Part 2: Crafters Tips: Chocolate or Vanilla - Choose!
by
Pat Ruge
5 Materials
$20
2 Hours
Easy
So many beginner crafters wonder where to begin. Many crafters or would-be crafters are afraid of the expense. Hopefully, some of our seasoned crafters may find some new ideas. I don't suppose that I have all the right answers, but these are a few of the best I've come up with so far.
Chocolate: This clamp on mug and trash holder is great, but it is also a bit pricey. $30+ on Amazon or Ebay. Because trash from crafts is generally clean, I use the bags over and over. No ooey, gooey, chewy stuff here! I bought this for $2 at a garage sale and I would do it again.
Vanilla: This embroidery hoop with a plastic bag attached is a great alternative - at least for the trash (no cup holder). It can easily be hung on a desk drawer knob, or with a Command hook wherever you might need it. Since I have several craft areas in my home, this is my "go to" alternative in areas other than my primary.
Chocolate: Some of you may remember how excited I was when I found this spice rack at the thrift shop for only $12 (retails for $76.20 on ebay). Since that post I have added four more 20-jar spice racks where I paid $8-15 each. Yes, it's true, I know have 100-jars to store my findings.
Vanilla: Here we have 20 spice jars and a small wooden crate. I got the jars for $2 at a garage sale, although, if you're really good and save what you have in your cabinet, these can be free. I love it when other people do what I should have done. The wooden crate I bought for $1 - where else - a garage sale.
Chocolate: The jar on the left is the amount of seed beads you get when you buy the 5.5" seed bead shown in the jar and weights 1 oz and sells for $2.19 at Joanns - regular price. Vanilla: The two jars on the right comes from one necklace bought at a garage sale for $1 and weights just over 8 oz combined. Along the way, I have bought several of these necklaces in a variety of colors.
Chocolate: This 7 in string of beads selling at Joann's for $5.59 is very nice and offers a variety of beads in different sizes as well as a few rondels. I use these type of beads in my stick hat pins, shown in pin cushion (fabric challenge). Link below.
OR Vanilla: For $5.00 I'm able to pick up these lovely ladies. The two in the background are great to use as seed beads. The one on the right is perfect for my stick hat pins, and the one on the left as well as the one front and center, I break down and use in my altered bottles and steampunk creations. I never pay more than $1 each for these and often bundle. At these prices, I can't even afford to shop at the thrift stores. Of course, you will never find them all at once, but it amazes even me that I can get them for a $1..I've added the retail value of these items and it come up to about $120. I spent about $20. That leaves me with $100 in my wallet. I like to buy the best, but when I have alternatives to get me by, I choose Vanilla. I hope you will share some of your ideas in the comment section so that others will benefit..Chocolate of Vanilla - choose! Now is your chance to share in the comments your best tips for how a beginner crafter can get started and save money doing it.
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4 of 9 comments
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I am so Vanilla ! I remarried a few years ago and the first things I located were the second hand, thrift stores and the like .
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Oh Yes! I remember it well. I cut out the list from the yellow pages and carried it with me until I knew them all well.
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Great ideas! I'm a lover of thrift stores as well, though like you I recycle from everywhere. This tassel, photo attached, is made from a) a deodorant cap, b) brown paper from an old grocery bag, c) denim, d) beads from thrift store necklace, e) copper leftover from a long-ago house project, f) purchased leather lacing, and g) rope from the hub's toolbox.
Isn't it fun to find ways to reuse what you can find for pennies?
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I've only been on Hometalk for a year, Nancy, but the most important thing I've learned is to re-think, re-use and re-cycle. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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You go girl! I too will buy something just for the material it would provide and if I need something and can't find what I want for cheap (thrift store or yard sale) I will buy it in store! So which one am I?