Cleaning your Closet & Making Money From it!

With the holidays in the past and after all our spending on gifts, party outfits & more it's always nice to make some extra spending money! One of the easiest ways to make some extra cash is by cleaning out your closet and getting rid of the things you don't wear anymore and will never get around to wearing this year! It's always good to clean and organize your closet as the seasons change but why not use the new year as a point of motivation to clean out your closet?  

My Tips for Cleaning & Organizing your closet are as follows: 

Tip #1: Group together like styles! For example, in my closet on the top rack I have blouses and dresses hanging and on the bottom rack I have jeans/bottoms and sweaters/jackets hanging. 

Tip #2: Color code your closet! In my closet my top rack contains the most colors since my bottom rack has similar colored jeans/bottoms. So the top rack of my closet which houses my  blouses and dresses goes from light to dark. My blouses and dresses are stored in this exact color pattern: white>tan/nudes>pink>red>orange>yellow>green>purple>blue>brown>black. If you wear darker colors more frequently or if it is the Fall season you could always make your closet go from dark to light. 

Tip # 3: Start at one side of your closet and work your way to the other side! When cleaning and organizing your closet it is best to start at one side and work your way down to the other side of the closet. Don't get distracted and pick out random pieces or you'll end up with an even bigger mess! Start at one side of your closet and as you move down to the other side look at every piece of clothing you come across and ask yourself when was the last time you wore this piece? How long have you owned it? Does this piece still fit you? Has this piece seen better days? If you haven't worn it in the past 6 months and don't think you'll wear it for the next upcoming season then remove this item from your closet and create a pile of these items you removed! If the piece is too big or way too small, then definitely remove this piece also! If you save it out of guilt it's only going to take up space in your closet, remember that in order to make room for new pieces of clothing you purchase, you have to remove some old pieces too! 

Extra Tip: A helpful tip to gage how often you wear certain items is to hang all of your items on the opposite side of the rack and when you wear it then put the hanger on the correct side of the rack. After a substantial amount of time has gone by (5-8 months) see what items are hanging on the opposite side of your rack and say goodbye to these items because obviously you're not wearing them! 

The Best ways to get Cash for your Clothes: 

So once you have cleaned and organized your closet, it's time to take a look at your pile of items that you removed from it and see what's worth saving. If there is anything in this pile that is really worn, dirty or damaged then put this item in the trash. As for the other items here are some ways you can make some cash: 

Option #1: Sell your used items to a Used Clothing Store

If you want to make cash really quick then you can bring the items you removed from your closet to a used clothing store and see what they can offer you. Below are two different used clothing stores that are probably in your area that I like to use:

 Buffalo Exchange

I personally like to sell my items to Buffalo Exchange because it's a really quick way to get some cash or trade in your items for unique items that they are selling too! Buffalo Exchange buys your used items and after they decide what price they are going to sell your item at they give you 35% of that price in  cash or 50% of that price in trade credit. You can sell gently used clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, scarves, hats, and sunglasses to Buffalo Exchange and they even take Men's used items too! 

Click Here to learn more about Buffalo Exchange & find a location near you!

Plato's Closet

I only go to Plato's Closet to make quick cash by selling my used items, I don't trade at Plato's. I think that the items Plato's has are not as good of quality in comparison to Buffalo Exchanges items and the items are much younger looking than Buffalo Exchanges, Plato's closet targets teenagers and twenty-somethings. Plato's Closet assesses your used items and then the buyer will make you an offer for how much cash or trade they can give you for all your used items and then you can decide on whether or not you want to accept the offer. You can sell gently used clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories to Plato's Closet! 

Click Here to learn more about Plato's Closet & find a location near you! 

Option #2: Sell your Used items on Phone Apps/Online: 

If you can invest a little more time into selling your used items than I suggest you use one of these apps below to sell your items. It's totally worth it in the end because you get to decide the price at what you want to sell your items at and you can shop tons of other women's closets! Below are two apps I use to sell my used items: 

Threadflip

I use Threadflip to sell my used clothing, handbags and jewelry. Threadflip is an app on you can access on your iPhone, iPad or computer! It's really easy to create a profile and upload the items you want to sell. You choose the price that you want to sell your items for and Threadflip keeps 20% of the profit. You have the option of charging your buyers for a shipping label if they buy from you or choosing to pay for the shipping yourself, you must include a tracking number for the shipment though Threadflip gives you the option of having your profits mailed to you via check  or paying you via PayPal, you can also use your profits towards future purchases from the site. 

• PROS: I find Threadflip to be more user friendly, I love the option of not charging buyers for shipping, Threadflip e-mails discounts/coupons and credits towards purchases regularly which motivates users to buy! 
• CONS: If you don't have a PayPal account having a check mailed does take a lot longer to have your cash sent to you.
• Click Here to learn more about Threadflip!

Poshmark

I use Poshmark to sell my used clothing, handbags and jewelry. Poshmark is an app you can use on your iPhone or iPad to sell your closet and shop other women's too and works very similar to Threadflip! Creating a profile through Poshmark is also really easy,  you choose the price that you want to sell your items for and Poshmark users can comment on your listings and like them. Poshmark keeps 20% of your profit and charges the buyer for shipping, once one of your items sell you'll get a shipping label e-mailed to you that you can tape on your boxed up item and schedule USPS to pick up for you. Poshmark gives you the option of having your profits deposited into your bank account or using the profits towards future purchases from the site. 

• PROS: Once you make a profit you can have your profit deposited into your account very quickly. 
• CONS: Poshmark doesn't send users discounts or credits often, shipping is a bit overpriced, they have "parties" which require you to be available during certain times to share your postings that fit these parties themes-it's great because your items get noticed but if you are busy like me it's hard to be able to participate in these parties. 
• Click Here to learn more about Poshmark!

Whichever option you utilize, I hope that you have luck selling your fashionable used items! :) 

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DIY Glitzy perfume stand

In my bathroom I have shelving over my toilet where I keep my perfume bottles hidden in a basket. I have simple taste and like my bottles hidden so it doesn't look too busy in my bathroom; but over time I have gotten annoyed with my perfume bottles being in my basket because I can never see which ones I have, and if I'm ever in a rush I can't easily grab a bottle to spritz and go. So I wanted to make a bold and fabulous perfume stand and after playing around I crafted this super easy to make perfume stand which could also be used as a cake or dessert stand for a party too and everyone whose seen it just loves it so I thought I would share it with you. Have fun and enjoy :)

Supplies Needed:

• Clear glass dinner plate [I bought mine at Dollar Tree for $1]
• Clear glass taper candle holder [I bought mine at Dollar Tree for $1]
• A jar of glossy Mod Podge
• One foam paint brush
• E-6000 glue (not pictured)
• A covered surface (use newspaper or a large trash bag)

Directions:
Step 1: Place your plate face down on your covered surface. Using the foam brush paint the Mod Podge onto the entire back of your plate, be sure to not miss any areas or crevices.

Step 2: After you have covered the entire back side of your plate with Mod Podge, pour your glitter all over the back of the plate. Be sure to not miss any spots! Leave the glittered plate to sit for 15 minutes. 

Step 3: Using your foam brush, paint the entire outside of your candle holder with Mod Podge, ensuring not to miss any spots. Then cover the entire outside with glitter; you may have to pick this up and spin it around so you don't miss any spots on the outside. Leave the glittered candle stick to sit for 15 minutes. 

Step 4: After you have let your glittered plate and candle holder sit for 15 minutes, carefully pick them up and lightly shake so the excess glitter falls off onto your covered surface. Once all your excess glitter has been removed, use your foam brush and paint Mod Podge glue over the glitter layer that's on your plate and do the same to your candle taper holder. Be sure to cover all of the glitter with the Mod Podge on both the plate and candle holder. Let the painted plate and candle holder sit overnight or 8 hours to dry. Don't worry this will dry, I promise! 

   

After your 8 hours has passed you will find that the glue has dried clear and your glitter does not fall all over the place on both the plate and candle holder. The Mod Podge has sealed everything together and created a more finished surface over the glue.

Step 5: Keeping your plate face down locate where the center of your plate is. The plate I used came with an intricate design in the glass and had a circle in the center, so this made it easy for me to find. Remembering or marking where the center of your plate is, squeeze E-6000 glue onto the entire top rim of the top of your candle holder, once you have covered the entire top rim flip your candle holder over and apply it to the back center of your glittered plate. Press the candle holder down, sealing the glue. Carefully flip the glued together plate and candle holder over, be sure to hold both the plate and candle holder in place. You want it to dry together with the heavier plate on top so they will stick together. Let it sit for 4 hours (or until glue is dry). 

 

 & Now you have made your own Glitzy Perfume Stand!

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Back to School Organization

This past week was my first week of the new Fall semester, I always enjoyed shopping for new school supplies every year and not going to lie...I still do! But as I've gotten older, the supplies I buy and the things I do to prepare for the new school year definitely have changed, instead of Lisa Frank folders I buy boring, solid colored folders etc. One thing that hasn't changed though is my love for school planners and organization!

 I recently purchased an academic agenda from May Designs and I absolutely love it! It was only $23 and they have so many colors/designs you can choose from to design the outside of your planner, and they also let you customize the font and info you want on the outside, from greek letters to monograms. I chose to put my name on the outside of mine :)

Another thing I did to get organized for the school year is make this super cute and inexpensive Bulletin board to hang over my desk to keep important info on! I have a very simple taste when it comes to decorating and hate how tacky bulletin boards can look, so I wanted to create one that looked like it belonged in my room so I made it the colors of my room-black and white. You can make yours look like it belongs in your room by the matching color of spray paint and ribbon to the colors of your room!

Ribbon Bulletin Board DIY: 

Supplies needed:

• Bulletin Board  (I used to 16x20)
• One can of spray paint (you may need more if you buy a bigger board)
• One spool of wired ribbon 
• Glue gun 
• Newspaper or a large trash bag

How to:

1. Outside on a flat surface layout your newspaper or large trash bag, placing the bulletin board on top.
2. Shake your spray paint and spray paint the bulletin board, spraying the board evenly and standing 1-1.5 feet away from the board. Be sure to spray the outside edges of the board after you're done spraying the surface. Let this dry outside for 2-3 hours.
3. Once your bulletin board has dried, bring it inside and lay it on a flat surface that is near an electrical outlet. Plug in your glue gun. While your glue gun heats up, cut one long piece of ribbon (3 feet) with an angled edge, cut a smaller piece of ribbon (1 foot) and a really tiny piece (2 inches) Take your longest piece and lay it on the corner of your board. If you want your board to display vertically [like mine] then place 1 foot of the ribbon on the top, letting 2 feet of it hang down the left side. If you want your bulletin board to display horizontally, place 2 feet of the ribbon on the top, and let 1 foot hang down the left side. 
4. Once your glue gun is heated up, glue the long piece of ribbon to the corner border of your board. Now gently twist the ribbon piece at the top of your board to make it look like the ribbon is curled, and gently twist the ribbon piece that's on the side of your board to have the same look too. Looking at the ribbon on the top of your board find one spot where the curl is touching the border of your board and glue the ribbon down; now looking at the ribbon on the side of your board find one spot where the curl is touching the border of your board and glue the ribbon down. Depending on what side has the longest piece of ribbon, you may have to glue the ribbon down in two spots. 
5. Now take the one foot piece of ribbon and lay it down, fold it into three sections, where the middle section is the largest(6 inches) and the two side sections(3 inches each) fold into the middle section meeting in the middle. Now glue down the two side sections in the middle of the ribbon. Take your small 2 inch piece of ribbon that you cut earlier and wrap it around the middle of the 1-foot piece you just glued and glue the edges together....now you have your bow! 
6. Take your bow and glue it to the corner or your 3 foot long piece of curly ribbon that's on the border of your bulletin board. Voila! Your bulletin board is complete! Now hang your bulletin board and place everything you want on it! I created a calendar that's on mine and placed a few pictures, and invitations so I don't forget the important stuff! 

I already had a glue gun and trash bag, but bought the rest of my supplies at Walmart and the cost of my bulletin board ended up being only $10.91! [Board=$6.97, spray paint=$.97, ribbon=$2.97]

Download the printable Calendar I made for my bulletin board!
September
October
November
December

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