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Wisconsin Magpie
Wisconsin Magpie

Wisconsin Magpie

One woman's quest to salvage the world's castoffs, lock, stock and bauble

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Category: makeover

Posted on September 13, 2015September 3, 2018

Makeover | Painting and repurposing a breadbox

I found an old metal breadbox for $1.50 at a thrift store a few weeks ago. It looked so sad, I had to bring it home and fix it up. It had a few dents in it that needed to be pounded out, and it had been painted a nasty pinky-beige color. Apparently it had …

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Posted on August 4, 2015September 6, 2018

Resizing a frame

One of my favorite parts of traveling is buying souvenirs. My husband and I bought this little (6" x 8") tile painting when we were on vacation in Mexico in the spring. (I blogged about our trip here, if you're interested.) We were walking after dinner one night when we happened upon a small arts …

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Posted on June 25, 2015September 4, 2018

De-shining galvanized metal, part 2

In my last post (which you can find here), I wrote about my love of galvanized metal and my success with aging some of my bright, shiny new pieces using vinegar. Today, I'm going to write about the failures. Here's what I started with on the day of the de-shining: eight new containers (all picked up …

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Posted on June 22, 2015September 6, 2018

De-shining galvanized metal, part 1

I have a soft spot for galvanized metal. I think because it reminds me of my childhood on the family farm. We always had stacks of 10-quart galvanized pails that we kept in the vestibule connecting our milkhouse and our barn that were used mostly when feeding our calves. Our cows drank out of a …

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Posted on June 6, 2015September 6, 2018

Woodworking | Making a monogram

Today's post is all about carpentry, a subject that I know absolutely nothing about. But I'm all about learning new things. And after my brief foray into the World of Wood, I think I can safely say I would make a really great carpenter if wasn't for all that measuring stuff. (I've always been a …

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Posted on April 9, 2015September 4, 2018

Makeover | Retooling a toolbox

I found this toolbox at Goodwill a couple weeks ago and thought it would be the perfect container to corral my scattered collection of craft paints. It was made of pine, nothing fancy, definitely not antique. But it did have one special embellishment, courtesy of the previous owner: a small verse hand carved into one …

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photo of Lisa Cestkowski

WELCOME

Welcome to Wisconsin Magpie. I’m Lisa, the creator of this site.

A history nerd and profligate collector, I spend way too much of my free time at thrift stores and garage sales, salvaging other people’s castoffs. When I’m home, I’m attempting to use power tools I have no idea how to operate and undertaking craft projects well beyond my skill level. Sometimes they actually turn out.

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Collector of castoffs. Haunter of thrift stores. Attempter of craft/DIY projects.

wisconsinmagpie
Happy Valentines Day to all the lovebirds out ther Happy Valentines Day to all the lovebirds out there.
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#valentinesdecor #valentinesdaydecor #crafting #decoupage #newspaperart #newspaperdecoupage #newspapercrafts #diyvalentinesdecor #neutraldecor #neutralvalentinesdecor
Found the heart-shaped covered box at a thrift sto Found the heart-shaped covered box at a thrift store Sunday. The perfect way to finish off the #vignette on top of this cabinet in #Valentines Day  style. ❤️❤️❤️ 
#vignettestyling #farmhousedecor #neutraldecor #farmhousestyle #vintageshelfie #vintagestyle #thriftstorefinds #thrifteddecor #thriftstoredecor #rattandecor #secondhanddecor
Happy 2021, friends! Out with the old, in with the Happy 2021, friends! Out with the old, in with the new! Unless you’re a vintage lover, in which case, it’s out with new, in with the old ... 🤣🎉🍾
#vintagelove #vintagehome #vintagehomedecor
Merry Christmas Eve, friends! #vintagechristmas #v Merry Christmas Eve, friends! #vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasdecor #vintagechristmasdecorating
Give me all the vintage brass horns. They’re so Give me all the vintage brass horns. They’re so festive, especially with the addition of a few evergreen branches, berries, and a velvet ribbon on top.  #christmasdecor #vintagechristmas #farmhousechristmas  #farmhousecozychristmas #vintagehorn #vintagefrenchhorn #vintagebrassdecor #vintagebrasshorn #vintageholidaydecor #vintageholidays #christmaswreaths #diychristmasdecor #diychristmaswreath #classicchristmasdecor
A few of my #vintageelves in a vintage recipe box. A few of my #vintageelves in a vintage recipe box.
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#vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasdecor #vintagekneehugger #kneehuggerelf #vintagechristmasdecorations #christmascollectibles #christmascollection #vintagechristmaskitsch #elvesinabox #vintageholidaydecor
It was like Christmas morning yesterday when I red It was like Christmas morning yesterday when I rediscovered my collection of Santa #blowmolds in storage. 🤣 I haven’t set them out the last couple of years and almost forgot I had them.
#santablowmold #vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasdecor #vintageholidaydecor #vintagesantas #santacollection #christmasblowmold #christmasdecorations
Gobble gobble. Two of my favorite vintage #thanksg Gobble gobble. Two of my favorite vintage #thanksgiving candles. #vintagethanksgiving #vintagecandles #gurley #gurleycandles #vintageholiday #vintageholidaydecor #vintagethanksgivingdecorations #fleamarketdecor #thrifteddecor
Hard to believe it’s November already! Time to p Hard to believe it’s November already! Time to put out the turkeys! #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivingdecorations #thanksgivingdecor #farmhousethanksgiving #farmhousethanksgivingdecor #vintagethanksgiving #durkeesspicetin
Meet Frank. He’s a little bit robot, a little bi Meet Frank. He’s a little bit robot, a little bit monster, and all heart. Details on how I made him are on my blog.
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#frankenstein #diyhalloween #diyhalloweendecorations #diyhalloweendecor #diyhalloweencrafts #assemblageart #assemblage #halloweendecor #halloweendecorating #halloweencrafts #upcycling #upcycle #junkassemblage #myfleamarketstyle #farmhousehalloween #farmhousehalloweendecor #diyprojects #diycrafts
Sharing a little Halloween scene made up entirely Sharing a little Halloween scene made up entirely of #thriftedfinds (except for the Q-tip skeleton art, which my son made back in grade schoool — but the frame it’s in was thrifted).
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#halloweendecor #halloweendecorations #halloweendecorating #myfleamarketstyle #fleamarketdecor #farmhousedecor #farmhousehalloween #concretepumpkins #fauxpumpkins #vintagehomedecor #vintagedecorating #halloweenvignette #thriftstoredecor #thrifted #thriftedhome #thrifteddecor #thriftedhalloween #vintageporchlovesvintage
A few of my favorite #Halloween decorations. 🎃 A few of my favorite #Halloween decorations. 🎃 
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#halloweendecorations #halloweendecor #jackolanterns #falldecor #terracottapumpkins #copperjackolanterns #farmhousedecor #farmhousehalloween #farmhousehalloweendecor #farmhousehalloweendecorating #halloweenluminaries #pumpkinluminaries #jackolanternluminary #terracottajackolanterns #icollectcollections #fleamarketstyle
Took some inspiration from Emily at @weatheredware Took some inspiration from Emily at @weatheredwaresandco when styling my shelves for fall. I don’t have all the fabulous vintage pieces that she has, but I think I managed to capture her style. #myweatheredwares #amberbottles #vintage #vintagedecor #vintagedecorating #olivetheprettythings #vintagebooks #vintagecrockery #farmhousedecor #fallfarmhousedecor #fallfarmhousestyle #fallshelfie #fallshelfdecor #fauxpumpkins #fleamarketdecor #fleamarketstyle #shelfiedecor #shelfstyling #shelfie
Sure feels like #fall today. 💛🧡#fallcolors # Sure feels like #fall today. 💛🧡#fallcolors #falldecor #fallporch #fallporchdecor #fallporchdecorating #fallfarmhousefeels #fallfarmhouse #porchdecor #myfleamarketstyle #pumpkins #pumpkinseason
My bleached chair is done! Swipe for the “before My bleached chair is done! Swipe for the “before” version. I’ll have a blog post up about it Saturday morning.
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#bleachedwood #bleachedwalnut #bleachedchair #furnituremakeover #furnitureflip #furniturerestoration #diyhomedecor #diydecor #beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafter #farmhousedecor #neutralfarmhouse #farmhousedecorating #chairsofinstagram #myfleamarketstyle #vintagehomedecor #vintagefarmhousestyle #vintagefurniture  #vintagechair #vintagechairs #blmarblechaircompany #blmarblechairs
Bring out the pumpkins! It’s the first day of fa Bring out the pumpkins! It’s the first day of fall! 
🍁#concretepumpkins #fauxpumpkins #pumpkindecor #pumpkindecorations #falldecor #falldecorations #fallvignette #fallfarmhousedecor #fallfarmhouse #vignette #farmhousehalloweendecor
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