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