Crafts on a Budget: Ten Tips

The credit crunch is effecting many of us and unfortunately hobby and craft costs are often times the first to be cut from the household budget. But cutting costs doesn’t mean you have to cut craft completely, though! You may not be able to go on wild shopping sprees at your local craft store or take those regular workshops at your LYS, but a little out of the box thinking can really make a difference. Here are ten tips on how to get crafty and stay within your budget:

1. Join an Online Craft Network Over the last few years, several craft-dedicated networks have popped up. Two of the more well known are Craftster and Ravelry; both of which offer free membership and loads of patterns and tutorials. Plus, membership offers the added bonus of making new friends. Sounds like a winner to me!

2.  Visit Crafty Websites Often  Beyond crafty social networks, there are hundreds if not thousands of crafty websites and blogs with projects and tutorials available to you just by doing a quick search. Type your craft of choice into a search engine and then add words such as ‘tutorial’, ‘how-to’, ‘pattern’ or ‘instructions’. You’ll be surprised what you come up with and the money you’ll save by not buying all those new craft books. Not Your Gran’s Stitchin also has a list of Mandatory Reading with some great links to crafty websites.

3. Enter Giveaways Time and maybe a few stamps are the only costs of entering contests. Magazines, blogs and websites are always giving craft freebies away. Ten minutes of your time each month can get you great new books and new supplies. I have won two giveaways in the last month, so it is definitely worth a try. Check out Crochet and Knit Giveaways or Craft Gossip’s Competition page for some current contests.

4. Use Your Library Card Most libraries now have catalogs online. Why not search these and place items of interest on hold? Then go through the books, use them for your project and send them on their way to another excited crafter. That is $15-$25 saved. 

5. Recycle/Reuse/Repurpose More likely than not, there are potential craft supplies lurking around your home. Those plastic food containers make great soap molds. Those empty toilet paper rolls could make for great gift boxes. That tired old sweater can have a new lease on life by simply unraveling it and reusing it to fab knit a new cardigan. There are no limits to the possibilities and craft savings except your imagination.

6. Swap Your Stash It is done with clothes, so why not with our craft stashes? Invite around 15 of your friends to bring over tradable stash items and some refreshments, and in two or three hours everyone goes home with new supplies, books and tools.  Read Jennifer Worick’s article on organizing a clothing swap to get planning tips. If a party is not in the budget or you really like the element of surprise, consider an online swap.

7.  Shop Thrift Shops  Some of my best craft finds have been at thrift and charity shops. Keep your eyes open for supplies, books and tools. Beyond this, be on the lookout for items you can salvage materials from (old sweaters for wool, old jewelry for beads and clasps, old bags for handles and buckles). 

8.  Surf Online Classifieds Websites such as Freecycle and Craigslist are veritable goldmines for craft supplies and it doesn’t cost a dime to post or respond to the ads!

9.  Borrow, Don’t Buy You have crafty friends, right? So why not ask to borrow their tools? Chances are they might have that super expensive paper cutter you need for your current project. Be sure to reciprocate and you will always have a borrowing buddy.

10. Make a Budget and Stick to it! I know how easy it is to become engulfed by the passion for your craft. Before attending a craft show or even going to the craft shop, make a list of what you need (not want) and create a firm budget. Taking enough cash to only cover the items needed for a project is a great strategy for preventing an overspend. 

Happy Crafting!