The Challenge is Live

One thrift store find.
Infinite possibilities.

Hunt down a hidden gem at your local thrift store, transform it into something extraordinary, and share your creation with the world.

Take the challenge See how it works
2,847 Entries so far
$500 Top prize
47 Days left
$0–$25 Budget cap
How it works

Simple rules.
Unlimited creativity.

The whole challenge lives in four steps. What happens between step one and step four is entirely up to you.

Shop

Visit any thrift store, charity shop, garage sale, or flea market. Your total spend must be $25 or under. Keep your receipt.

Document the before

Photograph your find exactly as it is — no staging, no tidying up. The scuffier the better. This is your "before" evidence.

Upcycle it

Paint it, reupholster it, repurpose it, hack it — the method is your choice. Transform it into something new, useful, or beautiful.

Submit & get voted

Upload your before & after photos, tell us the story, and the community votes. Top entries go to our judges for final prizes.

What you can win

Real prizes for
real creativity

Three winners each round, plus a People's Choice picked entirely by community votes.

Second place

$200 Cash

Plus a $50 gift card to your choice of craft supply store.

Third place

$100 Cash

Plus a 1-year subscription to our creative community newsletter.

People's choice

$150 + Feature

Chosen entirely by community votes. The crowd knows what it loves.

The rules

Fair play for everyone

  • $25 maximum spend The item(s) must cost $25 or less total, including any bundle deals. Keep your receipt as proof.
  • Sourced from a real thrift store Goodwill, Salvation Army, charity shops, estate sales, flea markets — all count. Online resellers do not.
  • You must do the work yourself The upcycling must be done by you, not a professional. Collabs with friends are fine — just credit them.
  • Before photo required A clear, unedited before photo is mandatory. Judges use it to assess the transformation.
  • No AI-generated work The design and execution must be your own. AI tools for research or inspiration are fine; AI-generated art is not.
  • One entry per person You may submit one entry per challenge round. Make it count.

📅 This round's timeline

Jun 1, 2026
Submissions open
Jul 15, 2026
Submissions close (11:59 PM ET)
Jul 16 – Jul 23, 2026
Community voting period
Jul 23 – Jul 30, 2026
Judges review top 20 entries
Aug 1, 2026
🎉 Winners announced
Enter the challenge

Your thrift flip
starts here

Fill out your entry details, upload your before & after photos, and you're in. It takes about 3 minutes.

By submitting you agree that your photos may be featured on our website and social channels. We will never sell your work or use it commercially without your permission.

Submit your entry

Click to upload or drag and drop

JPG or PNG · Max 10 MB each · Min 2 photos

Questions

Frequently asked

Still unsure about something? Check here first.

Can I upcycle multiple items into one project?

Yes — as long as all items come from a thrift source and the combined cost stays under $25. List each item separately in your submission story.

Does the thrift store have to be a charity shop?

No. Goodwill, Salvation Army, independent charity shops, estate sales, flea markets, car boot sales — they all count. Online thrift platforms like ThredUp do not.

What counts as "upcycling"?

Any transformation that adds value or function: painting, reupholstering, repurposing, combining objects, structural modification. Simply cleaning it does not qualify.

Are there any restrictions on the item type?

Almost anything goes. The only restriction: items must be legal to own and modify, and your entry photos must be safe for all audiences.

How are winners decided?

Community votes narrow entries to the top 20. A panel of three judges then scores on transformation quality, creativity, and craftsmanship. People's Choice is 100% community votes.

How are prizes paid out?

Cash prizes are paid via PayPal or bank transfer within 14 days of announcing winners. You'll need to provide payment details at that point.