The day has finally arrived — it’s time to get thrifting! We launched our Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge last Friday as an excuse to head to thrift stores, hunt for bargains, and share our finds. We added a playful scavenger-hunt twist for fun, and, as with our Pinterest Challenges, anyone who wants to blog about their adventure can link up at the end of this post and show off their favorite thrift-store treasures.
There were just three simple steps to play along (four if you count blogging about it — but you can join in even if you don’t have a blog):
Step #1. Go to a thrift shop with, as the song says, “$20 in your pocket,” and take a photo of that moment. Capture the excitement of starting a thrift shopping trip on a tight budget.
Step #2. Spend your $20 however you like and photograph your haul. Your finds can be home accessories, clothing, kids’ items, books, or anything else you stumble on — no makeover required (though repurposing and DIY are encouraged). Here’s what our $20 bought us:
- A solid wooden doll’s cradle: $11
- A woven doll’s chair: $5
- An Aladdin book Clara picked out: $0.65
- A small wooden flower wall hanging: $1
- Total: $17.65
I gave the little wooden wall hanging a quick coat of white paint and added it to Clara’s gallery wall — two small finish nails hold it in place. It’s a tiny, simple update that fits right in with the other frames.
I plan to spray-paint the woven chair a glossy red, but it’s already a hit with the dolls as-is. It’s small perfection for tiny hands.
The cradle turned out to be the crown jewel. Clara adores it and has been spending hours tucking her dolls in. The routine is delightfully staged: first a hug…
…then a kiss…
…a cozy tuck under the blanket…
…and another kiss for good measure. It’s basically the cutest three-minute ritual you could imagine.
I’m planning to give the cradle a full makeover — priming and painting it a bright hue (thinking yellow), sewing a padded cushion for the base, and maybe making a tiny quilt similar to one I made for Clara. I’m also imagining a miniature fabric banner draped over the head of the crib to add a whimsical touch. In short: this little piece is getting a full DIY pampering session.
For now, Clara is completely smitten. She’s into being a pretend mommy and calls her dolls “her babies,” so rocking them, tucking them in, and changing diapers are her new favorite activities. (Burger the dog has been spared both the cradle and diaper duty — so far.)
Step #3. Find one item referenced in the Macklemore song and snap a photo. That was our scavenger-hunt twist: spot something mentioned in the lyrics — whether it’s a vintage jacket, funky shoes, or an offbeat accessory — and capture it. Extra points if you stage something silly or dramatic with the item, channeling the song’s confident, playful spirit.
Now it’s your turn. We’d love to see what thrift-store finds you uncovered during the challenge week. If you’ve already written a blog post about your day, please link directly to that post (not your homepage) and use a short description as the link name — something like “Best Purse Ever” or “Vintage Frames.” If you don’t have a blog, you can share photos through a public gallery or post a link in the comments so everyone can enjoy your haul. Either way, we’re excited to see your thrifted treasures and any creative DIY makeovers you try.
Thrift shopping on a tight budget is part treasure hunt, part creative challenge. Whether you come home with a complete project or a tiny accent piece, the thrill of finding something unexpected and giving it new life is the best part. Happy thrifting!