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Vintage Christmas Collecting
If you collect Christmas stuff, hopefully you are searching for your goodies all year long. Although holiday collectibles are becoming more and more popular, bargains can still be found. A lot depends on where you look and what time of the year they are purchased. Are you interested in antique, vintage or collectibles from past years? Although spring and summer are excellent times to find those elusive bargains, I've also picked up a bargain right before Christmas.

Estate Sale -$2. for both sets



Estate Sale - $4.
 Internet auctions, internet sales and "real stores" are traditionally slow during the spring and summer months, which makes finding a bargain then much easier. Vintage ornaments, antique trees and decorations are always sought after, but with folks trying to cool off, Christmas is far from their minds.

Estate sales
are a really good place to look for the vintage Christmas items and excellent buys can still be found. I recently bought two old glass bead garlands at an estate sale for $2. total. Other prices at the sale were comparable to antique stores, but not the Christmas goodies. A Lefton Santa dish was priced at $2. and in perfect condition.

Thrift stores
such as Goodwill and Salvation Army, will often put a large group of Christmas items together in one large plastic bag. Much of it is usually junk, but move that bag around and try to see all that is in there, you might find a treasure amidst the trash. Then toss away the rest of the items or donate it back to Goodwill.

A bag for $3. will usually yield at least one or two items that are considered keepers. Be sure and look for the figural candles at thrift stores, many times a Santa candle can be picked up for a quarter.

Thrift store -less than $2.
Garage Sales
A bag for $3. will usually yield at least one or two items that are considered can be a real bonanza. If you are lucky enough to have yard and garage sales all year long, remember that very few folks are looking at the box of Christmas stuff shoved under the tables especially after the season is over or still months away.


Garage sale - $1.

Get down and dig through those boxes to find the half empty box of old glass balls or the vintage Christmas garlands. This cigarette holder, ashtray set was purchased at a garage sale for $1. They couldn't figure out what it was, but I loved the look on Santa's face and knew it was going home with me at first glance.

My Santa Wreath
One of my favorite creations is my Santa Wreath. I took many of those odd pieces that didn't fit in elsewhere and made a spectacular wreath.

For more information: the wreath project.

More >>
Holiday Decorating with Collectibles
The Christmas Spot
The Holidays from A to Z

~Barbara Crews


Photographs (c) 2002 Barbara Crews, licensed to About.com, Inc

 

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