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10 Places to Get Cheap Craft Supplies

Painting tools on wooden board
Peter Zvonar / Getty Images

Anyone who crafts knows that shopping for all of the supplies and materials you need for your projects can get pricey. Luckily, that's no reason to keep you from expressing your passion. With a little creativity and some bargain hunting, it's possible to get cheap craft supplies almost everywhere you look.

Your Own Home

It may seem obvious but you have a lot of craft supplies in your home that you probably wouldn't consider as crafting materials at first glance. Scour your recycling box, kids' rooms, office, and kitchen to find unique items that you can use in your projects.

Here are some items that you can upcycle to use in your new craft projects. These work especially well for kids crafting projects.

  • Toilet paper and paper towel rolls
  • Egg cartons
  • Glass containers that once held food
  • Cardboard (cereal boxes, shipping boxes, packaging)
  • Newspaper
  • Water bottles
  • Milk cartons

Yard Sales

Step outside your home and visit some yard sales and estate sales to get some cheap craft supplies. I frequently find craft supplies and fabric at garage sales in my area.

A great way to narrow down your search is to visit the garage sale section on Craigslist and use the search box to find craft supplies. Type in "craft supplies" or specific craft items and you'll be shown what garage sales near you will have them.

Your Neighborhood

Besides yard sales, there are also a few ways to find cheap and even free craft supplies near you. Here are a few websites I use to find craft supplies in my neighborhood.

Search on each of these websites to find general craft supplies, fabric, patterns, yarn, craft books, and more.

Thrift Stores

Thrift stores are great places to find used and sometimes brand new items that you can use for cheap craft supplies. Check out the craft supply area but also keep your eye out for these treasures:

  • Large blankets, tablecloths, or clothing to use as fabric
  • Purse hardware and handles for bag-making
  • Magazines for decoupage or scrapbooking
  • Clocks for clock parts
  • Jewelry for beads and hardware
  • Craft books and magazines

Dollar Stores

Dollar stores are great places to pick up cheap craft supplies for just a dollar. They have a craft section you'll want to check out but don't forget to check out their office supply, glassware, and party supply sections.

Here are some of my favorite items to pick up there:

  • Wooden craft sticks and clothespins
  • Tissue paper
  • Decorative craft tape
  • Glues and other adhesives
  • Foam paint brushes
  • Vases and candle holders
  • Floral foam
  • Beads
  • Glitter

Craft Reuse Centers

Craft reuse centers are stores that accept donations of crafting supplies and then resell those supplies to customers who visit the store. The goal of these centers is to keep crafting supplies from filling up landfills. You can find a ton of different supplies here for just about every type of crafting you can think of. There are both craft supplies for kids and adults, and you might end up coming home with more than you thought you would. You can find a craft reuse center in your area so you can visit.

Discount Stores

When you're looking for cheap craft supplies, don't forget to check discount stores in your area. These include Big Lots, Five Below, Wal-Mart, and Dollar General, just to name a few. These are stores that regularly carry discount items.

Some of these stores have actual craft supply sections while at others you can look for raw materials like glassware, fake flowers, frames, and anything else you might want to use in an upcoming craft project. In others, you may need to use your imagination to find craft supplies that fit your style and can be used in a future project.

Unconventional Stores

There are also some specialty stores that are great places to find discounted craft supplies even though that's not what they're intended for. Here's where I like to go to look for them:

  • Hardware Stores (storage containers, magnets, rulers, tools, drop cloths, hooks)
  • Office Supply Stores (paper, adhesives, scissors, art books)
  • Pharmacies (discounted seasonal items, tissue paper, greeting cards, party supplies)
  • Antique stores (old and new crafting supplies, items to upcycle)

Craft Stores

Craft stores are the obvious place to go for craft supplies but there are some key ways to save when you make a purchase there. You may be really surprised just how many cheap craft supplies you can find amongst the more expensive items. Most craft stores offer coupons and have sales that can save you up to 70 percent off the original prices when you combine offers and sales. Check out their websites and apps for sale details and coupons.

Online Stores

Here are some online-only stores where you can get great discounts on craft supplies and materials. They all over great prices and carry a wide selection of items that you can use for any craft or art project. Here are some websites that will give you the most bang for your buck: