Starting My Sunflower Hunt
Okay so my niece’s birthday is coming up, and she’s obsessed with sunflowers. I needed sunflower accessories cheap but not trash quality. First thing I did was google “sunflower pins near me” – total waste of time. Only showed expensive boutique stores charging like $15 for one tiny enamel pin.
Local Digging
Hit up downtown craft markets next weekend. Found this lady selling handmade stuff under a tent. She had sunflower earrings made from actual dried petals – looked cute but too fragile for a 12-year-old. Price? $12 pair. Nope. Then I spotted a discount bin at a closing gift shop. Grabbed 3 sunflower hair clips for $2 total! Score! But needed more variety.
Online Bargain Tactics
Hopped online but avoided big sites. Instead I browsed community selling groups. Messaged like 5 sellers about bulk deals. One lady said “Check my garage sale this Saturday – got tons of nature themed jewelry”. Drove across town and found her folding table covered in sunflower stuff! Bought:
- 5 metal sunflower keychains ($0.50 each)
- Sunflower printed tote bag ($1)
- Pack of 10 sunflower stickers ($0.80 total)
She threw in a chipped sunflower mug for free. Perfect for planting succulents!
Secret Warehouse Spot
My barber told me about this wholesaler near the industrial park. Place looks sketchy – no sign, just gray building with roll-up doors. Inside? Shelves packed with accessories! Got:
- 24 sunflower enamel pins ($0.30 each)
- Sunflower patterned socks 5-pair pack ($1.75)
Cash only though. And no bags – dumped everything in my grocery tote.
Putting It Together
Total damage? Under $20 for like 40+ items. Made a gift basket with:
- Keychains clipped around the basket rim
- Pins stuck on the tote bag handles
- Stickers plastered on the free mug
- Socks rolled up like sunflowers in the center
Nieces eyes popped like sunflowers when she saw it. Mission success – cheap but thoughtful!
