Thrifty Deals – Gift Giving

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Hello It’s So Very Cheri readers! I am Cassie and I blog over at Primitive & Proper. My blog focuses on furniture makeovers, such as….

and…

and…

So that’s what I do over there. I have an online shop and am currently in the process of getting my home ready to sell so we can move a real shop can be in my future! I also blog about my home projects, DIY, and crafty things, too. And I host a weekly furniture project party I would love to have you join.

Today, I would like to talk about personal and thrifty gift giving! One of my very best bloggy and real life friends, Andi from Jane of All Crafts is celebrating a birthday this week- yesterday to be exact. She is actually celebrating with a week’s worth of giveaways, too! Anyhow, I am limited on budget at the moment (and let’s face it, at most moments!) but I wanted to do something really special for her birthday. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to give her, but I knew I could gather thrifted items and put together a thoughtful gift. So I started out by going to Goodwill and collected a piece of milk glass, which she loves, a vintage pyrex like dish which she also collects, and a ceramic owl (I collect these, so it was just a little splash of me in the gift!). I also found this adorable aqua egg cup with a chicken on it. Andi loves aqua and vintage, so I thought it was a cute touch. The last goodwill find was a vintage Avon white milkglass bird bottle. Andi also loves birds, so it was perfect!

Then I headed to an estate sale and found this awesome wooden jewelry box… You can see it on top of the table on the right. The estate sale was held by a client of mine whose mom passed away, and she actually just gave the box to me when I brought it up to pay.

The box had an old paper image glued to the top of it. I scraped that off, and painted the box in a pretty aqua color (Andi’s favorite color!). I added an “M” to the top of it for her last name, and lightly distressed it.

Then, as luck would have it I went to a yard sale where they were selling loads of vintage costume jewelry. Andi makes bobby pins and rings and more out of vintage jewelry, so I scooped up $13 worth of jewels (they were all $1 each).

Let’s see how it all looks together now, shall we?

I painted the owl white as I do all my ceramic owls. I just think they look cool, like that, and I think it will be a friendly reminder to Andi of our friendship.

A closeup of the monogram on the box. I used a stencil to apply it. Let’s open the box!

Inside I placed the smaller vintage dishes, the Avon bird, and the jewelry. Inside the egg cup, I placed some of the smaller jewely, such as rose earrings.

The milk glass dish held the brooches. See that big “B”. And doesn’t yet know it, but she’ll be making something for me with that one!

The above necklace is so pretty as is, Andi can just wear it like that or use to make her own creations!

And the Avon bird is just too cute.

So here is a breakdown of all my costs…
Jewelry Box- Free
Egg cup- $2
Avon Bird- $2
Milkglass dish $2
Pyrexish dish $3
Jewelry $13
Owl $2
For a Grand Total of… $24!!!!
So for $24 I am giving one of my closest pals a smorgasbord of goodies, vintage, upcycled, and to be upcycled by her! I will see her tomorrow and am so excited to give her these gifts that I put my heart into! I know she will love them!
I hope you will think about giving vintage and recycled items for your friends and family’s birthdays! It is a great way to go green, save money, and show how thoughtful and creative you can be!

Thank you so much, Cheri for having me here today! Hope you will come see me soon!

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. June 16, 2011 at 8:03 am: Wow, what a sweet, thoughtful and thrifty gift! Andi will be totally thrilled! Where would we be in life without our friends!
2 Suzanne June 16, 2011 at 10:55 am: Who wouldn’t be thrilled to open that up and find all that fun stuff?? It’s a great gift, Cassie! From the box down to the littlest earring!
3 Ali Richardson June 16, 2011 at 12:40 pm: WOW Cassie!!! She is going to LOVE all of it! Heck, I love all of it!!! This is a gift she will cherish always. She is SO lucky to have you as her close friend (and so am I). XOXO
4 Lisa June 16, 2011 at 4:58 pm: Awesome!!!!! She is going to love everything! I agree, she is sooo lucky to have such a special friend in you! Yay for birthdays and for making gifts really mean something! You are the best!
5 Allison June 16, 2011 at 8:44 pm: That is the most thoughtful, sweet and delightful gift! How special. I love that gift…a gift from the heart. Happy Birthday to Andi.
6 Andi June 17, 2011 at 3:26 pm: All the comments made me tear up a bit. I am so thankful for our friendship and love isn’t strong enough of a word for how much I appreciate such a thoughtful gift! And like I tell you almost every day, you are the bestest!!!!!
7 CHERI June 18, 2011 at 10:48 am: Thank you so much for blogging with me while I am out of town. I love this gift and think it is so thoughtful and wonderful. I would love a sweet and thoughtful gift that a friend had put so much thought into. Love the monogramed box as well. I can’t wait to see what she makes with your “B”.

Cheri