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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. KyCat says

    Oh my Sherry!! I love this. I’m too behind to take part in the challenge but I might become a rap fan after all! “probably should’ve washed this, smells like R. Kelly’s sheets” sends me into a giggle fit and the rest just keeps cracking me up. I don’t understand all of the words – I’m old, but what I do I love and no femailes are being called horrible names so I’m in! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  2. Cassie says

    What do you guys plan on doing with the personal stuff on Clara’s wall when she moved to the big girl room? Like her whale, flower, name square thing, etc.? Move it and make a new frame wall for future baby?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We figure things like her name/initial or anything personal for her can move (you know we love a frame collage, and many of the frames in our house are standard sizes so the art/placement can just switch).

      xo
      s

  9. Debbie C says

    I went thrifting (sorry, no blog and no flickr account…I know, sad…) just a couple days ago at Goodwill and scored 2 items for my toddler, just $1.99 each! I found a solid wood doll-size rocking chair (couldn’t believe it was so cheap!), almost the same color as Clara’s doll bed. My little one loves it and keeps trying to sit in it. :) I also found some large Melissa and Doug lacing beads to help with the motor skills. Love good thrift store finds!

    Reply

  10. Kari says

    Okay. That music video is truly hilarious. I love it for so many reasons. I doubly thank you for the good laugh and curse you for getting it forever stuck in my head. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a $20 dollar bill or a pair of “velcro’s” without thinking about this stupid song.

    “Ima take your grandpa’s style. Ima take your grandpa’s style. I’m for real.” Ugh. and LOL!

    Reply

  11. Erin R. says

    Whoa, blast from the past. I had the same chair for my American Girl Doll (back in the day when there were only 3 different dolls). I had forgotten about it until I saw this. Good times.

    Reply

  12. Amanda says

    This isn’t exactly related but I had to share a craft a found on pinterest today that I thought you might enjoy. It reminded me of your animal Christmas ornaments you made a year or two ago: http://www.veetje.be/kinderkunst/
    This makes me want to hit up my Goodwill right now for some plastic animals. Too bad it’s the middle of the night and I have zero spending money. :(

    Reply

  13. Needle little Balance says

    I enjoyed this challenge so much! Loved to see what everyone came up with and to see their thrift stores which are so different from the flea markets we have. I do hope you´ll have a thriftstore /fleamarket challenge again. It even could be on a regular basis like every other month with a limited budget, different topics (wood, ceramics, glass, plastic, fabric, a certain color…) and a challenge to redo the find or decorate with the found item.

    I think I recognized the dollchair from another thrift store post of yours- but at that time you didn´t buy it?

    Reply

  15. Brittany says

    I have been stalking this post for more blog responses. I’ve been showing my husband certain responses to get him on board the thrifting ship. I think I’ve got him interested in it now. The set of lamps people redid and the buffet somebody bought had him thinking ;)

    Excellent. I love your finds as well! That cradle was such a good deal! Can’t wait to see it all fancied up for Clara — she’s such a doll.

    Reply

  17. Carolyn says

    I have really enjoyed browsing your entries. Thanks for posting! If there was ever a Craigslist challenge for “furniture composed of animals which should be spray painted white,” this would be my entry! I didn’t want to copy the image and post on your blog, but you probably could, for kicks and giggles, in the next few days. Best wishes!

    http://southbend.craigslist.org/fuo/3576126393.html

    Reply

  18. Sarah in Indiana says

    You made my two year old daughters day! Evelyn LOVES watching videos of Clara, and her favorite thing is playing babies, so we have been rocking the whole baby crib (“like Clara”). Her favorite video is the one John took of her playing in her room where Gee has “poops”. Cracks her up every time. Then she tries to work the word “poops” into conversation (goes exactly as well as you would expect).

    Reply

  19. Christina P (NS) says

    So fun, what I am shocked by is how many pairs of ADULT sized footie pyjamas exist in thrift stores all over the US!

    Reply

  20. Phenomenal Fem says

    Loving the unofficial Thrift Shop- Macklemore challenge! Definitely going to have to make this one of the next blog posts! The wooden wall decoration fit in so well I didn’t notice it the first time I scrolled through.

    Thanks for the inspiration!
    Phenomenal Fem

    Reply

  21. Kelly says

    so I am a new follower via a faithful follower(amy over at http://drivethirtythree.blogspot.com) and last week when i saw the post with the link to the song i was on the train home form NYC and was like I will look at it later… well that never happened until today. had I watched it I would have ran right out and tried to complete all things on the list! best. video/song. ever! Thanks for being addicting and awesome. Wish I could have come to Flor the other night to meet you but things like something called work got in the way…stupid work.

    Reply

  22. Aliceson says

    I had a doll cradle nearly identical to Clara’s when I was little and absolutely loved it! Looks like she is enjoying it immensely already! :)

    p.s. Thanks for stopping in Portland last week- I totally geeked out over meeting you guys!

    Reply

  23. Karen says

    I always take pictures for challenges like this, then I remember that I don’t have a blog! Oh well, imagine a photo of my 9 month old with a $20 sticking out of his pocket in front of Impact Thrift Store (well, I would have done that if it wasn’t so windy the day we went!), a photo of him next to a harpsichord (does that count as a keyboard? Do I get bonus points because it’s a HARPSICHORD?) and a big stack of kids books and some book/ photo stands for his book themed 1st birthday party. I spent $9.25 and LOVED this challenge! I’m actually thinking of starting a blog just so I can participate more fully!

    Reply

  24. Laura says

    I am not linking up but I have to tell you – our thrift shop was going out of business and EVERYTHING left was 75% off!
    My $20 filled the van!

    I have to find a pirate bed!

    Reply

  25. Teresa says

    I love “thrift-storing” but due to space constraints have sworn off shopping for now. I would call this post “thrifting porn”…in a good way, of course. Loved it! I think it would be fun to do this challenge annually…please!

    Reply

  26. Jodi says

    I wasn’t planning on participating in this challenge but I happened to pop into the Goodwill looking for work pants. I didn’t find any work pants but I did find a pristine Columbia winter coat and a longer style Jacob winter coat. Both coats retail for over a hundred dollars so when I got both coats for $30.00, I was so stoked!!

    Reply

  29. Anika says

    Such a fun challenge! I had heard the song before but watching the music video was so much more entertaining than just the song alone on the radio!

    Clara is adorable with all her baby dolls! So glad you guys were able to score some great finds for her. It will be interesting to see how her room evolves as she gets older and develops new interests/acquires new toys.

    Thanks so much for issuing such a fun challenge, and thanks especially for the link-up party. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to browse through everyone else’s crazy finds!

    Reply

  32. Julie says

    Thank you so much for hosting such a fun challenge! As a result I found a great/HUGE new thrift store here in Virginia and I found some great items to update!

    As always… I loved seeing what you ended up buying with your $20 and I cannot wait to see the results!

    Julie

    Reply

  33. Kristin F says

    Can I make a suggestion? My mom painted a small wooden doll bed for my daughter when she was around two. She then sewed a “doll” blanket for the bed with the leftover fabric from my daughters crib set (that Mom also had made, gotta love a mom with sewing skillz!). Perhaps you could use any leftover fabric from the new curtains for the cradle?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s so cute! I was planning to use the leftover fabric from Clara’s photo project since we have a lot around and I made her a quilt from that in her crib, so that would match the one for her dolls :)

      xo
      s

  34. sophie says

    Fun seeing everyone’s different shopping adventures!

    We went off to value village on Sunday afternoon. I didn’t have a specific budget (I figure that a good deal is a good deal and I’m not going to leave things behind just because it goes over budget….but then again, we rarely shop and i usually have a pretty careful list of what’s needed).

    So. $5.38 later:

    1. four funky glass jars with ‘clip’ seals (don’t know what they’re called), all ready for christmas homemade projects…

    2. one funky green glass dish for my child’s upcoming bedroom redecorate.

    I broke the bank, I tell you.

    Reply

  36. Jennah says

    It’s hilarious to me that a few people visited the same stores and took photos of the same things! Like the mummy and fish sink in Dallas. Too weird.

    I am making my way through posts and it’s making me want to go thrifting again…bad!

    Reply

  37. Alison says

    Love your finds. In addition to the black light glowing radioactive dishes I found, my husband also bought a book for 26 cents. But since that put us over $20, I didn’t include it in my post. Gotta love the thrift shop.

    Reply

  39. Lacey says

    Ok – I had no idea who or what the Macklemore was, i had never heard of this song, and I did not get your big a$$ coat reference. But I was listening to my Pandora station while working just now and it started playing and I heard the lyrics and thought – On my gosh. I get it now. Ha! (And I kinda love the song.)

    Reply

  40. Renee says

    I was a little late for the challenge, but I gotta share my find. I bought a cake stand for only $3, came home and googled it and found out its worth $100!! It’s a Fenton silver crest cake stand. Major score!

    Reply

  42. Karen says

    This challenge totally gave me some street cred with my 5th grade Hebrew school students today! I was playing a cd of Jewish songs for them and one asked if I could play the thrift store song. They were completely shocked when I knew what it was! They were even more impressed that I had the song, but I didn’t tell them that I really just knew where to find it!

    Reply

  44. Hope says

    I saw that pirate ship recently while at a local Richmond thrift store :) My friends and I were going crazy over it. I had hopes that my friend, who is looking for a headboard, would purchase it, but to no avail.

    Reply

  46. Kim says

    Hey thanks for giving me some street cred with my 12 yr old stepdaughter. She emailed that she was digging Macklemore and I said “Thrift Shop is my jam”. We don’t have cable, so I learn a lot about pop-culture on your blog.

    Reply

  49. ajira says

    Seriously bummed that I missed this. I clearly need to change my reading method for your blog- I tend to come by one every couple of weeks and read as much as I can.. everything you’ve posted since I was last here plus any posts you’ve linked to that I haven’t read before. Perhaps I should just come by every day like a normal person instead! Ha!

    Reply

  50. Noreen says

    I thought you guys would enjoy this cover of Macklemore’s Thrift Shop by Pentatonix, an a cappella group. Enjoy! :)

    Reply

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