Are you someone who loves crafts and making things with your hands? Have you ever started a new craft and somehow spent $200 before you even finished your first project? I’ve definitely been there. Over the years, I’ve tried everything from embroidery and watercolor painting to crochet and paper crafts. Along the way, I’ve bought…
Are you someone who loves crafts and making things with your hands? Have you ever started a new craft and somehow spent $200 before you even finished your first project?
I’ve definitely been there.
Over the years, I’ve tried everything from embroidery and watercolor painting to crochet and paper crafts. Along the way, I’ve bought plenty of supplies that I absolutely love – and plenty that ended up sitting untouched in a drawer.
If you’re wondering which craft supplies are actually worth buying and which ones you can skip, here’s what I’ve learned.
If I find a new craft, there’s a good chance I’ve ordered every tool and supply for it before the day is over. Since I’m one of these people, I’ve learned what actually gets used versus what collects dust.
Social media makes it seem like every craft tool is essential, but after years of crafting, I’ve found I love many purchases, but I regret a few others. Not because the craft supply is bad, but because I’ve found I don’t use it much, or I didn’t find the value in it.
In today’s post, we’re going over:
- How to find craft supplies for FREE
- Why you should take advantage of your library’s new Makerspace
- Best craft supplies for beginners
- Craft supplies I still love and the ones I regret buying
- And finally, the biggest mistakes people make when buying craft supplies
Let’s get started!
Recommended reading: How To Make Money As A Crafter
How To Find Craft Supplies for FREE
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you don’t always have to pay full price for craft supplies. In fact, some of my favorite supplies have been free or deeply discounted.
Here are some of the best ways I’ve found to save money before buying anything new.
- Join your local Buy Nothing group – you could even request craft supplies (and offer to pick up quickly!).
- Check Facebook Marketplace for craft supplies and set up keyword alerts.
- Ask friends and family if they have any craft supplies they want to get rid of.
- Visit creative reuse centers; this is becoming a popular thing in most major cities!
Recommended reading: 19 Awesome Ways To Get Free Stuff
Why You Should Take Advantage of Your Library’s New Makerspace
A lot of people don’t know this, but your local library may have a Makerspace, or may be getting one in the future. A Makerspace is a fantastic way to use expensive craft equipment without having to spend any money on it yourself.
Makerspaces usually include the following equipment:
- Laser engraving machines
- Sewing machines
- Cricut machines
- 3D printing machines
- Die-cut machines
- Button-making machines
This allows you to test out different hobbies without going all in financially. Libraries will even host classes so you can learn how to use these machines properly.
Best Craft Supplies for Beginners
After years of crafting and trying out almost everything, I’ve narrowed down the best craft supplies for beginners. These items are used across various crafts and are very versatile.
When you’re first getting into crafting, it’s easy to think you need a different set of supplies for every hobby. But that’s usually not the case.
Over the years, I’ve found there are a handful of basic tools that work for dozens of different crafts. Starting with these essentials can save you money while helping you figure out which hobbies you enjoy most.
This includes items such as high-quality scissors, a cutting mat, a metal ruler, a hot glue gun, a variety of paintbrushes, a craft knife, and a shoe box to hold everything.
Craft Supplies I Still Love and the Ones I Regret Buying
I’ve bought a lot of craft supplies over the years, and while many of them were worth every penny, others ended up collecting dust. Looking back, it’s pretty easy to see which purchases I would happily make again and which ones I wish I’d skipped.
Craft supplies I still love include everything I named in the section above (Best Craft Supplies for Beginners), plus:
Of course, not every purchase has been a winner. These are the supplies I wouldn’t buy again – or at least I’d think twice before adding them to my cart:
- Cheap paintbrush sets
- Duplicate craft tools that I bought because they were on sale and “just because”
- Craft kits I never finished
- Supplies bought “just in case,” like extra yarn, when I haven’t finished the 5 projects before
The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Buying Craft Supplies
One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying craft supplies (and I know because I’ve done it many times) is going all in on something way too soon and buying everything they need for it immediately. As I mentioned earlier, the library’s Makerspace is a great way to find out if you really like a craft and want to spend money on it.
I have also made the mistake of buying cheap tools and equipment when it usually makes crafting harder, which is not what you want when you are learning something new.
Lastly, many times I’ve bought supplies without having an actionable plan for them. They end up cluttering my space and overwhelming me, so I don’t even get started on the project.
Recommended reading: 14 Best Crafting Hobbies That Make Money
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to questions you may have about craft supplies.
Where is the cheapest place to buy craft supplies?
The cheapest place to buy craft supplies depends on what you’re looking for. I like checking thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing groups, and creative reuse centers first because you can often find supplies for free or at a big discount.
Are Dollar Tree craft supplies worth buying?
Some Dollar Tree craft supplies are worth buying, while others aren’t. Basic items like foam brushes, small paint palettes, storage containers, popsicle sticks, and seasonal decorations can be a good value. For tools you’ll use often, such as scissors, paintbrushes, or cutting tools, I usually recommend spending a little more on higher-quality versions because they’ll last longer and make crafting easier.
How often should I declutter my craft supplies?
There’s no perfect schedule for how often you should declutter your craft supplies, but I generally do this about twice a year. Or I’ll start decluttering once everything gets to a point where it’s overwhelming and I have too much. Anything I get rid of (and that is still usable), I’ll donate to my local thrift shop.
If decluttering sounds overwhelming to you, I recommend breaking it into 15-minute chunks of time. For just 15 minutes, declutter a section of your craft space. You’ll be surprised by how much better you feel in just that short amount of time!
How do I organize a growing craft supply collection?
Now that you’ve decluttered, you can start organizing your craft supply collection. Keep similar items together and organize everything by craft type. For example, a shelf can have your yarn supplies, another shelf holds your watercolor supplies, and so on. Store frequently used items within reach.
I put my most-used items at eye level, right at the front of my craft closet. I highly recommend using clear containers, as it allows you to see everything easily without tearing apart your craft space. A label maker also comes in handy as it helps you label all of your storage boxes and containers.
My number one tip is to use project bags! For example, if you’re someone who has multiple cross-stitch patterns going at once, separate project bags for each one are key. This helps me stay organized and get started on projects sooner because I’m not overwhelmed with finding everything I need.
What craft supplies are worth buying in bulk?
There are some craft supplies worth buying in bulk, including sewing needles, yarn (if you make large projects and knit/crochet often), storage supplies like ziplock bags or containers, cardstock, and adhesives.
What craft supplies are best for trying different hobbies?
Certain craft supplies are great for trying out multiple hobbies. These include things like acrylic paint, quality paint brushes, cardstock, cutting tools, adhesives, fabric scraps, Mod Podge, stencils, felt sheets, and embroidery floss, just to name a few.
Recommended reading: 12 Best Places To Sell Crafts And Homemade Goods
What crafts are the cheapest to start?
Here’s a list of some of my favorite crafts, and they also happen to be the cheapest to start!
- Drawing/sketching
- Collage and mixed media
- Crochet
- Embroidery
- Air-dry clay
- Origami
- Coloring
- Macramé
- Snail mail
- Junk journaling
- Bookmark making
- Diamond painting
- Rock painting
YouTube has a plethora of tutorials to show you how to do every craft from start to finish. That’s how I learned to do most of my crafting and art!
How can I learn new crafts without spending a lot of money?
As I mentioned above, YouTube has a ton of free tutorials on about any craft imaginable. You can also look for creators on Instagram and TikTok who show how to do different crafts from start to finish.
Also, your local library has books on how to craft and may even offer classes. You can borrow supplies from friends or family before you decide to commit to a craft to see if you like it first.
The Craft Supplies I’ll Actually Rebuy (And the Ones I’m Still Mad At) – Summary
Crafting doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. You can start with a few quality supplies, borrow or buy secondhand when you can, and avoid buying tools until you know you’ll actually use them.
That’s helped me save money, avoid clutter, and enjoy crafting a lot more.
What craft supplies do you still love? And which purchases do you wish you’d skipped?
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