Thrift Store Finds for Scrapbooking

I love getting my scrapbook supplies at a discount...and I love using "found" items in my albums...put these two loves together and you get "Thrift Store Shopping"!!!  In the past few weeks I have found some various items at my favorite thrift stores.  The following are among my favorites...

Plastic doilies-  I believe these are vintage, flexible, plastic doilies.  They have about a 6-7 inch diameter.  I found a bag of 7 doilies (2 different designs) this past Monday.  It cost 50 cents for the bag of doilies.  I almost passed them up, then I thought I could use them as a "mask" for Glimmer Mist.  Boy am I glad I decided to purchase them!

I gave one doily of each design to my friend, Shawna, and she IMMEDIATELY decided to test them out with acrylic paint.  She used them like a stencil, with red acrylic paint, and made these beautiful Christmas cards in no time flat...

Woven tape measure- Another vintage find was this tape measure made out of woven fabric.  It has been naturally distressed through years of use.  It was 25 cents and since I rarely (if ever) see fabric tape measures anywhere, I snatched it up!

I used it on this layout of my mom, my kids, and I at 50's diner in Denver...I thought the vintage tape measure fit in with the old fashioned feel of the diner.

Ledger Books-  I found two old ledger paper pads at the thrift store this summer as well.  They were 25 cents each.  Although I haven't used them yet, I love the look of ledger paper on a layout, and I know I will use them soon!  My dream "find" would be a vintage ledger book filled with information in beautiful handwriting!

1995 Disneyland Map-  This was for sale for 50 cents at a thrift store...I can't wait to cut it up and use it to embellish layouts of our future trip to Disneyland.

English/Spanish Flashcards-  Two weeks ago I found 2 complete sets of these flash cards for $3 each.  One side of the cards has the Spanish word/phrase and the other side has the English word and definition.  I believe each set has about 600 cards.  I was so excited to find these.  I bought one set for myself and gave the other set to my friend, Shawna.  What she doesn't want, I 'll share with some of my scrapbooking friends. 

I have already made 2 layouts using these flashcards...one is about how Maddy "takes care of" Hunter and the other is embellishing a page about Hunter at 5 weeks old!  I love these tiny flashcards and I know I will use them on many more layouts to come.  I will definitely get my $3 worth out of them!

Vintage Hymnals and Children's Books-  I went to a yard sale about 6 weeks ago and "hit the jackpot" on vintage books and hymnals.  I picked up about 8 books for 25-50 cents a piece.  The handwritten dates in the inside covers and the copyrights ranged from the 1880's-1940's.  I am sure I got them for SUPER CHEAP compared to what I would have paid at an antique store! 

I tear the pages out of the books to use on my layouts.  I also cut the pictures out to create unique, one of a kind embellishments.  I made this layout about the "Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, and Toys" using some illustrations of children playing with toys.  I got the illustrations (and the type) from a book of Nursery Rhymes dated Christmas of 1889!!!

Vintage Sewing Patterns-  I also picked up two vintage dress patterns to cut apart and use on my layouts.  I created flowers out of the patterns for the same layout about the Denver Vintage Doll and Toy Museum.  Some layouts really lend themselves to using vintage items as embellishments such as these.

I have found many more precious items at thrift stores and yard sales...these are just a few of my recent, favorite finds.  I always keep my eyes peeled for new treasures...it's so much fun!