Thrift Store Shopping

I have mentioned how often I go to the thrift store on previous posts. There are two such stores just up the street from the dance studio my children attend. Instead of sitting in the studio or our in my car, I just go up the street and shop. There are a few specific things I look for when I go in.

1. Baby clothes: Newborn and preemie baby items can easily be converted into 18" doll size. (My daughter has an American Girl, a Journey Girl, a Madame Alexander and a Be My Girl doll.) Other baby items that are a quick redo are skirts. I look for items that look like something an older girl would wear. I stay away from the items that are really baby.

2. Jewelry boxes: If  you search Pintrest for AG doll house you will begin to notice all the jewelry boxes that have been redone as furniture. They are great as side tables, dressers, bathroom vanities and anywhere you would have a piece of furniture with drawers. Since the end product will be something my daughter will play with, I can get away with a light sanding and painting.

3. 18" dolls: One of the thrift stores I go to has 18" dolls available on a regular basis. Most of the time they are the Our Generation dolls from Target. Sometimes they will have Madame Alexander dolls. I was lucky enough to find a genuine American Girl doll there as well. The price is usually between $4 and $9. I will buy these dolls even if we are not keeping them. There is a great organization called The Broken Doll that takes dolls and gives them a makeover. They are then given to children in need.

4. Books: I am an avid reader. I go through phases where I am reading a couple of books a week. I don't feel bad buying a book and then getting rid of it since I didn't spend that much.

5. Dance/ gymnastics wear: I have found some great leotards and skirts for my daughter for under $5. Score!

If I have time, I will go through the clothes racks and just browse. You do have to dig for the gems, but then again, when do you not.

My Little Pony Party

Originally my soon to be 7 year old wanted to have  her party at home. She picked My Little Pony as her theme. Having a party at home puts me into create mode. I started looking on Pintrest for ideas and buying things as I came across them.

Then she dropped a bombshell on me...she wants her party at the rollerskating ring. WHAT?!?! How could she do that to me? I was already on a roll with tons of ideas planned. I was crushed.

Of course that only lasted until I realized I don't really have to do anything for this party then. I can just make the goody bags, order the cake and go!

One day at Micheal's they where having an awesome clearance sale. They had MLP lunch boxes for under $4.00. I counted out how many girls will be at the party and picked them up. The goodies for inside the box that where under a $1.00 where: MLP stickers, notebook, press on nails, and mini pens. I was able to get other items for under $2.00. Each girl gets one of these. I have to say, I want one for myself!!! They are way too cute and so much fun. I am going to use my Cricut to cut out their names in vinyl and label each one so there is no confusion.

Front and back of the lunch box.

These goodies where about $1.50 each.

Found these at Walgreens for $1.50.

All these goodies where under $1.00.

For the boys I am just going to give them candy and a few trinkets. Maybe even a character cup...thinking minions...which I can pick up at the Dollar Tree.

So I am left with the want to do a MLP party and a great Pintrest board of ideas. Have your kids ever done this to you??

(Update: Added pictures on 5/18/15.)

Time To Sew

It is time to get my sewing machine out!

I have been going to my local thrift stores once a week since dance class started for my kids. We are almost at recital so I have a good stash of items I have purchased.

Preemie clothes and newborn are really close to American Girl size. These sizes can be harder to find in items that look like they could be little girl items since AG dolls are not babies. I stay away from onesies. Nothing will make that folded over collar look grown up. I look for skirts or dresses that I can make doll size quickly.

Some items from my stash.

I have a bunch of patterns thanks to Pixie Faire. If you are interested in making doll clothes, sign up for the Pixie Faire newsletter. They send you an awesome and free pattern every Friday!! They also have some free patterns on their site.

I can't wait to finish up with my stash. I will upload pics when I can.

Here is my Pintrest board that has some great free patterns and ideas for accessories.

Life gets in the way

Lately life has gotten in the way of blogging. My hubby has been home from having knee surgery since January 20th. I didn't realize how much it would change the focus of our house.

I have not stopped looking for American Girl or crafty things. I still visit the thrift store once a week. I have a stack of items I need to alter to fit my daughter's 18 inch doll. I am hoping to find a little time soon to get caught up again.

I know that over the summer I will have more time to sit and do what I want, but I hate to wait until then.

Please don't give up on me...I will be back to share very soon!!

More American Girl Accessories

Ran to the craft store yesterday and found a few more American Girl sized goodies. The cutest clipboards I had seen where only $1.50 so I picked up three. I liked how one had just ruled paper and the other had a checklist. There are magnets on the back which come right up.

Most of us have seen the mini tape dispensers. I grabbed the Valentine's day set which was on sale. Three dispensers for only $1.79.

I liked the little chalkboard easel. I will leave it to my sweet girl to decide what to use it for. Also at $1.50 I could see getting another one.

Lastly I picked up some small keys. I didn't want to get tiny keys since that is not realistic. I grew up with a spare key and it was not miniature. The keys where $1.99. Put them on a spare key chain and dolly is set.

I always keep my eyes open for inexpensive items the doll can use. I will share what I find.

I couldn't resist buying more than one.

This magnet just peels right off. Take it off slow to prevent too much tearing.

The kinds of little tape available blows me away.

Ready to use.

American Girl Accessories

My last stop at the dollar store resulted in a few  doll finds. The party goodie bag section is great for miniature or doll sized stuff.

Here are the few things I found:

Reminds me of the recorders we played in elementary school.

Cute Tiaras.

What doll wouldn't live a tiara.

These make great belts!!!

Real American Girl

Tuesday I was at a local thrift store spending an hour before it was time to pick up my child from dance. I always look at their 18 inch dolls. If they are not too bad, I usually will buy them. The prices range from $4 to $8. My daughter's Journey Girl has a couple of Madame Alexander sisters.
Back to my story, Tuesday I found an American Girl doll for $3.98. Her hair looked a mess but seeing how this was the real deal, I bought her.
I have done the "Downy Dunk" on a couple of other dolls and it worked ok. I went online to see what other advice I could find for genuine AG dolls.
The first thing I noticed was the attention to the brush. I read you should not use plastic bristle brushes since they make the hair frizz. So I went to my local Sally thinking they might have a wig brush (metal bristle brush). Well, they used to carry one but it discontinued. I did pick up some leave-in conditioner for wig hair.
An AG brush can be ordered from their site or even on amazon, but I did not want to wait. I had an "aha" moment last night. Dog brushes have metal bristles. I ran to Wal-Mart and picked one up for $3.
I got home and went to work on her hair. It looks a thousand times better.
What do you think? Sorry I didn't take a better before. It didn't dawn on me to share until after I got started.

Her hair was a frizzy mess.

The only part not tangled was the tips.

This was when I decided to share. I had already done the bottom layer.

All conditioned and brushed.

I pulled her hair back.

My tools: dog brush and wig spray.

Her hair still looks a little frizzy, but you can run a brush through it now.