You can always get free stuff on Freecycle or Craigslist online but you don't always know exactly what you're getting. There are other ways to get free materials..
Paint and Decorating Stores – Wallpaper Samples
Most stores that sell wallpaper will give away their sample books from discontinued wallpapers. They are usually very glad to get rid of them. These sample books have pages large enough to make most of the crafts mentioned on this page. They are also great for projects that need several coordinating designs.
Another source is friends that have recently re-papered a room and may have leftover scraps. Wallpaper rolls can also be found at garage sales. Although not free, it can be very low cost.
Framing Shops – Art Matting and Frame Molding
A source for art matting and bits of frame molding is a framing shop. These shops often have scads of discarded material out in their recycling bins due to the wastage in framing art. Don’t be shy about visiting several to get the quantity you need.
If you’re a teacher or craft instructor, why not arrange to pick up discarded material on a regular basis? What to do with all this stuff? Oodles of things – cardboard frames, book covers, scrapbooks, albums, cards, and small boxes. Oh, and you can even make mats for smaller pictures.
Fabric Stores – Fabric Samples
For free fabric, head for a local fabric shop and ask if they’ve got any outdated fabric sampler books and offer to take these off their hands once the prints have expired. Ask them how often this happens and arrange to pick them up on that date.
Think of the craft projects quilt, pillow covers, place mats, napkins, whatever. Or what about lavender heart sachets, jam covers, doll's clothing or stuffed animals. Or cover shoeboxes, books, or journals.
Libraries – Expired Magazines
Here's a good source for magazines to use in school or home projects: libraries! Make friends with the guy or gal whose job it is to replace old magazines with the latest editions and you'll have a free stockpile in no time. This may take a few visits and hanging around the magazine section but, hey, it'll be worth it.
If you are a teacher, you could call the library to find out when they change their magazines. They may be a little tatty, but they are free and still usable for all kinds of crafts.
Shoe Stores – Shoeboxes
Shoeboxes for useful for storing all kinds of things like craft and sewing supplies, small holiday decorations, old letters and, of course, for kinds of craft projects.
For free shoeboxes, look no further than shoe stores. Small, large and even big box stores have oodles left by customers who don’t want to lug the boxes home. But wait for around closing time so that you’re not taking up a clerk’s time during the day. They are usually happy to give all they’ve got on hand – saves them having to schlep the stuff to the recycling bins.
Finding free materials for recycling into neat crafts is only takes a little time and a bit of ingenuity.
