The Thrifty Crafter

You don’t have to spend a fortune on crafting materials when there is an abundance of materials just lying round the house.

I’ve always tried to reuse and recycle and I’m notoriously mean when it comes to spending money! Packaging, paper, fabric, buttons, beads, even cushion stuffing – there is so much that you can save from landfill.

Paper packaging is a goldmine of crafting material. The packaging from a certain huge online retailer is a great source of card for all sorts of crafting from cardboard for winding on and storing ribbons (reused of course) to using boxes for decoupage projects to make your own gift boxes. Newspaper and cardboard tubes have long been used in crafting projects. I combine both to make this wreath base.

Plastic packaging is used for everything these days. I use the flat plastic trays from deli meats are great for using as paint palettes, any project needing clear flat plastic, making widows in cards and even for etching and printmaking. The plastic cartons that butcher meats come in, that are ridged are great for use in the garden as seed trays, as are yoghurt pots. Just add drainage holes. Yoghurt pots are also great for paint , glue, water anything you need to put in a container.

If you make toys, don’t buy expensive stuffing. The stuffing from old pillows and cushions if perfect for this. just wash the item and cut it open. if it has got little compacted, often the reason you replace it, then pull it apart and fluff it up a little.

Old clothing is not only a great source of fabric, but also buttons, ribbons, zips, all sorts of haberdashery items. As well as taking apart any clothing you no longer wear, try charity shops for fabric. An occasion dress can be a great source of silks and sparkles, cotton summer clothes great for prints and plaids from men’s shirts.

I buy costume jewellery from charity shops and car boots and reuse the beads. It’s much cheaper than buying new. You can also reuse the glass and chains for jewellery making.

All of these little tips will not only save you money, but will help save the planet.