It can seem inexpensive to make things yourself but a leisurely trip to the craft or fabric store will reveal how pricey these hobbies can be! Thankfully, there are a number of ideas you can use to keep your crafting urges satisfied without having to spend a small fortune.
1. Repurpose material found around the house.
Repurposing scrap material can help you save on your crafting costs.
You can find lots of good, quality material at a regular fabric shop or craft store, but if you’re trying to be thrifty, you can actually find a great supply of materials in your own home. Do you have some tablecloths, sheets or clothing that you’re not using anymore? Perhaps you could repurpose the material to create a special, one-of-a-kind blanket, quilt or pillowcase. Here’s one example I found online: A Repurposed T-shirt Quilt.
By the way, don’t limit yourself to only using fabrics for your thrifty crafting adventures. Think outside the box and try to find other materials or objects that could be put to a new use. Here are a few more ideas:
- Do you collect matchbooks or those cardboard coasters found in bars/restaurants? Why not arrange them in a decorative frame and hang it up in your kitchen or game room, if you have one?
- Have an old vintage picture frame that you’re not sure what to do with? If the glass is still intact, you can easily convert it to a serving tray or a vanity tray for your bathroom. Martha Stewart has a helpful video tutorial. If the glass is missing, cracked or just not in good shape, don’t worry! There are lots of cool things you can do with an old frame even if it doesn’t have the glass or backing. From a nifty jewelry organizer to a personalized wreath, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creative uses for picture frames.
2. Take advantage of free books, magazines or online resources.
Finding inspiration has never been easier with the widespread use of the Internet. You can find a ton of free tutorials and patterns online (Instructables.com is a favorite) and don’t forget about your local library! You can ask the librarian to help you locate books on just about any subject, from sewing to carpentry to paper crafts and more.
3. Organize a craft swap.
If you have friends, neighbors, co-workers or fellow church members that are as into crafting as you are, you should consider hosting a craft swap. Invite guests to bring some materials that they are willing to trade, be it yarn, paper, glue, paint, fabric or anything else related to crafting. This can be a really fun way to get ideas for projects as well as score some cool materials for practically nothing!
What are some other ideas for free or low cost ways to craft? I’d love to
hear from you!
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