Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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The Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge

The day has finally come! It’s about to get thrifty up in hurrrr. Here’s the deal. This “Challenge” – which we issued last Friday – was basically an excuse to all (virtually) go thrift shopping together and share our spoils. Plus there was a scavenger-hunt-ish element tossed in there for kicks. And just like our little Pinterest Challenges, if you guys wanted to partake and blog about it, we have a little linky thing at the bottom of this post so everyone can share their favorite finds.

There were just THREE things we asked folks to do in order to play along (well, four if you count blogging about it, although of course you can play along even if you don’t have a blog).

Macklemore Challenge

Step #1. Go to a thrift shop with – just as the chorus of the song says – “$20 in your pocket” and take a picture.

Macklemore Twenty

Step #2 was to spend your $20 any way you’d like and photograph your spoils. They could be home related, fashion oriented, kid focused, anything. And you didn’t need to make them over or repurpose them at all (although that’s totally allowed too!). So here’s the part where we’ll share what our 20 spot scored us:

Stuff We Bought

  • A nice solid wooden doll’s cradle: $11
  • A woven doll’s chair: $5
  • An Aladdin book that Clara picked out herself: 65 cents
  • A wooden flower wall hanging: $1
  • Total: $17.65

And here’s what I did to the little wooden wall hanging. I just painted it white and added it to Clara’s frame wall (two small finish nails are holding it up).

Painted Flower

I have big plans to spray paint the chair (glossy red I think…) but I haven’t gotten there yet. Thankfully it’s still a big hit among all the dolls, even in its current state.

Doll Chair

The cradle is the big winner of the group. Clara is having the time. of. her. life with it. She likes to tuck her dolls in. So first comes the hug…

Hug1

… then the kiss…

Kiss2

… then they get snuggled under the blanket…

Tuck3

… and they get another kiss just for good measure…

Kiss4

Pretty much the cutest thing ever. Oh but I also have plans for the cradle. I want to prime and paint it a bright color (yellow?), sew a cushion for the bottom, and maybe even make a little quilt like Clara’s for her dolls (remember this one I made for her with her weekly fabric?). Dude, I’m even thinking about how cute a little fabric banner (like this, only mini) to drape over the head of the crib would be. Yeah, $herdog is about to pimp this cradle. Big time.

In the meantime Clara is definitely having a good time with it as-is. She’s really into being the mommy and calling her dolls her babies, so rocking them and tucking them in is up there with changing their diapers on her list of favorite things to do (also, Burger is sometimes her baby – but he has successfully avoided the cradle and any diaper changes thus far).

Oh yeah, and we can’t forget the last step…

Step #3: Find a pirate ship bed. And lose your freaking mind over it. (Seriously it was amazing). 

Pirate Bed

Just kidding.

Step #3. Find one item (or more) referenced in the song and snap a pic. Here’s the scaveger-hunt-ish element that we tossed in because we’re weirdos. And you get bonus points for doing something ridiculous with the item in the photo. After all, Macklemore has some pretty great confidence when he’s rocking those footy pajamas.

Macklemore Coat

Macklemore Keyboad

Now here’s the part where we tip our matted faux-fur thrift store hats to you guys and invite you to share all of the fun Macklemore Thrift Shop finds that you’ve dug up in the last week (right along with us, well at least virtually with us). If you’ve already blogged about it, just:

  1. click on the blue “Add Your Link” button with the odd cartoon head at the bottom of this post (you might have to do some scrolling, depending how many projects are added)
  2. add a link to your specific blog post about your project in the url field (not your home page)
  3. where it says “name” write a short description of your bounty (ex: “Big A$$ Frame” or “Best Purse Ever” or “Kitchen Stuff”) as opposed to your actual name
  4. we’d also love if you could quickly link back over to this page so it’s a nice two-way link-fest (feel free to use our Macklemore Thrift Shop banner too!).

And if you’d rather just link over to your project in the comment section of this post, feel free to do that – or even add a link to a free photo sharing site like Flickr with your pics if you don’t have a blog (remember to set the gallery to public so we can all see it). We’re crazypants excited to see what you guys have hunted down!



Comments

  1. Jenny @ We G Three says

    Thanks so much for doing this, you guys. It was SO much fun!!!

    I love the way that little flower thing is totally transformed just with some white paint. It looks perfect there! Also? I’m pretty certain we saw that exact same Aladdin book (but it was 79 cents, Seattle inflation?), and we definitely have that exact same swaddle blanket with the orange stars up in here!

    Reply

  2. KC says

    I am incredibly jealous of that wooden cradle. I was on a mission this Christmas to find a cradle for my girls’ baby dolls. There is nothing out in stores that looks half that good! What a great find!! I can’t wait to see what your creative mind decides to add to that, Sherry!

    Reply

  3. Denise Armbruster says

    Is there somewhere on your website (I looked but couldn’t find) that you offer decorating advice/suggestions. For instance, I have one of those u g l y flourescent surface mounted light fixtures in my laundry room I want to get rid of. It’s above the washer/dryer area. I am replacing a “boob” fixture at the other end of the room with one of your scallop print drum shades. Anyway…if you can’t help I understand…you two are sooo busy! Just thought I’d ask. Love your blog and congrats on your book.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Sometimes folks like to upload a pic to our Facebook page for advice from others over there (we even drop in with advice when we have a spare moment over there too!). Hope it helps! And replacing the boob lights with the scallop drum shade sounds awesome, so maybe just getting a new/clean-lined surface mounted light in the laundry room to switch it out for will update the whole thing?

      xo
      s

  5. Karen says

    We had so much fun doing the challenge. We attempted to find everything in the song, but to no avail. We also didn’t have success finding anything worth spending our $20 on, but such is the way of thrifting, sometimes you win…sometimes you don’t.

    Thanks for posing such a great and fun challenge!!!

    Reply

  6. Erin says

    Dang it. She just gets cuter and cuter! I absolutely love videos of her playing. I love how she talks for the baby and calls herself “Mama” :-) :-)
    It’s awesome how timeless toys like that just never fail to captivate kids. It’s so great to see in this electronic age!

    Reply

  7. Cheltz says

    Clara is officially at my favorite age — pretty much everything they do is cute! Also, it looks like, and I really hope, that pirate bed is a waterbed!

    Reply

  9. Trisha D. says

    Thank you so much for the challenge! It was a lot of fun searching for the perfect desk. I even came home with two! I love the cute Clara finds you stumbled upon. Such amazing finds when looking through the sharefest. Thanks again!

    Reply

  10. Mary@TwoHappyLambs says

    LOVED this challenge. I didn’t take up the reins this time (got sick instead, womp) but next time for sure. Tell me you guys will do this once in awhile. Excited for the Spring Pinterest Challenge, too!

    Reply

  11. Rachel says

    That Pirate-Ship bed was pretty dang awesome, right?! Saw it when I went with a girlfriend a couple weeks ago at DT. The tag said it was even “lovingly made” by the kid’s dad. How sweet is that?! Got some good stuff while thrifting this weekend, can’t wait to make it over! Great challenge!

    Reply

  13. Kiki says

    Those are some great finds! And that video of Clara is so adorable! I love how she wanted to see the picture and how she sang Rockabye Baby so she could watch it. Her singing made my day. :)

    Reply

  14. Jessica says

    Hey guys!! I absolutely LOVED this challenge – such a blast! All of your finds were so cute.. my fave had to be Clara’s cradle! I think she’s in love. I can’t wait to see it all pimped out!

    Keep the challenges coming! :)

    xoxo,
    Jess

    Reply

  15. Paula says

    The video of Clara cracks me up. Every video I have of my niece since the day she could talk ends with “I wanna see it” and her running at the camera. Usually she would sing me some song or do something cute, just so I would video it and then she could watch it. Hilarious.

    Reply

  16. Katja @ Shift Ctrl ART says

    Thanks so much for hosting this challenge. I have been having so much fun not only with the thrifting and restoring, but with that song. ha ha….

    I found a new frame for my gallery wall and stuck a giraffe picture in it from my recent trip.

    Love what you found!

    Reply

  17. Paige @ Little Nostalgia says

    You scored SO BIG with that cradle. I bet the wood to make one yourself would be more than $11. You guys are such ballers.

    Are you going to Tweet/social media Mackelmore about this? I think you should! What if he’s super into DIY and you guys become BFF?

    Reply

  18. Renee says

    The thing I love most about this post is the sneak peek at Clara’s wall art. Excited to see more of that in the future. I am currently working on a wall art for our 10 year old daughter. Just waiting for the cold Iowa weather (-7 today) to warm up so I can do some spray painting outside, or even in the garage.

    Reply

  20. Stephanie Smith says

    Thanks YHL for this fun challenge and post. I am not a DIY blogger and didn’t officially play along, but I was very happy to share it with my readers. As a psychologist writing about mental health, I am always glad to discover new, creative ways to obtain and sustain psychological health. Reading blogs is one way, watching pop videos another. I’m glad to add thrifting to the list! Happy Friday. http://www.drstephaniesmith.com/?p=897

    Reply

  21. Amber @ Wills Casa says

    Ramona would flip over that doll cradle. She just told me the other day that Santa forgot a crib for her baby. Tragic I know! At least mommy sewed her some diapers and wipes, so her baby can at least be clean.

    Santa – 0 Mommy -1

    Reply

  22. Chris says

    Girls and cradles are adorable. Both of our girls (3 and 5) do the same thing as Clara when tucking them in. PS. We saw you in Portland, Or and picked up your book.

    Reply

  23. Sayward says

    No blog link, but I rolled into our local Salvation Army and came out with the bottom half of a MCM hutch to use as a media console. I let them keep the top because I had no use for it and no way to transport it. It was… exactly $20. BOOM! I found several big a$$ coats complete with faux fur, and while I was shopping the song came on in the store. Talk about winning.

    Only downer, without weight from the top half of the hutch, the console’s little tapered legs do NOTHING in the way of support and it tips over at the drop of a hat. Definitely not flat screen TV friendly. Should I go for the zip baby proofing brackets you guys used or some other system to anchor it to the wall? I rent, so I can’t go crazy, and I’m worried about it still being wobbly.

    Reply

  24. Sarah says

    I went thrifting last week but didn’t get anything really fantastic, but I just wanted to say that I love that Clara does what we all do when we don’t know the words: Just sing softer. “the cradle will rock / when……………will fall”
    :) It was precious.

    Reply

  28. nic says

    a pair of light up Spiderman boots – SCORE! (for my 4 year old) $7

    a green “patent pleather” Benetton purse for me, looks new! – $13

    Reply

  29. Dani says

    i don’t understand why people get all up in a huff over you deciding to paint or not paint something. you own it – it’s just an object! if wood isn’t your thing then who cares if it’s painted. it’s a dolls cradle!

    Reply

  31. Karin K says

    I demand a $herdog – Macklemore interview. By the way – I didn’t make it to any thrift shops in time to participate, but my kids and I have had THE BEST time with this song and video since you introduced us to them. And then sure enough – the very day after I saw your post, I heard this song twice on my way to and from the store. Apparently I am old now and miss everything good. Thanks for the heads up!

    Reply

  32. Allyson Edwards says

    Is Clara’s doll (the one in the little chair) from one of those companies that turns kid art into dolls?

    Reply

  34. Meg says

    We stumbled upon that pirate ship bed at Diversity a few weeks ago. My husband insisted I take a picture of it to send to my brother & SIL in ATL because their 5 yo son NEEDED it. Too bad the price tag was so hefty ($250) bc I would’ve loved to have seen my brother’s face when we showed up at his front door with that thing in the back of our car. {sigh}

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh wow, I forgot it was that much! For some reason it was $90 in my head. Probably because I knew with that big boat on the end it would never fit into our rooms anyway. Hah! It was huge! Wonder if it’s still there…

      xo
      s

  36. lindsay says

    omg this is ridonkulous that it is so fun checking out what people did with only $20. totally addictive checking out everyone’s story!

    Reply

  37. Marissa says

    This was more Home Goods than thrift store… but I found a chair I thought you guys would love! It’s very similar fabric to the curtains in your dining room. Is there a place I can email it or post it?

    Reply

  40. Ethne @ Wom-Mom says

    I love my girls playing babies. I made them a baby station, down to homemade baby wipes (I made fabric wipes out of scraps); they call their dolls their sons and daughters. A riot. It definitely needs to be bright to go in Clara’s big girl bedroom.

    Reply

  41. Ash says

    This was awesome (although my boyfriend got sick the day of and couldn’t join me for the romping through Goodwill, haha). What I REALLY found hilarious (besides the awesome-terrible things I found) was that several of the things I bought are to help with Pinterest crafts that I have lined up to do. Thrift Store Pinterest Challenege Mashup, what?!

    Have a great weekend, Petersik family!

    Reply

  42. Amy H says

    Spent half my morning checking out everyone’s thrift store finds.

    Finally drug myself away from it to head to the grocery store. Since there is no school today my son Sam (9) tagged along.

    We hopped in the car and the radio comes on. Sam says…”cool, they never play Thrift Shop on the radio!”. And proceeds to sing-a-long.

    Reply

  44. Desiree C. says

    I thought the crib was cute and simple when I first saw the picture. Then you said you were maybe going to paint it a bright, happy color and I instantly got giddy with excitement while nodding my head up and down with wide eyes in agreement (at work–not awkward at all).

    A bright red, yellow, or turqoise would be just doll-ing.

    Whoop, there it is! A pun for Young House Love!

    Reply

  45. jeannette says

    “matted faux-fur thrift store hats”

    if you ever branch out from blogging, poetry/lyrics/cole porter cabaret has got to be the venue. you could be $herdog buble.

    Reply

  46. Sarah says

    I have been secretly hoping your next book is focused on kid projects! And I don’t even have kids yet. I just love all the stuff you make for Clara!

    Reply

  47. Lauren says

    I went thrifting last weekend, but sadly, it was a bust :( Oh well, it happens! But never fear, there is always some awkward moment in Goodwill . . . I was with two of my sons, and as we were rounding the corner of an aisle, my 5 year old screamed “ooh! look at that naked man!” I was afraid to look (anything is possible at Goodwill) but there was a fairly large statue of a naked man and woman in a very tight “embrace” which is not good for two curious boys. Alas, the awkward moment came when one of them went up to “it” and started feeling the butts of the statue. You really can buy anything at a thrift shop, including nude 80’s statues.

    Reply

  48. Donna says

    I wanted to do the challenge but I scored a kitchenful of maple cabinets that look brand new off Craigslist for $600. The people I bought them from had a second kitchen they weren’t using and wanted to build a playroom instead. I think Macklemore would totally approve!

    Reply

  49. Elaine K says

    Love the doll chair. My daughter had one she loved, in fact I think her My Twinn doll is still sitting in it on top of her bookcase. She is a first year at UVA! Time for a room update.

    Reply

  50. Michele from IL says

    Loved watching Clara…especially when she covers up the doll with the blanket, then asks “where are her little toes?” So cute!

    Reply

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