First I gotta say,"WoW!" because my yard sale did great! I am an avid yard sale shopper myself and I tried to take into consideration my own shopping experiences while planning for my sale. I had a pretty large sale (and it was our town wide sale weekend to boot) so I had  been preparing for a couple weeks in advance. I put price stickers on everything and was sure to tell all my customers that all prices were negotiable with exception of my hand made jewelry (I put some on a cork board bagged and tagged to show off my talents, lol).

   For the clothes I put 25cents on most, but jeans were 50cents to $1, because you just can't beat an almost new pair of jeans for a buck! I had bright yellow signs posted up the street both ways (we live on a main drag) with balloons and a big sign out front with a lot of parking area. I put almost everything on tables to make it easier for browsers, the toys were on the kids' shorter outdoor tables. We set up large items like the crib, chest freezer and treadmill over to one side and had everything plugged into a power cord so everything could be "tested". It was funny when a lady opened the freezer and started to say "does it work?" and realized it was on! I replaced batteries in all the toys and electric equipment (cheap batteries, but enough to show that everything works), and had a radio playing Y94FM which is a "family-friendly" radio station, up-beat but no cussing or provocative lyrics to deter potential customers. At first I was going to set up a canopy tent to block the sun (it was supposed to be hot out), but it turned out to be very windy so we let the sun shine on the sale. Also- every so often when there wasn't anybody browsing, I would re-fold the clothes and spread out table items to look more appealing and I really think that helped (like I said, based on my previous shopping experiences)

   All in all, we sold almost everything we put out there (did some great negotiating, I didn't want anything coming back to the shed!) and had a great time. I let my kids keep the money from their items including clothes and toys, and my hubby and I split a $400 profit :) My momma would have been so proud! 

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Got an old set of blinds you're about to dispose of? Window-blind slats make great plant i.d. markers! It's simple: remove the slats and cut them into 8" lengths (make sure one end is cut to a point). You can write on them with permanent marker to label what you've planted so you never forget "what is where"!

Starting seeds? Those paper egg cartons work great- Just cut the top off and place it under the egg compartments, fill them with seed starting mix and add seeds. Each section can be torn off and placed directly into the ground without disturbing the root system and the carton is biodegradable.

Place packing peanuts in the bottoms of pots to provide good drainage and reduce weight. Leave enough room for the plants' root systems to fully develop.

You can turn almost anything into a planter- like a vintage teapot, worn out boots, a hollowed log, an old tree stump, a leaky bird bath, an old instrument, or even a wooden chair without a seat can easily become a flowerpot holder, or turn an old washtub into a raised bed for herbs!

Get more green peppers from your plants by placing a few drops of honey on them when they begin to blossom. This attracts bees who will pollinate the plants.

Recycle an old mailbox by placing it in the garden in a handy spot and use it as a small tool shed. Keep an extra trowel, clippers and gloves in it so they are close by when you need them.

Design your own stepping stones by lining a foil pie pan with plastic wrap and filling with cement (I have used quickcrete- works great and comes in a wide variety of colors). Just before it sets, decorate it with handprints, marbles, shells, rocks or anything you want...maybe even a hot wheels car!

Milk jugs have many uses and can always be recycled afterwards~ One idea is for berry picking: cut the top off and put your belt through the handle. This leaves both hands free to pluck berries as well as somewhere to collect them! Another idea is a slow release watering method: poke a small hole in the bottom corner of a jug and fill it with water. Cap the jug and place it next to the plants so the water slowly leaks out giving the plant a better chance to soak up the water!

Try hanging old CD's or foil pie pans in the garden or in fruit trees to deter pests that want to feast on your goods. The noise and random light flashing should do the trick, and if you move them around a bit it keeps them guessing.

Save $$$$ by laying down some old newspaper or cardboard under your mulch instead of expensive landscape fabric. It does the trick at keeping weeds and grass at bay and it's biodegradable.

Line large flowerpots with newspaper and put recycled egg cartons in the bottom. This helps retain a little more moisture so the roots don't "cook" on hot days. Simply soak the cartons overnight and break them up into chunks before adding soil.

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