Using a vintage advertising box as a vase for flowers
For those of you who might not know… I have had an online newsletter, and a home & garden website for several years now. Because of this, I tend to get lots of email from readers. I love to exchange creative ideas for our homes & families.
Feel free to respond in the comment section below. I’d also love to hear from you 😉
Letter from a reader:
Hello Pearl,
I hope that my frugal-living-goal may be helpful to you and your readers. Notice that I said “goal” as I’m still trying to achieve it. Here goes:
I live in an economically advantaged county, probably one that has a higher average family income level than other counties in the state. Whether it’s right or wrong, many households in this county have enough disposable income to want to update or upgrade their possessions. They feel free to either donate items to thrift stores or to throw the items away outright. I take advantage of this.
It is my personal goal to show that a person or a household can live in a comfortable and attractive way, with all possessions being second hand (with many items being free). I rescue items from the curb, I shop at thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales. I take in many more items than I can use personally, so I fix things up and donate them to other families or to thrift stores.
Fortunately, I love the cottage and shabby look, and have small collections of pretty collectible items. I try to have all my possessions serve a double purpose, but some items are purely decorative.
I find that this is a very motivational goal – plus it’s FUN!
Hope you can use my idea – Best Wishes!
* Dear Reader,
I share your love of finding new uses for old things! Most of the time, items can be used in many more ways than one! If we would just look a the items that we come across with eyes of creativity, a whole new world of ideas would be opened up to us! Bravo for your efforts in helping bring new life to the old things you come across, and we WOULD LOVE to see some pictures of your creativity!
Here are a few ideas to get everyone started in thinking “outside of the box” – the garbage box that is 😉
Vintage Aprons to decorate a bedroom
Vintage birdcage as an artful planter
Vintage slip becomes an evening dress
Vintage glass bottles become a fabulous chandelier
Scraps of vintage fabric come together as a wonderful apron!
Licence Plates turned into charms!
Stained glass windows used as headboard
Vintage salt shaker turned into a beautiful little doll/jewelry
Old soda caps made into magnets
Gorgeous ideas… I love recycling “old” things into decor and centerpieces that others might never think of! Thanks for sharing, Kristy
ooooh, such lovely ideas! thank you so much for including my little slip dress, too!
Thank you for adding my Altered Art Doll in your list of treasures !!! All of the ideas are so so much fun to admire !!
Wow… this is great! Thank you for sharing you finds and thoughts. Sara x
HELLO-
I JUST DISCOVERED YOUR NEWSLETTER ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO AND I LOVE IT!!! THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT IDEAS. I HAVE A IDEA THAT I THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE. THOSE LOVELY GIFT BAGS THAT WE GET, SOME ARE SO PRETTY I CAN’T BARE TO PUT THEM AWAY SOMETIMES, SO I USE THEM AS VASES. I’LL PUT FLOWERS IN 1 OR 2 VASES OR GLASSES, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE BAG, PUT THE VASES INSIDE THE BAG, ARRANGE THE FLOWERS AND NOW YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENT. I’VE USED THIS FOR BABY SOWERS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES, USING THE DECORATIVE BAGS IN VARIOUS SIZES AND NOW I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PARTY! I ALWAYS GET TONS OF COMPLIMENTS. HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!
I collect as well as sell vintage ladies handkerchiefs. You can do so much with them. My daughter recently incorporated her great grandmothers hankie into her wedding bouquet.
I just found your blog tonight and I adore it, thanks for the many many home decorating ideas. Love the chandelier from wine bottles, how very unique. I’ll be back for more eye candy.
That bottle chandelier is such an original idea! Thanks for all the great examples re-use!
Manuela
That box idea is brilliant and not one I had considered. Thank you so much for the idea.
I have a use for an old chicken crate. I hung one from my kitchen ceiling with old dog chain. The boarded back faces the ceiling and the rungs face my kitchen island. I have s hooks on the rungs and hang my pots from it. The boarded top of the crate is used as a shelf and stores my crockpot, roaster, etc. It stores lots of things that normally took up valuable cabinet space and counter space. Since my kitchen is also chicken and rooster themed, it fits right in
I love the stained glass windows as headboards! I’ve found new uses for something else we take for granted 😀
For a normally talkative person – I am in essence awe-struck…
WOW!
Remarkable things here. I’m very glad to see your article, and I’m looking forward to contacting you!