How To Save Money On Children’s Art Supplies

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Encouraging my daughter to grow in her art work isn’t the hard part, keeping her in art supplies is. Thankfully over my 18+ years as a parent I have learned a few ways to save money on children’s art supplies.

Just this week I came downstairs and found these two drawings on my kitchen counter drying

I love the bright blues and greens in this one.

I love how she has added color around the base of this tree to represent the leaves that have fallen off.

My thrifty self then noticed the paints she used to paint were clearance found and the paper that the art is drawn on was bought with a coupon, which then got my creative mind a whirling, “how many ways could I come up with to save money on children’s art supplies?”. The answer is 10

10 Ways To Save Money On Children’s Art Supplies

1. Big Lots

Art supplies didn’t make my 10 list of things to buy at Big Lots, but they are something I buy there. Big Lots often gets in sketch pads, stickers, yarn, and more for less.

2. Coupons To Major Craft Stores

Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Michael’s, all have email lists that send out coupons on a regular basis that you can use to get and item at a 40% to 50% discount.

3.  Manufactures Coupons

I have used coupons for Crayola products before, I usually hear about them from Moneysavingmom.com.

4. Clearance Sales

About a month after everyone is back to schools leftover school supplies go on sale and a lot of them are craft based. I also find great seasonal craft sets on clearance after the holiday has passed that can be stored until the next time that holiday roles around.

5. Dollar Tree

From the basics of glue sticks and construction paper to all supplies included craft kits my daughter loves a trip to Dollar Tree for art supplies.

6. Recycling Bins

Hardly a week goes by where my daughter isn’t raiding our recycling bin to create art. From plastic lids, to oat canister and cereal boxes, the family recycling bin is an artists treasure box.

7. Make It Yourself

When my children were younger I made play dough for them quite regularly. Last year my daughter and I made our own sidewalk paint and it was a big hit.

8. Yard Sales

Often at yard sales I will see ziploc bags full of odds and ends of craft supplies that were probably leftover from a project. I buy these for my daughter to add to her craft supply bin as she can always find something to make for them. Usually a whole bag full of odds and ends is 50 cents and lasts my daughter several projects.

9. Dollar Bins

Stores like Target, Jo-Anns, and Michael’s have dollar bins that often contain children’s art supplies. I have gotten my daughter some great detailed coloring books in these, as well as wood masks to color, and sun catchers to paint.

10. Educents

Educents offers more than just schooling curriculum it also offers art supplies from time to time. Just before Christmas they offered 50% off vouchers to The Happy Trunk. I grabbed two and spent them on a candle kit and one large soap making kit and one small soap making kit for my daughter for Christmas. She really enjoyed them. Since then I have seen Educents offer other similar kits at similar discounts.

My children all had similar children’s art smocks to this one when they were little. I can’t say enough good things about them . They protected their clothes from paint spills, sticky finger messes, and more. I feel they are worth the investment if you have little ones ( thrifty tip: buy big so your child can wear them for longer, as they don’t have sleeves and it doesn’t matter if they are long)

For a list of 52 different websites, apps, and stores our thrifty family uses to help us keep our expenses low, click here to visit our Thrifty Tools Resource Page.

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