Finding Creativity at the Thrift Store: 19 Upcycle Inspirations

As much as I enjoy spending time figuring out the next great upcycle project, I also travel extensively for business across different cities in the U.S.  I seldom have time for any leisure activities because there are always schedules.  But when I find an hour or two to drive around and visit a city, I am always on the lookout for antiques, thrift stores, a corner garage sale or on this particular trip, a Goodwill Store.

My experience with a Goodwill outlet is that many used items are not priced low enough to beat garage sale prices which is what I look for when considering an upcycling project.  But there are 4 sections I never miss:

1. Home goods & decor
2. Books
3. Jewelry
4. Linens (bedspreads, sheets, curtains, etc)

If you are traveling and will not have the space in your luggage or carry-on to take treasures home with you, pull out your phone and take some great shots.  You can add them to an “inspiration” board on Pinterest for future crafting ideas.  Of course, if you find a great treasure, take it to the local post office and ship it home so it arrives after you do.

Here are 19 photos from a recent trip to Albany, New York.  Let your creative juices flow as you see inspiration in these pre-loved items.

If you have any brass trinkets or scrapbook elements on hand, this unique vintage piece inspires a framed and matted layout.  This one is without glass, but would look great in a shadowbox frame.

Stick-um letters are always a welcome addition to my craft closet. You just cannot have too many bargain craft supplies.  But my craft closet may beg to differ.

This framed mirror that screams “adorn me!” I see a nice coat of paint around the outer edges and a perfect perfume bottle display or candle stand. Open to other ideas and suggestions on this one.

Someone turned a simple round frosted votive holder into a painted birthday treasure.  Some metallic glass paint would work great here and what a nice birthday gift with a set of fragrant votive candles.  Paint some ornaments or holly berries for a great holiday hostess gift. If you’re throwing a party, these can be painted to match your theme.

I’ve always liked a house number plaque, but don’t have the front entry for one.  The idea is inspiring given the right frame though and there’s a lot of people who would pay to have a charming adornment for their front entry.

Now here’s a clever pair.  I envision spray painting an old and tired pair of ceramic candle holders with this elegant gold paint.  Add a neutral painted stamped pattern such as the one shown to create an elegant table setting.

This old retired men’s dresser valet has a lot of potential. Paint it up and use it for holding desk supplies, i.e. paper clips, post-it notes, bill holder. Or it would even be a great jewelry holder for the pieces you wear most often. Place a jazzed up version on a dresser or nightstand as a catchall.

This sweet rose-colored mercury looking votive inspired me to start using Krylon Looking Glass Spray to create chrome effects on clear glass.  I know it comes in silver, but perhaps a thin coat of color could be added for this effect.

The hanging basket reminded me of a pattern I saw in Mark Montano’s book The Big-Ass Book of Crafts for an inverted chandelier that had hanging pieces of laminated cut-outs. If you haven’t picked up any of The Big-Ass book series, you really should – TONS of inspiration within.

P.S. This went home with me.  You’ll see which of these items I purchased below. And yes, I only had a carry-on when I arrived. Facepalm.

Once in awhile I will pick up painted jars and boxes for easy Christmas present containers.  By grabbing trinket and treasure boxes I’ve not only recycled a pre-loved item, but added creativity under the holiday tree.

Clever.  Not much else to say except someone else was very inspired to upcycle a pre-cut piece of wood and add some humor.

Antiqued brass is certainly back in style.  This wall hook can be used for any imaginative purpose. Since this piece has a schoolhouse appearance, it may be the perfect coat hook by the garage or mudroom for school supplies or little people coats.  This item is also on my list as a great resale piece on Etsy.

Now here’s a bit of inspiration for the guy in your life. In the auction business, I’ve purchased vintage flasks that have wear and spots.  Putting a beefcake wrap on it is quite clever and solves the tarnish issue.  Add some words from a magazine and wrap it all with some clear contact paper or a coat of clear Krylon Top Coat (which would actually be easier).  The cheekier the message, the most likely you will sell this fun item.

We’ve all seen cute scenery wall decor, but I am always fascinated by the creativity to tell a story with pieces and parts.  I have a couple of wooden shelves that would work perfectly as a base for some miniature items.  Look closely at the detail on this one.  If it wasn’t large it would have been coming home with me.

This was one of the prettier items that inspired me.  I never thought outside the box enough to realize that not only can you use your fabric for redecorating lampshades, but how about a matching base? Have you tried this?  Do tell.

This section of the Goodwill Store (or any thrift shop) has been my favorite for years.  As a quilter, I always cringed at the amount of fabric needed for backing on a large quilt.  One day I figured out that the fabric didn’t have to be new! Duh.  There are dozens and dozens of tablecloths, bedspreads, curtains, coverlets, napkins, etc in the linen section.  I have used several of these items that cost $3-$8 as backings.  New fabric (6 yds to piece a backing) would cost that same amount for only one yard.  Granted you need to look for the appropriate color and fabric content.  But that’s half the fun of shopping.  By the way, some of the drapes in a second-hand store (such as the one in the picture) make wonderful throw pillows to resell on Etsy.

Finding some old bottles and vases would be fun to assign words with paint markers for storing, organizing and saving your pennies. Or dog treats.

If you have the artistic flair or were born with the artist gene, painting on vases and jars can be quite the money-making opportunity.  These have had no trouble selling at auction, flea markets and online stores. Be sure to sign your artistry, especially if you are inspired to create numerous pieces.

See the price on this one?  Only 2.99.  But too big to tote home. Sigh.

And last, but not least…how fun is this simple black cloth handbag with hematite-type stone beads sewn all around.  I think shell beads would be a nice touch for summer bags, too! Makes for a unique accessory.

So there you have it…my inspirational finds in one store.  What 7 pieces did I end up buying and taking home for a whopping $12?  Keep in mind that they had to fit in my overnight suitcase as I was flying out the next day.

Wait for it…

…go back through the photos and wager a guess.

But if you’re not in the mood, here you go: