| When times get tough our hobbies are generally first | | | | jackets for leather scraps and fittings. |
| to suffer the cutbacks. The list below has just a few | | | | Beading: Op-shops often have old jewelry, which can |
| ideas to help you save money on craft supplies and | | | | be reused for findings, beads and pendants. |
| you may also find yourself a new creative burst by | | | | Buttons, zips and buckles: All types of sewing notions |
| trying them. Crafts don't always have to be so | | | | can be found in opshops, the biggest consideration is |
| expensive and it is fun to improvise. | | | | will be able to be removed easily. |
| Paper and card | | | | Bears and dolls: Bits and pieces for dolls and bears |
| Newspaper offcuts: A great place to get plain paper, | | | | could be found in opshop toys. |
| particularly for kids crafts and drawing is a | | | | Mosaic |
| newspaper office. Our local newspaper has always | | | | Second hand stores and garage sales are often a |
| had huge rolls of plain white paper available for | | | | great source of plates that can be broken for use in |
| around $10 - $15, that is a roll that is over a metre | | | | mosaics. |
| wide and 30cm in diameter. I believe it was over 100 | | | | Nature |
| metres of paper, well my daughter has had the same | | | | Mother Nature has an endless bounty of craft |
| roll for over 5 years. It isn't great quality but it has | | | | supplies for free. Plus you get fresh air and exercise |
| tons of uses like as a drop sheet for other projects, | | | | while you are beach combing, walking or fossicking. |
| making patterns for sewing. | | | | Shells, sand, driftwood, seedpods, pebbles, leaves |
| Scrapbooking paper and card: If you are finding the | | | | and grasses are but a few things that can be used in |
| scrapbook stores too expensive try looking in | | | | many crafts. |
| newsagents, office supply stores and department | | | | Wood |
| stores for paper and card. They may not have the | | | | Sometimes small timber stores or hardware shops |
| same range and quality but you may find something | | | | have a bin of offcuts that could fit many uses. |
| to help your supply of better paper last longer. | | | | Salvage yards and secondhand stores can be another |
| Op shops and flea markets | | | | source of wood and old furniture that may be able |
| Fabric and wool: Second hand clothes found in | | | | to be recycled too. |
| opportunity shops and flea markets can often be a | | | | Making your own |
| great source of fabric when you don't need large | | | | Some of the things we use in crafts can be made |
| amounts. Even when clothes are fairly old there are | | | | instead of purchased. For example decent paper glue |
| generally parts that are not faded or worn. | | | | can be made with cornflour, beads can be made with |
| Used knitwear is great for small amounts of wool for | | | | salt dough and there are ways to make stencils and |
| wool crafts. | | | | stamps yourself too. |
| Leather: Look out for old handbags, belts and leather | | | | |