL LAMP THE BASE IS BRASS AND THE CAT IS AMBER GLASS AND THEIR IS A LIGHT INSIDE. IT PLUGS INTO THE WALL. I BOUGHT IT FOR $1.00 AND HE APPRAISED IT FOR $110.00. SO I SHARE YOUR LOVE OF A BARGAIN, ANYONE WHO DOESN’T JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE MISSING!!!
Hello templady,
You are absolutely correct. What wonderful “bargains” you have collected over the years. Keep it up and have fun doing the decorative painting of your chests.
Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with… Peace, Light and Love,
Arlene Wright-Correll