If you’re looking for ways to stretch your craft supply money further, check out my tips & tricks for budget crafting!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Craft supplies can be expensive—but crafting doesn’t have to cost a fortune! While sometimes it might be necessary to splurge on high-quality supplies, lower-cost materials can often serve the same purpose and perform nearly as well. If you’re looking to do some casual crafting, or want to start a business on a tight budget, here are some great ideas to save money.
I love budget crafting; there’s something seriously satisfying about making a gorgeous project for very little money. Budget crafts don’t have to look like budget crafts. Seriously. You can pull together some seriously impressive projects for under $10. (Want an example? You can make a gorgeous book sleeve for under $10 – click here to check out my book sleeve tutorial!)
Know What You Need
The easiest way to save money when budget crafting is to only buy what you need. (Easier said than done, I know!) Figure out what your project actually requires. Dial it back to the necessities. If you want to get started with polymer clay, do you really need to buy all the fancy tools, cutters, and stamps right away? Probably not. If it’s a new project that you’ve never done before, there’s a chance you’ll give it a try and not enjoy it as much as you expect! Start small; make a list and just buy the necessities to get you started.
Sales, Coupons, and Promos!
Don’t forget about sales, coupons, and promotions! Michaels has a new coupon every week that ranges from 20-50% off one to two items. There are also various buy 1, get 1 free, or buy 1, get one 50% off promotions on their website. Want to use a good weekly coupon twice? Buy one item online for in-store pickup, and one item when you get to the store!
Hobby Lobby and Joann also run weekly sales and offer occasional coupons. These sales can be significant—you can often find items for up to 60% off! If you know what you need for your project, you can plan your shopping trip accordingly. Go to the store where you can get the biggest deal!
If you’re in Canada and do a lot of sewing, Fabricland’s sales are great. Watch for their 40-60% off sales; you can stock up if you have a lot of projects on the horizon.
Also, don’t forget Amazon! I have a love-hate relationship with Amazon but I’ve gotten some incredible deals there for supplies I haven’t been able to find in store. While I try to shop at in-person stores as much as I can, sometimes you just can’t find what you need locally.
Think Outside the Box
You’re not limited to “craft stores” for your craft supplies—and neither are you limited to “craft supplies”! Think creatively to find the things you need. I recently needed a single D-ring for a project I needed to pull together quickly. I didn’t want to trek over to a craft store. (Canadian winters can be cold.) Instead, I went to the local dollar store and picked up an inexpensive pet harness. I was able to get several pieces of inexpensive hardware from that, D-ring included.
You can also check out thrift stores for supplies, depending on what you’re looking for! If you’re looking for unique fabric for a project, consider re-purposing old clothes. Some thrift stores even have yards of fabric that have been donated. Table clothes, curtains, and blankets can also be great sources of large amounts of fabric.
Collaborate
Shopping for supplies in bulk is a great way to get your costs down—but this often requires both a hefty upfront investment and a willingness to commit to dozens, sometimes hundreds, of pieces. Why don’t you see if other makers near you want to go in on the order? You may be able to split the cost between several different small businesses.
See if there is a Facebook group for local makers to share resources or participate in buy-ins. If there isn’t, maybe you should start a group! Why spend $5 to get two pieces of bag hardware when you can get the pieces for $1, or less, when you buy in larger quantities? Why spend $12 for a package of bubble mailers so you can ship your goods to friends or customers when you can get the same number of mailers for $3?
You might not be ready for bulk buying on your own, but there are probably a lot of other crafters in your area in the same boat. Collaborate and everyone wins!
My Favorite Spots
I love to get a bargain, and I get my craft supplies from anywhere I can. I get a lot of things at Dollarama (Canada only), Fabricland (Canada only) Dollar Tree, various thrift stores, Walmart, Amazon, and Michaels. When I take a trip to the US, I always check out the Hobby Lobby and Joann sales! Uline is a great option for bulk shipping supplies, too!
I also love Aliexpress for certain things, like packaging material. You can also get awesome deals on things like glass cabochons and pendant trays. I know Aliexpress has a reputation for “cheap” products–but a lot of the craft supplies you’ll find on Aliexpress are the same as ones you’ll find on Amazon (and even in stores like Michaels!) for a fraction of the cost.
Where Do You Get Good Deals?
Do you like to look for a bargain when you shop for craft supplies? Are there any stores that I missed? Any tips I should add? Let me know in the comments!
Don’t forget to share your budget makes with me! Use hashtags #theserialcreative #budgetDIYs #craftingonabudget to show them off!
