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I found the joy of creating in my teenage years. It soothes my nerves, helps me to sit still, helps me to listen to others, and gives me something to share with those I love.
Crafting can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few ways I have discovered to keep the cost of this passion within my means.
1.Use Coupons
JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby, and Michael’s all have e-mail programs you can join to receive coupons. I recently found a great article on Pinterest about using all these coupons at one store to simplify your savings.
2. Shop Thrift Stores
Most of my fabric for my locker hooking comes from thrift store finds. I get yards and yards of never-used fabric for often less than $1 per yard.
3. Shop Yard Sales
Yard Sales are great for picture frames, baskets, ribbons, and even fabric finds.
4. Use What You Have
All of us have at least one or two projects that we never finished. You might not be interested in using the supplies in the way you originally attended but I bet if you searched Pinterest you could find a way to use them for something that interests you now.
5. Use It Up to The Last Drop
I save all my leftover pieces from locker hooking until I have enough to do a crazy runner.
I use up the last of my dishcloth yarn for making soft scrubbies.
6. Use Your Library
Obviously, libraries are a great place to get books on crafts for free, but they usually also have low-cost or free classes available for you to learn new crafts.
7. Reuse What You HaveÂ
Look at what you already have, and try to view it in a different light. I love what this one lady did with the plastic containers that we all get several of each month.
I have an entire Pinterest board devoted to what can be made out of old t-shirts.
I once made several outfits for a baby out of a plus-size skirt I got for .25 cents.
8. Shop Clearance
All craft stores have clearance bins where you can find marked-down supplies. Fabric stores often have remnant fabric bins that make small projects very inexpensive.
9. Shop Dollar Stores
My local Dollar Tree has an entire row dedicated to craft supplies. With a little creativity, other dollar store items can be turned into amazing pieces of art.
Check out the blog Dollar Store Crafts for great ideas.
10. Sell Some
I sell my dishcloths to buy more yarn to make more. It makes my addiction self-supporting.
So far I have kept my selling system simple. I have a “Crafts For Sale” album on my personal Facebook page that I keep updated so that local friends can easily see what I have available and contact me with their orders.
I would love to hear how you save money on craft supplies.
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Love the tips for saving on craft supplies. I have been trying to avoid craft supply shopping because I have so many on hand that I wouldn’t need to buy more for years. LOL
Thanks for coming to link up to Top Ten Tuesday. 🙂
Yeah me too! except for yarn. I always need more yarn, I knit up around 2 to 3 dish cloths a week, so a lot of these tips I use to get the yarn for the dish cloths so I can keep them priced low enough to sell all those I produce that I don’t give away as gifts.
I heart the dollar store. I’ve been find such great stuff at our Dollar Tree. My second favorite spot – the dollar bins at Target.
I would love for you to share your post at my new linky, Fabulously Frugal Thursday!
Thanks for the heads up about your new linky party I will write it down and try linking up soon. I am also going to have to check out your “pickle run post” that I see in the comment love. That has got me curious!
Thanks for sharing those tips at Thrifty Thursday! One of the cheapest ways I get craft supplies is by asking my mom 😉 She used to do a lot of crafting and sewing so she has pretty much whatever we’re looking for!
These are some really great tips! I love to craft, but supplies at crafting stores can get really expensive. Especially right now, I’m trying to prepare to make fall decorations, but simply can not buy all that I need at the craft stores, because it’s too expensive. Through your tip, I’m going to start hitting up yard/garage sales and clearance sections. Thanks so much for the tips!
I love the idea of creating crafts from dollar stores. For some reason, I haven’t thought of this. Thanks for the tip and the link!
Your welcome.
I save tons of money by using every useable coupon in one shopping trip. Most times I save up to $20+ on material I use for my crafts. And most coupons can be used at other stores if percentages are better than what is offered.