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How to: 5 Ways to Save Money on Craft Supplies

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We crafters may lust after that fine alpaca yarn or cool new craft punch, but few of us have unlimited budgets for crafting. We have to pick and choose what we purchase. Luckily, there are always ways to cut costs here and there, so you can indulge the occasional craft splurge. Personally, I get a lot of my materials online at Cutratecrafts.com. Here are 5 more ideas for how and where to save money on craft supplies:

  1. Make your own craft tools. You might have seen this recent post on how to make a simple loom with a hammer, nails and a picture frame. Have you thought about making a flower press? I pick wildflowers on nature walks and press in my homemade press. These flowers make beautiful embellishments for cards, scrapbook pages and picture frames. You will need two pieces of plywood, cardboard, blotting paper (plain paper sandwich between newspaper also works for blotting), and 4 nuts and bolts with flat washers. Basically, you are creating a wood-cardboard-blotting paper-flower sandwich which can be tightened to press all the water our of the flowers. Here is a great tutorial for making your own flower press.
    1. TIP– In my experience, purple wildflowers hold their colors very well when pressed. Yellow flowers can sometimes take on a brownish tint when pressed. Try pressing flatter blooms such as daisies before thick blooms, like those of roses.
  2. Reuse and Recycle- So many materials you might consider trash can be reused for crafting. Cardboard can become a reusable template for a variety of shapes. Pliable aluminum found in empty soda cans, tea-lights and used kitchen foil can be used in a wide range of home decorating, wearable or paper crafts.
  3. Thrift Stores- Local thrift stores will often have valuable craft supplies, including print materials such as sewing patterns or craft books. You can also pick up cheap wool sweaters for felting and fabric.
  4. Check out online resources for free or discounted craft supplies.
    1. FreeCycle- Join the community in your area to get free stuff that someone else does not want! You have to give something away to start.
    2. CraigsList- People often clear out creative supplies via craigslist, especially in the bad economy.
    3. Etsy-In addition to finished handmade goods, you can buy many materials on Etsy and find good bargains. You are sure to find the absolute perfect buttons for your project on Etsy.
    4. eBay- Consider buying craft materials such as yarn or thread in bulk on eBay.
    5. Amazon- Check out the resell section of Amazon for bargain craft supplies.
  5. Share craft tools and materials with friends. Trade fabrics, yarns, embellishments and more.
    1. Have a creativity party once per week where crafters bring craft tools to share. For example, everyone could bring their stamps to a super-fun paper craft party.
    2. If you are interested in an expensive tool such as an electronic cutting machine, but not ready to make the investment, why not share the cost with a group of friends? The machine can spend 2 weeks with each member of the group and/or you can throw cutting parties during which everyone can use the machine. Creating together is always more fun anyway!
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