How to Save Money on Craft Supplies

Being a crafter has many benefits. There are endless opportunities to explore and be creative, you get to hone different skills, you have the privilege to customize gifts for your loved ones, and you get to boost your mental health as well. 

Photo from freepik

But the one thing crafting will never be? Cheap. 

When I decided to pick up crafting as a hobby, with cross stitch and paper crafts as my gateway crafts, I didn't spend much money upfront.

But as I got better and developed my skills, I began to add more tools and equipment, and shopped for more and more craft supplies. 

It even got to a point where I was able to make an income out of my handmade greeting cards and other crafts.

While some of us may be fortunate enough to make an enterprise out of our handmade crafts (or even sell them on the side to augment our monthly income), a lot still treat crafting as a hobby.

And sooner or later, it will dawn on all of us that if we wish to sustain our passion for crafting, we will all need to look for creative ways to save money on craft supplies.

Here are just a few suggestions:  

Look Through Your Stash of Craft Supplies First

If you've been crafting for a while, then you're aware how quickly craft supplies can accumulate.

Before you make another trip to the craft supplies store or place an order online, look thoroughly through your existing stash of craft supplies first.

To illustrate, if you're into paper crafts, you may find yourself with a lot of leftover cardstock and scrapbook paper.

And while you may no longer be able to make a bunch of cards with your leftover supplies, you may be able to come up with several gift tags and bookmarks.

Visit Thrift Stores and Second-Hand Bookstores 

There are thrift stores that sell pre-owned tools and equipment for crafting and a surplus of donated craft supplies, not clothes. It might be cheaper to shop from these stores.

Now, if you're the type who enjoys junk journaling, then second-hand bookstores can be your haven. You might be able to stumble upon a wealth of old, hardbound children's books that can be filled with ephemera, artwork, and mementos.

IN TUD's Arts and crafts kit

Buy Craft Kits or Bundles 

Most cross stitch enthusiasts would agree that it's much more frugal to purchase entire cross stitch kits with a pattern, aida cloth, a needle, and the necessary colors of embroidery floss than to look for each item piece-meal.

Take Advantage of Clearance Sales

If you have a habit of stocking up on craft supplies to avoid unnecessary trips to the craft store, you can save a substantial sum during clearance sales, when discounts go as high as 30%-50%.

Shop at the Kids' Arts and Crafts Supplies Section at Bookstores

Don't dismiss brands of arts and crafts supplies intended for children. Head straight to the kids' arts and crafts supplies section at large bookstores and stock up on items like glue, poster or acrylic paint, glitter, stickers, crayons, and yarn.

Take Advantage of Free Stuff

Turn junk into craft supplies.

You may already be sitting on a goldmine of craft supplies if you have piles of old magazines, newspapers, and comic books lying around.

For ideas on crafts using old magazines, read -- 

7 Ways to Upcycle Old Magazines

Also, if you're the type who has accumulated greeting cards through the mail over the years, you can recycle them into gift tags, bookmarks, and even covers for notepads.

For a list of crafts recycling old greeting cards, read -- 

Quick Crafts: Recycling Old Greeting Cards

Keep tab on craft blogs. 

A lot of craft blogs publish step-by-step procedures of creative projects, complete with photos. You can gather plenty of inspiration from these projects.  

Go online for free printables and templates. 

The internet is truly a haven for crafters, since it's filled with a wealth of resources. To get you started, Google "free cross stitch patterns," "free coloring pages," and "free scrapbook templates." 

Skip Store-Bought Organizers

Once your craft supplies start to accumulate, your next concern would be organizing them.

Don't even think about shelling out extra cash for organizers. You can place your craft buttons or beads on those sturdy plastic containers with dividers for food.

Put your crochet hooks or knitting needles inside aluminum cans or empty jars. Boxes of breakfast cereal can be cut open and decorated and used for storing craft magazines. 

For other uses of cereal boxes, read -- 

Upcycled Project: 7 Ways to Reuse Cereal Boxes

You can also turn an empty cardboard box into a sewing container by tearing up colorful magazine pages and applying techniques in decoupage.

Join A Craft Supplies Swap

Joining a swap is a good way to get new craft supplies in exchange for some of your excess or unused supplies.

If you can't find a craft supplies swap near your area, why not host one yourself?

For details, read -- 

How to Host a Craft Supplies Swap