Tried-and-True Tips for Crafting on a Budget: Part 2
Continuing my roundup of ideas for frugal folks who love to create beautiful things without breaking the bank.
This article was originally published on a WordPress blog that I’ve retired in favor of Substack. Thanks for reading!
Welcome back, my frugal friends! In this post series, I’m sharing a dozen tips and tricks for how to start crafting on a shoestring budget. I’ve rounded up my favorite free ideas that you can try right now. Plus I’ve included advice for spending wisely and stretching your budget. These handy tips will help you get the most bang for your crafty buck!
If you missed it, check out Tried-and-True Tips for Crafting on a Budget: Part 1 for more great money-saving tips and a little introduction to the series. Don't miss Part 3, either!
Now, without further ado...
Tried-and-True Tips for Crafting on a Budget: Part 2
↠ Take advantage of mobile coupons & seasonal sales
You might already do this, but it’s still worth talking about. Craft store coupons offer some of the best discounts out there, from 40% to 60% off practically anything. Retailers also usually let you use multiple coupons at a time. And there’s almost always a coupon you can apply to your purchase. (I mean, if this doesn’t get your heart racing...!)
Long gone are the days of waiting for the Sunday paper for the Joann coupons, the Michaels coupons, and the comics. *Sigh of nostalgia.* Nowadays, if you frequent the same places, download your favorite craft stores’ mobile apps and you’ll always have valid coupons at your fingertips.
Admittedly, the apps and coupons can be pretty confusing. If you’re not sure which offers are running, ask the cashier to apply the day’s promos to your purchase. Sometimes they’ll find and scan it for you without any trouble! I usually just hold out my phone and wait for the cashier to scan 'em all. If at least 1 of the 1300 coupons applies, I'm content!
If you really want to time your craft shopping right, wait until after a major holiday for major sales. Earlier this month, in the wake of the 4th of July, you could find sales as crazy as 75% off clearance! It’s total madness.
This strategy worked ever in my favor a few days after Christmas last year. I picked up some winter buds and berries for a faux floral arrangement for my new apartment. Holiday items were 70% off, and I was able to use a coupon to take 25% off my whole purchase. I managed to find a cute metal bucket for around $8, and only spent $17 on the florals, which is outrageous! I think the list price was close to $200… which is also outrageous. 😂
Any other “good day” with a craft store coupon pales in comparison to the seasonal savings you can find. So shop at the end of the season if you want the best deals.
I later swapped out that winter arrangement for a brighter, warm-weather version in early June (pictured above). But my timing wasn’t quite as favorable. Even with some steep discounts and coupons, I spent $48 on the floral elements. But I did love how the corals, blush pinks, and purpley-blues brightened up my space!
↠ Buy versatile variety packs
I like to do paper crafts, so it makes sense to buy a variety pack of paper in different colors that I’ll be able to use for years to come. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to stock up on individual sheets of scrapbook paper, though, unless I have a specific project in mind.
Last fall, for instance, I bought a pack of greens and blues as well as another pack of jewel-toned papers to use for my Christmas cards. They had the reds and greens I needed as well as some other colors I liked. I’ve already used these colors for a variety of projects including a set of easy stamped birthday cards (find the tutorial here!)
Consider the overall value of a supply pack and predict how much use you’ll get out of it. If you’re in the habit of following the third tip from Part 1), you should get a lot of mileage out of the supplies you purchase. For this reason, pick materials that can be used in a variety of applications or for a variety of craft projects.
For instance, if you’ll be hand-lettering a gift tag for a bridal shower present, pick out a pack of plain tags instead of a set of wedding-themed ones. This way, you can use the leftovers for birthdays and special occasions throughout the year. However, if you never plan to do hand-lettered gift tags again, see if you can pick up just one gift tag, or make your own. This strategy works best for crafts you’ll repeat.
↠ Be open to using cheaper materials
If you have a crystal-clear vision in mind for your project, it can be frustrating to find out that the materials you want to use are too expensive. For instance, your heart might sink when you find out those cute decorative bird cages for your party centerpieces will cost $65 apiece when you really only have $20 to spare, total. Or that you need 3 yards of material but your dream fabric is $53 a yard.
These unexpected splurges can add up really quickly. You might even start to resent the whole project if it becomes a source of financial stress.
When you’re working within a budget, don’t get your heart set on any materials or supplies. (Wait until you’ve followed the first tip from Part 3 before getting too excited!) It’s definitely helpful to start somewhere. But if your initial idea is out of the question, think outside the box about what your backup plan might look like.
This tip has saved me many hundreds of dollars and many tears. For instance, while making a silvery-blue dress based on a 1920s design, I fell hopelessly in love with a dazzling blue beaded trim. But 27 yards at $28 per yard wasn't going to happen.
After moping around for a day or so, I realized I actually wanted to incorporate more colors into the design. But multicolor beaded trims were out of my price range as well. What I wanted most from the trim was some sparkle and an eye-catching geometric pattern.
Ultimately, I got creative and sandwiched together two different trims. I found a jacquard-woven trim with a multicolor design as well as a trim with dangling champagne-colored beads. I bought these from a bulk trim supplier and ended up with much more yardage than I needed. But for $46 (instead of $756!!) I couldn’t complain.
If you find yourself facing a similar crafting crisis, determine what your top priorities are. If you’re buying fabric, is the color most important? Or do you love something about the print?
Then let these priorities guide you along your search for other, more affordable options. Maybe you can use ½ a yard of the pricey print as an accent and make the rest of your piece from a cheaper solid fabric. Looking back, you’ll be glad you reconsidered. Plus, your backup plan might even turn out better in the end. You never know!
↠ Hit thrift stores & rummage sales
It’s hard to find unique pieces at low prices if you aren’t looking in the right places. But this is where bargain hunting gets good!
Thrift stores, flea markets, estate sales, charity shops, antique markets, and rummage sales always have something to offer to the budget-savvy maker. Check out as many of these as you can if you’re looking for DIY candidates or new project supplies. See if your city runs a program where artists can make use of donated materials. Find out if there are school or church rummage sales happening in your area.
I recently wandered through the nearby Ravenswood Manor Garage Sale here in Chicago. Around 150 homes open their garages every year to fill a network of alleys with treasures, trinkets, and treasure hunters. It was a little hectic, but I came away with a vintage wood-framed luggage rack for only $5. I was actually gearing up to haggle, but it was just too cheap to even try! It’s expecting a fresh coat of paint and new fabric support straps soon. (Update: Check out my post about this project here!)
This advice isn’t just for the home DIY-ers, though. I actually bought my trusty 1960s-era sewing machine for $25 at a rummage sale in high school. (You read that right... I sew on a 50-year-old machine. It’s extremely heavy, it’s almost entirely made of metal, and it’s basically invincible. I’ve only had to replace one part so far!)
No matter what you make, there’s something lurking in a thrift shop or garage sale with your name on it – and a cheap price sticker, too. Go out and see what you can find to satisfy your creative cravings and crafting budget!
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That’s a wrap on Part 2 of my 3-part series on how to get crafting on a budget. Check out Part 1 and subscribe to my newsletter for an update on Part 3.