Another copy theirs on the left mine on the right.

I love getting ideas from magazines and catalogs and

 putting my own spin on it - a "thrifty" spin of course.  

I saw this beach themed candleholder in a 

magazine ($40).  My version - less than $4!

One $2.50 thrift store tray +  

 4 legs from an old table +

 paint =

$5 Thrift Store Dresser

So Goodwill wanted to get rid of this dresser.  The top was warped and the drawers wouldn't shut right.  I said I'd take it for $5 and they said yes.  

I replaced the top with 3 6" x 1" pieces of plywood.  Painted the dresser two shades of gray.  Replaced the knobs with round discs and added 1 1/2" lucite starfish pieces and lined the shelves with black and white contact paper and voila.

I also made some curtains to hide the ugly view of the window on the patio from a sheet I bought at a thrift store.  So much nicer walking into the patio from the deck now.  I already had everything from previous purchases so the cost was minimal.