I haven’t done a post about shopping at Bonne Volanté (AKA Goodwill) for a while…I guess it is time!

I made a quick trip to my favorite GW last week (hey…I only stayed for 45 minutes….so that counts as quick….for me)

I needed a couple of frames….one for the thrifty Halloween Graveyard art project….

Score!!!  $2   
I also bought this “semi-tacky” wreath for $3.99!
You are probably thinking….”Why would anyone buy that!!!???”
I had a plan….just you wait!
First I want to tell you about one of my favorite go to tools….
It looks like this…..
I have had mine for years and always just called it that red handled cutter!
When I started to write this post, I figured I better know what the real name of the tool was!
Who better to ask than Mr. S….and of course he knew!
Electrician’s call this a “DIKE” or short for “diagonal wire cutter”….who knew?
Mine is a Klein D228-8….so there!
It is about 20 bucks at Amazon….is it worth it?
You bet!

Havve

This cutter makes short work of cutting the plastic covered wires on artificial flowers and leaves!  Before I started using this…..or when I am too lazy to walk downstairs and get it out of the drawer….I used to try cutting stems with kitchen shears….yikes…what a lot of hard work…this little cutter is a simple snip and you are done!!!

On to the transformation of the “tacky wreath”…

I wanted to use this basket because the copper color would look nice with the metallic pumpkins…. but I needed to make a liner to hide the dry floral foam base….

Good old burlap to the rescue!  It has a nice autumnal feel and with a little unraveling on the edges….it was the perfect solution!

I took the wreath apart and cut the stems with my cutter….and here is the result!

Not bad for $4!
AND
I used up some burlap and a basket from the “stash”!!!
Wishing you good luck on YOUR thrifting adventures!