C'mon...give them a chance!

27 December 2009

You may see cast offs like these in the post holiday sales for pennies because they look like this:

In many instances, a little red touchup will do wonders:




And make something feel brand new:

Bright green that no one wants? Pay .99

and give her a new coat of red for Valentines Day:

Think outside the box when you're perusing stores' holiday clearance, especially at 75 and 90% off. What would a new coat of paint/spray paint do? Could you re-purpose it for an upcoming holiday or a different room in your home? Turn it around so the dents don't show? Don't be afraid to show managers damaged merchandise..."how much do you want for these old, broken up balls?" Most just want it out of there....
Have you ever gotten a steal on a holiday clearance and re-purposed it?

33 comments

  1. Well said Melissa ! I agree, just a little paint can work wonders. Way to think outside the box !

    Kate

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  2. A few years ago I was picking up film at Target and wandered into their 90% off sale. My target received all the leftovers for So. Cal!! Whooooohooo! I was so overwhelmed and there was mostly wrapping left, but I got a bunch of 10 cent things! it was loads of fun!

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  3. What a timely post. Thanks for raising my enthusiasm after the Christmas buzz had waned. xx

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  4. Thanks so much for the reminder. Now would be a great time to see what treasures lie in the clearance section.
    Nothing a little spray paint can not correct. :o)
    Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

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  5. Okay. I'm not ready to start talking about Valentine's Day yet :-) but that last image is SO CUTE! I'll be keeping my creative eye open when I'm shopping the clearance. Have a good week!

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  6. Fabulous idea... love the nailpolish... brilliant.

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  7. great job....love the candle holder even better now. Valentines will be here before we know it.

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  8. Lately I have been doing this to picture frames. Since we moved, I am on the hunt for pictures and I have found some that are a little scratched on the frames and touched them right up.

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  9. Good idea, Melissa! I think I may even have some berry items that have had red come off them. I'll have to touch them up before I pack them away.

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  10. You are brilliant! :) Love the Valentine version.

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  11. A little paint (or in this case fingernail polish) can do miracles.

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  12. I love it!!! I was hoping to see them glittered too. I LOVE ME THE GLITTER!!!
    I'm also trying to get some fun ideas for Valentines Day too. Thanx for sharing. Kelli

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  13. Fingernail polish! Brilliant!

    Thanks for the reminder to think outside the crushed box. . . .

    How are you? WHERE are you?

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  14. I was NOT expecting fingernail polish! How clever. This is why I always look forward to reading your blog! : )

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  15. Great idea to use the fingernail polish! Thanks for the tip!!!

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  16. I'm heading to Target to today, thanks for getting me thinking!

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  17. What would we do without paint??? Good ideas!

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  18. Now that is a fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!

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  19. How clever of you...nail polish! The perfect solution. You have such a talent for seeing the possibilities in the most humble object!

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  20. great idea melissa! i will now have to hit up the clearance section for items under a dollar that have minor defects!

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  21. Great idea Melissa! Now if I would just get over this sinus infection so I could hot the after Christmas sales!!

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  22. I put those down at Ollie's because of the paint coming off, LOL! They are 75% off right now there, LOL! I should have thought outside the box like yourself. Then I saw your comment, and remembered someone taking the touched up pieces with paint and rolling them in epsom salt to give some berries a snowy crystal look.
    I'll try another store tomorrow and see if there are anymore left!

    Thank you for blogging! They look revived, and I love the Valentine's idea!

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  23. Thanks for the tip on how to restore my red berries. They seem to lose alittle color each year. I just kept turning them around to show their best side but I am runing out of "good" sides to show.

    I intend to touch them up before I pack them away so that they are ready for next year.

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  24. Now I'm feeling the need to go back to Target and pick up those small green votive candle holders I passed up!

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  25. What a great idea! I never would have thought of that and I have tons of those berry decorated things. Also how in the world do you have time to start thinking abt Vday decor!? Hope the move is treating ya nice and yes Tx is some place to miss!

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  26. oh my heck, I knew that you were good-but genius! Do u know how many chipped berry things I have around my house that I never knew I could fix, or turn around the right way!
    I love all your little tips and your inspiration! I come over often, don't always comment, but I always leave inspired!

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  27. Great idea on the fingernail polish! I had some "ugly" berries this year and tried to "fill in" the white parts with a red Sharpie but it took forever! Thanks for the tip.

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  28. great idea! I have some berry picks in my outdoor planters that I noticed have chipped. I wonder if I can use this trick and use them again next year!

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  29. Good thing ideas! I have a cherry antenna ball-thingie for my car, I've re-painted it with red polish a million times!

    PS a cherry antenna ball is the easiest way to find my white Corolla in the sea of twinner cars at the Walmart.

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  30. Hello sweet Melissa - Happy New Year! I love your paint ideas. What shade of red did you use on the candle holder? I have that same one and would love to steal your idea for a Valentine decoration!

    Thank you for the great inspiration!

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  31. Thanks so much for the reminder. Now would be a great time to see what treasures lie in the clearance section.

    Work from home India

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