Ideas for Inexpensive Crafts and Hobbies

RE: Ideas for Inexpensive Crafts and Hobbies

By

bobswife25

Garage sales and thrift stores! I rarely have to buy anything from retail crafts anymore. People are always getting rid of yarn, fabric, trims, elastic, and one I love, old picture frames. I love to make pictures with Bible verses imbedded in pictures that I find on the web! (plus, I sometimes paint and/or decorate the frames as well!)
So many things to make, so little time!
Tina

Go to www.allfreesewing.com
They have links to crafts and also let you download free e-books for crafts, sewing, and so on.
I am on a limited income and really appreciate they're free patterns for all types of handicrafts.

You can make homemade paper from junk mail and then make your own greeting cards. Go to any paint store that sells wallpaper, they give away the discontinued books, use them for your card making. check your thrift stores for trims, buttons, lace. Gather dried leaves, flowers etc. Use your library for an unlimited free resource for card ideas to get started. You can also get instructions for making the handmade paper from the library or online. You can use the hand made paper for book covers and pages then make photo albums for gifts, write your own little stories, or memories to share on coordinating paper and tear the edges, glue onto the pages of your "books" for gifts. If you would like more ideas for other crafts you are welcome to check out my blog http://cabinannie.wordpress ..com Good luck.

Re-purpose re-purpose re-purpose! At places like Value Village and other discount used goods stores they often have necklaces, earrings etc that can be taken apart and combined into new necklaces etc. I've even used old watches which I took apart and made new pendants and brooches with. U can also get kits etc for a reasonable price. I never enter a dollar store without thinking about how I can make something completely off the wall with an everyday thing.

How about crocheting with video tapes or audio cassettes? http://www.myrecycledbags.com/category/vcr-video-tape-crafts/ is one good website. You can google for others. If you don't already have tapes you don't want, rummage sales are a good source.

There are lots of interesting & cheap ideas on the internet. Start with dollarstorecrafts.com for some really good inexpensive ideas. I like crafts, too, but I do them on the cheap, like getting yarn & knitting needles from thrift shops!

I have 3 crafts that I have been doing for many years and all 3 are some of the most inexpensive crafts there are. Plus there are many advantages too. They are crochet, knit, and plastic canvas. They are inexpensive because you can buy the yarns one or two skeins at a time depending on what you are making, and also you can buy the hooks or needles as needed. The yarns will go a long long way too. Another advantage is you can make many of your own home decor or even clothing for yourself and family. I haven't bought a sweater for myself in years, because I make all mine! You can also make Christmas or other special occasion gifts yourself. And handmade gifts always mean so much more!
I recently went to a baby shower for a friend's daughter that I have known since she was small. I took a big bag of baby clothes, blankets, and toys that I had crocheted. I was so proud because it was the hit of the shower! Everyone was ooo-ing and aaah-ing about each piece she held up!

I even make sweaters for my dogs every year so they stay warm too!

Here is a web site that has hundreds of free patterns in many different craft styles:

www.thriftyfun.com

Check it out. I'm sure you'll find something you'll love!

My daughter used to make custom origami for people when she was around 12 years old. She collected some books from the library and copied different designs. She also kept a list of books and what designs were in them in case someone asked for something she didn't have the design to. She also found free origami designs on the internet. She started off with normal coloured paper and eventually got origami paper to make more delicate designs. We also gave her a book for her birthday with designs she didn't have. She still does origami today for her friends in high school but she doesn't sell any more.

I have found for many years no matter what type of craft a person wants to do, it gets expensive. I am also a person that doesn't like to keep making repeats of an item, so I am further ahead buy kits, because then I don't have all kinds of leftover items that I have to find a place to store them and then most likely end up never using the items again. You could check in thrift stores for the materials you need for the things you like to make.